Time is flying by

We have achieved so much and that is really satisfying and reassuring. The last thing we want is last minute problems and pressures. Where do I start?

Well the garage has been cleared which may seem a short sentence in itself but goes no way to describe the work involved. As we live in rented, furnished accommodation the owners have some of their belongings in the garage and we have gradually added ours as time went on - as you do. So not only did we have to sort through all our stuff we had to identify the owners stuff too and restack it again in the garage. Then we divided the things into those we will keep and take with us, things that are sellable on ebay and others that we could offer on the freecycle network. Then there were things that we could offer to our families of course. We have been very productive with our sales on ebay thankfully and the local residents have benefited from other things that we have given them via freecycle. The car was packed with things for the dump and dutifully disposed of and the spare bedroom contains lots of things to give to family. Now the garage is neat and tidy and there is room to move in there at last.

Steve acted on impulse one evening and placed a wanted ad on the freecycle network for a caravan awning. I thought that was an impossible request but lo and behold someone gave us one - and as a bonus gave us a caravan cover as well. We spent a sunny but windy Saturday trying to make a frame from the poles provided for the awning and get it erected. It was in lovely condition and would have been great to provide extra space and sunshade for us but I am sad to say it was too small for Esmerelda. As the cover was the same size that was useless to us too. The previous owner did not want it returned to him so it went for sale on ebay and we got £45 for them both - more money for the meze funds. Well - it was a good idea while it lasted.

We have no free weekends between now and when we depart these cold shores on May 1st. Each one is booked with visits to family and friends to say our fond farewells and leave our forwarding details in the hope that they will come over to see us. This coming weekend we are going to Winchester - which is roughly half way between us and Chris and Lynne who have recently moved down to Poole in Dorset. Chris is an old police colleague of Steve's as well as his dear friend. Lynne, his partner is of course also a friend and they both came out to Cyprus for our wedding. We will have a meal with them on Saturday evening and mark the occasion on this blog no doubt. The following weekend, Easter, we are travelling to Derbyshire for two nights to visit my daughters and grandchildren. We are taking them for a meal too and no doubt tiring ourselves out with them all - but we love it. Then we are bringing Caleb, my eldest grandson, back to Surrey with us for a few days before I take him back home and spend a few days with them all while Steve goes back to work. As we won't see them again this year we shall take birthday cards and presents with us - how organised are we?? After that we are going to Southampton to see Steve's father, sister and niece and then we have times booked with friends before we set off. Its all go but at least we are ticking all of the boxes of things to do.

Paperwork - driving licences, birth and marriage certs, bank and wage slips, utility bills etc etc are being scanned to the computer and stored on a datastick. That is very boring work but at least they will be safe. That datastick will go everywhere with us because the papers will go one the container - we hope to survive to the other end of the journey. The laptop is stored with our favourite music and we have some great Skype headphones and a webcam to keep in touch with family.

We have moved on with the planning of the journey and are well into the third month of travelling now. So far we are going to the Netherlands, then to Germany, on to Austria and into Chech Rep as Steve wants to see Prague. After that we are coming back through Austria and into Switzerland, then down through the Italian lakes to Venice and on down the leg of Italy to catch a ferry to Greece. We have decided against the Adriatic coast as it would involve driving though Serbia - with the problems between them and Kosovo our relaxing journey may take on a different atmosphere - so we decided against it. A shame as it is supposed to be very beautiful. Maybe another time.

So our time has been used very effectively as you can see - not long now thankfully as Steve is wilting and more than ready for a break. At least he has six days off over Easter - that will give him the rest he needs to take him through the final weeks of work.
And so it goes on......