The Final Countdown

This has been our last weekend in the UK!!! I can't quite believe it - it all seems very strange.

On Saturday evening we had our good friends Ann and John to dinner. I don't know what happens with these two but I never seem to get a photo of them - and it happened again despite my resolutions to do so. Anyway we had a lovely meal (if I do say so myself) and a lovely evening in great company. I will miss Ann - we have seen a lot in our time together both professionally and personally and she knows a lot about me and my life - as I do about hers. I sincerely hope you keep your promise Ann and John and come out to visit us soon. They brought us some great leaving presents-a book on Cyprus, a fantastic Dodo travel journal that they had personalised with details of us in Esmerelda. I will certainly use that on the trip. This morning I opened private presents from her to me that brought a tear to my eye. It made me realise that friends are few and far between and they need to be cherished.

Talking of true friends we have been today for a farewell meal to Pat's house. Toni joined us there and Pat laid on a wonderful meal of mixed starters including tasty meats and fish from her recent visit to Spain, then she served salmon en croute with veggies which was wonderful. For dessert she had made a pavlova and bought a very rich chocolate flan. Needless to say we were stuffed but very happy. Pat is a friend that I see on a weekly basis and we have shared many good and bad times together and the memories of them will remain with me for ever. She is also a true friend that will remain in touch and I know she will come out to see us because her flight is booked for September 14th - good on you Pat. She is coming out with Toni who is going to stay with Don and Barbara and no doubt we will share a great week together.

After our lovely meal we returned to the bungalow and decided to pack some clothes. There are clothes that we need on the trip so they went into Esmerelda, then there are clothes we need to put in the container to go out to Cyprus. Not forgetting the clothes we need for the next three days at home. Suffice to say that Esmerelda is packed with more than enough things to clothe us for our trip. We also used some empty suitcases that we brought down from the loft and packed them with some of our clothes in readiness for the container.

The removal company are arriving at 8.30am tomorrow to start packing our things. This seems very odd to Steve and me who are used to moving home ourselves. We have been told to put our feet up and let them work their way through the house and pack for us but it is not as easy as that. Some things belong to the bungalow, others need to go int the caravan and the rest needs to go to Cyprus. We need to direct them which is which.

We have worked our way to this point in time for ages and ages - longer than I can remember. We have saved our pennies over the years, built our dreams and managed our resources - and now the time has finally arrived. Some of the time I feel SO excited, some of the time I feel very anxious - but most of the time I feel bewildered and in a surreal state. I think when we leave with Esmerelda on Wednesday afternoon for the camp site in Colchester reality will finally dawn. I can't imagine that either of us will sleep much that night. But you never know - we may be exhausted and flake out - keep posted for the facts folks.