There had to be some trauma didn't there?

What a couple of days we have had. The removal men came bright and early yesterday morning - three of them. We took them round the bungalow explaining what was to be left - it is a furnished rental here, what was needed for the caravan and what was to go in the container to go to Cyprus. That is confusing enough but they split up and did different rooms each and we were trying to keep and eye on all of them. They kept having to reopen boxes to remove stuff and basically they were just like a swarm of locusts devouring all our belongings as they went along. That does not mean they were difficult people - they were great young men who were very hard working. They were courteous, chatty and easy to have around - I suppose most homes are just packed up in total and taken away - ours was just a bit more complicated thats all.

They left the lounge until today so that we had the television and computer until the last minute so after we had enjoyed a good nights sleep they turned up again this morning and cleared that lot out. They left us at about 10am with everything packed away. Then Steve and I set to work cleaning everything in sight cupboards,windows,venetian blinds etc etc. Then we took lots of empty boxes and some other stuff to the dump before returning home and going through the inventory before the final check tomorrow. Everything is here that should be here so thats good news.

Pat called round for a final chat before her yoga class and while we were talking disaster struck!! I was telling her about our immediate travel plans when I realised with horror that our camping cheques had been packed in the container!! £650 worth of pre paid cheques for our camping sites across two thirds of Europe. Stupidly we had left them in a drawer instead of putting them with our important documents and they had been boxed up. I quickly phoned the removal company and explained and they went to look for them. At least we could narrow it down to the dining room boxes. We are still waiting to hear back from them as I type - we are silently praying.

As a result we have opened a bottle of wine - not that we need much of an excuse anyway but we are rather anxious to say the least.

So we sit here with the laptop and newspaper for company, a meal cooking in the oven and a glass of wine in our hands - and the trip of a lifetime ahead of us - life could be worse I suppose! Its only money and thats what insurance is for.