Moving day -1

Well we got the keys to the new house this morning, then came back and finished packing the rest of the stuff, minus the kitchen, ornaments and pictures. The packers came about 3.30 and completed the kitchen etc. They will be back tomorrow morning bright and early to move it all. When we arrived here we had a very small shipping allowance, only about 10 boxes. Before the packers came we had packed nearly 50 and they must have packed another 20! Oh dear we are going to have to sell/throw out a lot when we eventually leave this island!!

So far this has been the easiest and most stress free move we have ever done (and we have done a LOT of moves over our 34 years of marriage!) Normally at this point we are stressed that we have too much stuff, that either it will not fit in the lorry or we will be charged a fortune for the excess. This time we are only moving down the road and M's employer is paying for the removal!! We also usually have to remove all the picture hooks (there are always a lot being an artist!) and make good the wall and when we were in military housing they expected the house to be in pristine condition, so we often ended up redecorating. This time we will just sweep through and probably mop the floors, but in true military tradition we spent hours cleaning the oven so it looks brand new.....only to find that the oven in the new house is filthy!!! Oh well such is life, and the new house looks like it's been completely redecorated throughout in the 4 days since the previous tenant left!!

So tomorrow is moving day. Some saddness at leaving this house as it has been our home for the past six years, whcih is the longest we have ever lived anywhere during our married life. Our "baby" flew the nest from here (literally! to go to University in the UK) two years ago and so it was his last home with us. Most of the other kids have visited as well. My Dad spent two winters with us here, and as he has now sadly passed away we will not make any new memories of him at the new house. So always regrets when one moves on. However on the plus side we can avoid the Budaiya Highway and Diraz roundabout! Just got caught up in molotov cocktail throwing "game" with villagers and police tonight! 14 police cars at roundabout plus 2 apv's and a fire truck! Ooops probably shouldn't be writing this!

Well goodnight everyone and may not get back on here for a few days as we will loose our phone and internet at midnight and not sure how long it will take to reconnect at the new house.....don't have a warm fuzzy feeling that it will be anytime soon!