23rd May 2008

That's the removal company booked to ship our stuff to Oz. They are coming on the 24th of June to pack and then the 25th to actually take the stuff away. That means we have a week between them taking our stuff and us leaving. Which is a bit of a pain but I guess it also means getting it a week earlier at the other end.We have to go around and say all the items made from wood, which are woollen or are under 12 months old. As customs need to check them. As we have not been buying anything of substance for the last few months ( as we knew we were going) I don't think we have much under 12 months old,occasional bit of clothing and that is it. The clothes I got for the new Sydney office came to a grand total of about £17 (thank you Marks and Spencers sale rails) so I don't think the tax will cripple us there. All off our electrical equipment is either ancient, second hand (you know I have my mum and dad's old microwave which is at least 15 years old and still going strong) or being given away.
The company is sorting out our initial accommodation at the moment - they are putting us in serviced apartments, which is great as we will have a kitchen and stuff. Much more convenient than a hotel room - especially for an extended period. Also means that I can walk to work - which is a bonus.
The kitchen trundles on, not as fast as I would like but then nothing ever goes fast enough for me. Hopefully the right hand side will be tiled today and then the left hand side can be stripped and replaced. Doors are going on and we have worktop so moving forward.
I am attempting to loose some weight before I go and I think all it is doing is making me hungry and grumpy! I hate to be hungry and with stress already piling on I don't think this is helping. But I am fed up with being overweight and I AM going to do something about it this time.....hell, I'm hungry....

The evolution of a kitchen

Before:

Worktop on one side only

Huge floor standing boiler
Nasty tiles, open shelves

During:

Boiler on the wall,

cupboards going in on

right hand side
Tiles on, food going in.

Can't wait for the after!

20th May 2008

My camera broke yesterday. It had been working fine and then it just wasn't. I charged the battery and took out the memory card but no change. The lens is stuck out now and you can here the mechanics inside whirring away when you press the on or off button. I have emailed Casino (its an Exilim Z1000) but as it is just over the year old don't hold out much hope.
Its really quite annoying. I wanted to take some pictures of the house as we went along and pop them up here - so everyone could see how it was coming along. It also means I will need a new camera, as I am sure there will be lots of things to take pictures off in Australia. Up to this point I had been very happy with the camera. Bit of a pain.
Been organising getting Power of Attorney for the sale of the house today. We might not need it as we already have a solicitor and we can FedEx stuff back and forward but it will be a good back up for when the house does sell. Just need to appoint a family member who can sign our life away on our behalf. I think selling the house is the best option, I think I would just be worrying about it all the time if it was rented. We have done so much work on it and I would hate for someone to ruin it. I guess if they buy it then they can change it all. But at least its all ready to move into, nearly new bathroom, brand new kitchen and boiler, all the rooms painted and the garden looking good. Someone will be lucky!
We got the go ahead for the shipping of our furniture today - so just need to decide when we are going to do that and then get the firm around to pack it all into a big container and cart it off. We are not allowed to pack it ourselves due to custom regulations - which I am actually quite glad about. I am continuing to sort my clothes and things out. There are really four categories. 1) Things I really don't want and to be taken to the Charity Shop. 2) Things that I do want, but not right now, these will be shipped. 3) Things I will take with me on the plane. So that's mainly work clothes and a few casual bits to get going with. 4) Stuff that I will wear for my remainder of time here and then jettison before I go. Which will mean that I will be wearing scabby gear for the last couple of weeks here.
It will be good when we get the kitchen finished because most of the stuff currently lying around our bedroom is from the kitchen. So when all that goes back in then we can get our bedroom back, instead of sleeping in the spare room. Even if it is only for a couple of weeks.

Sunday 18th May

Keith and I are getting on with the kitchen today. He is building frames to box in pipes and I am painting and constructing units. Every little helps I guess.
I made a tough call yesterday. I told my parents I didn't want them o come say goodbye to me at Heathrow Airport. I well up when I even think about the event and its going to be really tough leaving Edinburgh and the family here. I am hoping that I will have regained some composure by the time we get to London and I think it would be just awful having to go through it twice. It sounds selfish and I feel bad about asking this of them but I just think I would be such a state.
I am going to see them for a few days in June to say goodbye, to them and my grandparents, so I will see them again before I go.
I am doing the right thing by going - but that doesn't stop it being very hard.
Right, off to construct some drawers, need to get this flipping kitchen finished!

How tight are BA?

Well, got a standard email reply from BA stating that you can only take one 23kg bag and if you want to take a second that will be £60 please. What a rip off. But what can you do? Can't fight the system.
They are not my favourite airline to fly with anyway, actually they are my least favourite, but there is benefit to sticking to one airline, you can get your luggage sent end to end and if the flights don't join up they will punt you onto the next one. So its BA by default. As long as they get us there - it will all be good.
They have lost my luggage on two previous flights so lets hope they don't muck up this time....

Visa has arrived!

We got our Visa this morning, super quick, only applied on 18th April. Just been on and booked our flights. 17:15 on the 2nd of July. No going back now.
Keith is still working hard on the kitchen and I am sorting out what I can. Scanning documents, doing the garden, sorting through clothes and what not.
Emailed BA tonight to see if we could get extra baggage allowance for emigrating so we will see what they say.
Still feeling really surreal. Handed in my notice today - but as everyone has known for a while didn't really have much impact.....
That's my mum and dad, brother and Keith's mum and dad sorted for webcams now. We have been practising with them and they seem to work really well. I really do think they will help a lot with the separation of the family. Christmas will be odd but at least we will be able to see each other and there will be no fighting over the last chipolatas on-line.
Off to get a drink now, think I deserve it. Today I got my via, resigned, did an hour at the driving range and booked flights to Australia - a good days work I would say!

Mumbai for Dummys?

Well, its goodbye Mumbai, and Edinburgh and Winchburgh and Hello Sydney. Yes, Keith and I are emigrating (subject to visa's) at the start of July. My blog therefore is going to undergo a make over and become a Idiots guide to getting to and staying down under.

I will be keeping you up to date on the stresses and pleasures of moving to the Emerald City.

The story so far. I have a job, Keith doesn't (yet), the Visa's are lodged and we had our chest x-rays today - so let's hope I didn't catch TB in India! have had quotes done for the house removal and we are busy getting on with the house. I will keep you up to date on the renovations to.

I will be at work for about 6 more weeks and then will have 2 weeks off to pack everything up and see everyone before I go.

Please keep tuned in...