T Minus 10

T Minus 10

Time is flying fast and although much has been done, there still seems a number of things we need to do before we go and time is ticking.
We realised last night was our last in the UK as a foursome as we sat round the campfire at Petruth Paddocks in Cheddar
Son goes off to Soul Survivor (a youth camp) for 5 days whilst we three head for Lincoln. We regroup for the last frantic days of packing and repacking at Anita’s parents Abingdon but there we will be six.
Not until Tanzania will we have an evening together alone as a four.

Still Here …… just

T Minus 20

We had a good day yesterday but in the end we were just not able to get everything into our car (and our in-laws). After three car loads we decided to call it a day – stay one more night and head off in the morning. So it’s now 1am we are returning from my in laws (Abingdon) back to MK for the very last time. The kids have gone with their Aunt and we shall all rendezvous for a well earned holiday in Cornwall tomorrow evening. The house is virtually bare but we have another car load / dump trip / charity shop visit to do before we go. We have barely had time to contemplate the end of our time in MK. I think the time of reflection will come in the next week. So many memories, so much of my life in this one town. More of this In posts to come I am sure.

When does a home become a house?

T Minus 33

I think our home becoming house.

Busy Day

T Minus 34

Today was an opportunity to day goodbye to our MK friends. We held an open house notionally from 10am until 5pm. Our last guests arrived just before 5 but it was great to everyone. A mix of folk from Church, neighbours, friends from Bekah’s school and their parents. Even friends from Singapore (now living in St Albans). A great day – lots of coffee, tea and cake was consumed. Exhausted now but it was worth it. At the same time we lost the patio set, a nest of tables, a TV, a keyboard. The house is looking barer now as it should.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That tingly feeling!

T Minus 39

It’s the last complete week at work for me and the last week at work/ school for the others ( I unfortunately have 2 days next week too). As I approach the terminus of my time at Lord Williams’s I am beginning to get that tingly feeling; that nervous anticipation associated with a big event. I guess it’s the fact that from tomorrow I shall start seeing my classes and carrying out routines for the very last time. My office is now virtually clear, barring a few files pertinent for now and some things to be passed on.

This time next week there will just be one morning to go and a leaving speech to give, after 11 years.
In other aspects of we will have said goodbye to St Mary’s, my church of 26 years and other friends locally at an Open House. Change is coming and it’s coming fast!

End of Year

T Minus 52

Today was the end of an era as I attended my last Year Team Meeting. As a Year 13 Tutor it really was the last task for me as my students have now left and I won’t be around on results day. It was nice to be thanked by my colleagues in the Sixth Form team and get a gift and card.

I shall miss being part of the sixth form team (where I have been for 4 years). Next year I’ll have a Year 10 tutor group in a different hemisphere. It’ll be different in lots of ways.

Next Month!

T Minus 52

I can’t believe that I am writing this.

Into Limbo?

T Minus 80

It’s strange to sit in a meeting where things are being discussed which will not be my concern. Such was the case at this evening’s staff meeting. Both agenda items concerned the future of the school, one from September the other for much further ahead in relation to buildings.
I have a view, obviously, but these will have nothing to do with me. It’s a bit surreal as until now these items have been of interest and or impact upon my life. Tonight I sat there only vaguely interested – this was weird. As yet the issues of my new school are still distant, I still have commitments here but I am moving into a limbo period – it’s happening gradually but it’s pace is increasing.
As stated in an earlier post – the same has happened with church.
The sun is setting on my time in the UK.

The First of Many Lasts

T Minus 136

Last night was the first of many lasts here in the UK.

I sat at my last PCC meeting. This, for those who don’t know, is the Parochial Church Council, a sort of elected parliament in the church, which helps to make decisions.

I have sat on the PCC for most of the past 24 years (with a 4 year gap in the mid ‘nauties’). I was first elected in 1990 – proposed at the AGM by a certain curate by the name of David McDougall, who is soon return to SMB, after many years away, as the new Rector (small world!) I have enjoyed PCC for the most part – generally good humoured but with robust debate on occasions, people genuinely seeking to do the right thing for God. I will miss it.

As we disentangle ourselves from the
UK, there will be many lasts. In truth some things may have happened for the last time, of which we have been unaware. Others happened before we knew we were leaving. This is the first thing which I can definitely say is my last.

The first of many lasts!

Family

T Minus 139

Today is the Wedding Day of Anita’s cousin, Owen, who is marrying Victoria at noon. Photo courtesy of Julian Sayer (taken from Facebook).

 

This provides an excellent opportunity to meet up with family. The first since we announced our intentions to move to Tanzania. Possibly the last meeting before we go.

We are of an age where most of our generation are married now and more often than not in recent years we have met up at Funerals rather than Weddings – so it will be nice to celebrate without sadness!

Family gatherings provide an opportunity to touch base and have a good natter – even in this era of Facebook and Status Updates – where I already know the location and activities of both groom and best man it is still important to touch base and I reckon that will be the hardest part of leaving the UK.

It would be great to know how other travellers feel

Stresses and Strains

T minus 155

Moving house can be stressful at any time. When that house is as yet unknown and over 4000 miles away in a different and developing country. When your probably going to take at most no more that 2-3 large cases each plus whatever you decide to ship. When you need to clear as much of existing possessions as you can before sale the stresses multiply.

The day by day routine of clearing and sorting is getting a bit onerous now and we are feeling the strain. It is the busiest time of year for work for me in the run up to the exams – so extra stresses and strains there. So Anita has done much more than I and her parents have been extremely helpful thus far.

We will eventually get through this and the act of clearing will be beneficial (we were great hoarders) but not yet.

The weekend sees an open house / sale for local friends and family on Saturday and a Car Boot Sale on Sunday. Hopefully this will make big inroads into our mountain of goods. As Anita recounted in an earlier blog “How do you eat an Elephant? – A bit at a time”. It just seems the elephant is more like a blue whale!!