And, it goes without saying, poor, neglected readers. Okay, I know I don't actually have that many people who read my blog but to those who do... sorry. I didn't forget you. As you can imagine I have been extraordinarily busy in the lead up to the move and, as it wont to happen in our lives, things have not exactly been going to plan so some days are rather more hard work than they should be and I can't be bothered trying to put a 'nice spin' on it. Again, sorry.
So without dwelling on the negatives too much
We found out today that the employee from the moving company who booked our move forgot to tell anyone else in the company about it. Luckily Hubby was in need of some boxes to pack up some stuff from work and got in touch with them today and this has now been remedied. We're being packed on Monday, uplifted on Tuesday and plan to drive out of here next Wednesday.
Our tenants have refused to let us break the lease agreement (as is their right, Bugger!) on our house but after much sweating, a bit of crying and many many phone calls we have finally managed to find a short term rental in the same area. We have an application in and have our fingers, toes and everything else anatomically possible, crossed that it will be accepted. We'll find out by the end of the week - otherwise it's spare-room city at the in-laws for the next 3 months. I love my in-laws (aka Grandma and Grandpa) lots but who wants to live in some-one else's spare room with two kids for three months?
The job that had been in the pipeline has been kyboshed (ie, is dead in the water!) as the school has a new principal and he doesn't want to do things that way so the position no longer exists. This one's a big bummer. Okay, it wasn't my dream job but it took a fair bit of pressure off knowing that I probably had a job to go to. Now I have to add job-hunting to the rapidly growing to-do list.
But...
We had a fantastic farewell party on Saturday night. We had 60 or so people in the backyard, loud music, lots of champagne (well for me anyway) and some simple but yummy food. It was great that so many people turned out and it really meant a lot to Hubby and I that they all came. I kept the food very simple - I wanted to enjoy the party not spend the night in the kitchen - big platters of dips, olives, vege sticks, cracker biscuits, etc and stuffed (also known as twice-baked) potatoes along with roast beef and gravy rolls for dinner. I cooked three huge pot roasts in the slow cooker in the couple of days before the party and then just had it all sliced and kept warm in one slow cooker with the gravy in another on the night. It worked out great, was nice and filling and I'd definitely do it again. We'd told people not to bring anything but lots of them bought a plate or two (or in the case of my friend, R, several!) and that was lovely too - we had everything from fairy-bread for the kids to delicious pinwheels and a huge platter of fruit for after.
I also made my last trip to Port Red Dirt last week. After all the rain following Cyclone Pancho there was lots of water on the road and it made the trip a little scary a couple of times, especially when I was driving back in the late afternoon and feeling a little weary, but it was nice to do one last trip.
Well, our time in Red Dirt Central is rapidly drawing to a close and my feelings are quite mixed. I bawled my eyes out writing good-bye cards for a couple of girlfriends today but am also looking forward to going 'home'. I'm pretty sure the mixed-up-ed-ness will only get worse over the next few days.
