'Homeless' and keyless

Just about to move out. Feeling sad but relieved that (almost) all my wordly goods have been safely moved to store. Robin, Nick and Bill did an absolutely fantastic job of stacking everything into 75 square feet, with room to spare. (See below). A warm sunny spring day made the job much more plasant than it might have been, with sandwiches in the garden at lunchtime.

The removal men...

thanks guys!

I've very mixed feelings now, sad but very relieved that the interminable weeks of organisation and admin are over, ready to get on with the next stage of my life. The really strange thing is not having any keys! (Well apart from the handful still in my handbag that I found and have no idea what they are for!)

Thanks also to Franky and Neil for their company and hospitality last night and for driving us to pick up our hire car for the next 4 days while we spend time with Robin's family.

penultimate - what does that mean?

Well, if the last one was the penultimate UK one, then this one is Penultimate UK 2 - the sequel, as we will try to fit one more in on the eve of our departure, sent from the Heathrow Airport Premier Inn - (as recommended by Lenny Henry!)

Well, lots has happened this week - Robin sold his car for more than the BMW garage was going to give him - but not much more (sobs), so that went Monday - first time he has been without a car effectively for 37 years!. Still, the trusty bicycle was still available and has taken him swimming, recycling and shopping. In between times we have been packing up Janes house ready for the big move out on Saturday, whereupon we will both be homeless and car-free for the foreseeable future. Having carefully transferred all of his music and important documents to his phone - his memory card failed. Robin is very impressed with his phone at the moment, as you can imagine :(

South East Water are convinced Jane has already gone and have been sending letters beginning " we understand  your property is currently empty..." - not quite sure who they were expecting to read it??? Tempting to send one back saying " Yes it is..."

Janes sons Robbie and Chris popped in to say 'bon voyage' which was great to see them before we disappear. Chris is still here and has spent time adjusting his body clock to student holiday time (mornings? - what are they?). Of course back in Santander world the clock runs completely differently - Robin has now been sent six credit card agreements to sign (he gave up on agreement 3) and still no-one there will issue him with a credit card or phone him and tell him whats going on, despite waiting 7 weeks. He now appears resigned to the fact that six will arrive just after we go!

Anyway - thats about all our news for now - there is so much to do still and little time to do it so we will sign off until departure time!

the penultimate UK blog - 2 Weeks to go!

Well, things are accelerating nicely - so much so that we can't keep up! Week began with a trip for Robin to get his final jabs for the trip - so he turned up Monday afternoon; used the computer setup at reception to log in and sat in the waiting room - for 45 minutes on a slow burn fuse. At that point I asked at reception if the travel nurse had taken a turn to the worse to discover that my appointment had been cancelled and that they had written to tell me. I pointed out that my mail was being forwarded and the letter had not arrived.! I then asked why the wonderful computer system could not have had a message on it other than "the  nurse knows you are here and you will be called when your appointment is due". Lot of red faces and mutterings went on from both sides. Went back Tuesday and managed to see the nurse that day.

Jane did her last Sams shift and on Tuesday went out with Jann to have lunch and a massage - very nice apparently! Have done some more emptying of stuff into the dump and a lot of time on the computer updating the travelling itinerary - discovered google maps is easy to use but not easy to edit - the trip round New Zealand should be very interesting. Jane foolishly agreed to do them for the Australian leg of the trip (he he). thursday  we popped and had lunch with one of her Aunts who has travelled the world and met a lot of very interesting people.
Meanwhile the Santander Credit Card saga goes on - robin applied for it many weeks ago and inbetween times robin moved in with Jane -this has thrown them into a tizzy and they cannot cope with a change of address. As a result, he phoned the application progress line - thats the line on which the person you speak to is unable to update  you with the progress of your application. She told him that they were awaiting documentation - "what documentation would that be?" he enquired " my screen doesnt tell me that" said the helpful assistant - "ok what documentation have you received so far" - "my screen doesnt tell methat "said the helpful assistant (no im not repeating myself - thats her job!) robin is going to contacted tomorrow! (a likely story)


Went to Reading today - someone agreed to buy Robins car (Yippee!) and he visited JMA in the afternoon. The Academy was just as bonkers as always, but it was lovely to see a lot of his old friends and make them all jealous!

Anyway we are off out for a bite to eat now - a final uk post will appear next week - hopefully more interesting than this one - stick with it and offer some comments

21 days to go!!!

Grandad at the new gate!

Well, up to seven followers already! - soon there will be hundreds, we think!! Well lots has happened since our last post - Jane has found someone to rent her house, and thanks to the skills of  the bloke living in the shed, the back garden now has a lovely new gate. (Makes it much less draughty too). Meanwhile there have been a number of attempts to attach the new loo seat - following attempts to glue the old one and wood-fill it. Mr and Mrs Meanie then went out and bought a new one.(Well Mr Meanie helped her carry it to the car) Meanwhile we discovered it cost twice as much to book a train ticket for the pair of us to visit Robins mum as it did to hire a car for four days - shame the car is a rollerskate size.We have had thirty two attempts to produce our final itinerary but we think that is going to run and run - its growing like topsy and will need a suitcase all of its own. Still the lovely weather this week has meant we have been been able to get out on some great afternoon walks in the sun.


 

luvely car!

Meanwhile the number of offers on Robins car has risen to a mighty none - yes none not nine! How can they resist -offers on a postcard please (sensible offers only -all others will be ignored!) Meanwhile Olly is holding a giant party with his website on the 1st April - he says its to do with music and a surprise pop band - nothing to do with us leaving on that day! The job of getting yourself out of a house continues, particularly when dealing with telephone companies - Virgin media very kindly offered Robin a refund of 3 pound and 6 pence (which they said they would send him a cheque for) and to let them know if it hadnt arrived in 60 (sixty) days! - theres a technology company for you

lists, lists and more lists!!! (30 days to go)

Here we are then, this is our first post - we are really using it just to work out how the blog software works. At the moment we are halfway through our preparations for the trip - Robin has sold his house and Jane has sold her car. Now all we have to do is sell Robins car and let Janes house. This however requires the preparation of lists - we have about nine lists and everything appears on at least three lists! Confused? - you will be -mind you it could be worse - you could be inside one of our heads!

PS: Pic is from our IOM hol last year, just working out how to add photos.