The days drag inexorably on...
Jude and I were talking last night. For her, the excitement is building. For me, the closer we get to leaving, the more unreal it seems. I was explaining it to a friend tonight as like walking towards a large wall... from a distance you can take it all in, but the closer you get, the more the edges and top become unavailable to your eyes....
All metaphors aside, our first United Airlines-shaped sun is dawning.... ha
Just over 3 weeks to go till we leave for Sydney. We spent an extra $150 so that our exit from terra-australis wasn't on a red-eye. A good $150 I reckon.
Last weekend we did a dry-run to the Adelaide airport with Jude's medications trussed up in their 'flight gear' – a thermos with frozen icepack and 6 epi-pens within. We were braced for the ferocious scrutiny, but pretty much just got waved through... nothing like a good anti-climax. We actually felt quite elated. We quizzed a couple of departure-lounge staff about what we had, and whether they'd have any issues, and if they new of any horror stories from the US customs, but they all seemed to say that if we had a doctor's letter [which we do] that it all should go smoothly. Here's hoping.
We also took the opportunity to familiarise the kids with some airport things... arrival/departure screens, flight numbers, luggage carousels, departure lounge numbering etc. They are chafing at the bit to leave... Zoe particularly is looking forward to air flight because she 'likes that they serve chocolate muffins!'. Ha! No doubt by Dec 29th, she'll be as sick of airports and planes as a teenager is of zits.
Virtually everything is in place... tax return is basically ready for June 30, renters for the house, someone to replace me at work - handover has started, letters from doctors, vaccinations, gmail accounts, tickets paid for, all friends [at last contact anyway] still happy that we're coming to stay, accomm booked and paid for, car storage arranged, first aid kit, scrap books for the kids… and countless other things large and small. There is still a list of things to do, mostly admin stuff. We feel on top of it at last... thank goodness we're anal about writing lists. I can't imagine how stressed we might be otherwise.
Even as of a couple of weeks ago we had filled up most available nights for dinner with friends. Kind of touching really... perhaps they all just actually want to make sure we finally leave?!
By our last week, we should have relatively little to do, just pack, clean the house, and have a party. [Note to self: remember to book a taxi!]
As we begin our journey, we'll keep this blog flowing... pictures, movies, impressions.
Can't wait....
