Tickets and contact details received!
Yesterday afternoon it all started to become very real. We have been notified of our departure and arrival times. We leave Sydney at 7.20 pm on the 8th July (one day later than expected) and we arrive in Port Vila at about midnight.
We have our flight details and a bed to sleep in when we get there. We will be staying at the Kaiviti Resort for at least one night - where to from there is still a mystery. Most accommodation is rented as furnished - however we have no idea what that will include! We have secured a Post Office Box for mail - PO Box 3104, Port Vila, Vanuatu. Please drop us a line!
I've just looked through my lists -and was surprised to see that all but a few items are completed. I've copied some music, bought more NiMh batteries, got the new torch, taken the dog for her vaccinations (no she's not going -they're the annual ones), created a family archive photo CD, completed the "Instructions to Executors" (oooh, how morbid is THAT!) and we're checking out freight companies. The wardrobe is amost bare, with winter clothes packed away, summer clothes on the back bed for taking with us. The house doesn't quite echo, but almost. And I'm sure the dog knows somethings up!
Another thing that has happened this week is that we have become very conscious of the personal cost of the decision we have made. Our friends here on the Central Coast are very happy for us and encouraging. They are however people that we have known and cherished for nearly ten years now and there are more than a few we have grown very close to. We are used to spending some wonderful evenings and events with them and we will miss them. There are some that are more than close to us - soul buddies is an apt description (and they know who they are!). It is heart wrenching to leave knowing that no matter what happens in this next two years, neither we, nor they, will ever be the same and our relationships will change. We will love them and we are thankful for their friendship - maybe they will visit us and maybe we will come home from time to time.
Christmas in July will be fun at Geoff and Gill's the week before we go - we have decided to go as Christmas Puddings!
We continue to stack and pack. It is a luxury to have all this time to do it and to be able to be ruthless about what we pack! The sound of the packing tape ripping off the reel and wrapping around boxes is constant but not hurried.
A few tears have been shed............. and there will be more............ and we are still excited and energised towards this goal.
We have our flight details and a bed to sleep in when we get there. We will be staying at the Kaiviti Resort for at least one night - where to from there is still a mystery. Most accommodation is rented as furnished - however we have no idea what that will include! We have secured a Post Office Box for mail - PO Box 3104, Port Vila, Vanuatu. Please drop us a line!
I've just looked through my lists -and was surprised to see that all but a few items are completed. I've copied some music, bought more NiMh batteries, got the new torch, taken the dog for her vaccinations (no she's not going -they're the annual ones), created a family archive photo CD, completed the "Instructions to Executors" (oooh, how morbid is THAT!) and we're checking out freight companies. The wardrobe is amost bare, with winter clothes packed away, summer clothes on the back bed for taking with us. The house doesn't quite echo, but almost. And I'm sure the dog knows somethings up!
Another thing that has happened this week is that we have become very conscious of the personal cost of the decision we have made. Our friends here on the Central Coast are very happy for us and encouraging. They are however people that we have known and cherished for nearly ten years now and there are more than a few we have grown very close to. We are used to spending some wonderful evenings and events with them and we will miss them. There are some that are more than close to us - soul buddies is an apt description (and they know who they are!). It is heart wrenching to leave knowing that no matter what happens in this next two years, neither we, nor they, will ever be the same and our relationships will change. We will love them and we are thankful for their friendship - maybe they will visit us and maybe we will come home from time to time.
Christmas in July will be fun at Geoff and Gill's the week before we go - we have decided to go as Christmas Puddings!
We continue to stack and pack. It is a luxury to have all this time to do it and to be able to be ruthless about what we pack! The sound of the packing tape ripping off the reel and wrapping around boxes is constant but not hurried.
A few tears have been shed............. and there will be more............ and we are still excited and energised towards this goal.
posted by Cheryl and Ron at 9:35 pm
1 Comments:
Good on you, you two groovers. What a great experience and such a worthwhile thing to do. Do you know yet what work you will be doing? I imagine something to do with education?
Will love to keep tabs on your activities via this blog and will put Vanuatu on my list of places to visit to catch up with friends.
Cheers
Janet Beckers
Post a Comment
<< Home