Three more sleeps

Here we are, less than a week to go and time is rushing by at an alarming pace. So much to do; so little time left to do it in! Somehow, it doesn't really matter how much one plans ahead, there are always so many things that can only be done right at the last moment, which is about now! The lists that I have making to remind myself of what still needs to be done, and when, are getting very terse and just reading through them makes me very aware of how tense we have both become in the run-up to this trip. I have a feeling that we will both only relax once we are sitting on the plane and waiting for take-off.
Talking of planes brings me to the fact that for the first time ever, we will be on a day-time flight, which is very exciting. None of that business of trying to will oneself to sleep while sitting in a really uncomfortable position, surrounded by strangers and in an extremely noisy environment. And as we are flying almost due north, there won't even be any time change. Brilliant!
Next post will be from Europe. Hold thumbs that we get it all right and manage to keep you all informed.

Departure day minus two weeks

Now it really is two weeks to D-Day and we have had to start the hotting-up process all over again. Something that I forgot to mention in last week's entry, was that Karen and Bruce also arrived to spend an extended weekend here. It was a multi-purpose visit, firstly to see Lynn as she was so poorly; secondly, to see Pieter whose visits to South Africa are fairly infrequent; and thirdly to see us before we left. It was a somewhat hectic time with us once more wondering if it was possible to get a season ticket for airport parking! It also meant that the second spare room, my repository for 'things-that-must-not-be-left-behind', had to be cleared to make way for Karen and Bruce.
Since then, however, several things have happened. Lynn's condition has improved radically and we feel much easier about our decision to go away. Pieter and Lisa have gone on a short camping trip to better enjoy the sunny South African weather and Karen and Bruce have returned to East London.
With the house back to it's normal two inhabitants, we were able to once again turn our thoughts to the upcoming holiday, and all that still has to be done or arranged. Almost at the same moment, our house-sitter arrived and asked if it would be possible for her to leave a few more things here, and in seconds, the 'things-that-must-not-be-left-behind' were back out on the bed again.
After the comings and goings of the previous few days, the sight of suitcases and clothes piled on a bed must have looked fairly ominous to the cat who promptly folded himself neatly and joined the other items on the bed. I fear it is all to no avail as a cat joining us on our holiday is not part of the arrangement.

Still three weeks to go!

Well, it may well be a week later, but we are still three weeks away from departure date due to dramas and developments that occurred during the last week, which have caused us to delay our departure by a week.
Firstly, Pieter arrived rather unexpectedly from Holland, to apply for a renewal of his Schengen visa which was due to expire. His application was successful, but for some reason has only been granted as from the 28th of this month instead of the date of issue as is usual. This means that he is stuck in South Africa until then. Because Lisa can't bear to be parted from him for so long, she has decided to join him and they will have a few days leave together, before both flying out on the 27th.
This, of course, means that there would be no-one at home to receive us when we arrived in Europe on the evening of the 24th, so we have had to postpone our flight.
Also, in the last week, Lynn's illness has taken a down-turn and she is now in a very serious condition indeed. We are hoping that this will turn around in the next ten days or so but if not, we may well have a very difficult decision to make.
Hopefully next week will bring better news.

Three weeks to go

Three weeks to go before the Big Adventure, and things are starting to hot up. Visa applications are in, with passports to be collected in a day or two. "Things-which-must-not-be-left-behind" are piling up in the spare bedroom, threatening to fill all available space in the luggage. But hopefully some really won't make it to Europe and the rest will be equally distributed among all the suitcases.

On the health front, we have both been doing a round of doctors and specialists to ensure that we are in the best possible health before embarking on this crazy stunt, and have at last been declared 'Fit to go'.

Our house-sitter has confirmed that she really is going to take over our house for six months, and as yet, the cat does not suspect a thing!