A Spanish Adventure

Where do the family and friends come from

Have you found that when you mention moving abroad how many family and friends you suddenly get, relatives you have not thought of in years let alone seen, come out of  the woodwork and selflessly volunteer to visit you, (like you want visitors 2 days after you have moved, when your up to you hair line in boxes and that stuff you could just not part with).

Friends (very loose term) that you avoided at school, who have added you on network sites  see you are going and like flies round a fresh pat become best friends and offer their services (once you have moved of course), but never actually commit as to what services they are or how long they intend to stay.

So do we sneek out of the UK, telling only people in confidence then making them sign something close to the offical secrets act or do we hold a big party and invite them all, then refuse to wear deordorant hoping that the smell will put off any ungenerous offers of visitors (well ! that is now my choice). 

At the moment I fancy the party, just so I can torture their sence of smell .

Back to basics

It is very strange when you decide to move and you start to look at all your belongs, how we go through different stages.  I have made the decision to move and now comes the hard the work, parting with our goods (years of clutter really) but ,it is strange how we become attached to our STUFF, we justify keeping it with really silly reasons (the dog might need it when he reaches old age, it belonged to the neighbours grandmother, the fact that they gave it you should say alot,    ). 

So we start with the easy stuff, leaflets-pizza etc, the things that have gathered in depth and dust on the tables (good start), old paperwork that you always think you should keep (paid bills, bank statements leading back a decade, dog vacinations certificate usually from our pet that passed away years before and all those bits that we keep for the sake of it).

 Then we go through the kitchen and chuck out odds and ends but keep most of it because it could be worth a fortune on cash in the attic and  then the wardrobe gets a quick glance, out go the shoes we have not worn for 20yrs and clothes that even the moths pass over, but again we keep most of it ( as we are moving I will lose that weight and get into that outfit 2 sizes to small so I will keep it ) .

Now we have been busy and threw out at least 1 black sack of paperwork, about half a dozen clothes items and that cracked mug that has sat at the back of the cupboard we are feeling decidely pleased with ourselves and think that was easy enough.

We next make THE phone calls, having scoured the internet for transport companies that will take our belongings to our destination, we call them up and ask for their advice on what we need to do and finally we get down to the price, having picked our selves off the floor when they give us the quote we realise that we have to rethink what we are taking.

The start of the adventure

For 20 yrs I have wanted to move abroad but with kids, life and all things in between it has never happened.  So 20 yrs on here I am about to start a very Spanish adventure. Last week on a whim I flew out to Spain found where I fancied going and then flew back. In 5 weeks I move, so I am now on count down (talk about setting myself a task).

So what your going to read is hopefully the ups and downs of my Spanish adventure, the frustrations with the move, the downs of leaving family and the highs of starting something new.

It is never easy making changes but I learned when I ended up divorced that sometimes life throws you a curved ball and it is how you deal with it that can make you stronger or destroy you to your very foundation. The divorce destroyed me but also gave me the confidence to look beyond the we and more at the I. 

Having now raised 2 children to adulthood, seeing one of them start their own family it is now time for me to do what I have always wanted to do (gee I sound like Shirley Valentime but no Greece).

So this is where it all starts and if I can give others the courage to pursue their desires what ever that is then it is worth it. You only live one life and to live what is left with regrets for what you never did makes it questionable.