Hi,

as we've now done all we can do and are just waiting patiently(!) for our visa I've started to think about when we actually leave and have come up with a couple of questions...1 - is everyone having one big leaving party or lots of little "meet ups" with people before they leave 2 - how soon before leaving are you going to have the party or start meetups and 3 - is anyone taking people to the airport?

I think we will probably have one big party. I thought about having it about 1 week before we leave but my sis reckons we should have it maybe a month or so before. I don't see the point in that though as there's still the chance you will see those people again and have to say goodbye all over again. I'm really going back and forwards though when it comes to having people at the airport. Not sure at all what we're going to do. I don't want to hurt anyones feelings by asking them not to be there but then again I don't want to start this huge journey by spending 3 hours blubbing my heart out

What are your thoughts?

Yvonnex

I can't seem to count how many questions my post contains!

We are having a big work do for each of us when we finish work then a friends do (resturant type thing) spending a few days before we leave with my mum then going to his mums for the last few days. That way not only do we get to say goodbye but we have a free roof over our head and now mother in law has said she'll drive us to the airport so that saves us another £150 (every penny counts to set up a new life)

When we finally get our visa's we plan on having one big party the Thursday before we fly out as we are hoping to get a Sunday flight. I would expect that both sides of the family will come to the airport to see us off which means another few jars and another set of goodbyes at the airport!!!

Hiya, about a month before we left we had an 'open weekend' type do where there was an open invitation for people to come to our house anytime from 12pm on the Saturday or the Sunday or both as some did!!!

Enjoy whatever you do C x

We had a big party in July and didn't move over until November. There was a possibility that our house sale would go through during the summer holidays so we had the party just before the end of term knowing that everyone would be around. As we didn't move until November, we had lots of small dos then.

The party was great because no one, including us knew when we'd go so there was no emotion nightmare, just a flaming good party

we had one big one 2 weeks before we left, but i think leave it as late as poss, because as everyone was leaving they were saying, oh we'll pop over b4 you go and oh right we'll have a night out sat etc, and i just found it neverending really, but up to you in the end!!!! good night though didnt realise we had so many friends,,,, not having another one next time though just gonna go. good luck

Any excuse for a good knees up Moneypen !!!!! I like the way you think!!!!

Wont be having a party. Will just meet up with people as the time gets closer. Cant deal with being the centre of attention like that.

I thought about how I'm going to handle to 'leaving for the airport' situation. I'm from Mayo but currently living in Dublin. I will be back in Mayo before I go for a short while and so will probably have my parents drive me to the airport. Not looking forward to that even though its miles away yet. I would prefer to leave them in Ballina and just go. But, to be honest, I'm a bit annoyed with myself for not seeing them enough. Leaving for Australia doesnt help.

My uncle died recently and was at his funeral last week. When he died he had all of his kids there. Made me feel sad as I wonder where I will be should something like that happen to my parents (touch wood).

I didnt want to - would have prefered to just pop round to say goodbye to people, but OH dad has organised one for the 4th May and has hired a hall and everything. We are leaving Friday 9th May and he is taking us to London where we are staying at OH brothers who will then take us to heathrow on 10th May.
Going our with friends though the week before

Having a typical Singapore-expat champagne brunch a couple of weekends before we (hopefully) leave - didn't think an all day sesh the day before we pack up was a good idea - and a friend is hosting a drinks party for us a couple of days before we leave, as some people can't make the brunch and also we have so much booze to get rid of.

Also already getting invitations left right and centre to dinner or drinks with individuals.

No family here to say goodbye to, but quite a few friends we've made in the last six years although I doubt it's goodbye, just au revoir. Such is the expat life.

We're flying out in sixteen days time and are having lots of little meet ups. Had one with work colleagues on Saturday, am seeing old school friends the Saturday before we go, and meeting other friends separately.

No way could I cope with a big party, I would be a mess. It's a lovely idea though.

Hi there,

Were not going to have a party. We thought we'd have a dinner party with a few close friends and another one for family.

Definitely NOT going to have people wave me off at the airport. I think it would upset the kids too much.

Well we're getting married a few weeks before we leave! So I guess our wedding will be a big leaving party in a way as well!

We'll see some people again before we leave, but there will be plenty of people we won't.

Oh, and I'm definitely leaning towards us going to the airport on our own, although I'm not sure how my parents will take that. But I don't really want to start our honeymoon and our new life together as a blubbering wreck - I want to be excited!

We leave 14th April. Having a couple of work do's. Going to the Grand National for ladies day with the girls! So look out for me on the t.v! I'll be the one WITHOUT the Hat Having a party for everyone on the Friday, recovering on the Saturday and saying goodbye to close family on the Sunday. My mum is desperate to take us to the airport, even though she does'nt if we are just going on holiday But we have managed to put her off, I really don't want tearful goodbyes at the airport!

MIL wanted to take us to the airport, but in the end after (gentle) persuasion from us, accepted that it was not a good thing to do for any of us. They are dropping us off at the train station, which is going to be bad enough, but do-able.