Well its started....

We leave in 2 weeks and had our first goodbyes yesterday with my beloved Gran. It was so incredibly hard.

The thought that I have 2 more weeks of good-byes and a party with everyone at is quite terrifying...

Anyone have any advice on how to get through it?

Thanks,

Emily

Large glasses of wine, at frequent intervals ??

Ah, best wishes - it's a weird old time, that's for sure. But try and enjoy it all too - I know that sounds a bit back-to-front but people, generally, will truly wish you well and it's lovely to hear them say nice things to you. (I mean, you've know them for donkeys years and they've barely said nice things to you!! )

We also leave in 2 weeks and had our first goodbyes yesterday with a small gathering of our closest friends who were all in disbelief - "you've been talking about for so long, but we didn't think it would happen so soon."

A few drinks and much reminiscing and laughing and promises of visits - consciously remembering and savouring the moment.

I've done this before when I left South Africa many years ago - then it was friends and family, this time it's just friends for me, but a brother for my OH.

There's no real trick - you have to get through it, it's got to be done and you keep focused on the excitement of the new adventure.
Easily said I know, but goodbyes are never easy, but they are part of life.

Good luck.

Rob.

I hate it at funerals when people say nice things about the deceased that they never actually said to them.

As a parting 'gift', how about writing a memory of each person, or for group of people/ fiends on a piece of note paper and giving to it them. A dear teacher made my class do that once and the one my best friend did for me is still in my wallet.

My worst part of all the good-bye's for me, was not the friends and family cos I knew they would be abusing us for places to stay during the ski season, would be on Skype, MSN etc. it was my dog (who leads a very comfortable life with my retired parents) and the disabled group that I taught skiing to, as they just wouldn't understand that I was leaving for good.

We leave in 2 weeks aswell and I have been dreading the "goodbyes" for a while now

Mainly because as soon as we booked our flights my parents decided to tell me they think we are making a mistake about moving and are not offering us any support - shame as this has been our dream for 6 years !!

So we are focusing on seeing the people who are just as excited as we are - mainly because they now all have somewhere to come on holiday for the next few years !!! - and it seems to involve lots of drinking and reminiscing which is always good fun

Good luck with the move and we may even see you at the airport - I will be the 1 pulling my hair out with 2 wacky boys lol

Good luck to you too!
Rob.

Eagle Eyes - where are you flying from/to?

We'll be recognizable as we'll be drowning with 5 huge bags, 1 large box, 2 bike bags, 2 carry ons and one cat!

Hi Emily,

I totally feel for you, we go on the 16th Nov and my biggest dread is my goodbye with my grandma and my two boys' goodbye with her. ( the first thing my youngest said when we told them what we were doing, was "what about mummy grandma?")

I just keep telling myself its our future, she is so happy that we are doing this.

All the best to you

Tina

[QUOTE=The TWs;5374211]Well its started....

We leave in 2 weeks and had our first goodbyes yesterday with my beloved Gran. It was so incredibly hard.

We leave in four weeks approx. Been put back by two weeks; already done one family goodbye party - which my brother and his family refused to come to! Have another party on the 12th which is getting out of hand -upto 250 people that we know of!
People all of a sudden are either hostile or tearful, we are finding it rather hard, because of the unpredictable responses we are getting now.
So no good advise, we just keep in mind the reasons we are going and work towards our own familys goals.
Good luck to you

My first goodbye party is on Oct 26th and we dont even have a leaving date yet - are they trying to tell us something

My OH parents are holding it for his side of the family, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins etc.

I only have one Granny left, who we were always closest too and everytime I see her I end up crying. Also my only sisters daughter who has just turned two, is besotted with me and I her and I dread leaving her. She is also getting a new baby bro or sis now in 18 days time and my sister keeps bemoaning the fact that it won't even know me:curse: As if things aren't hard enough.

So we can all sympathise with you and just hope we all get through it the best we can and keep th goal of Canada in front of us when the going gets tough

[QUOTE=Alvic;5377280]My first goodbye party is on Oct 26th and we dont even have a leaving date yet - are they trying to tell us something

My OH parents are holding it for his side of the family, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins etc.

This is what happened to us - my mum did last weeks party for my family (brother didnt come).
Big problem being the next party that we have organised - we have never had his mum and my mum in the same place, at the same time!!!
So emotions running high, plus we both have ex's who will be there because we are both taking with us teenagers from previous marriages, we are just hope that someone doesn't get arrested.
Not to mention all the teenagers friends who will be intent on getting drunk.
Anybody know a good referee?

Thanks everyone!

At the moment I'm just focussing on everything that still has to be done but its very hard - not sleeping isn't helping either...

Feels like we're in purgatory - just saying goodbye to people and everything here reminds us of what we're leaving (culture, pubs, beautiful old architecture) and as its so all-consuming its hard to focus on what we're going to.

I know when we get there we'll be fine but its this sort of limbo land thats hard!

I dont know about you, but we feel like we have been in limbo land for a long time; how long is a piece of string, seems to fit. Some days it doesn't even seem real to me that we are actually nearly ready to go.
I agree, lack of sleep doesn't help; but neither does an ever moving goal post, and hubby is now getting grief from work as he can't give them an exact leaving date (waiting for solicitors on the house sale).
"FOCUS" is the catch phrase we are using here.
Should all be worth it in the end!
All the best.

[QUOTE=manghams;5377326] I think you need to get drunk with the teenagers

[QUOTE=Alvic;5377348] Love to but I also have two more - 3 & 5 so some one has to stay relatively sober to watch them! I guess that will be me, hubby is to stressed any alchohol goes right to his head