Omm...

The day before we were leaving the UK for our new life in the Philippines, the mover's van rammed into my car which was due to be sold and picked up early the next day. Naturally, I freaked.  But in a freaking scale, it was more of a 4/10.  It's been said that moving home is one of life's more stressful experiences, but I find that I've actually been pretty laid back.  Perhaps it's because I'm still on holiday mode and it will only be when the children start school tomorrow that the panic will begin; or it could be that the previous year's experiences of the motorbike accident and cancer have made the entire process of moving a doddle.  Or perhaps it's simply because I've already had three massages in the week and a half we've been here.  Whatever it is, I'm just grateful.

Baby steps

It's been a week since we landed in the Philippines, to start our new life. I know I've been quite remiss with this blog, but as can be imagined, it's been pretty hectic. The day after we arrived, we left for our beach house which we'd been building remotely for the past three years. Needless to say, it was quite an exciting event to finally stay there. Admittedly, it was quite sparse as we have not furnished it fully, but it had beds, it had a pool, and we had our boat - so we can live with that.  We arrived back in Manila and have so far: bought a new car (a very un-sexy people carrier), sorted out the children's school uniforms, ordered furniture for the beach house, and today, we found a house to rent.  So, very slowly and surely, we are getting there.

Don't judge us

(April 6)  Received a mean look from lady at immigration when we were leaving the UK when she realised that LH and I were flying business class and the three little pigs were stuck in cattle.  I'd like to think that this is a 'character building exercise'.  LH and I have certainly had our share of flying in terrible conditions (a particular TAP Airlines flight comes to mind) so we feel justified in what we have done.  Perhaps, years from now, when the children are all grown and have become uh... full of character, they will thank us.  One can but hope.

When, indeed?

(April 6) I'm writing this as we're around twenty minutes from landing in the Philippines. And for some reason, this big move has still not sunk in. I feel like we're just on one of our holidays and we'll find ourselves back in the UK in three weeks' time.  I do wonder when it's finally going to hit home that this is a permanent move; that rather than going to the Philippines for our annual holidays, we'll be going to the UK instead. Will it be when the plane touches town? Or when we first set foot on our finished beach house? Will it be when the children start school on the 17th of April? Or will it be when we find a house to live in, or all our furniture (and stuff) arrive from the UK? Who knows? Watch this space.