I’m now down to two weeks and two days before we leave – omg. I wasn’t sure I’d made much progress since last week, but writing it down has helped me see that I’m slowly getting closer. A lot of my time has been taken up with doing our insurance claim – that’s another story to tell – as we were recently robbed of everything, so the claim is taking FOREVER to do. I’ve also had some non-packing activities to execute! You can read about what I did last week in our three weeks to go blog post here.
I’m still working three days a week in the city and time is running out. Here’s what I’ve accomplished in the past week while working in the city, freelance writing, blogging, enjoying wines and hosting an UnBirthday party.
1. Emmie’s UnBirthday Party!
On this trip Emmie will celebrate her fourth birthday overseas – I do feel bad that she has missed out on a lot of birthdays and parties, so it was important that she had a celebration before she left.
She invited a few friends from her old school over – she has missed them – and she had the most AMAZING sleepover. I moved our lounge and table from the back room and Shaunagh from The Slumber Club set it up with beautiful teepees for the girls to sleep in, fairy lights, pompoms, super comfy mattresses and lovely doonas and covers. We also added a few activities – it was really important that this was a super special so Shaunagh set up a selfie station and the girls did pillow case decorating too – each pillowcase had their name on it!
After some games the girls watched a movie – very handy that I’d removed all the paintings and prints so the walls were blank – and went to sleep. And I hardly slept, popping up to check they were warm and still breathing! It was perfect! And while it took up some valuable packing time, to see Emmie’s face and happiness was worth it.
2.Insurance claim
I’ve been working on this and it’s taking so long. There is so much we need to claiam – we carry our lives on our backs, and the thieves took it all. Apart from all our clothes and books and everything in our suitcase, we had our carryon bags and our electronics bag, and all of it was stolen. Some of the stuff I don’t even remember until it pops into my mind – like the packing cubes I didn’t even think of until I was at Kathmandu trying to source receipts for our carryon bags. So this is also holding me up buying stuff cause I want to see if CoverMore will pay us before I spend any more of our limited fund.
3. New passports
Well yes, our passports were stolen when we lost everything so I have finally completed the applications – time consuming and expensive. I realised I should have done this weeks ago as we only have 13 working days until we leave so it will be down to the wire. We had our passport photos taken yestersay ($37 and then I found some an hour after we got home) and I submitted the passports today – fingers crossed we get them back in time.
4. Storage
I’ve been getting storage quotes, I forgot how expensive it is. $200 a month for a small shed has inspired me to sell more – this needs to be completed this week
5. Booked the lawn mowing and cleaning
Both have been booked in for the day before we leave so the house is looking good for the tenants.
6. Garage sale
I don’t know when or how to do this. I’m thinking of putting everything into a room and posting on all the local groups to come and browse and buy. We have so much clothes and toys, plus I want to sell our furniture and beds too. I need a plan and it has to happen soon.
7. Application for long term travel (school)
I’ve completed the form and sent it off with Emmie who handed it in to the office today. “You’re being smart, mum,” Emmie said when she saw wat I had written to the question, ‘why are you traveling?’ But I wasn’t. It’s our reason. To live.
8. Health stuff
Results from my mammogram are in and all is good. I had an x-ray and more blood tests last week re my auto-immune/arthritis and saw the specialist yesterday who said my inflammation shows improvement but to go back on the steroids when I need it. He also gave me the first of two ‘biological agent’ injections that should help – and a script for more steroids for the trip.
9. Council cleanup
Do you have council cleanups? We get two per year per household and you have to book pretty far in advance. It’s all booked up and I don’t have any left anyway so I’ve found a friend who has one tomorrow and tonight I took around some of our larger items to add to her pile.
10. Unexpected finds
I’ve had a few good finds this week – 60 euros in an envelope, 120 US in a toiletries bag and $50 AUD.
So that was fab! I also found – while searching through my credit card statements to find receipts for
insurance, a wrongful hotel charge ($155) and $680 of Amazon charges for a subscription I cancelled three
years ago. It’s getting refunded. Unreal huh?
11. Farewell drinks & catch ups
You should have this on your list. I’m trying to catch up with people but I feel like it’s not gong to happen – I have no time and it’s heading into the Christmas season. But I’ll try and see as many people as I can before we go. Last time I had a big farewell in the city and Emmie had one too, but this time, ogh well…I’ve jut got to focus on the packing up!