How to pack a suitcase

Hmm - what do you think? Mind you the best advice in the whole thing was only take half of what you think you need, and only three pairs of shoes. Wonder if Rose reads this blog these days?

Our furniture arrives (12 October)

This is one week late ... we have been pretty busy unpacking boxes.

 

Got a huge load off our minds

The container has been sealed and has gone. Hallelujah. Tonight we blob and watch TV, eating anything that is not fast food! The picture at left shows the container starting to fill. The removals guys hanging about were on lunch break ... not just lazing around. They actually worked very hard indeed, and we were very pleased with the service we got from Elliotts.

The picture at right was just before we sealed the container, and shows most of the packing team and your's truly. We were blessed with a lovely day ... and in fact the evening news tonight just reminded me that today is officially the start of spring here ... so I guess that means the start of autumn in our new home.

We still have quite a lot of stuff to sort out, so the house is not really empty. But it is a good feeling to know that the packing job is done. We shall enjoy the little wedding at the church tomorrow. I am preaching Sunday night at Horizon Baptist, and we will head to KwaZulu Natal on Wednsday now, since we heard today that Michelle will have her Caesar on Thursday, in Pietermaritzburg. It will be exciting to be able to see young Matthew Callum soon after his entrance into the big wide world.

By the way, Rose wanted me to correct any impression of marital stress I may have implied in yesterday's blog post! We have not really grumbled or argued or even got testy with each other in this whole process. Which is excellent. And amazing. Wonder if we have just matured well, or that those little green pills really do work. I even made supper tonight and brought home flowers. Tomorrow I may even have time to fly somewhere exoctic on my Flight Sim - haven't had a chance to do that for ages.

Packing Day 1

We fell into bed some time after 1am today, and were woken by Ashleigh at 6.30 as she left for her commute to work in Sandton. It is almost 11pm now, and we have not stopped most of the day, except for a quick pizza at lunchtime, when Al & Wendy Siebbeles popped in with food and a visit ... and supper, which was also take-out food. The boxes are probably about 80% done as we are about to call it a day. The fellas from Elliots were great, and efficient. We have learned just how much stuff we had stored away for rainy days!

Actually, our gardener/church worker, who is also a Zimbo, and I were discussing this very thing at about 4pm when he helped me cart a few boxes of stuff to the church. Zimbabeans pretty much grab anything they can and hold on to it for as long as they can. This crosses cultures, colour, and geographical location. Everything has some value in Zimbabwe, and so we store it, box it, hide it, want it ... even when to the rest of the world it is ready for the local tip.

The photograph was taken at supper time, about 7pm. Daisy, one of our Jack Russells, is looking longingly at Ashleigh's chicken bones. Ash is hiding from the camera. Lamentably, the Black Label box only contained ornaments. Day 2 should see the container packed and heading off to Durban. Rose and I may still be married on Saturday ... in fact I am officiating at a wedding on Saturday, so that should remind us both!

Containing ourselves

Durban harbour Felixstowe harbour

Our home is at a high level of organised pandemonium this week, as we move closer and closer to Thursday (tomorrow) when the packers arrive, and Friday when our container gets filled and shipped to Durban, to Felixstow, and finally to Worthing. We are told the MSC vessel, the MSC Florida, will carry the container. Actually, we are doing quite well, all things considered. Rose amazes me with her methodical ways. I think we have finally learned how to actually throw the rubbish away, and give things we don't need to people who do. It is almost midnight, and there are probably a couple of hours of work left for tonight. Sleep comes on Saturday ... maybe!