We're back in Wellington!

We've been back in Wellington for almost 4 weeks now, and loving it. B has had his first week of work this week, and I've just signed the papers for a new job (just waiting on references). Steadily catching up with family and friends has been fantastic, including the simple pleasures of running into people you know on the street on any given trip into town.

Under da sea!

Yesterday we took one last look around our empty and now extremely clean house, locked the door, and gave the key back to our landlady. This was it - nothing now tethering us to the UK except our train ticket out.

(Look! It's mostly clean!)

Right now we're in a hotel in Gent, Belgium... more photos to come!

2 days to go...

It's 2am, and we've finally finished packing. All the furniture has been sold or given away, and the house is mostly empty.

The movers, when pressed, gave an arrival time of "between 9 and 11am" which means either 8am or 12 tomorrow. Hence our semi-allnighter.

Special thanks to L & G for dinner tonight, and S as well. We're really excited about getting to Germany... if the car makes it. It is not well.

And a special un-thanks to the babyfood-yellow slug I stood on earlier tonight in bare feet, while walking outside to get something. I think my foot just skimmed it as it kept moving, but I was traumatised. I will not miss you, oh UK slugs of doom.

And then there was one....

Oops. We've already packed away or given away all our crockery, bar a set each. Earlier, I dropped one of the coffee mugs, which shattered completely. I'm still picking bits of melamine out of my feet. Lucky Brendan barely drinks coffee, then.

Leaving on a jet plane....

Or in this case, the Channel Tunnel, which my work friends tell me is called the Chunnel. :) On Thursday. (!!!) These next few days are going to be a whirlwind, but I'm really looking forward to travelling. I left work at 5am on Friday just as the sun was coming up... home at 6am and off to London at 12pm on Sat to see friends who flew down from Edinburgh. (Photos to come!)

Right, more packing. We have to re-show the house tonight - think the last one fell through. Eek. Missing the fishies already.

Planning... The Return

It's official - I have told most of my clients, with some sadness. We're leaving the UK in July!

We'll likely be back in Wellington in September. I hear there are tables practically booked at certain restaurants already. :)

Right now I have just under a month left at work, and so does Brendan. I've already started packing, but I keep having to unpack things I want again so probably not the best idea!

Very much looking forward to seeing you all when we get back.

A guide to British-isms of the white middleclass variety

A quick guide to some phrases you may encounter....

• "I'm not being funny but..." = I'm about to complain or say something negative
  
• "yeah" = quantifier similar to "innit"/"eh", one rung up the social ladder
  
• British place name pronounciation: "ces" = "s", "thw" = "v". Or just say it fast and you'll be right.
• "You alright?" = How are you?
• Lush = nice