Stressed!

The last few days have been demanding; they do say moving home is the most stressful time in your life, so travelling abroad  has got to exacerbate that a hundred fold. Of course if it was just a matter of packing, I would be coping far better than I am now, but moving across Europe is a logistical nightmare. I have made this journey several times before, but never having to sell everything I have ever owned.

We have arranged for the packing company to deliver the few boxes we are taking next week, so will try and remove all the other items by then. I have a good idea what I am taking, I am just finalising the last few bits and pieces. The one possession I want to take is of course Mollie Sugden. The painting I had commissioned of her, shortly after she died, is most definitely on the move with us. She even has her own crate to transport her to her new home!

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More items were collected yesterday, including a couple of oil paintings I had hanging in my lounge for many years. These oil on canvas memories, were always an inspiration towards a better life living in Europe and to be honest, they have also travelled with me, wherever I have been. Of course nothing is forever; in the end these are just items and I can't take them around with me indefinitely. They now have a new home in Torrevieja and I am delighted with the new owners; not that I am vetting them of course; I'm just happy they have gone to people who will enjoy them as much as me!

This morning I was up bright and early, I wanted to go for a long walk. Unsurprisingly I haven't done much exercise lately, with all the organising I've had to do; it was long overdue. It was nice having a few hours to myself, taking in the fresh air and thinking about the future. Despite moving, I haven't really thought about where I am heading. I have just been to preoccupied with finalising my life in Gran Alacant.  I have now at least had a bit of time to assess my future and make a few plans for the immediate few months. When I mull over what is currently going on, I do have to take a very large gulp and step back, confronting one obstacle at a time. We do have a lot of hurdles to cross, but none of them are insurmountable!

During my time with Darrell, we have moved over twenty times; maybe that's because of the nature of our relationship or possibly a mark of who we are as a couple. We have never really settled into a place long enough, to call it home. When you are torn between countries, it is difficult choosing the right one to put down roots. I could have moved abroad much earlier, any number of times, but somehow I was always pulled away. Looking back on my life now, we should have settled elsewhere, our life would have been very different, certainly more successful than it is now.

I have have made some very good friends in Gran Alacant, people we are not likely to see again. We are lucky enough to have come into contact with some truly wonderful characters. They have made our stay all the better, despite the roller coaster ride we have had. Expat life in Spain has been a gentle introduction to living abroad and I am now ready for that final stage, after the long goodbye to GA. This is an important time, no matter how stressful it is; we need to keep the flag burning until we depart and make sure we see everyone before then. My Spanish friends and neighbours have been a great source of support, more so now than ever and we hope to thank them all before we fly to Britain at the end of May.

Packaging, boxes, paperwork, memories, all strewn across my sitting room floor; all the things left in my life awaiting their fate. We have removed box after box of items to the Horse Charity Shop in Plaza Mayor and thrown many more bags of rubbish in the bin. Despite my life being on display for all to see, I am happy to be finally moving forwards to pastures new. The task ahead of us, even before we set foot in our new home is immense, but with the decision made, we can at least sleep well at night, until will leave this special country, starting the final chapter as a 'Roaming Brit' in an ever changing World!

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