mumoffour

My first few garbled thoughts: Don't use plastic bags cos apparently things inside get sweaty with the heat and can't breathe so get mildew. When packing think "russian dolls" !!! Stuff pillows etc in drawers to use that forgotten volume. Everything gets pulled out of the container for inspection so really clear labelling is a must so they can quickly find the boxes they want to look at (usually labelled shoes, christmas decs etc) Don't use jeyes fluid for cleaning cos apparently it stinks to high heaven forever - use Milton or Zoflora (got mine from Homebase). Clean any rust off stuff with wire wool. Hope it helps?!

Was just perusing the website to see how much my inhalers were going to cost me and made a bit of a face when I saw the $$ amount - hubby asked what was wrong? I told him and his dead pan reply was "Either way you're going to have to buy them aren't you?" I do love a bargain but no such much that I'd die not to pay full price :biglaugh:

Thanks for the hugs everyone. Got dragged out to the park by 2 friends to take my mind of it all - and then a visit from my bestie for a hug. Have had a text from the new owners saying they'd been out for a lovely walk, had their dinner and now having a sleep. Weird reminders keep cropping up like answering the door and automatically putting my hand out to stop the dogs running out - apparently this will wear off in about a week :rolleyes:

We decided not to take our dogs because of the time to be spent in quarantine, the stress of the flights, the increased problems when getting a long term rental, and the costs - that we'll struggle to find now the house sale has fallen through. They've been re-homed together with a lovely couple who already have a 9 month old golden retriever called Molly so my Lucy and Harry will fit in perfectly. I was very lucky to have a friend who is a dog trainer and has many contacts in the re-homing/rescue circles who vetted the enquiries and made the whole thing as stress free as possible. This is the worst day so far in our journey to Oz :cry:

It's actually more common than you'd think to have a "close" family member that you just don't have any contact with. It serves me as a constant reminder to be a better parent to my children than my mother was to me. Seen her once in last 20 years at my little sisters wedding. I think though, that we may be the relatives the family wish didn't exist when we roll up in our purple fun bus and the kids just keep on spilling out pushing and shouting at each other like most siblings after a long car journey. Ho hum! Onwards and upwards as they say! lol

There's always a reason to delay - as you say when your eldest in is year 6, your youngest is then in year 3 so would the same reasoning apply and then you'd want them to complete year 6? If you're intending a permanent move, my opinion is that the sooner the better, to allow them to settle into the new education system as soon as possible. Also remember that due to the different semester breaks etc, the year they are in over here may not be the best year for them to join over there - it's not necessarily seamless and it's quite normal to change year group to allow for settling into new system. I'd also try and remember that it's easier, again in my opinion, to move a year 3 than a year 6 as one would hope that they're not so entrenched in the UK and more adaptable to the change. Good luck - as ever, decisions with kids and migration are never easy.

We're also comfortable in the UK and consider ourselves very fortunate. We're moving because the opportunities that we had growing up in UK and Dubai don't exist for our children any more; for example - we simply can not afford to put 4 children through University and we do believe that it was the making of both of us and has allowed us more choices in adulthood. Even if they do go to Uni and graduate with £x of debt, the youth unemployment rate is shocking. Dubai - we lived in Arabian Ranches for the first and third years and in Barsha for the middle one. I agree the culture is based on a pecking order. Our children went to JESS Ranches and we were really happy with it. I've researched the schools where we're going and think I've chosen well. Having done a stint in Dubai, I think I'll be well prepared to face settling in another new country. Re: the weather - it'll be nice to be able to leave the house in the summer :wink:

We should be over in Melbourne by mid July and I am defo sending my electric blanket with hubby earlier - damn heavy but so essential!

The company (large multinational) are not employing any new permanent people and so all new heads are being bought in on fixed term contracts. He is an engineer and his contract (1 days notice from either party) will be for 1 year. The project he's being bought in to co-ordinate is scheduled to last 3 years aprox and then we'll just have to see.....you do get a higher rtae of pay to compensate for the insecurity but there is always a slight worry that you sell up and relocate the family of 6 across the world just to be told "well actually we don't need you after next week (or tomorrow?!) Eeek!

We've finally had the contract through for OH to sign and now we have concrete figures I'm feeling more reassured though hubby is worried because he's never been a contractor before. He's panicking about the lack of job security mainly and because a day off will 'cost' him so much, will he ever actually enjoy the new lifestyle at all? On the positives: our house sale is slowly but surely moving along, the eldest 2 kids are excited looking at their new schools website and I'm loving the 'property porn' parade of houses on realestate.com. Can't believe we may actually get to book some flights soon....if.......hubby can be re-assured about life as a contractor - are there any out there in PIO land who can reassure him (and me!) slightly. I'll also be happy to read the negatives as all info is welcome info. Thanks

10 days about right. I scanned them in and then emailed to CO as attachments.

@ jozzy That helps big time - cheers!