Today carpets have been laid in the last of the spare bedrooms and in the dining room. When we moved in just over three years ago the latter was decorated in sludge on most of the walls and feature wallpaper with huge turquoise and shiny gold flowers on the chimney breast. I thought feature wallpaper was a hideous mistake that was had been lost in the mists of the past but it seems to be a big thing up here in the North-east. The floor was a nasty quality "oak" laminate. The room is now transformed with soft cocoa-coloured walls, aubergine where the feature wallpaper was (for practical reasons), thick and bouncy aubergine carpet and aubergine curtains. It no longer echoes when you talk. I almost want to stay. 
Just the sitting room – currently full of its own furniture plus that of the dining room – still awaits new carpet.
I have spent the day trying to work out the value of everything that is going to be shipped for insurance purposes. I am shocked to discover that I have £200-worth of ordinary storage jars in different sizes. Not only can I not remember what I paid for various sets of glasses, but many of them were presents or inherited. For example, what kind of value do I put on my mother's rather unusual art deco pearlised cocktail glasses?
Yesterday Mr absent and I carried the heaviest bedroom furniture in the world down two flights of stairs to install it, obviously temporarily, in a different bedroom. Today we are having trouble raising our arms above shoulder height and turning suddenly.
I still don't quite believe all this is really happening. Am I really going to fly away from this country and settle halfway across the world in exactly one month from today? At my age? Well, yes absent, you are and you'd better get a move on with that insurance form, income tax return and returning the dresser and sideboard to the dining room.
Watch this space (or not if it bores you).
, absent xx
Thanks grannies keep on holding me up please. 
absent It's not about getting it right, it's just about cracking on and living your life. I have the feeling you've always done that, so you'll just be doing it some more, somewhere else.
absent the biggest {{{hug}}} and a huge class of wine....... chill see you Saturday xx
You're going to be fine, absent - what an opportunity! You're changing your life's direction, and what a place to do it!
You can't change your mind now, anyway - I'm so looking forward to the get-together!
Galen
I think absent will be able to continue with her career, which is writing cookery books. By a wonderful coincidence, she is going to be living in the same village as my daughter. We have never met but we know we are on the same wave length, so I think we will become good friends.
The area of Nelson/Tasman is beautiful, with beaches and mountains and a great climate. I have now spent three holidays out there, six weeks each time. Nelson is a very lively town with lots of bars and restaurants and Richmond is smaller but very pleasant.
It is probably easier for me to relocate as I have already lived in Monaco, Brussels and seven different departments in France. I will be leaving one daughter, seven adult grandchildren and four great-grandchildren in England but the daughter and three of her children have cut off all contact with me. There are another three grandchidren in NZ.
I will miss the history and architecture of Europe, but I will be able to visit the ancient cultures of the Pacific Rim countries and there is good coral round the islands of the South Pacific!
absent life is for living and enjoying too and I am sure that the move to NZ will bring all kinds of adventures and experiences you could not have had in the UK. Natural to have cold feet.. We only moved 30 miles to be nearer our DDs and though there are some regrets the positives outweigh them enormously. Onward and upward!
You have obviously thought long and hard about this move and had assurance from absent daughter that she won't return to UK after you leave it. It is just a wobble, you'll be fine
moomin Yes, the wine, the wine. Keep thinking about the Sauvignon Blanc absent. It will be all right.
Of course, it's last minute nerves – but it's not helped because Mr absent is getting on them BIG TIME.
Thanks Envious Keep on keeping me strong.
absent I'm sure you're doing the right thing - just a case of last minute nerves! I'd love to go and live near my daughter in NZ, but that would mean leaving 2 sons and 4 grandchildren (and possibly the OH !!) behind!
It's an enormous move for you, but you're just having a wobble - it'll be fine! Think of all the sunshine, scenery and wine out there! Anyway, I need an excuse to visit the South Island next time I go to Auckand 
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »
