Moving out of Brighton

Graham, Krista and I have had one of the busiest weekends of our lives moving out of Park Lodge. You can never account for just how much work is involved and just how much stuff one (or three) can cram into a small one bedroom flat. I described it like Mount Vesuvius erupting, the larva just kept on flowing out of those cupboards... Please remind me never, never, never to buy anything ever again. Although we were beating ourselves up about the fact we were not finished by our already many times extended deadline of 12 O'Clock on Sunday, I remind myself and anyone else who ever 'moves out', the job is never complete until the very last second. Then you still end up whirling around like a dervish just throwing things in random bags and binning anything that doesn't fit; however precious it once seemed. Those are the things about which you spend the rest of your life wondering, 'just what did we do with that ... we used to have?'

Part of the reason for the deadline of 12noon was as in our wisdom we decided to have a little get together at Sue and Anton's to say a few final goodbyes. It seemed mad at 4am Sunday morning and indeed again at 5,6,7,8, 9, 10, 11,12 and 1pm ... to have even entertained the idea. However it was great. Both Graham and I commented on the amazing fact that we both managed (temporarily) to forget that we had not actually finished before the first guests began arriving and had a lovely time. The biggest THANK YOU to Anton and Sue for being the best of friends and sending us off in such style and also to everyone who popped round to wish us well on our way.

Another big THANK YOU to Di, Ali and Leon who got so willingly roped into returning to the flat to help finish with the packing and cleaning. I and perhaps Graham too would definately have first had a nervous breakdown, then still been working until @2am without your help. As it was, having been so well looked after by Anton and Sue, we were all tucked up safely in bed by about 10.45.

10 Days to departure

We've just had a coffee and are revving up for another day of packing. The most stressful part of our imminent trip has been the preparation. Our aim is to sail into the sunset on the 2nd of December without a worry or a care ... Watch this space. I think I should go off and write a few more lists.