There is a definite air of excitement in our household at the moment. But it is the sort of restrained excitement that bubbles under the surface that could erupt into hysterics at any moment. The reason is, of course, is that we go on holiday this Sunday to visit Michael's brother, Bob and his wife, Tricia, in Spain. They moved there 3 years ago and have settled very well. So apart from the thrill of meeting up with some family again (first time in 2 and 1/2 years) we will also have the chance to see how they have coped with emigrating and setting up their new life.
We booked this trip 5 months ago and now with just 5 days to go last minute preparations are in overdrive. The cases have been packed and un packed at least 20 times, Michael's pile of clothes to take is bigger than mine so I'll have to do more shopping, Georgia's moaning that there's nothing in her wardrobe because everything is 'put away for holiday'. But on the whole we are pretty well organised. Just got to remember tickets, passports, money and everything else will fall into place.
Just to add a bit more pressure I needed to buy a butane gas cartridge for my cordless hair tongs so I headed to the chemist who had no idea what I was talking about, neither did Harvey Norman Electricals, Noel Leeming Appliances, Kmart or Farmers Department store. Its the usual story that shopping in New Zealand is just so much harder work than in the UK. You cant just walk into a shop and expect to get what you want, you have to put in a bit of effort. Anyway, Linda suggested Guinness Appliances which sells kitchen equipment and what do you know they knew what I was after! But they didn't have any. But they would ring me as soon as they got them in. That was 3 weeks ago. Oh well.
