10 DAYS

Confirm taxi – check
Book accommodation – check
Take out extremely large bank loan – check
Prepare for kids farewell party – check
Re-paint entire house – check
Panic – check
Pack bags – bugger
Get ready to leave – SH*$!!!

It is hard to believe that the number on the blog has rolled over to 10. Not 10 months but 10 DAYS! Looking around you would not think that our little adventure is coming to an end. My last week at work is not much different to any other. There is the usual meetings, Council reports to prepare, staff to chastise, and Councillors to ignore.

There is a hint that something is different with the corridor chat about what warm weather will be like, some staff asking me how many people can fit into a suitcase and for some reason a cheer every time I see the IT Manager. There is also something strange in that all the staff have been very nice to me, especially saying some complimentary words at our last Unit meeting. This is either a sign that I have actually managed to make a small difference or that a year of ozi hell is over for them and they can finally return to serious, tie wearing normality.

Little do they realise that they have not seen the back of me yet. Next week the staff are holding an end of year pantomime and have decided to call it the Wizard of OZ. Based on the script my last impression may be a memorable one for all the wrong reasons. I think I am glad that I am leaving the country but there is a good chance that I will never be allowed back in again.

Home is likewise its normal chaotic self with the kids still at school and Kathy trying to get organised for our one last hurrah. We need to constantly remind ourselves that in 2 weeks time the idea of going to ASDA to do the shopping, saying hi to Lello and Carrots (our horse and donkey neighbour) or scraping the ice of the car windscreen will be a thing of the past.

And so as we soon enter the world of single digits, it time to continue with the final list

Get cleaners in – check
Pick up travel tickets – check
Organise travellers cheques – check

Say good bye…………….