Post by Belinda

After agonising for weeks about the purchase of an Icebreaker (Bankbreaker) merino skirt, I have finally bitten the bullet and ordered it today. Ordering online has been great due to limited choices of local stores for some of the things I think we might need. Rod has once again, been of little help in these matters, happy for me to purchase whatever I suggest: thermal leggings for Hamish, wool blend shirt for him. It is quite difficult to know exactly what we will require in the depths of a European winter – layering has been the key to our packing…however, our Aussie idea of layering might not make the grade. We will see.

Hamish has grown 3cm in the past 3 months, so today, as an alternative to finishing an essay, I sorted through his ‘Europe’ clothes (again) to make sure he hasn’t grown out of anything. He hasn’t. Most things in miniature look cute and Hamish in his thermals is no exception. Over the past few months as purchases have arrived, I have packed them into his suitcase. As a result if we had to leave tomorrow, Hamish would be sorted. The rest of the family is another matter: Jess has a passport and packet of tissues in a backpack, Rod has nothing packed and the shoe debate continues for me.

26 days to go.

It was suggested after the last post that we need to establish who is the author of each blog; Rod and I will both be writing this.

Approximately two years ago, Rod received the devastating news his older sister Leonie had been diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. Although she knew this condition was incurable, she maintained positivity until her untimely passing in early December of the same year. Even though her death was very sudden, she certainly had lived a very full and interesting life with no room for what ifs.

When you lose people who are close to you, it makes you reconsider your values; where are you going, what are you doing, do you really want to be working such long hours? So we are choosing to make the most of the opportunity to spend time together and Leonie has provided us with this spark.

There are many words we can use to describe Leonie: free-spirited, independent, strong willed, curious, well read and well travelled. She loved to relax with a glass or two of wine and dote on her beautiful Golden Retrievers (Bonnie & Lucy). We hope we will instill into our own children the importance of enjoying all that life has to offer.

35 days to go.

We did a practice pack yesterday. This, like just about everything else thus far, was at Belinda’s suggestion. And,like just about everything else thus far, it was a good idea. It seems that our fairly modest cases will suffice, unless we have forgotten some significant detail.

Belinda has spent a lot of time researching and planning. Which is fine by me. At first her efforts focused on plane bookings. Day after day, week after week, she reported cheaper and cheaper flights. Some seemed too good to be true, which, it turned out, they were. In the end we are happy with our deal with Qantas/Emirates.

Then it was the leased car. She found a great deal, after trawling through books, blogs and websites. It’s a Peugeot. As a “semi-automatic” it should feel like driving some sort of weapon. Vroom. But then the confusion and hassle of buying winter tyres, storing the factory-fitted tyres, before buying back the original tyres… Belinda looks again and finds a cheaper Peugeot, with winter-grip tyres fitted as standard. Well played Belinda. Again.

Lately the focus has been on shoes. What to take? Cons or runners? Thongs? (It should be warm when we arrive in Italy.) Belinda finally bought some low cut, all-terrain, general purpose boots. Should she still take her hiking shoes? Then she received some longer boots as a gift from a friend. This should be good news, but, alas, this just created more indecision. Which would she take? Both? Where would they be packed? Which pair was right to wear on the plane? But what outfit would work with that choice? Every acquisition only seems to lead to more anxiety.

I am sure things will work out. In the meantime, planning and anticipation are fun and diverting. 47 days till departure.