This is it! I no longer have a house, a car or a job!
(well.. technically I do have a job but it would make the dramaticness of this post less dramatic and we can't have that can we!)

My bags are packed (a little too much on the heavy side for my liking but lets hope the person at the check in desk isn't quite as concerned).

I've said my goodbyes to pretty much everyone. I find this the hardest part of all. I really hate goodbyes and it never gets any easier.

Now I just have to sit around the house, waiting till lunch time when I will go out with my parents and brother and then head off to the airport.

I am so ready for this!

Tomorrow I will be playing with my nephew :) Isn't that just the most exciting thing ever? hehe for me it is anyway.

Until next time... On the other side of the world :)

No, I'm not that self obsessed people! But it seriously is HOT at the moment. We seem to be in the throngs of a heat wave and I don't like it. Especially when I am driving around in my very hot (dark coloured) car which doesn't have aircon. Never mind the aircon, the fan doesn't even work properly!!! I have opened all the windows but aside from my hair resembling a somewhat badly built birds nest, it doesn't even help, at all!!! *weep*

Did you ever notice how tired you get in extremely hot weather? I don't think I've ever felt this tired. I'm sure part of it is from stress (with my impending move and all) but I am happy to put most of the blame on mother nature.

I have done most of what needed to get done before I fly out on Friday. All that's left now is for me to pack the bags that I am taking with me and sort out what comes with me and what I will send via the excess baggage place. A month ago I would never have dreamed that I'd be so organised :) It's great when you surprise yourself.

I am actually starting to feel the nerves kicking in now. About bloody time too! Being calm is one thing, but when you are me... well, its odd! Maybe I am still hungover from all the farewell parties. (that could also explain my tiredness).

I had to go to the German Embassy yesterday in Pretoria (one of our two capitol cities, about an hour from Joburg). I needed to renew my passport which is about to expire. So I went along with all the relevant papers and documents I needed I was also super efficient and brought along a set of photos. However when I arrived at the counter and handed all my stuff over to the (surprisingly friendly) lady, she noted that I have a very beautiful smile, but she wouldn't accept my photo's. Why, you ask? Well, because my smile was too big! How bizarre!!

So off I went to the photo shop that the lady recommended. (I'm sure they get a cut of all the profits). It was quite far from the Embassy so I had to get back into my sauna of a car and drive there. By the time I found my way to the place, parked and located the photo shop, I was a mess. My hair was frizz and my face a nice, blotchy shade of pink. I can honestly and unequivocally say that this was the worst passport photo I have EVER had taken. Even my dad said so :) Oh well, I only have to live with it for the next ten years!!!!!!!!!!! 

At least that's all done.

Now I am going to lie in an ice cold bath....

So, today is my last day at work :) It is such a strange feeling. Half of me is extremely excited and relieved and the other half is very sad. I've been lucky to have worked in a company where I get on with everyone but I'm sure I'll be staying in touch with most of them - Thank you technology!!!

Last night was my farewell drinks thingy... It was so much fun and I couldn't believe how many people came! A lot of people couldn't make it unfortunately because we are having a bizarre spate of power cuts around the country and most of Joburg didn't have lights or traffic lights. I'll just have to organise another one for next week ;) hehe

I was going to post some photos but my camera battery died last night and I forgot to put it on charge last night.

I was so touched yesterday. I went off to lunch and when I came back into the office there was a HUGE bunch of flowers sitting on my desk. The company gave it to me to say goodbye. I have managed to keep my emotions intact up until that point.. It just made it all feel so much more real.

But onwards and upwards!

I think I'm over the cocktail thing for a while :) At least until this throbbing in my head dies down a bit.

Anyhoo, I'm not sure how often I will post next week. I have a feeling it's going to be a bit mad. We'll see :)

For now I need to get a strong cup of coffee and a paracetamol.

Cya

DISCLAIMER:
This post does not intend to make fun of or rip off ALL blonde people. Only the ones who truly deserve it.

I forgot to mention in my last post, that I have managed to find someone to take over my flat :) (aren't I just the best tennant in the world) - yeah yeah.. (I just wanted to get my deposit back and thankfully I am).

So anyway, this lady came to look at the flat last Wednesday evening. I was in the process of packing and there were boxes strewn all over the place and the flat was in a bit of a shambles. (Don't worry, I did make it look as respectable as I could).

So, as I was saying, she walked into my flat and I couldn't help noticing that her hair was a rather light shade of blonde. Natural of course! In fact, I hardly noticed this fact, until...

Looking around the place (and clearly seeing that I was in the process of packing up MY stuff) she exclaimed... "oh, great! The place is furnished!" (this said with a huge grin on her face) - So, my landlord and I exchanged a quick glance and he kindly explained that no, the place wasn't furnished, the stuff did indeed belong to me except for one fixed unit in the far corner of the room. She then hopped into the kitchen, took a quick look around (seeing the stove, my microwave, my kettle and my toaster) and asked me if the stove belonged to me too. I don't know how it works where you guys are, but in South Africa, a stove / oven is a fixture and stays with the house/flat/apartment. So I said no, the stove isn't mine, it belongs to the flat and once again she excitedly exclaimed "Oh good! So the microwave, kettle and toaster also stay then!!!" *bounce* - Once again my landlord rescued me... OY VEY!

But wait! There's more!

In trying to encourage this lady to take my flat (so that I could get my deposit back) I attempted to be friendly in the form of some small talk. I mentioned that it was such a pity that I didn't find her before because I had just sold my fridge, couch and washing machine on the previous weekend and I happened to advertise it on the same website that she found the flat on.

wait for it..... this is good....

She once again exclaimed... "Oh wow!, Do you think they will still be there, on the site?"

This was when I really had to bite my tongue (which is still throbbing), take a deep DEEP breath and try very VERY hard not to laugh. I kindly and very S L O W L Y explained that "ahem, yes, *cough* i'm sure the advertisement is still on the site *snort*, however I  H A V E   S O L D  T H E  S T U F F."

Shame, i'm sure she is a very nice person, although the fact that she is a high school teacher does bother me a bit... BUT she has taken my flat and I am happy. One less thing to stress about.

All the small stuff is now moved and stored away at my parents place. Now all I need to do is wait for the movers to come on Monday and move the big, heavy stuff and viola! I'm done! and pretty much ready to go...

Three days left of work! *grin* - I am having farewell cocktails on Thursday night, anybody interrested in coming? ;) - I've told them to have a strawberry Daiquiri ready and waiting for me. *droooool*

So, I have kind of moved back into my parents house as of this weekend. It is so odd to be back but kind of nice at the same time.

I've mostly packed up, cleaned up and am ready for the moving van to schlep my stuff from my flat to my parents house (where I'm going to try store everything). I've even said goodbye to my evil pigeons (yes, they came back and knocked all my pigeon proofing off the window sill). I won't be sad to see the last of them I can tell you.

But being back in the parents house has its ups and downs.

I had forgotten about this!

AKA, the common mosquito!
AKA, evil bastard from the nether world!
AKA, F(*£$^k off you stupid bloody thing!!!!!

I really do love nature. I love animals. But I do NOT and will NEVER love mosquitos!!! They force me to pump evil smelling poison into the air to try and eradicate them. Inevitably this poison doesn't work.. It just makes me feel sick. But other than cooking myself to death under my blankets, I have no choice.

Last night was boiling hot!! It was definitely the kind of night where blankets were abandoned and sleep was hard to find. I tossed and turned for what felt like hours and finally fell into a troubled sleep sometime after midnight. Then the dreams came and in this dream I was being attacked by a swarm of mosquitos. However this dream turned to reality when I managed to pry my eyes open and switch on the lights. Okay, it wasn't quite a swarm of mosquitos... only one.. but one is enough!!! I then had to dig around in my brothers old room to try and find his mosquito pad thingy magig and then I had to find the poisonous pads to place onto the machine and THEN I had to remember where all the plug points were.... By this stage (and at the lovely hour of 2am) I was wide awake. hmpf!

Yes, living at my parents house does have its ups and downs.... I think in the 10 months that I lived in this last flat, I had ONE mosquito. Yes, ONE!!! (or else they were stealth mosquitos and managed to do their thing quietly).

Being a light sleeper is really not a perk.

At least I get home cooked meals and my washing done for me :) There are some good points to this story...

I have had the most busy, hectic, insane weekend EVER!!!! It was fun though :) I woke up at 5am on Saturday morning (the Evil pigeons woke me up - I was still in my flat), So instead of pretending to sleep, I got up and started packing.I then went to a bridal shower on Saturday afternoon and straight to a 30th birthday on Saturday night. Yesterday morning I had a 25th birthday breakfast, I then met a friend of mine for lunch and went off to the flea market for a while. Then in the afternoon I had to go to a farewell tea thingy for my cousin who is here from the States. And straight after that I went off to another friend for dinner!!! I just want to sleeeeeeeeeeeep!!!!!!!!! But yes, it is fun being busy!

Pity I have to work this whole week still.

So this is the plan. I will arrive in Sydney on the 27th. Visit with my sister, her hubby and my gorgeous nephew for almost two days (not nearly enough but better than nothing) and then head off to start my new life in Melbourne on the 29th. I hope that between the 27th and 31st I will be able to de-jet lag myself enough for work on the 1st.

AND I am hoping to find myself a gym or a bike within the first week or two that I am in Melbourne. I am determined to start my new life on the right track and get my lazy ass back into a routine straight away.
It's not often that one gets to start their life again so I have to take full advantage of that :)

I had intended to pack up all my clothes and the rest of the "little" stuff last night. I had even enlisted the help of my entire family but I was so exhausted after a rather stressful day yesterday that I didn't pack a thing! Oh well :) I still have a week or so... PLENTY time... eeek

I ended up selling both my car and my bike yesterday (the first bike sale fell through...), it kind of feels like I am selling my life at the moment.. very odd if I do say so myself.

A nice, short and sweet post today :)

I feel terrible and sick and evil :(

I was on my way to work this morning when a cat ran out in front of my car. I didn't have time to swerve, stop or do anything *weep* I slammed on brakes but it was too late. I could see the poor little thing twitching in agony in my review mirror. I got out to see if there was ANYTHING I could do but it was already too late. I don't think I've ever felt this horrible. I've killed something :(

I wanted to take it to the vet but it was too late. I guess if there is a good thing to this (which there isn't) it was that the cat was obviously a stray and didn't belong to anyone. At least there isn't a little kid out there pining for their pet. But still.. I know it was out of my control sigh.. its just a horrible thing to see / do.

Please all send a little prayer out for the poor cat.

I had such a happy post to write this morning and then this happened... but I'll still tell you my news. I had my meeting on Monday with my new bosses and it went very well. It was very relaxed and positive and I can't wait to start now.

On Tuesday I went to pick up my passport WITH my visa in it and yesterday my flight was confirmed. This is all real guys!!!!

I had someone come and look at my flat last night. I know I am just renting it and am not responsible for finding a replacement, but if I don't get someone to replace me, I don't get my deposit back. (I am leaving before my lease is up) So hold thumbs ;)

I have a hell of a busy weekend ahead of me. I've got a 1st birthday party, a Bridal shower and a 30th all on Saturday. Then on Sunday I am hoping to pack up the rest of my flat, move in with my parents (should be fun) and then see my cousin who is here from The States. *yawn* I am tired just thinking about it.

And then there is my current job... I have 7 working days left here and they are piling the work on top of me. Everyone wants everything done before I go and I don't know where to start. Oh well.. 7 days... and yes, I am counting :)

So aside from the incident this morning, things seem to be coming along nicely. How is everyone else in blog land doing?

I am officially fridgeless, couchless, washing machineless... I managed to sell AND get rid of all three items on the same day. It does kind of put me in a slight pickle though seeing as I now can't keep any food in my house. Luckily I thought to bring some cereal with me to work today as there is plenty of milk, cutlery and crockery available and I need my breakfast!

My kitchen is packed up and almost totally cleared out. My dining room chairs have been dismantled and stored. Most of my lounge has been packed away, ready to be moved to my parents house. So basically my house looks quite bleak and depressing at the moment :) I know I am moving on to bigger and better things, but still. I really do love my flat and I had finally managed to get everything I wanted for my flat.

But change is good!

All I have left now is to sort through my clothes and bedroom stuff. I think that will be quite easy and painless. The big stuff is done and that was most important.

I am definitely on an emotional roller coaster at the moment. I guess that's normal. I go from being very excited and bouncy to being very sad and bursting into tears. This is seriously one of the hardest things I've had to do but I know it is going to be good. All I can say is thank heavens for technology :)

I am going to try and get some kind of broadband set up as soon as I arrive. It probably would be best to find a place to live and then get the broadband but I'll see what I can come up with. My family here have skype and at least I will get to "see" them as often as I want and chat to them regularly.

My weight has gone insane :( I really am trying so hard to stay on track but I stepped on the scale this morning and got the fright of my life! I am trying not to let it get to me. But the fact is that all my clothes are feeling a little tighter and I can see my body getting more flabby. I am still gymming (although not as regularly as I should be). I figure that packing and lifting boxes and stuff is pretty good exercise too :) But not good enough - I know!!! I am going to make a conscious effort to eat VERY well over the next three weeks. I can't let the stress of the move affect my weight and undo all my hard work. No chance! (now, if only I can take that attitude to the dinner table with me every day) :)

I wish someone would invent a little chip that can be inserted into ones brain that sends a bold of electricity through the body whenever one thinks of binging or chocolate or other such stuff. Wouldn't that be good!!!

So, I have ten days left at my current job!!! TEN!!! yay!!!

I am meeting with my new boss today (who happens to be in South Africa), I am quite excited but nervous at the same time. I have no idea what the meeting will be about but I have lots of questions to ask them and I am about to write a list to take along with me.

I hope all your Monday's are good ones.

It kind of hit me this morning that I have a hell of a lot to do before I leave for Australia. Since that "revelation" I have had heart burn of note and my heart rate seems to be going way over the speed limit. sigh..

I started advertising my stuff yesterday and have had a great response. I am not selling all my furniture, just the things that are easily replaceable. It will make much more sense for me to sell my things here and buy new ones (or used ones) when I get to Australia. Unfortunately shipping is not an option. Unless I happen to win the lotto between now and the end of Jan.

I have been trying to get back on track health / weight wise. I really fell off the wagon badly over December and I put on a fair amount of weight. But I had a good time and I don't regret it. So what, its only a couple more kg's on top of the total amount that I still want to lose. No prob! ;)

I have sold my bicycle. I wanted to bring it over with me, but the airline said that the weight of the bicycle is part of the measly 20kg allowance that they give you. That means that half my baggage will be my bicycle!!! They then want to charge a ridiculous amount of money for excess baggage. sigh. SO I decided that the best thing to do was to sell it and I will be looking for a new one as soon as I get to Melbourne. If anyone has any advice or knows of a good place to buy a bike from please let me know :) I am thinking of getting a hybrid bike this time. My current bike is a racing bicycle. I love it but I think that a hybrid would be a lot more versatile.

I am dedicating this weekend to packing up my whole flat. I am sure I will be able to do it all in one weekend. My parents and brothers are coming to help and I know that once I get that out of the way, I will feel a lot less stressed.

So yeah.. that's about it for today :)

Another year is upon us and if the start of it is anything to go by, this is definitely going to be a fantastic year all round.

I left London on New Years Eve. It was so hard saying goodbye to nj. I hate goodbyes and knowing that there are going to be a lot more of those coming up made it even harder. I really had a great time and getting to actually see and be part of one of my best friends lives for a whole week was so special. I really wish I could make time stand still sometimes. But at least I can look forward to seeing him again soon ;) I have no idea when.. but I'm sure it will be soon!

The flight was pretty good (for British Airways standards) and I even managed to get some sleep!! Having two seats to myself did help of course ;) I was actually surprised at how full the flight was. I didn't think many people would want to fly on New Years Eve but they probably all thought on the same lines as me :) It wasn't THAT full a flight, but a lot busier then I had anticipated.

The only down side was that they didn't even acknowledge that it was the New Year! I even called the air steward to ask if she was going to announce it (at 12:05am South African time) and she wasn't even aware that it was already 2007 ;) She told me that they didn't want to make an announcement incase they woke people up. How sad!!! So I had a little toast with the guy sitting in my row (with water of all things) and that was the extent of my New Years eve celebrations :)

I can't believe how emotional I was when I landed in South Africa. I know it has everything to do with me leaving again in less than a month. But wow! I think I am going to have to invest in a few boxes of tissues.

In the last two or so weeks I have had so much good news! Firstly 3 of my very good friends are pregnant. One of them has been trying and battling for the last two years. Then on Saturday night I caught up with another friend of mine in the UK and she happened to be wearing a very shiny, sparkly ring on her finger :) They have FINALLY gotten engaged! And then there is the fact that my dream is coming true and I am about to start my new life in Aus. 

Isn't that the most awesome way to start 2007!!!