You didn't pack the passports did you?

A perfect fit. Many thanks to the parents Stanley for their invaluable assistance - it would have been a LOT of train journeys!

And the flat was emptied....

Can't we just leave it in here for a year?

In under 2 hours, and with the very kind help of Mother and Father Goose, our flat was piled into a trailer and trundled up the M1 to Northampton..... Now it just needs to make the short journey from the drive up the stairs to my old bedroom. Any volunteers? We're knackered!

Harringay Farmers' Market

Something we will miss!

The 6th and final injection

Having had 5 injections in just over a month, I thought my fears had subsided as I sat and waited calmly and patiently for my sixth last night - a huge step forward for me since the first hesitant step through the nurse's door back in June.

But Owwwww! That final one really flippin' hurt! The needle went in, cool as a cucumber am I, then she began to squirt in the magic rabies juice and, BAM!  BIG pain! It felt like pepper spray or something, stinging me like a giant metallic wasp dressed as a nurse. 'Woah! That REALLY hurts,' I said as she pushed the plunger all the way. 'Oh oh ow agh, and it's still hurting! What have you done to me?'  Once the pain had eased I apologised profusely, assuring her that it wasn't that bad (when it actually really was quite bad by comparison).

I didn't get a brave boy sticker this time.

At least they're all over and hopefully, this will have been the last invasion into my bulging biceps for a long long time...unless we get bitten by a rabid dog, monkey, cat, squirrel...when we shall require MORE rabies shots.

A brief update on the rest of our progress:

• We’re running out of time!!  28 days to go.
• My parents are arriving in a weeks time with car and trailer to empty our flat and drive it all back to my childhood bedroom, and so we need to pack our rucksacks FOR REAL before this happens.  I don’t fancy having to ride the train to Northampton to collect some vital piece of the puzzle (like our passports – imagine it!) that had accidentally been packed.
• The recycling bin is full of Amazon packaging and more is on its way as I type.
• We’re running out of time.
• Handover of keys to our flat will take place on 10^th August when the lovely Patrick & Kaya will move in and we’ll officially be homeless.
• Rosie has just hours left at work before her grand departure, while I have two more (long) weeks to wait – this is when the holiday will officially begin.
• I have checked out the films showing on British Airways flights next month and have made my choices – it’s hugely important details like this that could so very easily be forgotten.
• It’s still raining (and I’ve got a shed door to paint – annoying).
• It’s starting to feel very real and I’m already panicking that I’ve forgotten something.

Next up, moving out and more family good-byes.

Pre pre leaving drinks

So long to the Walsh family

I can blog from the bus!

Post pre pre pre leaving drinks