Preparing to Go 2 - it's nearly time

I am writing this after we left Australia, but while it is still fresh.

Getting everything ready on time was a nightmare!

The packing started quite well, and following lots of advice we were quite ruthless and gave lots away to the opp shops, the tip and to successful bidders on freecycle. Even I was ruthless and chucked out 90% of my 20 year old uni notes, various old travel papers, heaps of clothes and several ornaments and nicknacks and of course lots of junk. Alan was even more ruthless, but he is not a hoarder by nature!
The trouble began when we left our respective studies and started on the rest of the house. Dare I say Alan packed like a male engineer!!!! In short, Alan wanted to throw everything out but I wanted to give useable pantry and cleaning goods to family and friends - why waste it? Alan therefore did very little of the actual packing not related to his own stuff and I did way too much, which did not leave me enough time to concentrate on my own stuff. The end result was a 36 hour day for Pam just before the removalists came to ensure most of it went on the removal day as planned!
This worked up to a point, but there was still another week of clearing out and sorting and several runs to the opp shop, tip and storage facility before the house was finally empty and ready for the cleaners to move in. In addition Melb received another summer heat wave, so a lot of the packing and cleaning was done in temperatures of 30 - 35 deg (celsius) plus. Pam who loves the heat was frustrated because she could not get out to enjoy it and Alan who hates the heat was suffering mightily and could not do all that needed doing!
This week of post removal clearing out was the last week before we left and was meant to be spent relaxing, finalising any paperwork and saying good bye to family friends! About 80% of the paperwork got finalised (things like redirecting mail, cutting off services - water, gas, phone, etc); Several family and friends did get farewell coffees or phone calls but not everyone and the relaxing bit never happened! Apologies to those we did not get to see.

Thanks must also go to Di Davie who kindly lent us her house, her ute and her happy company for the last week, even after she came back from holidays!
Thanks also to my sister Bev who came home from her 6 week holiday the morning after we flew out, to find 4 boxes of goods in her house - some to be sent on to us once we are settled in France & Italy and some to go into our storage! I am sure she was not expecting quite that much material!!!

Also, although I ranted & raved about Alan's lack of packing assistance (there is a lot not said here!) I must give credit where it is due. Alan is responsible for setting up the computer and doing a lot of the behind the scenes organising. The trip would not have happened without his efforts in these areas.

Lessons Learnt:
Allow twice as long again for packing. Pam only left 2 weeks before finishing work and leaving and this is not enough time to pack up a large house after 15 years of accumulating "stuff" and to do all the other organising and farewelling involved.
Sort out which partner is doing which jobs and decide on what will be thrown out and what will be given away (and how it will be done) weeks before you start teh process.
Get professional packers in - is Alan's solution!!

Anyway, here we are in Hong Kong and the house is clear and clean - just not tenanted!