Leaving Melbourne

I thought I'd be filled with all sorts of emotion leaving Melbourne - but by the time I got on that plane I was so relieved to be on my way, glass of wine in hand - I happily waved goodbye to Melbourne.

I don't know what we would have done without our Mums... they were enormous helps when it came to packing and cleaning the old house. For people who don't have much stuff... boy do we have a lot of stuff!

Everything was going along well, exhausted from packing in 38 degree heat, but things were going well. Murray left for the long drive to Sydney early Thursday morning, and the removalist truck was due to arrive shortly after he left. *waiting waiting* Got a call saying that the truck wont be there until Thursday arvo. Thursday arvo I get a call saying that the truck has broken down... not happy, but these things happen. They'll send another truck on Friday afternoon.

Friday afternoon I get a call saying that the truck wont be there until late afternoon. That's okay - so long as things are out of the house by Friday because the carpets were getting done on Saturday morning. Friday night I get a call saying that the truck wont be there until after tea. Hrm. Not impressed, but so long as it gets done. Friday night I get a call from the truck drivers directly - they can either come after 9.30pm, or early Saturday morning. The drivers had been on the go for nearly 48 hours... So I told them to come Saturday morning.

By that time I was livid. I'd spent two whole days waiting for them. Surrounded by a house full of boxes. I'd spent half of Friday locked out of my friends house were I was staying. I could have spent the day with my family - but because I had to wait, I couldn't.

Thankfully I went out Friday night with friends for dinner - I didn't realise it was going to be dinner and a show - but we were lucky enough to be treated to a macho show, and the best damned headbutt I've ever seen. Note to self: Don't walk the streets of Boronia alone.

So 6am on Saturday morning I dragged myself out of bed to go back to the house for one last time - and thaaaaankkkfully - the truck arrived as promised! (God help them if it didn't)

And so the mad packing of the truck began... now... just to get the treadmill downstairs... It wouldn't even fit through the doorway of the room! I had forgotten that it'd actually been assembled upstairs and there wasn't a hope in hell it was getting down any other way other than in pieces. I had no idea how to take it apart - and the removalists said that they weren't willing to touch it - too expensive.

What am I going to doooo?????!!!!!! I can't just leave it there! Then the carpet guy arrived! He couldn't start until everything was removed from upstairs! Nooooooooo. I was tired. Hot. Cranky. And ready to shoot someone. But as we'd already been visited by the police that week, I decided against a shooting. (Yes, our "house cooling" party was one to remember! heheheh)

After several calls, and $50, I got the guys from the shop we bought the treadmill from to come out and help us take it apart to get it downstairs. He was an angel! He was the first good thing to happen for the entire moving process it felt like!

By this stage though I had to sent the carpet guy home - thank goodness he was understanding. (A little weird, but understanding). He also told me that he'd be able to pick up the keys from the Real Estate and do it during the week.

Finally, by about midday the house was ready to be locked up and said goodbye to. It felt strange without Murray there - I felt like he should be there to say goodbye to our first house together. But I was so stressed I was happy to finally close those doors! And thank goodness for Laura who twisted my rubber arm and bought me Nando's for lunch.

It wasn't until Saturday afternoon that I actually booked my flight to Sydney - for Saturday night... I know I left it a little late! Eventually, though I dropped the keys at the Real Estate, and got in the little red Barina one more time to drive to Mums.

The Barina isn't coming to join me at this stage. I'm just keeping it at Mums until I decide what to do with it.

I finally made it to Mums, and what a great Mum she is - dinner was on the table when I arrived! Mum, my brother and his girlfriend drove me out to Avalon Airport to wave goodbye. Of course there were more dramas there - even my plane was delayed! But we filled our time with a well deserved ice-cream!

Finally I boarded the plane, waved a million goodbyes, and had an entire row to myself to stretch out, enjoy a glass of wine, and get ready to begin my new life in Sydney. Finally, something was going right - I had a good feeling about Sydney.