Arriving was as good as travelling!

We left Nottingham at 6.45am on Mayday morning, our goodbyes said the day before. The day was bright and sunny we had a clear run down until we reached Dover which was bathed in fog. Due to the fog the ferry was delayed for thirty minutes or so, not so bad, we arrived at Calais in good time to make the ferry down to Rouen our first stop. We exited the ferry and bang, I got hit by an ocular migraine, for those who do not know me I don’t shut my eyes or sleep when travelling, the ultimate act of trust was for me to close my eyes whilst Phil drove to the nearest service station so we could look in the back of the car for pills and buy water. Thankfully they acted quickly and we were on our way once again.

We checked into the Ibis Isle de Bastide, Rouen next to the river Seine (lots of silly jokes), we then drove down into the underground car park, eeeks it was not built for an estate car that’s for sure! Steep entry, my Mazda would have beached, narrow road, very narrow parking bays some for one car others for two with walls between. We finally parked, threw our stuff into the room and went off to explore the old part of town, a delightful town with medieval architecture lurking around corners (I will post photos at a later date). We ate at the Holy Cow gourmet burger bar, a burger like no other I have tasted, mine was topped with gorgonzola. Back to the hotel, a couple of drinks and then bed, we were truly shattered. We awoke early the Tuesday morning knowing we had a long drive across France to Bordeaux ahead, we capitulated and used the motorways, the tolls weren’t as bad as expected, it was however a long, expensive and uninspiring drive, which has led us to decide we will get the ferry to Santander when we bring Rodger the Roadster back at the end of the month. We arrived in Bordeaux so shattered we ate and drank at the hotel before crashing out not long after 9pm.

Another early morning saw us back on the road to Salamanca, Spain, we saw our first wild life road bridge, though I do wonder whether the deer and wild boar know it is for them. We had a minor incident with a French man and the toll booths, he seemed to think he could push his way into the queue despite there being no space. He eventually forced his way in front and made some rather rude gestures, we responded in kind. Next we knew he was out of his car coming towards what he presumed was the driver side, he looked a little shocked to see that it wasn’t and all he was faced with was a middle aged woman, he returned to his car with no further incident. The day was overcast and it began to rain once we got close to the border and the Pyrenees. Now about that border crossing… I was so disappointed, I wanted guards, with guns and dogs and silly hats, I wanted barbed wire fences, interrogations, car searches, what I got was a sign saying we had entered Spain, which I actually blinked and missed. On the first part of the journey the mountains were snow capped and spectacular, we were either driving over bridges or through tunnels in mountains, one 2 miles long. The second leg of the journey was through industrial landscapes then we hit open farmland again, we stopped a roadside service station, which looked a bit dismal, the coffee was fabulous and if I had been hungry a slice of that Tortilla would have been mine. We arrived at Salamanca around 6pm, the garage to the hotel was even worse than the first one I am surprised we didn’t leave bits of the undercarriage of the Rover behind. Once checked in we grabbed cameras and went for a wander around finding an old square lined with restaurants and apartments all very grand, there was however a book fair going on and so we couldn’t get a real feel for it. We found a little café and ate some Tapas I had a can of beer with mine and felt instantly squiffy, no more beer for me. Back at the hotel I had some wine whilst Phil had another beer before we headed to bed early again.

With a shorter distance to travel we allowed ourselves a much slower start to the day, a hot shower then out for a coffee and a croissant and a walk around the park which was opposite our hotel. Back on the road we escaped from Salamanca and headed for Badajoz and Portugal. After a stop to eat I finally took over the driving, well I say driving more pointing the car in the right direction with an automatic and cruise control. It was a lovely drive mountains and then heath land, swathes of meadows, some yellow, some purple, pink or white, others a mix of all the colours. We saw all manner of raptors, including eagles, a beautiful journey made more so when we crossed the Portuguese border, I saw that sign! So here we are in Elvas for two nights in the most delightful hotel, which has been both a hospital and a convent in its many incarnations. As I type this I am sitting by an open window to my right with a view of one of the towns walls extending away from our room, I can here the birds singing and there is just a hint of orange blossom in the air. We have explored the hotel with its many corridors, beautiful furniture and ancient nooks and crannies. We have been out onto the ‘Varanda’ which over looks the courtyard, with it’s small garden of olive trees and it’s swimming pool, oh and views of the old fort. We have explored the streets in the vicinity of the hotel and taken many photos. Both the hotel and the town are everything we thought they would be. Tomorrow we will explore and then Saturday we will head to the little house we love, soon to be known as home.

Elvas is a delightful old walled town complete with the remains of a viaduct. We strolled around in the heat and sunshine taking photos. We found the ‘magazine’ of the Lady of Conception it consisted of a circular domed room and an outdoor corridor, the acoustics inside were amazing, the place had a very peaceful feeling. By the time we reached the castle it was closing for lunch so we walked down to the praca da Republica and found a lovely café to have our lunch at. Whilst looking for a cash machine we found the tourist office and enquired about a second fort we had seen on an adjacent hill, we were told it was a bit of a ruin and that the newer fort was in better condition. We, of course wanted to visit the ruined one! It was really quite large and didn’t have a very settled feel, heavily fortified with a kind of moat and wall arrangement the governors house sat atop all in the safest position. It wasn’t until Phil had been inside that I built up the nerve to do so myself. It was well worth it for the views, the residence must have been very grand in its hey day, but sadly is falling into ruin, the comparison between that residence and the soldiers accommodation was striking. Back at the hotel we bathed and wandered out to a regional restaurant and sampled some local food, the cream cod was nice but could have done with more flavour somehow.

Saturday and we were up at a good time, ate a healthy breakfast and hit the road, once again we decided to take the motorways to get to our house even faster, we split the driving Phil taking the first half allowing me to drive home. We were greeted by Luis and his boy Alex, then had the delights of opening up the house and letting the air and sunshine in, we quickly unpacked the car, placing Gabriel and Balthazar at the end on the garden path before going shopping for some provisions. It was good to potter around doing ‘normal’ things after so long on the road. A simple BBQ and salad for dinner with some Vino Verdi and we were ready for a very early nigh, or so we thought! Across the track from us is a little weekend place owned by a couple from Lisbon, they spotted us and came over for a chat, next thing we were being shown around their house, beer bread and cheese were produced and there we were getting to know our fortnightly neighbours for the next couple of hours.

Sunday we slept later than planned and awoke a little fuzzy headed, nothing that a couple of cups of tea couldn’t sort. We popped out to a local garden centre but it was closed, oops not the same hours as the UK, so we went into Milfontes and did a little shopping and had a coffee before heading to the beach for a picnic. BBQ and salad again for tea then an early night with a movie on the laptop.

Today is the day that our worldly goods arrive, we woke at six thirty and were up and onto the veranda for tea and breakfast, it’s like grand central station at the moment as our neighbour seems to be the hub of what ever work he does, a JCB, a large tractor and trailer, people coming and going, it’s quite fun to watch. Meanwhile we seem to have an accidental side order of cats and dogs we didn’t order, they just like to come and hang out at our place!

Here we are...

Here we are!

Sitting in bed having a lazy, restful day before our epic trip. In the last week we have socialised more than we have done in the last 2 years. We have spent time with good friends and family, we have eaten and drunk well, we have laughed and no doubt will have some tears before tonight.

Well having spent 2 months packing stuff up we were still packing when the van arrived to whisk our 86 variously sized boxes away. The house has been scrubbed and cleaned, neighbours said goodbye to and the keys handed over. We are on hotel number two of six and frankly I am looking forward to having somewhere to cook again. Eating out all the time is all very well and good but I don’t feel I have control over what I am eating and am too easily tempted, oh and obviously it costs so much more.

Tomorrow we have an early start to ensure we reach Dover by 11.30 for our 12.15 crossing to Calais, from Calais we drive down to Rouen for our fist night in France. I’m hoping to grab a few photos on my phone and maybe do a blog a day on the way down but I could fail in my intentions lol.

And so the penultimate day will be quiet and slow…

This post is brought to you by my Personal Hotspot iPhone to Mac Book wi-fi!

A dream no more...

With so many of our belongings packed up it is no longer a dream, the reality is upon us. Addresses have been changed for bank accounts, reading glasses have been taken to be mended, carpet cleaner booked for the day before we hand over the keys, frozen food has been re-homed (I hate throwing food away), the change bucket has been cashed in into a more portable form, the windows have been cleaned, the milk has been cancelled and paid up to date, it's not the arriving that's difficult to arrange it's the cleaning up before leaving. On the to do list, chasing up some paperwork, printing out a tax form in the hope they owe me something, booking a van for short haul stuff and I'm sure there are things that haven't come to mind yet.

Phil is looking at his last couple of days at work, we have his works leaving do on Thursday night which may lead to little being done on Friday, we have our leaving do in the village on the Saturday night, then friends over to pick up our fridge freezer on Sunday with a bit of lunch thrown in, the following Saturday we have a family do, so a busy social time ahead.

So I guess the question is how do I feel? I admit to a couple of anxiety attacks but they are connected to what we have to do between now and when we leave the rented house we are in. The overall feeling is of great excitement and the desire to be there not here, I have had days where I could quite happily have just got on a plane and left everything behind. I want to be where I can pop out and walk on the beach, where it is warm, where the sun shines for more than two or three days in a row. I want to know what it is like to live in a different country as opposed to just visiting one and not wanting to go home, I will admit there are few holidays abroad that I have wanted to come home from for various reasons. It's like achieving everything I ever wanted, I always wanted to live close to the sea, somewhere, somewhere else. I look back and think how many years I didn't get the chance to travel outside of the UK, mostly for financial reasons, other people would tell me of their holidays to places that to me seemed magical, each story I heard I promised myself I would one day visit the countries I dreamed of. At the age of 40 I could finally afford to have a holiday where ever I wanted so off I went to Sorrento in southern Italy with my daughter and a friend, I loved it so much I went back on my own two months later, that was the start! When I met Phil in 2005 the travel bug became fully unleashed, Italy, the Island of Rhodes, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia and of course Portugal, so many visits to Portugal, the country which will become our home in just 16 days time when we arrive at our house.

Of course it goes without saying I will miss my family and friends, but we worked it out that it would take longer for them to drive to Cornwall than it does to fly to Faro or Lisbon and hope they will come visit as we will visit them when we can!

And so...

The wheel turns ever closer to our departure date.

Monday I had lunch with some old school chums who I met up with last year for the first time in more than 30 years. Once again it was fun, we reminisced about our time there, recalled names from the past, some of the escapades we got up to and how we didn't send our kids to boarding school because we disliked it so much. The other notable thing about Monday was I had a little wobble about the move, inevitable at some point, all in my head but it went along the lines of "OhmygodI'm50andmovingtoPortugal,OhmygodI'm50andmovingtoPortugal,OhmygodI'm50andmovingtoPortugal,OhmygodI'm50andmovingtoPortugal,OhmygodI'm50andmovingtoPortugal,OhmygodI'm50andmovingtoPortugal,eeeeeeks". It soon passed!

Tuesday I did a little more packing, Wednesday a little more, the boxes now number 30 and I can't find much more to pack that we don't use daily, though there maybe some kitchen bits in one of the drawers. Today I took my Mac in to have a new DVD/CD drive fitted, fortunately the Mac is still under warranty. Went to have a chat with the local garage about some bits I want doing to the car, it's booked in for Tuesday to have an MOT, then I need to source a couple of parts for them to fit, another tick on the list. Now to find and book a van to move stuff to my daughters and book a carpet cleaner to come in after we have moved everything out!

Just 25 days to go!

Just the one Mrs Wembley!

Just the one box packed this week, running out of things we don't need to use over the next 4 weeks. Some utilities spoken to, a few more to go, then the tax office to inform of our impending departure.

Today has been spent cleaning as the letting agents are bringing round some prospective tenants, deep joy. I'm quite happy to clean when it's my choice, but having to do it makes me grouchy. Phil has to work so it's not his fault he can't be here to help and he does plenty of other stuff, like dealing with the utility people which I am crap at as it involves using the telephone. I'm quite looking forward to spending 11 days in various hotels where I won't even need to make the bed!

This weekend we are off to Wales to see a few good friends before we go, a few birthdays to celebrate too so it should be a good Easter weekend, I'm fairly sure my head will be out of sorts on Sunday morning, good job we don't have to travel back until Monday ~grins~. The weekend will gives us a break from routine which I think we need so we can come back mentally refreshed to tackle the last few weeks before leaving.

When we swap this view...



For this one!

Oh dear...

My brain has melted! I went to tax Roger today taking just the letter and no documents, face/palm, fail!

The box pile grows ever bigger, the inventory longer. Any one who gets presents from me, needn't expect them to come wrapped any time soon, you'll be lucky if you get a fancy bag! I've done enough packing to last me a life time. I used have a bit of a love affair with bubble wrap, just let me at those poppy little pouches and I'll enjoy whole minutes of fun, I've even played with on line bubble wrap, now I look at it and get a vague sense of horror. We have gone through nearly two rolls and piles of second hand wrap, if I never see another piece it will be too soon. Though that said I might see things in a different light when it comes to unwrapping when I can pop away to my hearts content, a little stomping may also come into play!

Today we handed in our notice on the house we are renting, which makes it feel even more real, which of course it is, we also have to give notice to all the utility providers at the end of the month.

So step by step, day by day things are coming together. Tomorrow I am taking the day off from all of it and going into Rugby to do a little shopping with a friend, provided it doesn't snow too hard as promised by the weather people.

Come Monday we will be just 6 weeks away from leaving the UK.

So what's happening...

More packing and then some unpacking as the removal company (which may I add are now booked) want us to put a price on each box, well on an inventory anyway. So boxes will be unpacked so we can work out what's in them and a rough value calculated. This weekend we plan to dismantle the dining table so we can make space for all the boxes and then determine the cubic capacity. We have chosen to use Algarve Removals as they can collect and deliver just when we want them to, so no sourcing a van or further transport from a depot, they are also competitive price wise and well recommended.

The best news is that my lovely car, Roger the Roadster is going to Portugal, I don't know why we didn't think about it before! At the end of May we will be back in the UK for Vikki, Phil's daughter's graduation, we're very proud of her, she scored a first from the Open University, we wouldn't miss it for the world. So the plan is to fly back to East Midlands and pick up Roger from my daughter Hazel's house then we have transport whilst visiting friends etc, we will then drive him back to Portugal, so another road trip to be planned. I do need to source new springs and maybe shocks and possibly a new hood. I'm very happy!

In other news we're looking forward to dinner with friends in their new house tomorrow night and then a long weekend in Wales for Easter. After that we will have to knuckle down and finish withe the packing and sorting, it's only seven weeks come Monday (17th March), not that were counting down the last 52 days...

In the meantime here's a pretty sunset over the River Mira, with Vila Nova de Milfontes in the distance.