Kiwi gonna be

I've given my notice in at work today - how scarey. It took me a few attempts to do it and a few tears too. I've worked for my current employer for 22 years and 7 months - that's longer than I've been married!

So things are moving on I'm definitely going! It's been a week of highs and lows - excitement when New Zealand immigration said yes, but tears when I actually had to commit to a date to leave my family and friends. Tears and laughter when my friend, Helen, in New Zealand rang after she's found out we're definitely going to join her. But its done now notice at work given, flights booked. I leave the UK at 9.00 pm on 21 June 2009.

I think its going to be quite an emotional four weeks. Today I had my haircut for the last time by Julie my hairdresser of 15 plus years. Yesterday I went to my friend Anne-Marie's for tea for probably the last time. It is very sad but it also makes me appreciate things and people more. Sometimes we take for granted the things around us and these last few weeks are making me see things in a different light and value what and who is around me.

People say to me how lucky I am going to be going to live in such a great country with fantastic scenery. And I am lucky! But we have some fantastic scenery here too which I think because it's on our doorstep we don't always fully appreciate. I drive Harry to school sometimes (Colne Valley) and the scenery driving up there is fantastic...i don't think I've really appreciated it before!

Does this sound like I'm getting cold feet?! I'm not, I am really excited about going and we have very special friends in New Zealand but it is going to be a big wrench leaving the things that are familiar to me and the people that mean a lot to me.

Photo: Helen, me and Jodie(my daughter) - our last holiday in NZ