After the initial flurry of “Project 2016” planning there was somewhat of a lull between getting the big ticket items arranged and getting started on the final details, then all of a sudden that’s where we were this week.  Iteration two of packing up my life.

I thought I’d done pretty well downsizing in April, however, given that I have 7kgs of sailing course work and 3kgs of cat litter…. my quota for niceties is very tight.  I’ve already established that I’m going to have to do a second 40kg wave in a few weeks, but what do I need on day one, versus what would I like?  I confess I have probably brought a couple of unnecessary items – at approximately 5.30am I went back on last night’s decision to leave my diamanté Damien Hurst skull behind… and being who I am, as well as my handbag being far over the allotted 6kgs, I boarded the plane carrying a glass vase of silk flowers.

We did have some giggles trying to ascertain the weight of my 240 litre suitcase, partly because I struggle to lift 23kgs at the best of times, also it’s the same size as I am (I’ve been zipped in to prove it) therefore when holding it I can’t see past my elbows; no matter how quickly or repeatedly you attempt to execute a leap off scales, they do not retain the reading for long enough to turn and look.  And I didn’t dare attempt a backwards lunge.  Hence, at 11pm last night, my housemate was crouched in the shower of my en suite, reading the weight, upside down, between my legs….  And then, one sleepless night later, it was time for the big off!

Two suitcases and a cat crate, three passports, nine air waybills, three shippers certificates, two fit to fly certificates, a boarding pass, a very heavy handbag and a vase of silk flowers.  Premium valet parking, a cheeky glass of airport prosecco, a novel picked up at a tfl book exchange (in case it needed to be sacrificed at the airport to meet the weight requirements – as an aside, other items escrowed for potential sacrifice upon official weigh in were the skull, linen, cat litter and catfood), a trashy movie about singledom, and it was time to retrieve the bears from cargo.

And we’re here!  Cats are ever so slightly solemn, I think the plane put the fear in them somewhat – let’s not do that again in a hurry!  I’ve sourced an official litter tray (fear not, future guests, the oven tray has not been sullied on my watch) and from here on it’s to be a whole new adventure by the seaside.  Cheers!

Now, where’s the Vina Sol….