Inside I am freaking out just a little bit.

about this move. Part of it is the amount of stuff I have to organise to make it happen. I'm mostly worried about the kids and how they will  manage and adjust to the move, I also feel a bit guilty about moving them from a life that they are pretty happy with and giving them a totally different one.
In some ways I wish we were moving sooner so I could just get there and start.

Some good news is that the children's OCI cards have been approved, now I need to go back to the Indian Passport and Visa Office and submit their passports then in about 7 working days they will be returned with the stamp thingy in them. This means they are now Overseas Citizens of India and will be able to come and go from India without a visa for the rest of their lives. They don't even need to register with the FRO (Foreigners Registration Office). I am the only one that still needs to do that as I have a PIO card (person of indian origin) as I am not eligible for OCI. PIO lasts for 15 years which is still pretty good.

Dina has returned from Switzerland and work will start once Ramadan is over, as our mistri (carpenter) is muslim he is not available till then. In the meantime I'm trying to work out a kitchen floorplan which is quite difficult when I'm not there.
I want to leave as much as I can till I am actually there but still have the necessities so we can be comfortable. If we didn't have to consider the 2 cats that we are taking with us then I would leave everything and go and stay in a hotel till the house is ready! (bloody cats!!!)

This week I am going to meet with the pet relocation company to find out what needs to be done and he will give me a quote for that. I also want to go and get some book boxes so I can pack up books and things that we don't use that much. I will feel good when it looks like I have made a start!

Progress and more photos

It has been school holidays here so I have been very busy with my kids but today they are back at school so I am taking the opportunity to update here.
We applied to have the electricity reconnected a few months back and the good news is that the electricity is now on. We also have signed up with the local gas bottle delivery service and that is all in place too.
A high boundary wall has been built...I was actually against building such a high wall but my husband thinks it is neccessary, I did put my foot down when he wanted to put broken glass and nails along the top! I know this is common in India but I would feel like I was in prison and I think if someone is determined to climb over a bit of glass isnt going to stop them.


This is the view from the road..




The front room, I really like this room.

 Our friend Dina arrived back in India from Switzerland yesterday so work will be starting on the house soon, there is a lot to do but because we are wanting to build an extension in the next couple of years it seems pointless to spend a lot of money renovating at the moment so only what is needed to make it liveable will be done at this time. Things like mosquito screens, fans, a basic kitchen, inside toilet and bathroom, and plastering and painting. Before it gets hot we will need some airconditioning too.



The wall


 Because the house had not been lived in for several years the outside was very overgrown but now the land has all been cleared and some new topsoil has been brought in. My husband tells me there are several fruit trees there too.

This is my mother in law (thakuma) sitting on the back steps

My mother in law is a very sweet and hardworking person. I am looking forward to spending more time with her....so are the kids for that matter. My daughter was very excited when I told her she could go to Thakuma's house whenever she wants once we move!


Tram guy and Thakuma by the new front gates

It's quite hard when I am not actually there to oversee what is happening there...I HATE these ugly gates but nevermind they might look better when they are painted. That will happen when I am there to choose the colours. I have told them to wait until I geth there to choose the paint colour for anything that needs painting except the house interior which can just be plastered where necessary and whitewashed for now.



Back from holiday...

We spent the last 5 days at Tree Elle retreat in South Western Australia...fantastic holiday. I have had my mother and one of my brothers here from New Zealand too. My brother left today (tears) but my mother is here for another week.
One good thing is that I have received my PIO card in the post! I am still waiting for the kid's OCI cards but apparently they take longer.
Our friend and project manager Dina is on holiday in Switzerland for a month but wheb he gets back work will start on our house. Can't believe we are moving in only 5 months
SQUEE!!!!!

Broken modem...

I woke up the sunday before last, and my moden was dead as a doornail. So frustrating after I had only just started this blog! I have received my new modem today so hopefully I will be up and running again soon.