This week (half-term for me) I've transferred my mum and her cat and belongings over to the Isle of Man, where she is sharing my sister's new house, with her 3 cats, on the top of a cliff! Four trips with a van, backwards and forwards, and still another to do.
It's a fantastic location and I spent a lovely couple of days unpacking, storing, cleaning, scrubbing with my mum to settle her in. We also tested out the bus and taxi service to Ramsey. I really liked the Island and I can quite see why my sister and mum have chosen to relocate there. One more visit over for me in a few weeks' time, to take the final pieces from mum's house, and also to celebrate an early Xmas.
I've also met with the removal company this week to double-check on the size of the shipping container - yes, it's 20!! That's only £5k+ then, not £9k! Gareth from Bishop's Move also gave me some boxes, tape and wrapping paper so I can make a start on crockery and china in my quiet moments!
I've had confirmation back from the Melbourne Quarantine centre, who are housing the cats from 3 Jan to 14 Jan, which I've paid for now. They are planning to house them separately, because that way they can work out who is using the litter tray, who is drinking and eating. I've asked my vets in Garforth to do a letter, saying the cats might be better together, and the Quarantine centre have said they'll keep an eye on them. It's hard to predict how very stressed they'll be after a 26 hour flight over 3 legs. One of my old school friends said he had done the same thing with his cats when he moved to Canada - and that both cats had run away within 2 weeks of the move! I need to remember to keep them in, or maybe buy some leashes.
In terms of work, I've applied for 2 Deputy Principal posts and 1 Principal post, all in QLD obviously. I've been shortlisted for a Deputy Principal post in a Catholic College - first Skype interview tomorrow at 6.15am! I'm not sure how many stages there are in these interviews, but I'm excited/nervous! I also listened in on a webinar last week, where QLD Education explained how to apply for posts with the State. There were two of us from the UK on the webinar, 7am. I found it useful but I'd done most of what they were telling us to do - I think it was aimed at newly graduated colleagues. This coming week there's another one at 8am with principals telling candidates what to say in interview.
The clocks went back last night in the UK - when I took off my watch, which I always leave set to summer time - I thought, "this is the last time for a very long time I'll be wearing you!". Since I made the decision to move, I've had a brand new watch set to QLD time on my desk, in my eyeline, so I always know what time it is there. I've made a start on the kids' Xmas stockings too - want to be ahead of myself!
Having checked my calendar ... I've got ONE WEEKEND "free" between now and the flight. That's lovely but also daunting! I've got lots of people to see and catch up on, which is fab. And of course the wedding on 30 December - so excited to be mother of the bride!
#Queensland #education #secondary #high #BigMove #cats #emigration #Australia #newchapter #restofmylife #goinghome #LeedstoQLD #BishopsMove #IsleofMan
#DeputyPrincipal #family #
