plan of attack

It's now a week until moving day and Woz and I have been going through some scenarios of late - how long he should work for, where we should move to, what we will do if our visas don't come for a whole month etc. The basic plan has always been to move from here to a local hotel and sit it out, enjoying the freedom of not having a house to clean and spending time enjoying London while we can.

Normally we are very optimistic about London and the weather here, focusing not on the wet, cool days we've experienced the last two Summers, but instead on the long days and lovely light, the abundance of Summer Fairs (rained out as they may be) and the open parks and lush green surrounds in what has the potential to be a very grey and crowded city. This year however we have admitted defeat and come to the realisation that we wont be able to enjoy our last few weeks here tanning in Hyde Park, sitting on a deck chair, but rugged up inside a quaint little English pub at best.

So we're going on a road trip! On Friday we're packing up our flat, moving to a friend's house for the night for one last catch up and maybe a glass of champagne, then leaving the following morning. We plan to hire a car and head for Dover, to catch the ferry to France and beyond! We may only make it to Calais before we get a call to say that our visas have arrived and flights have been booked but it will be fun trying to get as far as we can! We're now hoping the visas hold off not only this week but for at least two weeks to allow us to get one last holiday in before Woz starts up on a huge project which will be very demanding of his time.

zoom zoom zoom

Last night, the very new to London, Gemma and Claire, came over for dinner which was followed up by the complimentary 'London tour' Woz bestows on all our guests. The 'London Tour' comprises of a high speed jaunt around the city on the back of a red Ducati (the colour is very important - they go faster you know), giving the pillion a chance to take in the sights of all of London's beautiful and iconic buildings lit up in the night sky.

We played a tag team, with Gemma going first, then Claire. The girls then gave Woz and I the first hour alone we've had in about six months as I set off on the back of the bike. There's such a freedom in being able to jump on a bike and just go, particularly when you live in a city where public transport is the norm. Jumping on the tube and going all the way to Uxbridge, Watford or Cockfosters just isn't the same.

As you will know, Woz has sold his motorbike and will hand it over to the new buyer this Friday. Last night may have been our last ride for a very long time as we wont buy a bike in Libya. Not too sure the combination of sand and Italian design will be a match made in heaven.

highgate woods

sill no visas ...

and eight days and counting until we have to move out of the flat. Nothing like living on the edge.

just us

almost there

Today is moving day, well half of it anyway. Woz and I have been busily boxing up our things and have collected 7 large cardboard boxes to take to Libya, and about the same in plastic tubs to go into storage. In our small flat, with no rooms to shut things away, we've started to go a little crazy living amongst the boxes, so today we are having a removalist come and collect everything for us and put it all in storage. Most of it will stay there until the day we fly out. To think that all we came over with was two bags and one tub.

As for 'the day we fly out', we still have no idea when that is, but we do have some dates to work with. On the 22nd we will move out of our flat. Once we received our contract a month or so ago we gave notice both at work and to our landlord. The 22nd is earlier than our contract states but lucky for us our landlord, who is rumoured to be in jail, will be back in town and needs a roof over his head. Not so good for society perhaps, but for us it allows us to get out early with no penalty. If our visas don't arrive by then we will be homeless, but we are confident they will come within a few days of that time, giving us time to get out of the flat, clean it and then pack what is left of our bags so that we can stay in a hotel somewhere for a few days.

Woz finishes up at work this Friday, all though this week is a little all over the place for him, with him having to go in to work at 11 pm then 4 am last night, and again tonight. It will potentially be a very long week for him, so it's likely he will spread it out and run it into next week, possibly staying on until we have a definite flight booked, just to be safe.

A few weeks ago when people found out that we were leaving, there was a queue of Ducati enthusiasts lining up to buy Woz's bike. On a first come first served basis, Woz sold his bike to a friend of ours. The friend viewed the bike on a Thursday evening, got back to us on Sunday morning to confirm he wanted the bike, and within 5 hours Woz had had an accident. A car turning into a side street didn't look to see that Woz was there and in turning, crushed Woz's foot between the bike and the car leaving it very bruised and with ligaments damaged. The bike too was damaged and so we're now in the process of obtaining quotes to have the repair done - thankfully our friend has not been deterred and has been very understanding, agreeing to wait while we sort out the insurance.

getting that little bit closer

Things are definitely moving along in leaps and bounds now. We've finally had some information on why our visas have taken so long. It seems that everything has to be translated into Arabic. We knew that our passports needed to be done but also all the documents we sent over to the States have needed to be translated too. So, now that they have finally been translated and forwarded to the Libyan Embassy, the visas could be coming any day - so they say.

Woz now has only two more weeks of work, finishing up on the 15th of August, although he has an agreement with them to stay on as long as he wants after that date should our plans to move be delayed any further. We're not sure they will be though as the new company have already given Woz a start date of the 16th of August, in order to send him a laptop from the States. There are a significant amount of things that would need to happen to get us there by then ... visas approved, flights booked, us packed and moved out of the flat ... needless to say we don't think that date will actually come to fruition but wouldn't be surprised if we were there by late August.

We've started boxing up our bits and pieces, which is a much more challenging feat than simply moving home as we have had to pack all our goods in specifically sized boxes and also comply with the weight restrictions. This has led to packing and repacking of boxes in order to squeeze as much as we can into each box. The challenges of packing are also intensified with Nate around. This morning I started boxing up some of Nate's toys while I distracted him with a DVD. Unfortunately he overhead me and came over to join me. With each toy I put in the box, another was pulled out tearfully, by little hands!

england is supposed to be safe! they told me it would be safe!

Well it's been a long time since I've been in this situation. I am sitting camped outside the kitchen door with eyes peering in to ensure that the HUGE HAIRY HUNTSMAN-LIKE SPIDER that I just discovered on a dinner plate doesn't escape. All I can say is that I'm thankful I've not seen one of these until a few weeks before we leave the country because I can safely say I would have packed my bags much earlier (but certainly not to Australia where Huntsmen are a plenty).

There is no denying I have arachnophobia. I once camped out in the toilet of a friend's house because a huntsman was perched on the door inside, close to the handle. We'd finished dinner and I'd gone to the toilet, moments later discovering the huntsman, however I was trapped in the teeny tiny room with only the spider to hear my cries. It was quite some time before they came to rescue me which involved much convincing on their part in stopping me from jumping out the toilet window which was two stories up, instead intervening in the situation by spraying insecticide around the door, their argument being that the huntsman would 'run towards the spray'. Why in my vulnerable state I believed this I will never know, but let me tell you they don't run towards, they run away, and they jump, in the direction of the petrified woman standing on the toilet screaming. It wasn't pretty. Let me just say I am indebted to Tracey for life who allowed the huntsman to run all over her feet while I leaped off the toilet and out of the house in sheer terror.

Growing up in rural Australia has given me a whole host of spider stories, each one more terrifying than the next and most of which I would love to be able to forget - being trapped in a tent in the middle of a forest with teenage boys throwing huntsman all over the mesh is just another that springs to mind. I still get nightmares.

So, now, I find myself in the same position and what is perhaps more disturbing is that at 31 years of age I have called my husband, who is now on his way home from work to rescue me, while I sit frozen on a chair outside the door. I think this is why I said 'I do'.

the pepsi exhibit

With an arena of lions behind them, of course the boys were both more interested in the 'Pepsi Exhibit' - a refuge for Pepsi Cans which would otherwise face certain extinction if released into the wild.

family fun

On Sunday afternoon Woz, Nate and I met up with Andrew, Vicki and Elliott at the London Zoo which is in Regents Park, and handily, within walking distance for us. It was a very hot and sticky day, due to high temperatures and humidity, and so in between chasing excitable toddlers and lugging buggies and gear around, the four of us adults were exhausted by the end of the day, and would quite happily have collapsed in the shade, leaving the boys to break into the tiger pit or play with the lions. Thankfully common sense prevailed, and so, by late afternoon, with energy spent, Woz and I started the walk home. The very long, long, very hot, walk home.

making waves

brace! brace!

enjoying the waves

brighton beach

Yesterday after a lazy morning sleep in, Lindsay and Delilah phoned asking us to join them for a day at the beach. The five of us drove down to Brighton and we had such a good day - a lovely unexpected escape from the heat of the city.

Woz has always been game for a swim at the beach, regardless of temperature. Me, give me at least 35 degrees and a hot north wind and I might dip my toes in. But here we were, in temperatures barely reaching the high twenties, swimming in the mercilessly cold English Channel and loving every minute of it.

new toy

After months of not having a computer Woz and I have finally bought a new laptop and we're in love! It's so good to have speedy wireless internet, not to mention a place to finally download all our videos and photos. We're way behind on posting videos we've taken in the last 6 months or more but hope to upload some soon. Perhaps when the move is out of the way?! Then again it might give us something to do while we're waiting for our visas.

i can see clearly now

We had our induction conference call on Friday and it went really well. They answered loads of our questions regarding the set-up of the company, working conditions and the living conditions. What we have decided to undertake seems a lot clearer now and we are better informed.

The call was conducted with two further expats, one in Canada and another in the UK who are also waiting on their visas! The English expat will be taking his wife and child over so we're keen to talk with him before we go and have exchanged details. He's travelled to Libya three times now and will head up the security in Tripoli so we have so many questions for him. The fact that he is directly related to security, has travelled there before and experienced it first hand, and is willing to take his wife and child, is of great comfort to Woz (and to me of course!).

We did ask him about the safety in Tripoli and he said that we would be more likely to die of boredom than through terrorist activity as there really isn't anything to do. Alcohol is officially banned and there aren't any clubs or pubs to speak of. Not being the clubbing types we're not too concerned about having quiet nights in but will have to look into what options there are on the weekend. He also said that we would find it very difficult to buy any English literature so to take plenty of books to read. Licence to buy books! I love it!

in days gone by

Over the history of this blog I have made a conscious decision to make all posts observational and to steer clear of local or international politics or religious issues. Of course I hold opinions relating to religious and political issues, in many ways they shape who I am and affect the way I view the world, but I write on behalf of not just myself but Woz, and now Nate too. On top of that it has not been my intention that this blog be used as a soapbox, but as a way for our family and friends to keep up with our day to day life and to feel some inclusion in it.

But now, with the impending move to Libya taking centre stage it seems that avoiding politics is impossible, particularly as our friends and family voice their concern for our welfare given the country we have chosen to live in.

The number one question people ask us when we tell them of our move to Libya is 'Is it safe?' and I have to admit, that was my first question too (right after 'Are you serious?!'). We've been talking about Libya for about 3 or 4 months now and during that time we have researched the political situation in Libya, (therefore our own personal safety), as heavily as we've been able to. There's not a great deal on the internet and not too many people have actually travelled or lived there that we have come in contact with. The Lonely Planet guide has really been our greatest resource as it seems to present a frank view of the history of Libya without sensationalising it. We all know, Libya has had a colourful history but it does seem that it is well behind them with Tripoli taking many steps to disassociate itself from its terrorist past and the US lifting its sanctions and restoring full diplomatic relations with Libya as a result.

I hope in the future to continue to write about our time in Tripoli in the same manner as I have in London, reserving political issues for private conversation and merely commenting on our day to day life. Time will tell whether that is possible.

you've no idea how long I've wanted to write about this ...

So, I'm about to rock your world a little here, and I'll cut to the chase because I hate suspense. I can barely write it let alone you read it. So, here goes ... Woz and I are moving to Libya.

Yes. Libya.

Had you asked me ten years ago, five, or one even, in fact, let's say 4 months ago ... "How do you fancy a stint in Libya?", I can safely say that my answer would have been a resolute, "Not at all".

The job offer comes from a client Woz worked with in the past, who has since gone on to head up the project in Libya. Woz and he had kept in contact so when Woz casually mentioned to him that he was going to look around to see what other projects were out there, he was offered a job on the spot, however, unlike the other positions we'd looked at, it wasn't in London, but Libya. What followed was months of emails and verbal conversations with staff members in Libya, Boston, Dallas, LA and now, finally, a contract.

Although it's been a long process, and I've been dying to record some of it in writing, we were reticent to announce it to the world on our blog just in case a work colleague read it. Stranger things have happened. But this afternoon, Woz broke the news to his boss and formally resigned from work.

So, now, with the freedom to write I barely know what to say. From the moment Woz was offered a position, he has never questioned going. I however, have been on the proverbial seesaw, one minute excited by the adventure and opportunity, and the other frightened by the unknown. For this reason, Woz left the decision entirely with me and so over the last few months I have been weighing up the options, thinking through the impact of my decision on Woz, Nate, myself and our families in Australia, who have been understandably concerned over this new possibility.

I concluded this; I am a wife, who wants the best for her husband, and who would find it very difficult to deny him such a career opportunity, I am a mother who wants to give her son stability, but opportunity at the same time, I am a daughter, who wants her parents (all four of them) to forgive her for such a decision, and deep down, amongst the fear of the unknown, I am a woman who wants to explore and know every inch of this awesome globe and it's people.

So, moving to Libya we are, and it could be in as little as one month. After an induction conference call we will sign the contract this week which means that we have agreed to be there in 30 days, however as we're waiting on a visa, this time could be extended. Now that we're able to blog we'll keep you all posted on the process, each and every exciting and terrifying detail.

'Look out Libya', it has a certain ring to it don't you think?

sad

Okay, I now officially have Seasonal Affective Disorder (by self diagnosis). Let me take a few moments to explain. The first two years Woz and I were here we enjoyed beautifully mild Winters with a touch of snow, and stinking hot Summers. We laughed in the face of those who said that we'd hate the weather here.

Unfortunately, last Summer that all came to an end, when our mild Winter continued into Spring and then Summer, and then the rains came. Summer was a complete washout but for a handful of warm days and so in September we braced ourselves for another Winter having had no respite over the last few months. This year, as Summer approached we lived in hope, each day looking at the forecast hoping for change. A cool May turned into a cool and wet June, which has now turned into a cool and wet (at times torrential) July. The grey wet days have done nothing for my mood, and added to the combination of no longer working my precious two days a week, I'm finding it difficult to say the least.

Living in a hot country at this point in time seems a no brainer.

bubble boy

Last night Woz, Nate and I caught up with my cousin Gemma who is travelling the globe with her friend Claire. She and Claire were in London for just a few days (they're now running with/from the bulls in Spain - ouch!). They're fresh from extensive travel in Asia and now plan to do a little travelling in Europe before settling in London where they will forge a new life for themselves over the next two years.

We met up at Regents Park for a picnic tea. London put on a spectacular show for us as we lounged about on the grass and chatted long into the warm Summer evening. Nate loved the night too, running around with the vast amounts of children who were also out with their parents. Nate had a trail of children following him most of the time as he was sporting a new bubble gun which was sufficiently broken in.

When he wasn't decorating the park with bubbles he stood, much to our amusement, on the path, waving 'Hies!' and 'Byes' to all the passers by.