Travelling as a family of four

Wow! I can't believe so much time has passed. Settling back into Mallorca has flown by! So in May we rented our apartment. A spacious and airy place with some views.  Our eldest started school, infantil. He loved it, learning the languages. Making friends. We spent most of the summer, you guessed right, on the beach. It was lovely. We live about 4 bus stops to one beach, another at the end of the same line. Two buses out to the other side. Also at least two buses anywhere, for free. We found local shops for bread and cheese picnics. Sometimes little cafes. We saw our friends when we could. Having kids in Spain, can mean late nights. We were often flexible. Although almost FT solo parenting was tiring. August was hot. September meant the start of new routines all round.  - Youngest started at a nursery, she changed in November to a state run one as a place came up. - Eldest started primary school. Enjoying the learning. - Mum started a job. At my old teaching place but with a n...

So it´s been a while. We did so much in just under 90 days in Argentina. After Mar Del Plata area we were in Viedma and back again - with our friends and family. Many of our friends are like family. Birthdays and family celebrations and hot weather. Including of course beaches! We made sure to add one more family holiday in to see the waterfalls at Iguazu and then back to Buenos Aires to prepare to return to the UK.  A week and a half in the UK attempting to see people around packing up things we left behind. I will need to purge so much more stuff when we return to visit. Probably a garden "sale". We drove to Kent to take the early hours ferry to Calais. Then through France for day and one night stopover. Through the north of Spain and then on to our family near Barcelona. Some cousins live near each other and it was great to see them again. They were as always so welcoming and accodating of us for a one day visit. Stunning countryside! Would love to drive through in our mot...

We packed our bags the night before and finished them off an hour before leaving! Sickness of a cold bug meant we had no energy and I didn't get much done before we left! Opps! Lastminute.com We were met by a friend at the Argentinean airport who took us to our brother. We stayed there a few nights while visiting places in Buenos Aires and spending time together.  We moved on to near La Plata for a friend/family Christmas. Lots of food and BBQ! The kids ran themselves tired! Then on to Mar Del Plata, one of my favourite places. Beach, beach  beach and family with lots of friends. We've explored a bit further out this time to Mar Del Cobo and La Caleta. Now in Sierra de Los Padres reliving youth and family. Reflecting on teachers returning to their classes and our son not returning to school. We have some English and maths books and a blank book to write in. Deschooling for a bit. Although learning Spanish has been key for our eldest to play with others! We are finding a rhythm...

Today was my last official day at work. I am now unemployed. The team were amazing and helpful and I'll miss them. Mixed feelings but excitement is the main one bubbling up for change. Fear underneath with change and uncertainty. I will feel the fear and do it anyway! I did this once before when I went to Mallorca for "four months", almost 7 years later I returned with my husband. 8 years later we're ready again (well almost) and with two children. Watch this space for the photos over Christmas and New Year with family and friends we call family.

So we've started the move and kept going over a couple of weeks!  From our mid terrace house, all that was available when looking and not that expensive in the village, to my Mum's house in my old room. The kids and I are in my old room, sharing a bed!  Some large things were brought over the first weekend and then car loads since. We've sold some furniture, we've donated a lot of things to a lady for a charity and for her to give to people for free etc and given things away to friends.  Some things have been easier to purge than others. Some things have a lot of use, some less use but are useful at points and others have sentimental attachments. Some days have been overwhelming and others have been busy with work and less with the house! I haven't kept a tally of how mamy times I've said we've nearly finished or just another box.... I haven't had headspace with two kids and a full time job to sort as much as I would have liked. Thankfully we had sorted ...

At the start of course! Well somewhere in the middle really. So I've been in the country for almost 8 years since moving back to help my Mum and Dad. A surprise shortly after our wedding. Dad has passed and Mum has been diagnosed with Parkinson's. My husband and I have welcomed our children into the world. We've lived in some different houses. I've had two different jobs both related to education. Building confidence, skills and qualifications along the way. The thought of a long Christmas break became a catalyst to change. A moment to embrace the possibilities of time with family and friends we've not seen for five years. Talking it through has helped develop the plans which are still quite tentative.  We're moving closer to the start of the adventure. Each stage has moments of fun, feelings and fear. I feel ready for the next step travelling as a family of four. I wasn't expecting it just now but we want to see our family and friends, it's been too lon...