Countdown... 3 Weeks to go.

Our Visa has now been granted.

What to do with a house full of stuff?

We will be taking only a very small amount of stuff with us - some 30kg each. Thats laptops, clothes, couple of books and CDs, and small electronic items.

Which leaves about 2 tonnes of furniture, books, and household appliances. And a van.

Some of our older, better furniture is likely to be living with friends and family. Furnishings and houseplants are being freecycled. Books, small appliances and music will be going first to a car boot sale then the remainder to charity. Large appliances will be staying with the house. Everything else is going on eBay.

We're hoping that funds from selling our stuff can be used in Oz to stock our home. It's become obvious that it takes more than a couple of weeks to dismantle decades of accumulation. It is however a cathartic and sometimes rewarding experience which involves looking at old photos, birthday cards, gig tickets etc. Many times I have found a shoe box at the back of a cupboard, long forgotten, and it's easy to spend a couple of hours rummaging through the contents.

Arrangements for a send-off party are in hand, and now is the time to visit friends, settle any old debts, and cancel any subscriptions and services. While this might sound terminal, it's worth remembering that the return journey can be made in 20 hours (roughly the same timescale for crossing Manchester using only public transport!).

One good thing about being so busy is that it provides a useful distraction from the stress of going to live on the other side of the world, in a country which neither of us has visited.

All said and done, we are feeling excited about our move. The British summer is the perfect way to acclimatise for the Aussie winter!