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Post by OnlyMark on Oct 4, 2016 22:47:46 GMT 2
I suppose the time has come for me to start a thread on what will be my new country in a few weeks. It'll start off slow as there isn't much to say but it can stay here as a place-marker to come back to. The first bit if news is that Mrs M arrived without me (by design) last weekend. She has jumped straight into her job and as it sometimes (but not often) involves visiting different places around the country, no sooner has she arrived than she is off somewhere else. More or less dived in at the deep end. She had a short flight this morning and this apparently is where she sat - I'm wondering if it is on the pilot's knee, but it seems not. Maybe she has certain skills she has forgotten to tell me about. I do hope she didn't have to help with the landing - So, the thread is started. It may take a few years to finish, so pace yourself.
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Zambia
Oct 4, 2016 23:36:25 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Oct 4, 2016 23:36:25 GMT 2
amazing!
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Zambia
Oct 6, 2016 17:03:55 GMT 2
via mobile
Post by wikki on Oct 6, 2016 17:03:55 GMT 2
Cool.
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Post by OnlyMark on Oct 6, 2016 17:10:44 GMT 2
I hope it isn't cool wiki. Mid twenties to mid thirties would be just the right temperature.
Oh... I see what you mean.
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Zambia
Oct 6, 2016 19:04:27 GMT 2
Post by slowcoach on Oct 6, 2016 19:04:27 GMT 2
Have the rains started, it looks very cloudy?
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Zambia
Oct 6, 2016 20:07:41 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Oct 6, 2016 20:07:41 GMT 2
They rains shouldn't start until December, then through until about April. There are one off times of rain though from about now but nothing much to speak of.
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Post by OnlyMark on Oct 7, 2016 19:40:29 GMT 2
There is a lot of preparation necessary, as you would expect, to leaving for Africa. One thing that has come to mind is something very important but gets overlooked. Food. As part of my trying to cover every eventuality, and call me weak willed, in fact my middle name is 'weak willed', but I decided to nip down to the coast for a meal. Not just any meal, but about the only place that does a decent carvery. There was a choice of beef, pork, gammon, turkey and lamb. You could have just one or all of them or any permutation of them. Then there were several vegetables including roast and mashed potatoes, cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire pud etc etc. The big advantage over most other carverys is that you can go back for seconds of meat. Normally you can just have more veg. So now I am stuffed and want to lie down in a darkened room for a while.
It can be hard, this organisation and making sure nothing is forgotten or missed.
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Post by auntieannie on Oct 7, 2016 21:47:45 GMT 2
basically, you are stuffing yourself whilst you can? ;-)
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Post by OnlyMark on Oct 7, 2016 22:40:48 GMT 2
I see it more as recharging my batteries to last until I can indulge myself again.
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Zambia
Oct 8, 2016 1:00:21 GMT 2
Post by Voy on Oct 8, 2016 1:00:21 GMT 2
are you going to drive down? that journey probably deserves a thread of it's own - if you are!
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Zambia
Oct 8, 2016 10:53:09 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Oct 8, 2016 10:53:09 GMT 2
I wish I could, but no. It'll be a flight like anyone else.
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Zambia
Oct 8, 2016 14:47:44 GMT 2
Post by Voy on Oct 8, 2016 14:47:44 GMT 2
well rats! but safe journey when you make it. which is when?
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Zambia
Oct 8, 2016 15:31:21 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Oct 8, 2016 15:31:21 GMT 2
In just over three weeks. I would drive it but for several problems. I don't have the right car, I don't have the time and I don't now know of a viable route. There used to be but there are too many difficulties at the moment in various countries.
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Zambia
Oct 11, 2016 12:55:09 GMT 2
Post by ninchursanga on Oct 11, 2016 12:55:09 GMT 2
Nice that you started the thread. I was already wondering about the move. Recharging the batteries with lots of good food is a good idea. One cannot plan important things on an empty stomach!
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Post by OnlyMark on Oct 18, 2016 20:11:45 GMT 2
Minor update - the company we have the internet from came to the house a few days ago and took it all away. So now, no internet. But fortunately I've got a few nights in hotels until the time comes to leave. So I'll be able to still drop in from time to time.
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Zambia
Oct 18, 2016 22:57:22 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Oct 18, 2016 22:57:22 GMT 2
safe travels, Dr Only and settle well.
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Zambia
Oct 19, 2016 0:04:11 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Oct 19, 2016 0:04:11 GMT 2
Cheese. I've had a report from Mrs M. Cheese, and also bread, is a problem. If they are the only things then we have little to worry about.
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Zambia
Oct 25, 2016 21:04:15 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Oct 25, 2016 21:04:15 GMT 2
Annie, thank for the good wishes, but it'll still be a week or more until I finally depart. I've come down to the Malaga area with the daughters to finish off their school break and at the weekend I need to take them back to catch a plane in Madrid. Then I'll return to the coast for a couple of days by myself before flying out. I won't though be spending any more nights at the house, just a couple of visits during the day when I'm passing. My bags have had a trial packing and Baz will have a heart attack to read that as I am allowed 40kg, that is what I'll be taking. Mind you, that does include a couple of sleeping bags, a tent and mosquito nets. Oh! plus my suit. I do have one. Can't remember the last time I wore it. I think when I got married.
Mrs M has had a long weekend of official holidays and has spent the time being shown around properties we might rent. Only one fits the bill at the moment, but they all are relatively expensive and not in the best of condition. She'll probably not commit herself to anything though until I get there and still has more to see.
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Zambia
Oct 25, 2016 22:45:07 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Oct 25, 2016 22:45:07 GMT 2
40 kg? So this is first class travel. I am sure you are well insured for when it gets "lost"
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Zambia
Oct 25, 2016 23:00:53 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Oct 25, 2016 23:00:53 GMT 2
Mrs M's company pays for a business class flight to a posting and return once a year so we try and make the most of it. Business flights within Europe though are particularly crap, on the way to far off places.
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Zambia
Nov 1, 2016 16:44:42 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Nov 1, 2016 16:44:42 GMT 2
Where do I start the countdown? At ten? Too late anyway as we are down to three if you include the day of leaving (Thursday). The house is all done and dusted. Locked up and left until next year. I'm weak willed enough that I'm back down on the coast again after taking the daughters to the airport in Madrid. I see no point in waiting around in an empty house with nothing to do.
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Post by Baz Faz on Nov 1, 2016 18:37:28 GMT 2
I found a recipe for roast elephant. It begins: First skin the elephant. But you are too conservation-minded to want that. Mrs M would thank you for some cheese. Can you find a good manchego before Thursday?
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Post by OnlyMark on Nov 1, 2016 20:46:09 GMT 2
"First, catch your hare" - Mrs Beeton.
I've eaten hippo. A bit too fatty though. Mrs M eats very little cheese for some reason. It is I who does. So she would be far happier with some Serrano ham and proper German bread. Or quark. I will take her the ham but I'll have to start making bread again it seems.
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Zambia
Nov 3, 2016 0:07:11 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Nov 3, 2016 0:07:11 GMT 2
Bon voyage, Mark.
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Zambia
Nov 3, 2016 0:48:45 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Nov 3, 2016 0:48:45 GMT 2
Thanks.
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Post by sophie on Nov 3, 2016 1:28:08 GMT 2
Safe travels and pack a bread maker!!
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Zambia
Nov 3, 2016 7:04:55 GMT 2
Post by kuskiwi on Nov 3, 2016 7:04:55 GMT 2
^ the same wish and the same idea.
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Zambia
Nov 3, 2016 15:21:36 GMT 2
Post by Voy on Nov 3, 2016 15:21:36 GMT 2
me three!
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Zambia
Nov 3, 2016 16:26:54 GMT 2
Post by kerouac2 on Nov 3, 2016 16:26:54 GMT 2
This should be interesting.
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Zambia
Nov 3, 2016 23:11:40 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Nov 3, 2016 23:11:40 GMT 2
I hope your journey was pleasant and uneventful and that all your luggage has arrived.
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