The Beginning of the End.

This is the beginning of the end for Gill and I, for our time here in the UK any way. Our move to Gozo is really starting to cause us both a bit of anxiety and yet at the same time excitement looking forward to the unknown road ahead.
Lets look at a few of the events of the last couple of weeks, since the new year really.

• 
  Our 200 year old farmhouse in Gozo has just sold, we had it restored 5+ years ago when we had made the decision to move there to live. We have since found another farmhouse in need of restoration, as foreigners in Malta / Gozo we can only own 1 property so have had to sell our current house in Munxar to be able to purchase the next house.


• I gave my notice to the London Fire Brigade of my intention to retire, my last day of service will be 31 March 2008 after more than 30 years service to the people of London. I am often asked if I will miss the job, in many ways I will but after 30 years I think it is time for a change, I will certainly miss some of the characters that a job in the fire service tends to attract, you could never call any of them dull.


• Gill gave her notice to the Royal Bank of Scotland, her date for finishing will be the same, again she has completed more than 30 years service.


• We have just had 2 quotes for the cost of shipping some of our possessions here in the UK to Gozo.....ouch not a cheap process but it has to be done.
  
  Whilst it has been very exciting doing all the planning and talking to friends and family about our big new adventure it now, suddenly starts to become all to real.
  

In the words of Shakespeare "For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy".