The Sell-Off Continues

Today I sold about 50 albums for over $150, better than expected frankly. One thing about this move that really stands out for me is...we have acquired a lot of stuff. I've been selling stuff for months: furniture, tools, a baseball card collection I hadn't looked at in 20 years, sporting goods, today's albums, and various odds and ends. Then there is my car and my house... the biggies.

This doesn't take into account the stuff in the 6x6 storage shed, a couple large boxes at my sister's (Merry Kay) house, the safe deposit box, the 400-pound air shipment and the 20' storage container sailing across the Atlantic.

Where did it all come from? Actually, it's quite liberating to downsize and simplify. I'd recommend it.

TWO WEEKS UNTIL PONGO AND I ARRIVE
Dec. 26, 2012

Tracy just had her first Christmas in London, and it wasn't one to bother remembering. I did get to see my family earlier this month, and my sister Merry Kay and her husband Joe yesterday, but being without Tracy on Christmas is not fun and has happened too often. We decided we need to do something very special in London next Christmas!

I'm still wrapping up things here in Charlotte. I spent some time shredding old documents today, and throwing away any remaining junk I won't need for the next two weeks. I do have an approaching dilemma regarding my TV/Internet and my car. I'll have to turn in my work phone on January 4th, so there goes my most convenient tool for internet. I'll need to return my equipment to AT&T a day or two before I go, so then I won't have any email for a couple days. The thought of that concerns me a great deal actually, considering everything going on with the move. I'll have to take our rather large laptop to Starbucks or something.

Then, I need to sell my car and have time to take a cashier's check to the bank. So I'll have to get a rental, I think, but I don't want to spend any more than necessary. Two days max and maybe I can just return it to the airport. Hmmm.

I'm not even going to tackle the house situation here today.

Wow, it will really be so nice to just get there! Come on January 9th!

Our blog's namesake

Pongo says 'Arghh'

Getting Started

So, we're getting a late start on this blogging thing. Let me try to catch you up.

So, late in the summer Tracy became aware of what seemed to be her dream job. Relocating to London seemed too good to be true. If you know us, we love to travel. We also have had an interest in living abroad for several years. What better place than London to accomplish those goals? 

NBC London bureau office

Well, we decided that this was an opportunity we couldn't pass up. I won't fill you in on all the details of what we've been doing to get ready, but needless to say we've been spending a lot of time online researching. There have been budget discussions, apartment (sorry: flat) hunting strategies, arrangements for Pongo, work visa applications, job hunting (for me), banking questions, getting our house ready and on the market, selling stuff we didn't want to keep and storing stuff we didn't want to take, and on and on.

Of course, we aren't selling our house at the most opportune time, but we don't want the hassle of renting. So, if you know anyone looking for a 3-bed, 2.5-bath, 2-story in South Charlotte...

Tracy flew to London and arrived on November 29th and started work later that day. What a trooper! I flew over the following weekend and we went flat hunting, as well as some sight-seeing. We found what we thought was going to be a great place, though there have been some difficulties that we're still waiting to get worked out. And it hasn't been easy being apart. Tracy was gone for a month this summer during the Olympics... coincidentally in London. So now, except for those few days early in the month during the flat hunt, we'll be apart for about another 6 weeks in addition to the month this summer.

The movers came Monday and Tuesday and packed up our stuff for shipment. I'm now living like a squatter with a desk chair and an old printer stand for a table in the living room. And I have an inflatable mattress...and not much else. I am trying to use up our liquor and beer, however. I also bought a tiny little Charlie Brown Christmas tree, just to complete the sad picture.

I've set my last day at WSOC for January 4th. I've been there over 18 and a half years. Feels a little strange to leave and not have something lined up, but my hopes are high. A few days later Pongo and I will join Tracy in London, and we'll begin the adventure together. We look forward to visitors...just give me a little time to design my pub tour.

Cheers!