On Monday morning, I got an email from my solicitor to say the contracts had been exchanged and congratulations. It wasn’t a total surprise and I had been informed it would be happening at the beginning of the week but with all the see-sawing emotions over the last six months, I still felt a huge sense of relief. Actually relief was somewhat fleeting as reality then kicked in, we are actually moving. Not maybe, perhaps, sometime in the future – the Dog Hollow pack are going to France on August 10th. It might sound like months away but when you count the days, 22 of them to be precise, a slight sense of panic takes over the brain. Packing boxes have taken over the front room and pages of lists are scattered over the kitchen. There are utilities to sort out, motorhome insurance, Eurotunnel booking and the dogs microchips (I have already got their new tags).
The first priority has been getting Callum packed up as he is going to France next week and all his belongings needed to get to his new ‘digs’ near college. Fortunately he is a lot more organised than his mother, he is his father’s son, so it hasn’t taken him long to box everything and relocate all the necessaries. It’s not the first time Callum has left home but this time he’s not coming back to the place he spent most of his 21 years, he doesn’t seem overly attached to chez knollys which is a good thing I suppose. Yogi Bear however has gone into his ‘Greyfriars Bobby” mode, he doesn’t do Cal and suitcases very well. I am amazed how nice his room looks without all the junk in it though.
Thankfully the dogs in general, don’t have a clue about the great adventure ahead. It struck me that 4 out of the 9 have never been anywhere other than this house since they were rescued, for Simi that is more than 7 years. And apart from the occasional ‘staycation’ when I’ve been away, Evee and Gizmo have pretty much been here all their lives. Only Arry, Alice and Yogi know how to chill out on the long road to France and I am grateful to the dog gods that they are blessed with ignorance at this stage. It doesn’t take much to over-excite Arry and Alice but it takes a lot to calm them back down. I do keep any photos of the new house for human viewing only though, just in case.
So I have much to do over the next few weeks and all of it myself. No doubt, quite a few friends will be roped into last minute packing but for now it’s just me and endless repetitive music at the other end of the phone. I have to admit, it’s a great feeling when one more is ticked off the list and knowing I am soon to be mortgage – free is enough to make one reach for the champagne. I am not indulging yet however, somethings are best shared and I’m sure there will be plenty of that in the weeks ahead. I have promised to add a French photo or two in the blogs so excuse my indulgence…
“To a dog, motoring isn’t just a way of getting from here to there, it’s also a thrill and an adventure. The mere jingle of car keys is enough to send most any dog into a whimpering, tail-wagging frenzy” (Jon Winokur)
Widow plus woofs 