When we were making the move to Cyprus I wanted to put things in writing as I felt it helped me to get it off my chest. I also thought that as things progressed it would be a record of what I did, which might help others, so I started a moving diary on a Limassol based forum.
My first post went thus -
Hi Forum,
I have just got off the phone after speaking with our estate agent - actually I have given them a rocket as they promised to phone me with an update last Tuesday and I was still waiting this morning. I think they got the message that I was a little cross.
Our buyer has just put the cheque in the post for the searches to go ahead as he is happy with the Housebuyers Survey. We had the surveyor around on 19th December and we have been holding our breath since then just in case he found a problem that we had been unaware of. Our house is Victorian so I am sure that there must have been a list as long as your arm.
I feel like I have been sitting at traffic lights waiting for them to turn green and now I am zooming along the freeway. My thoughts are racing because I can now begin to think about packing ornaments and stuff. I was leaving everything in case we had to put it back on the market. This afternoon I am going to sort out my superannuation and get all my paperwork photocopied. I may even get some passport sized photos taken now that the strained look has gone from my face - for a day or two anyway.
We still don't have a date for exchanging contracts, so I know anything can happen, but it is reassuring to know that things are still on track. Once we get the exchange date and a deposit Phil can hand his notice in and we can plan a move date, which is looking like the end of March/beginning of April. Considering we wanted to move out at the end of January and there is only our house involved in the transaction, things have moved a little slower than we thought.
I have also booked flights and a hotel with breakfast through my airmiles this morning and have only paid £103 for the two of us - bonus! We can only come for a week (beginning 29th January) because of Phil's work commitments, so we will have to plan our itinary very carefully as we have to try to find somewhere to rent and visit some clinics that I have contacted to find out more about jobs. We also want to go to Nicosia so that I can take all my paperwork to register as a nurse and midwife which will save time when we actually move out.
I had to share this with you all because everyone is at work so I am not able to ring anyone and share my excitement. It is the perfect day for us to get this bit of positive news as it is 4 years today since we lost my dear Mum, so I am glad that something good has happened.
Sorry to bore you all with it, but we are REALLY on the move to Cyprus at last! I wish I could access a champagne popping emoticon but I have no idea how you do that so you will all have to use your imaginations.
A very very happy Verity
As the days and weeks passed I posted my thoughts, feelings, highs and lows on my moving diary, and I included information about practicalities too.
It is strange to sit here now and look back on how I felt at that time, and see how far we have come since those days when living in Cyprus was still reality in the making. We had no idea whether we would find work, or what sort of work we would end up doing. Now we are quite settled, have some structure to our lives, but are in a much more relaxed environment with a better quality of life.
I found a site where I felt comfortable enough to share this journey with the members and I am glad I put our journey into words in case I ever become complacent about the fact that we are here. It took planning, research and a huge leap of faith.
To those making the move, I wish you success. And I also wish you some fun along the way. If you want to share any of your journey with this forum I am sure it will help others who are making their own journey, or wondering where the hell to begin.
Verity.
_________________
Verity.
Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
http://coecyp.blogspot.com