After a week of goodbyes see-you-next-times and ‘final’ food, I’m sitting in bed the night before the flight back to England.
There are my clothes on the leather chair we got from Shannon when she left Singapore.
There are the two contact lenses for tomorrow.
I’ve just gone around and checked all the cupboards and, yep, we’ve packed everything we’re taking and only left what we’re leaving for the next tenants.
There’s some bread and coffee and peanut butter for the morning and that’s about it.
I’ve planned my speech to the check-in staff as to why they should allow us to board with 56 kilos of luggage.
I just threw away the plastic chopping board. You know you’re really moving when you’ve thrown out the chopping board. No one wants anyone else’s chopping board.
It’s weird.
We arrived in Singapore five years ago.
Some things haven’t happened that I kind of expected.
I haven’t become fluent in Mandarin or Malay.
I haven’t found lots of presentation skills business in Singapore by cold calling and networking (most of our business has been in the rest of Asia.)
I never did take advantage of living in a capital city and visit all the museums regularly, taking time to read everything, gallery by gallery.
I didn’t see many concerts or plays.
We didn’t travel as much as you might think.
Some things have happened that I couldn’t have predicted.
I’m not a money drunk anymore – I have a sober healthy relationship with money, in the main.
I have kept my business going (without cold calling or that much networking) through a recession.
I have blogged my way through one site and out the other side to two that I love.
I have ghost-written a book. For money.
There are some things that I’m glad carried on.
I still meditate every most mornings.
I’m still very very happily married.
Yes there are things that I’ll miss.
Mainly friends, food and places I write.
And yes there are things I’m scared of.
Moving from our own apartment in a capital city where I have a good bunch of friends to a converted attic apartment (sharing the kitchen with my totally lovely Mother-in-Law) in a market town where I know no one apart from family.
Are you kidding me? Of course I’m a bit… apprehensive.
And yet… it’s fine.
There will be seasons. There will be cheese on toast and fish & chips and Strictly Come Dancing and shopping with my granny and time to write and weather that allows you to spoon for longer than two minutes.
And no mosquitoes. Bye mosquitos.
Moving points stuff out to you.
Somehow I’m learning: life is mixed. And that doesn’t mean it’s not good.
Next chapter…
Thank god for you guys, is all I can say.
***
Comments – I dunno. No advice. Not even any reassurance, as I’m feeling pretty ok. Just, you know, whatever occurs to you, including just ‘Hey!’ works. You know I love a good ‘Hey!’.
Or not.
Oh and brace yourself. I’ve been holding back a swelling tide of words for when I land (you know land-land) in England.
Hope you’re ready…
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