Musical extravaganza!

Hi all,

I am so sorry that its been so long. I have been nagged at relentlessly on Facebook so here I sit, guilt ridden and bearing the burden of an expat. Its been so long because we've been so busy. Not just with work, though life at School continues to share similarities with a good old fashioned rat race - we are like rats on red bull ..... Though unfortunately no wings in sight! Life generally has been so busy.
Whilst enjoying quiet reflection in worship, 2 weeks ago, Nathan received a phone call from the company in charge of moving our stuff. Great news. Despite the fact that we had been promised sincerely by the company that the whole process would be a smooth and sympathetic one, taking no longer than 8 - 10 weeks at an absolute maximum, it has been a really expensive headache, full of extra costs and taken around 15 weeks. But hey, good news, it was ready and they'd be delivering it the next day. Not wanting to rock the boat, if you pardon the pun, we raced to the Deputy Head and asked for permission to take the following day off work to receive our belongings - despite the short notice, we were both granted the day off work.
The following day was going to be a very busy one. The girls were going on camp with the school so Nathan dropped them off while I waited at home for our eagerly anticipated home comforts. People said it would be like Christmas; unwrapping treasured things that we'd almost forgotten about. What a lovely romantic notion. I'd love to tell you that this was an accurate comparison but that would be a lie and if nothing else, this blog is to serve as an accurate, warts and all account of a family's move to the other side of the world. I will call to mind the 'giving birth' analogy again. Eagerly awaited and yet disappointing and painful. I cannot complain about the care that went into the packing of our cheap cutlery and plastic bowels. As I unwrapped each layer of paper, it was reassuring to know that each individual teaspoon was wrapped so well that it took up half of a large box. We have a lot of teaspoons so I'll leave you to do the maths. I am so glad that the wonderful packers looked after us. After all, where would we have been without our well protected teaspoons?. Never mind the 2 chests of drawers, sofa bed, quilt, pillows, bedroom chair and book shelving that we had to leave behind and dump because there wasn't enough room on the storage container to bring them. There wasn't enough room because of all the bloody boxes full of bloody sumo-wrestler impersonating teaspoons!!! And while they were at it, why not rip out the shelves of the welsh dresser, leaving nails poking out so that they could squeeze in a couple of 30 year old keeping bags!!! (Note the irony that these arrive the day the girls go off to camp - so we've had to buy new sleeping bags for them anyway). I tell you, these packers were real experts who really cared about our belongings. Nathan's speakers for his surround sound cinema effect entertainment system were just chucked into a box with no packaging or bubble wrap at all. Then again, why would you protect expensive electrical equipment? It's all about the teaspoons. As long as they're ok. My precious collection of books? Well, they're not teaspoons are they, so let's just sling them in and sod whether or not the spines or covers get damaged. After all, you can't stir sugar in your tea with books can you?
Furniture wise, not too bad. Though typically, the only piece which did sustain damage was Nathan's beloved bespoke outrageously expensive walnut TV cabinet.
Ok, ok, ok, I hear you. Enough moaning. What about the good stuff?
The kids enjoyed camp and seem to be fairly settled. We have booked a holiday to Florida for Christmas and the new year! I figured that being a long break from work, this might be a time when I dwell on being away from my family - need the distraction. Nathan is so excited and the spreadsheets are being designed as we speak!!
Last Friday, we all went to watch the school's production of 'Kiss me Kate', a musical inspired by Shakey's The Taming of the Shrew. One of the boys I teach was performing in it and asked if I'd go and see him. In my pastoral care mode, I thought it would be nice. It was a phenomenal performance. The orchestra was fantastic and the singing and acting so professional. A brilliant night out. Friday just gone, I took the family to come and watch a performance of Les Mis, which another one of my boys was starring