Instead of the usual killing time at the airport the powers of technology are letting me send my final blog before I head north.  Phew what a roller coaster week it’s been.  I woke in the middle of the night convinced I could hear basset squeaking.  This was just my mind playing tricks on me as there were no bassets in the house.

No it was deathly quiet all day.  Strange and surreal.  It was fantastic to be able to romp through my list of chores without any interruptions.  Without any basset paws walking over my clean floors.  No bassets trailing my every step as I walked from room to room.

My very best friend told me yesterday, prioritise, prioritise what you need to get done.  You don’t need to have completed all the ironing before you go she said.  I didn’t need any encouragement for me to cut my chores list down to size with that sort of advice!

As pottered on out in the garden in glorious sunshine I started to think about what I’ll miss whilst I’m away.

New Zealand bush

Most of all I think I’ll miss the open space.  The view from the kitchen window.  The bush walks in the sunshine and the mists rolling over the hills.  It’s nature’s patterns that I love about living in the country.  Visiting some of the most highly populated places in the world will mean that there won’t be quite as much space to call my own.

I’ll miss my crowing rooster at 3 in the morning.  The snowdrops and crocuses that are just blooming.  To miss seeing the trees come into a new seasons leaf will be a shame.

But I’m off to exciting places with people I love.  People I’ve missed over the last 3.5 years.  People who read this blog religiously and people who email regularly.  The thought of sitting and chatting with people face to face it something that I can’t quite get my head around yet.

One of my most anticipated events will be to meet the nephew I’ve never met.  My friend has also just had her first baby at 44 – go Ruth and Dave – I’ll be looking forward to seeing them and also our new cousin Phoebe who was born just weeks ago.  To see parents and grandparents, uncles and aunties.  It’s going to be a social whirl.

Right now I’m trying not to think to much as I need to just sleep and let New Zealand find it’s rightful place in my heart.

The thing that’s hit me hardest today is how much I miss my best four legged friends.  There is no doubt it will be Fortnum and Mason I miss most.

Here’s my little basset giving his best regal basset pose.  His nose is cold and wet but underneath those eyes is a brainy basset deep in thought.

Mason

Here’s big basset, Fortnum, bringing up the rear on our walk yesterday.  He loves to hang back and make his journey in his own sweet way.

Bog Basset

What a handsome chap – with a serious look. I can’t help but smile when I see him looking like this.

Ambling basset

Most of all I’m going to miss this sight.  Trailing my two basset hounds as they run like the clappers with their stick across the grass at Tunnel Gully.

Runaway bassets

Those are two happy dogs.

Thanks to all of you that have left me such words of encouragement over the last couple of weeks.  It’s been a tough run up to getting away.

The house is spink and span so the house sitters will enjoy.  The bassets are ensconced in their retreat.  I can relax and kick back now as I let Air New Zealand take me north.

First stop Shanghai – just think of the blogging possibilities.  MT and I will be tweeting soon of all the wonderful things we see.  Can’t wait to share my adventures with you.