Sunday, November 19, 2006

Preparations begin with a vengeance

On the VSO front:
We are now officially destined to be volunteers overseas, but that's only the beginning. Last weekend we spent hours obtaining additional passport photos, copies of passports, filling in CV's, personal profiles, competency checklists, personal preference details etc; all to enhance and trigger the process of matching us, with our skills, to the needs of host countries.
We have also booked in on an essential Personal Preparation Programme for four days in January to help us to gain a better understanding of development issues, meet others who have been on VSO and generally sensitise us to the do's and don'ts of volunteering overseas. We are also due to begin extended discussions with our Placement Adviser who will help steer us through the various options until we eventually agree a placement.

On the domestic front:
Preparations begin so what do we do? we start doing all of the the things in the house that we have been promising to do for ourselves for years, just so that we can leave it in good condition for someone else to live in! The lights and flooring in the loft that we have always wanted, probably a new stair carpet, even a new loo seat, which is really taking things a bit too far.
We have also started the inevitable check list of arrangements that will have to be sorted both before we go and taken care of whilst we are away it's amazing how much there is. What do we do with the cars, the furniture etc?

Finishing work and going on holiday:
Most important Jenny finishes work at Ifor Williams Trailers after 5yrs so though we have a diminution in income to look forward to we have the added bonus of Jenny being available to help organise things to smooth our eventual departure. We are also having a treat; we have arranged to meet up with my brother Martin and family and two of our sons and friends in Capetown over Christmas, a special celebration before the dawn of a new era.

No comments: