We have received many kind and warm reactions to our previous blog and it is pleasant and encouraging to realize how various ones are following this project of ours with such interest. Yet again, throughout the whole process this has simultaneously helped us to reflect on the diversity of forms that our relationships with others really take: thank you for that! We are keen to convey that it is precisely the various sentiments you have expressed that give us the support we need at this time. Your words bolster us and energize us so that we feel supported on all sides.
The final packing on Monday and Tuesday with the help of sister, nephew and mother went well and efficiently. Though we had got off to an organized start we finally came to grips with simply embracing the chaos and knuckling down to rapidly giving everything that passed through our hands a suitable location in a box or a crate. The approach worked. A delicious cake baked by a good neighbour helped us to get through the last of the packing, thanks for that!
On Tuesday afternoon it was time for Rune to say farewell to his class. He was allowed to choose what he wanted to do and so he decided to go to his favourite play area with all his classmates and have a picnic there. While playing he had a nasty fall and injured his knee so after having been called we took him home for a little while to recover. After that he was able to return to school to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. What a luxury – in such situations – to live opposite the school. We’ll surely reflect nostalgically on that in the future!
On the last night the boys were allowed to set up ‘camp’ together in Vidar’s bedroom.
On Wednesday morning there was the traditional end-of-year school celebration outdoors. Before going to that we took the boys through the whole house one last time so that they could ‘thank all the rooms’ for the great times we’ve all had there together.
Despite a couple of heavy showers and all the children longing for the summer holiday the communal school celebration formed a good rounding off of the whole year. Together with another mother who is also a good friend, Susanna was one of the “family groep parents”. It was good to have her company and to have both the brothers together in our group. Rune in particular, still recovering, stayed close to me the whole time. Meanwhile Mathijs took an old settee to the dump with the help of a friend and afterwards joined us for the final part of the pre-summer-holiday celebrations, the picnic.
It provided us with a good opportunity to speak to and say our goodbyes to all the boys’ friends, their respective parents and the teachers. In the last days of the term both boys received many lovely little gifts from different classmates and good friends. Great to take away with us and to quietly enjoy, look at and read at our leisure in the coming weeks.
At 8 a.m. on Thursday morning the removals firm arrived and speedily got going with the task in hand. At first we were worried that the small truck and trailer would not be big enough but the 20 m3 capacity proved to be just right. In the coming days all our belongings will be transferred to a large articulated removals vehicle so that eventually everything from 4 or 5 households can be transported to Sweden in one go.
Since the removal company won’t deliver our things until the last week of July we filled our car with everything we need for a two-week ‘holiday’ and moved in with grandpa and grandma for a five-night stay.
That same day the boys had their last ‘after-school’ session in their own school premises. As that was on the opposite side of the street they were able to cross over a few times to see how the loading up was going.
On Thursday evening Mathijs went out for a meal and a walk along the River Lek with a good friend of his. It felt fine for them to reassure each other that the geographical distance will not affect their friendship.
Together they filled a small bottle with water from the river for us to take with us to Sweden.
After having passed contract on Friday morning we both felt elated: no more debts whatsoever and one real estate burden lighter. Coupled with the fact that we had sold to a satisfied buyer, it all felt fitting and good.
The Karolingersweg now belongs to the past but it has also provided us with many happy memories.
Just to close the present blog here is a rather apt text that reached us via the recent newsletter from the school:
“Do not fear forging ahead” the future said, “Going forwards does not make the things behind you less important, less dear to you or more diminished; it makes the world at your feet bigger.” (From: Journeying on with beautiful things).
