Behind the scenes leading up to our 13 day getaway!

It does sound very attractive doesn’t it?  The kids are all grown up.  We’re free to go off on a holiday without them.  A 13 day getaway in Tasmania with no kids!  At last!  Woo hoo!

It’s true, our kids are all grown up!  Our youngest will soon turn 20 (I cannot believe it!), but all are still reasonably dependent and living at home (two still at Uni, one graduated and job seeking).  We’ve had a couple of long weekends away without them and once were up the coast for 5 days without them but never have we been on a 13 day holiday that is not within a short drive of them.  It’s exciting but yet a little bit daunting!  There’s quite a lot of thinking, planning and doing to be done before we can strap ourselves in on that plane and take off into the sunset towards Tasmania!

Here’s a little glimpse into my ‘to do’ list before we leave.

• Plan and cook up some meals to freeze to help them survive the 13 days
• Stock up on groceries and leave some grocery money
• Do up a chores roster.  Why?
  1.  So they know what jobs need doing, and
  2. To help minimize fighting between them over who does what and when
• Organise dental appointments (we’re all overdue)
• Borrow some cold weather gear from rellies (jackets etc).  Don’t have much of this stuff in sunny Queensland!
• Shop for some cold weather gear.  I need some general casual day to day winter gear.
• Buy birthday gift for my daughter (her birthday is 3 days before we get home and I will feel better if there is a gift here for her) and chat with my sisters regarding my mother’s birthday gift (same day as my daughters).  Don’t worry – there will be birthday celebrations after we return!
• Lots of teaching the kids how to do stuff – eg maintenance of the pool, how to use the washing machine and dishwasher etc
• Leave instructions on medication schedule for our 15 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – ‘Chelsea’
• Flu Shots – we get them every year.  Plan is to get them before we leave. My daughter and I have immune issues so a flu shot is a must.
• Medical appointments for me to fit in before we leave – mine are always ongoing lately
• Buy an additional memory card for my camera – DONE √
• Type up a ‘what to pack’ list (I have started this!).  I am not practiced at travelling so find that following a list makes me feel more organised and less panicked about forgetting something essential.  The aim is to pack light with only essential stuff, leaving room for some purchases 😉
• Tee up rellies to periodically phone in and/or drop in to check the kids, dogs & house are AOK
• Mow the yard, water all the garden and pot plants, and feed the fish in the pond just before we leave

See what I mean and that is barely scratching the surface.  I’m sure that it will become easier to get away without as much hoo ha eventually.  It’s all new waters for us and we want to be sure that everything is in order and the kids are all set up and prepared before we depart.  I also want to be sure my two dogs are safe and cared for.

Just over a week till we go!!  Lots to do in those days so please forgive me if I’m a bit slack in the bloggy world for the duration!  Keeping my fingers crossed that I can neatly file away any worries in my mind’s filing cabinet (see yesterday’s post) and not let my ‘worry wort’ side infringe on my wonderful and much needed holiday away!

How about you?  Have you got older kids and been away on trips leaving them at home?  Got any tips or advice for me?  Was your house in one piece when you returned?!

Ciao for now,

Note:  The image used for today’s post is not one of my own.  It has been hyperlinked to its source.

[ This post is linked up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT ]