10...9...8...7...

The countdown begins.

Ten days left.

Have I done everything I wanted to? No.
Do I care at this point? No!

I've been relatively stressed out these past couple of weeks, trying to get in everything that needed to be done, while juggling all the end-of-year parties, birthday parties (and last-minute birthday parties! we had about 3 days' notice on one, not good, not only the time of year, but also in light of our leaving activities!), leaving parties, selling furniture, selling the car....

Whew!

But. It's almost over.

Most of the furniture is sold (why doesn't anyone need an IKEA Expedit bookshelf?!?! it's so handy!!), anything left will just have to come with us. The car is sold (within a few hours of listing it!). Most leaving do's are over (one more tonight, another tomorrow night, final adults' one Saturday night; kids' one next Tuesday). Packing will commence on Monday. We fly out on the Friday. I will be so glad to get to Oz and finally relax for a bit, before we begin the whirlwind on the other end, of finding a house, unpacking, readying for school....beginning another new chapter.

And I'm ready to go.

I didn't think I would be able to say that, but I am. After six months of knowing it's coming, and talking about it, and being sad, and stressing about schools, I'm ready for it to be done.

And I'm not as sad now. Possibly because I've been so stressed, the little irritations have become BIG irritations. I shout at taxi drivers while alone in the car (can't let the kids hear me use that kind of language!!!). I shove through crowds. I overreact when someone can't think outside the box.

It's time.

And I'm looking forward to a garden. And Waitrose. And Tesco's. And even Asda!

And I can't wait to see old friends and family.

And go for a morning run with the temperature less than 32 degrees and steamy.

And have milk delivered.

And go on public transport that works. Oh. Wait. That's not London, that's Hong Kong!!

But we will take back our experiences, and they will have made us richer for them. We know (some) Mandarin. We will continue with it. My kids love to try weird things to eat (like donkey! and horse! and jellyfish!). My son wants to marry a Japanese girl and live in Tokyo when he grows up. My daughter likes to wear her cheong sam on a daily basis, not as dress-up. They both want chappatis every day. I actually worry more that they are going to find their London schools weird, with mostly Caucasian kids.

So, England here we come! Hong Kong, it's been wonderful, and we will miss you. A lot.