The Emigration Diaries - The Prep.

It's less than three weeks till Valentine's Day AKA IT'S LESS THAN THREE WEEKS TILL I FLY TO UAE!!!!

Getting ready to emigrate is like being on a roller-coaster. It's a mix of nerves, excitement and joy, and you kinda wanna throw up 90% of the time. It's a very bittersweet feeling. I can't wait to move out and start my married life with Ollie, taking in a different culture and saving for our dream house. Yet at the same time I'm terrified to be miles away from the rest of my support system, not able to just pop on a train and be back home in an hour. A big hurdle you have to get over when preparing to emigrate is that home won't be 'home' anymore. The whole point of moving away is to create a home somewhere new.

There's so much stuff to get prepared, especially if the country you're moving to requires you to get a visa. I've recently become best buds with the guy who works at the Post Office due to the amount of time I spend in there sending stuff here and there. I don't want to talk about the amount of money I have spent on special delivery packages. On top of the usual visa preparations I've had the added job of changing my name on everything, which takes up so much valuable time. Seeing Mrs Megan E Prescott on my passport and bank cards is something I'm still not used to. I keep imagining my name being called out at the airport and I will just ignore it!

It's really important to organise your time well in the weeks leading up to the flight. There will be lots of different people you'll want to see and spend quality time with, and it takes expert planning to make sure you get enough time with them all. It's times like these I'm glad I live by my diary and was blessed with fab organisational skills (go me!). I've already done lots of things in my time off and have more fun stuff planned, but I've found that my favourite thing has been sitting with my loved ones with a cup of tea just chatting. Their support over the past months has been priceless, and without them I'm sure I would have had many more breakdowns.

I haven't really put much thought into what I am going to take away with me. I'm flying with Emirates and they have quite a heavy baggage allowance, enough for most of my wardrobe. However, the climate in the Middle East is quite different to the North West Coast of England, so there are lots of clothes that would be pointless taking. Ollie has promised that we can go to the Mall once I get out there, and pick out some summer clothes (ain't he good). I'm probably going to focus on packing things that will make the apartment feel like home, not forgetting my favourite teddy Mummy Bear - Ollie think's it is the ugliest bear ever so can't wait to see his face when I put her on the bed!

To add to the already looming stress moving away brings, I also hate flying. As a kid I was fine, but now take-off brings horrid panic attacks and an incredibly ugly crying face. It's bad enough when I have Ollie's hand to hold, but this time I am having to brave it alone. Everyone I speak to ensures me that I will be fine and that it's all part of the adventure, but every time I think of being sat on the runway a little bit of sick appears. Luckily the flight I'm on has a free bar so I suppose I'll just have to drink my fear away. Rum and Coke anyone?

It's obvious that I am feeling very nervous about my next adventure, but I understand how lucky I am. Ollie is already out there, sorting everything out, and I don't have to deal with the stress of finding a place to live and getting a car. It's all ready. He has also planned loads of fun things for us to do when I arrive, but typical Ollie is keeping it all a secret from me. One of the main reasons I married him is for how supportive and caring he is. I know that no matter how much I am struggling, I will always end the day with a smile on my face if he's by my side.

The countdown is on, and I hope you will all join me for the ride. Please hit me up on Twitter @megprescottx if there is any element of emigrating you would like me to chat about.

Till next time, stay golden.

x