Operation Alby complete!!

 ……and the eagle has landed! Check out Alberto sussing out his new digs! Making himself quite at home! 

Here We Go!!

We are off and running on next adventure! We arrived in Kuala Lumpur last Monday night. To say it has been wild is an understatement! My apologies for not updating you all sooner but it has been all systems go since our arrival! 

We arrived quite late but thankfully we had beds made up for us in our new home. It is a “furnished” apartment but a very loose definition of the word. Whilst we have the basics like beds, couches and TV’s it will be up to us to fill it with the things we take for granted. Our shipment has not arrived yet so for now we have a cardboard box for a rubbish bin and a small assortment of items supplied by work in a “settling in kit” which we return when our things arrive. Living the minimalist lifestyle! No complaints here though as the view from our lounge more than makes up for it. 

Hit the shops early to buy some food the next day and we are ordering plenty of Grab deliveries which is KL’s Uber. 

Scarlett and I have been out to visit her school and Nick has barely skipped a beat getting back in to work mode. Thankfully I do not return to work until the new year so I can really get us all settled. 

Went and bought some plants to liven the place up which were an absolute steal. 

Perhaps the hardest part of all is that Alby is still in Quarantine. It’s been the longest 11 days! The pet relocation company has someone who visits him every day and he sends us video updates. (We are not allowed to visit). I am assured he is fine but we can’t wait to be reunited TOMORROW!!!

I can’t imagine what he has been through and what he must be thinking but it’s nearly over! 

Once I have my computer set up I will be able to provide more updates on a much more regular basis. For now just know we made and all is well! 

Empty

 

Well, the uplifts are done. Half of our belongings are on their way to KL and the other half we won’t see for a few years! I culled as much as I could. It’s a very weird feeling to take a stocktake of EVERYTHING you own. Quite a reality check and a reminder to stop buying stuff! (Let’s see how that works out!) The house is empty and nearly ready for rental. Side note, I’m a bit of a clean freak and was horrified at how dirty things are when the place is empty. I mean I know you can’t clean behind the fridge every week but OMG! It’s a beautiful family home and I really hope we can find a family who love it as much as we do and they can create some happy memories there over the next few years. 

While Nick and I spend a few nights at a local hotel (and it’s literally nights as we spend the days getting the house sorted), Quiddy and Alby have the place to themselves. Alby bless him is super confused. If the disruption of a house full of removalists for days on end wasn’t enough he is now wandering around looking for his “stuff”. Thank God for Quiddy who has been Albys one constant. No greater love than a boy and his dog! 

Tomorrow is our last full day here as we leave on Monday. A day of goodbyes, and, for those who know me well, also known as “my worst nightmare”. I absolutely hate goodbyes and usually avoid at all costs.

Time seems to have gotten away from us and I don’t think we will have the chance to raise glasses with so many people whom we would  have loved to have seen before we go. It’s ok though as we know we will see them soon. Whether it be here in Australia or even better visiting us in KL. 

My Home Town

Some amazing shots of the place I call home. Will miss you Melbs but I know you will be waiting for me when I return. Chris manages to capture the true essence of Melbourne. Each of these pictures is a snapshot of a moment that any Melbournian can experience on any given day. I don’t know how he does it but he is able to really find the heart and soul of my stunning home town. Thanks to Chris and Humans of Melbourne for these amazing moments showcasing  the city I love. Check out Chris’s incredible work on Facebook  https://m.facebook.com/100064311056519/

30 Days Out!

 

In the crate Alby! You need to get IN the crate!!

So we are 30 days out! It’s been a crazy time to say the least. As far as our plans are going….we are getting there. Slowly, but we are getting there. 

I am methodically working through sorting what is coming with us and what is going to be stored in Australia. We will have 2 uplifts. One for export and one for storage here. It’s actually quite cathartic to take stock of what possessions you have and have a big “Marie Kondo” purge of thing that don’t bring me joy. Aside from the fact I can’t throw out the kids (kidding!) I have offloaded huge amounts of “stuff” that we have accumulated over the years. The benefits of this not being our first posting are huge as I am being ruthless. I can clearly recall unpacking when we got home from Vietnam  and thinking “What the hell were we thinking keeping this!”  

We are also preparing the house for rental which involves such fun things as new gas pipes, new stormwater drains, electrical checks, new front fence, front stair upgrade, new roof and general improvements to make it a solid and safe rental for potential tenants. 

We are in the midst of year 12 exams for Christopher who is handling it like a trooper. 

 If I could sum it up at the moment, and I hope you will pardon the language, shit’s getting real! 

Grief Is The Price You Pay For Love

Albys turn!

 So the rest of us have endured the pain of numerous vaccinations in order to be cleared for post. Yesterday was our beautiful dog Alby's turn for his medical. As I have previously posted, it’s a bit of a process to export a dog to Malaysia. We have engaged a pet shipping company who are guiding us through one step at a time. The first official step was to have him vaccinated against Rabies. He will need to continue to have a booster yearly to ensure a smooth transition back to Australia when the time comes. 

Not all vets here in Australia are qualified to administer  pet export vaccinations however my local vet was able to recommend a local who could do the job. I’m not sure who was more nervous, me or him….and he was nervous! All in all it was a painless process with a single shot. (Except for the bill….$230!). We needed to make sure his microchip was working and fill out the required paperwork which I need to send on to the pet exporter who will have an official government vet sign off on it. No side effects afterwards and it seemed no different to his yearly vaccinations.

On a side note the crate training is going well. The top is now on his transport crate and he makes the odd trip onto it to have a sniff around. I put a treat in every now and again  to make it a happy place for him. 

Alby the Jet-Setting Labradoodle

 

When we all came together as a family to discuss accepting the offer of an overseas posting, there were a couple of things that were just deal breakers. Well, actually, that's not quite true.  There were perhaps less than a couple.  Ok...there was one, just one. Wherever we went, Alby went to!  Our beautiful boy has been a huge part of our lives for the last eight years and there was just no way we could leave him behind.

Relocating your pet from Australia to Malaysia is a long process that involves numerous health checks, vaccinations and document after document after document.  It’s hard but it’s not impossible.   It is also expensive so be warned.  Some people choose to undertake the whole process on their own but with so many other things to organise in the next 6 months we decided to leave it in the hands of the experts and engage a pet relocation specialist.  With so many to choose from it is hard to know which one to trust.  I belong to a FB group called Pets Relocating to Australia and made sure I received some recommendations from them.

My chosen relocation firm will provide the following;

• Collection from home.

• Final health check.

• Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Health Certificate and Export Permit.

• Airline export documents and air waybill.

• Complimentary one night boarding.

• All airline freight charges.

• Booking and handling fee.

• Malaysian import permit, Customs & quarantine clearance in Kuala Lumpur & delivery to KL residence after release from 10 days quarantine.

• IATA standard airline approved travel kennel including fleece mat.

It EXCLUDES the following;

• Microchipping, 

• Rabies vaccination & Hendra blood test, your local vet can arrange this, note the Hendra test has to be done within 14 days before departure from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur.

Looking at the above all I need to take care of is the Rabies vaccinations and the Hendra blood test.  They have also advised that I can collect the crate now in order to get Alby used to it.  He has not been crate trained at all so this will give us 6 months to make him familiar with it.  Thankfully, it is only an 8-hour flight and is direct so hopefully not too distressing for him.  Upon arrival, he needs to spend 10 days in quarantine, which will be hard for all of us including him. I will organise with the pet relocation company to send someone out every day to check him and play with him, make sure he is eating and provide some new bedding.  We are allowed to visit but have decided that that would just be too heartbreaking both for him and for us.  I get the feeling it could be the longest 10 days of my life!

Pricing has been very up and down over the last few years due to COVID.  Mainly up!  At the moment we are looking at close to $5,000AUD.  Apparently, prices go up in peak periods just as they do for our tickets so thankfully we are departing in November.

Of course I am full of guilt at what my poor little dog has to go through but I need to just keep telling myself that it is short term pain for long term gain.  When the guilt overwhelms me, I try to picture the moment we are all reunited and just how amazing that will be.