Pack up kids, it's bell time soon

So twelve days to go until we fly north to France to start our new adventure in the Haute Savoie, and it feels like an inverted Christmas countdown.

Every day for these twelve days we will give something away (including sleep, calm and very possibly our sanity) until we fly out from Sydney next Thursday. Today we are trying to give away our car, at least for that we will ask for some cash in return, a trampoline to the neighbours over the fence and exchange a patch of dirt for some well grassed lawn at the cost of A$60 in rolled turf and a slightly sore back.

Next Thursday our little clan, including Christine and Rob (aka Mum and Dad) and Jackson and Liam (aka Master Trouble and Senior Strife) head to Europe for a year or three to learn about life from a different perspective. Establishing our base in a small rural town high in the French Alps, we are going to create a mountain life together, training for and racing triathlon in summer, sking in winter and investigating the mountains by foot, bike, rope, ski or snow shoes throughout the seasons. All this outdoor activity of course will need to be appropriately balanced with hanging out together as a family, eating fresh bagette, visiting cool old towns and drinking hot chocolate, coffee or red wine depending on age and time of day.

So, 12 days to finish packing up our life and leave our beachside, city existance surrounded by good friends and family, stunning but crowded beachs, corporate jobs, tight schedules, training, and regular but known stress to enjoy a very different European adventure.