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As in any major project, we are told that planning is everything. We therefore have given ourselves more than eighteen months to organise and plan for our trip.
One of our first purchases was an African Wall Map, partly to help us with our planning, and also to inform our family of our route, so that they will be able to track us in our absence! We put a chart on our office wall, with the months in the LHS column, and post-it notes with 'to do' items. (Unfortunately the list grows, as I add new items or move the post-its down the page as the months move on. These final months are frenetic!)
There are a number of general issues to deal with before we leave, a major item being our house in Southampton. The house will be looked after by our two youngest offspring, and two of their friends. Obviously we need to make sure that everything is up together so that they don't encounter problems in our absence. We will also need to pack up our personal belongings and store them. A lot of paperwork will need to be sorted out, covering all the maintenance details and the payment of bills in our absence.
In addition, the workaholic has to finally put down his pencil, and turn off the computer! (I can't quite believe he is leaving work behind, and wonder whether he will get withdrawal symptoms!).
The following are major planning items, and need to be dealt with separately.