Leaving HK

Hello readers.
Since I last posted, SO MUCH has happened that I will have 3 separated entries, otherwise it will be a very long entry and you will certainly get lost.

The packers left our old flat on Thursday, May 7th and after handing back the keys to the landlord, Joel, Carlota, myself, 8 pieces of luggage + Carlota’s huge box, headed to our very dear Appel’s flat, to spend the last 3 days of what we knew as our HK days. The 4 Appels were coming back from 10 days in NY on that very same Thursday. As if that was not enough, they also had to send their 2 cats to dear Gail, so that Carlota could come in, can you believe it? Wow, gorgeous friends they are! All this hustle is due to the fact that we were not able to find a hotel/serviced flat that could take a dog and charge by the day rather than monthly.

On Thursday night, we went for the last time to our Small Group and after many hugs, tears and prayers, we went to bed totally completely exhausted but very happy because one more step had been accomplished.

Friday went by quickly, with Joel and I doing last minute errands and Alpha, our helper, taking good care of Carlota, who was happy to be in a new environment, but not so sure with it all. One of the errands I had to run, was to meet the photographer to get the pictures from our farewell party. They came out PERFECT and we are so glad we invested in a professional photographer, because she managed to include everybody who went and the best is that all friends are looking great in the pics!

Than on Saturday, I had decided to have a “ME Myself and I” day. So, in preparation for that, I had early bookings with my manicure and a massage at the Four Seasons SPA (one of the wonderful gifts I got for my 50’s). It was actually great, because their massage rooms face HK’s beautiful harbour, so it was THE perfect way to close a life of 9 years of Asian massages. Loved it! After the massage, went to the hair dresser and had my hair done. Again, another good bye, because the head massage the hair dressers do on you in HK are amazingly delicious! After I was done, went for a stroll in the streets of Central, walking here and there, taking the escalator for one last time, in no hurry, just flavoring Central, this area that had been part of my every day life for the last 9 years. Had lunch at a pub in Wyndham St and went back to the Appels at around 5 PM. During the day, I received warm “bon voyage” SMSs from dear friends from my scrapbooking group. Thank you girls!

Saturday night came and that was an amazing night. The Appels, very graciously, had invited 3 other families, very close to us all for some drinks after dinner for a last hug, kiss and prayers. They all came with their marvelous children and we had plenty of time to laugh, chat, cry, hug and best of all, to pray. They sent us off after each of them prayed for the different aspects of our life here in Luanda. Awesome awesome awesome. Thank you! We love you all!