With a few days left until we fly out of Dubai on our round the world adventure, today was time for the shippers to descend. #53 boxes and 8 hours later we are looking around our house (Villa 8, Le Meridien Villas, Al Falak Street, Dubai Media City that we had moved into in July 2011, two years before Molly was born) hoping we aren’t going to find anything important that we forgot to put in a box that we don’t want to take with us….

We used DASA who were very efficient and will keep our boxes in their storage facilities for 6 months or so. Despite busily donating, selling, gifting and recycling a vast amount of things it still felt like our lives were being parcelled and taped up.

Despite missing our belongings dreadfully (how Tom will manage without his road bike is beyond us!) it is quite liberating to think we will be traveling light the next 8 months.

We are happy to think of all the places where our belongings will continue to be loved. A dolls house going to friends Emily and Freya, a scooter to Paul’s Emily and lots of other toys were picked by kids in our shared garden.

Tonight the girls will sleep in a ‘den’ as their bunk beds went today, good practice for all the futons and unusual sleeping setups coming our way on our travels!

Laura donated her art books, magazines and archival material to the American University of Dubai/NYU Abu Dhabi, Jameel Arts Centre, Tashkeel, Alserkal Avenue Residents and SVENM. All open access spaces so future generations of art students and enthusiasts can read them.

Now to pack the suitcases, wish us luck!