Blonde Hygge

I think it was in 2021, Matt & I put the wheels in motion to move and work abroad… a few years later than planned but we have wheels in motion to do just that!

We have a few things to sort out, like telling our landlord (waiting until things are more finalised!), getting married?!?!, starting to sell, give and donate most of our belongings, how we travel with pets and sorting out a family home so that we can have friends keep it warm for us whilst we’re gone.

A lot has happened in the last year, as I’m sure I write in every ridiculously spread out post on here but it really has this time. Between Matt and I, we have lost 5 family members due to illness or old age. Two of which were some of the female rocks of my family, my Nana and my Great Aunt. I guess, whether subconsciously or consciously, losing loved ones does give you that momentum to finally do things that have been itching away at you for some time.

So, we were thinking Canada would be our big move abroad – an easy start to living and working away from the UK. Comfy salaries, English as one of the first languages and most westernised comforts being the same too. But still different enough for us to keep us excited and inspired to try new things. Unfortunately, that requires a hefty exam on the Veterinary Front, hefty in size and price! £1,000 and sat only in London for British sitters, held twice a year, and is a whole day long – 9am til 5pm! It also only has 45 minutes allotted for breaks and you have to complete 60 questions in 60 minute blocks. Totally incomprehensible unless you have photographic memory, or have the money to sit it an inordinate amount of times. So, after being close but no cigar on Matt’s first attempt, we decided Canada would not be our first stop.

Who knew, that 6 hours after making that decision, Matt would drive back to pick me up from work to let me know he now had an interview for a practice in Hong Kong.

He nervously asked me what I thought and I was just amazed and agreed – of course!

We are now at the stage where we are waiting to submit our visas. Matt has signed a contract and I have connected with a teaching company that looks awesome. I feel we have landed on our feet – touch wood – and have found really brilliant teams to work for and with! We are waiting because the next step is us getting married!!! Matt proposed to me on Christmas Eve of 2016 and, after agreeing to wait for him to qualify as a Vet and then wait a little longer, we are finally doing it! It’ll be a small, witness only ceremony, my parents have bought me a pretty dress – without me realising from Hong Kong (creepily, I think that’s a thank you to internet algorithms) and I can’t wait to finally call him my husband.

So, I thought now really is the time. I am going to document us navigating the move and all our explorations. I think it’ll be an amazing archive to look back on and if you’re along for the ride, I hope you enjoy it too!

L xx