I’ve just returned from a beautiful weekend spent with friends from the writing tour.

I’ve come away from there refreshed and still-minded and now I’m packed and ready.
When I say ‘packed and ready’, I have filled 3 tea chests with books, printmaking supplies and all the worldly things I think I will need and probably never use.
I have Ken Raffe’s ridiculously large ‘Towers of the Future’ painting, ready to tote along with me – something I could never part with.
I have sold all my jewellery stock, pared back and whittled down everything else from ‘the important’ to ‘the vital’.
When I arrive in Toscana, I have a soft place to fall short term while I finalise the organisation of long term accommodation.

And I have begun to say farewell to friends and family, and this process will continue until Friday.

I am exhausted and happy and I know none of the realisation will hit home until I am on that plane, on Sunday, six days from now.