Hi,

Back again.......

Since our last post time has flown by and now it is just days before we leave these lovely sun drenched shores for Estonia's somewhat more subdues tones of late winter. As you can imagine the last few weeks have been occupied with finishing all the little jobs needing attention before we absent ourselves for the year ahead. So far we haven't got around to packing yet but that is the next task now that other things are out of the way. Also trying to spend time with family and friends whom we will be missing for sure in the months ahead.

Many people have asked us "What will you be doing while you are in Estonia?" The answer is that we don't fully know, and that is deliberate. Our main aim is to 'be there' and to experience the rhythm of life over the cycle of a year. Obviously there will be things to be done. Support of our relatives, especially our elderly aunties ( 96 and 90 repectively ), learning language, especially for Neville, entertaining and tour guiding the numerous visitors both family and friends, getting some skills in Estonian cuisine and maybe even a bit of building or renovation where required. As we see it, the most important aspect of the year will be the opportunity, in particular for Helve, to deepen the bond she has to her 'fatherland' and her 'mother tongue'. A special joy will be introduce most of our immediate family to Estonia, where they all hold citizenship due to the generous policies of the Estonian Government.

Another question often asked is "how do you get to Estonia?" The best way to travel to Estonia is via Helsinki in Finland. Estonia does have an international airport in Tallinn, but flights initiating in Australia are not common into that airport. Helsinki is just 87kms from Tallinn across the Baltic Sea. A two hour ferry ride gets you from Helsinki to Tallinn and ferries depart regularly each day. This is the way we will travel, leaving Melbourne 11.05pm Wed 29th March and arriving in Tallinn about midnight Thur 30th Estonian time. That will be approximately 9.00am Frid Melbourne time, so that is around 33 hours of travelling for us. Hopefully a good sleep in the next morning. After a day to recover and to visit Liidia, one of the elderly aunties, we will travel the 180kms south west too Tartu the town where we have our apartment and where we live for the coming year.

Our first tasks will be to make application for Neville's temporary residency permit. Helve, of course, is an Estonian citizen and can stay as long as she likes, but Neville must apply to stay beyond the three months that any tourist can stay. Also we have to arrange our health cover as all Estonians must have this. Fortunately once arranged all health needs are covered and there is no lurking 'gap' like there is here. Also there is the banking and the internet and phone to be sorted out along with the normal housekeeping, food, clothing etc. Finally we need to purchase a car that will last at least for the year we are there, so these things will occupy us for the first week or so. Once we are 'in' we will certainly make contact with you along the way. We will have Skype so perhaps we can speak 'face to face' and that will be exciting (and a chance to speak english!!)

Well, this has just been a 'nuts and bolts' blog, just to keep you in touch with the when and where. Hopefully the next one will be from Tartu and will include some of our impressions and experiences as we settle in to life in Estonia.

Take care till next time.