OK hospital procedure over and I can get back to packing and sorting. My consultant was most disappointed to find no stones to zap when he got inside me so it was not really necessary to go through with yet another general anaesthetic but….at least I know I have nothing lurking in there and I can feel pleased that my intuition was right when I felt I didn’t need the operation.

So, where was I?
Lists – trying to have only one on the go but I found I had two almost identical ones in the same notebook yesterday.
Van – I am waiting for the DVLA to return my log book with Campervan on it instead of Commercial. This is because Spanish authorities will not allow a UK commercial panel van to be replated and registered as Spanish.  I have read some terrifying internet stories of the time and expense needed to go through this process but, who knows, maybe it will be different for me!
Money – apart from the fact that this whole move is costing me much more than I expected (what with 4 new tyres to conform with Spanish regulations, a new stove in my cottage, the very expensive palace we have created to house my furniture, the quotes for removals which range from £2500 to £3800…..) I have been looking into ways to send money from the UK to Spain.  In the past I innocently went through my bank and did a couple of transfers. But this is a very expensive way of doing it and I now know there are specialist agencies who buy and sell currencies and give you better rates. You need to register first and then can either send lump sums or regular payments and there are no charges and give far better exchange rates.  I spoke to one today and was surprised to find he is based in Penzance and lives in St Buryan!  Cheaper than running an office from London I suppose.
Yesterday he was buying euros all day with the pound doing well because of the Italian crisis and today he was selling them. 
It’s another thing to get to grips with which makes moving to another country so interesting!
Selling – I sold another book on Amazon and although it’s harmless fun it isn’t really the most effective way of clearing out your book collection. I’ve sold two in the past three months and it means an extra trip to the Post Office when there is so much else to do.  I’m definitely more a fan of giving things to Freegle at the moment although it doesn’t help the bank balance. People come and take things away within 24 hours be it a food mixer, an old toilet, tree guards or a broken mini greenhouse. Noone seems interested in the ironing boards though – does noone iron these days?