“How much?” “Fifty dollars”. “Nah, I’ll offer you twenty”. “You can have it for $45”. “Way too much, I won’t pay more than $30”. “$35 is the lowest I will go’. “OK, deal” And another pre-loved item finds its way to a new owner.
The very first article to sell is our horse trailer, which we call a float in Australia. I remember well the day when we bought it. I felt so proud to own my very first float. Anaiis was less impressed, but that’s another story!
As our goods diminish, our bank balance gradually increases. Great, we’re half-way for paying the flight for Anaiis. I never imagined how expensive it is to transport a horse by air. For that money you would expect to fly ‘First Class’ but it is going to be standing room only for her and any equine companion. That is, if she ever gets on a plane!
We had a small window of opportunity to send her to Melbourne this coming Monday to begin her quarantaine period and then fly with four other horses to Brussels. I asked around for reputable transport companies to get her trucked to Melbourne from Bellingen and a trip was promptly organised. Within the hour we were told that Anaiis cannot travel with these horses, as Australian Quarantaine Inspection Services won’t allow ‘temporary’ export horses and ‘permanent’ export horses to travel together because the duration of quarantine is not the same.
Anaiis looking into the future
So the wait continues for other horses to share her container. This could be a lengthy wait and I hope we will see her before the One Year Schooling starts! Andrew, Dubu and I will leave Australia on 14 April after saying our goodbyes to Farinelli and Gulliver who are going to a beautiful agistment centre near the Gold Coast in late March. Anaiis will then travel to Melbourne to a temporary agistment centre until she can start her quarantaine. I will have a look at a few suitable places next week.
For now we have a few days ‘rest’ as my twin sister from the Netherlands and friends from New Zealand are visiting…
…. and a memorable visit it was! Thank you very much.
It was very much appreciated that we were able to witness the beautiful environment of Bellingen and interesting to realise that Aat, Marga and I, who witnessed you wedding fifteen years ago, were now again together to celebrate Aat’s and your birthday in canoes on the Bellinger river!
All the best in the coming weeks; we realise there is a lot to organise..
Wim and Marga
I am so glad to be reading your blog after buying the Isabell from you. Not only will this saddle have come from real horse people, who love and appreciate their horses, it will be helping you both to go on this journey. I will follow your journey eagerly and wish you both the best of luck on this exciting adventure.
Pam (and Hank)