Tuesday 19 May 2009

Probable Itinerary

Just to let you all know what we will be up to in Ethiopia :-)

Saturday 23rd May
We all fly out at stupid o'clock from our local airport to Schipol, Amsterdam.
We part company with LMS as she gets her connecting flight to America to see her boyfriend.
We get our connecting flight to Addis Ababa.
Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at about 9pm.
Guest House will collect us from the airport.

Sunday 24th May
Unpack and settle in the Guest House
Go to local supermarket to get formula and nappies for New Child.
Have a relaxing and chill out day (are you listening Little Prince????)

Monday 25th May
NEW COURT DATE
Visit orphanage and introduce New Child to her new Daddy and siblings :-)
Email our Local Authority to let them know that both me and Mr Messy have met New Child before she is officially adopted (requirement of UK adoption process).
All before our Court Hearing appointment at 9.30am!!!!
If everything goes well we can now take custody of New Child :-)

This is where it all gets a bit fuzzy!!

A few days after the Court Hearting we have to collect all our Court papers.
Once got Court papers we can apply for New Child's birth certificate (takes about 2 days to receive).
Once got birth certificate we can apply for New Child's Ethiopian Passport (takes about 2-3 days to receive).
Once got Ethiopian Passport can apply for British Visa (recent adopters have taken anything from 2-15 days to receive theirs!). Keep your fingers crossed that we are at the shorter end of the time scale!!!

During the wait for the British Visa Mr Messy and Drama Teen will make a trip to the area New Child is from. This will take them about 3 days we think, as it is a day's travel away by car! They are both keen photographers so they will be documenting the whole trip for New Child when she is older. I will stay at the Guest House with Little Prince and New Child, as it will be too soon after taking custody of her to expect her to cope with such an arduous journey (although she will have made that journey once before already).

Saturday 13 June
Once we have the British Visa we can add New Child to our flight tickets, and head home :-) So we are booked on flights on this date, but if the British Visa isn't ready then Mr Messy will come home with Drama Teen and Little Prince, and I will stay in Ethiopia with New Child until her Visa is issued.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

good luck!
you make it all sound so easy!
Katey

Janet said...

Hi Katey,
I've got my fingers, toes and everything crossed that it will be easy lol. But we have plenty of "plan B's" ready for if its more complicated lol.
Love
Janet
xxx

Anonymous said...

Have a safe and wonderful trip!

I wonder what a tip and a skip are?

Love the nursery...and wow! did you buy lots of clothes! : )

Yaya Stacey

Lisa A said...

Oh my friend Janet--I'm so thinking of you! So happy, happy for you the time is so close--the day you've been waiting for a very long time for, the day you traveled a very dedicated journey to the child that grew in our heart and is about be delivered.

I can't wait to hear all about it.

Thinking of you and so wishing you so much happiness!

Love,
Lisa A

Janet said...

Hi Stacey,
Thank you, and I did get a bit busy with the shopping didn't I lol?!?!
Love
Janet
xxx

The Tip is the local government run facility where you can take your rubbish/garbage.
A Skip is a large open topped dumpster you can hire to fill with rubbish/garbage outside your home.

Janet said...

Hi Lisa,
Thank you :-)
I'm so excited at the moment :-) The cases are almost packed and it feels so real :-)
Love
Janet
xxx

Anonymous said...

Oohhhhh...so exciting! Fingers crossed this time next week you will be waking up for the first time with your baby right next to you!!!

lots love
Wai Ling xx

Janet said...

Hi Wai Ling,
Wow that thought gives me goosebumps!!! Fantastic :-)
Madly stuffing suitcases at the moment, I'm never going to get it all in!!!
Love
Janet
xxxx

Anonymous said...

I see...

so getting a skip to take your junk to the tip would have been a good idea! : )

Where is your daughter staying in Orlando? We've just returned from a lovely ten days there, as Matt has graduated the first part of his recording arts program. He's now come back to New Jersey to complete an internship for the summer.

We have a furnished 2 bedroom/2 bathroom condo available to rent there if you know of anyone from the UK who might like to vacation at Disney World. We're about a 40 minute drive from the magic kingdom, in a beautiful golf course community.

Give that sweet baby girl a kiss for me when you get to Ethiopia!

Love,
Stacey

Janet said...

Hi Stacey,
Well done you almost sound English there :-)
Congratulations to Matt on his graduation :-) LMS is staying in a Disney property, that they use for their overseas staff.
If only the economy wasn't shot to pieces at the moment, your condo would be very tempting :-) I'll bear it in mind for when we next go over there though :-)
I'll definitely give New Child your kiss, and plenty of others too :-)
How is your gorgeous little girl doing now?? You'll have to post some more pictures to the YaYa group, I bet she's grown so much!!
Love
Janet
xxxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Janet,

Yes, Sofia has grown so much! I will post a few pictures for you to see. We just did our 12 month post-placement, can you believe it?
She's doing great!

I don't know why, but your accent rubs off on me...even though I can't hear your voice! Funny!

Is the economy rough there in the UK, too?

Forgot to tell you, my MIL is planning a trip to London, spring 2010! She has invited my youngest son, Michael! And if Matt has anything to do with it, he'll find a way to go back...he enjoyed it so much when he went a few years ago. I've already told her, she simply must meet you!

Love,
Stacey

Anonymous said...

Good luck, I hope your trip goes smoothly. Cant wait to see the official pictures! Safe journey

Love the Wongs

Janet said...

Hi Stacey,
WOW I can't believe that Sofia has been with you for 12 months already!! I've seen the photos and she looks GORGEOUS :-)
Yes the economy is bad here too, lots of people losing their jobs and lots of other people nervous about losing theirs!
Definitely let me know when your MIL (and however many of your boys manage to wangle a trip lol) is over here and we can arrange to meet up :-)
Love
Janet
xxx

Janet said...

Hi S, T and I,
Hopefully everything will go to plan, I've got my fingers and toes crossed!!
Can't wait to be able to send you some photos :-)
Love
Janet
xxx

Rob,Dawn,Catherine and Iain and Maura said...

Janet, Just thinking of you. It won't be long now. Best wishes and have a safe and exciting trip. Iain would like know if his Buddy can mail him a post card when he arrives. He loves them. All our love. Dawn

P.S. I just bought the cutest summer dress for Maura. She can never have too many!!LOL

Janet said...

Hi Dawn,
Thank you :-) I will try my best to send Iain a postcard from Addis from Little Prince :-)
And I agree no girl can ever have too many dresses!! have you heard any more news about your own adoption??
Love
Janet
xxx


OUR ETHIOPIAN ADOPTION TIMELINE


25th May 2009 - See New Child again & Court Date

23rd May 2009 - Fly back to Ethiopia

26th March 2009 - Fly to Ethiopia :-)

3rd March 2009 - Dossier Arrived at Orphanage

26th February 2009 - Dossier sent to Ethiopia

22nd December 2008 - Dossier back at DCSF

28th November 2008 - Certificate of Eligibility ISSUED

6th October 2008 - PASSED Approval Panel

7th July 2008 - Homestudy Update Started

28th Feb 2008 - Told LA we wished to change country

OUR CHINA ADOPTION TIMELINE

Formally withdrew from the China Adoption Programme 17th July 2008

LID (Logged in Date) with CCAA 16th August 2007

Documents to China 10th August 2007

Passed Approval Panel 5th March 2007

Homestudy started 6th June 2006

First Contact with our LA 1st Jan 2006