The Jigsaw Is Nearly Complete

So the Invitation to Travel arrives and it’s like a well-oiled, well slightly rusty, machine bursting into life as we plan our schedule. The Scrooge in me wants to fly at the beginning of May when things are cheaper but SHMBO, rightly says that we have to get Alice as soon as possible.

Next call to Simon, Virgin pilot friend, http://www.gordonbennett2010.com/, who gets us booked on the evening flight leaving London on 20^th April – Thanks next night out is on us!

Next biggy is to arrange the visa appointment at the UK Consulate for 30^th April so that they can issue before we return on 4^th May. Did I mention that this now costs £826, although they are very helpful in their emails, and as long they issue the thing who cares.

Visa for china applied for - still haven’t got the passports back yet but I’m not worried ;-)

Tried to book the Victory Hotel, but discover that our week coincides with Canton Trade fair and they can only offer us a suite at £256 per night. Thank them in the politest way possible and find the Ossoto Hotel, which is opposite Shamian Island for £100 a night. Only problem is that they don’t offer a crib, so we will all be in a couple of big beds like The Waltons. Either this will result in accelerated bonding or seven nights of sleep deprivation.

Train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou booked online – premium class – yippee Isn’t it amazing what you can do from your desk!

Arranged to go back to Yangchun for the second week to see our friends Les, Lisa and Laura from our visit last year http://patrickrmulcahy.blogspot.co.uk/ which will allow us to chill out and relax at the East Lake Hotel.

Shopping to Date

• New baby clothes
• Two weeks worth of organic baby food
• Baby bottle
• More baby clothes
• Nappies
• Baby spoons, cups and feeders
• More baby clothes

Julie-Anne had a great send off from work for six months rest and relaxation, although I am still cutting the grass.

Bumped into Jane and Graham on line, who will be meeting their daughter Yuan Le at the same time as we meet Alice and who are also booked back on the same flight. Should we ask Virgin Atlantic to issue a passenger warning that the flight home may be a night flight but people should not be expecting to get any sleep!

Next call to Rob, friendly doctor, for sedation. Not for Alice, for me!

How long can it take to process papers?

Thanks for all the positive emails received from family and friends within the adoption community

You would think that with today’s technology and global markets that moving bits a paper between customers and countries need not take an eternity. How wrong can you be, and believe me we have not been slouching on the sofa!

Managed to translate papers, get a paediatric review and a follow social work meeting within a week, but as another week goes by and we have still not had any confirmation from “those who you cannot name” – Department of Education that our acceptance papers have left the UK………..

Reminds me of that joke, “Where is the ‘F’ in Customer Service?.......There is no ‘F’ in Customer Service”

Still, lots to keep us busy. DR is struggling to keep it together. Knowing Alice is in an SWI is bringing home to her her life events and she has moments of utter sadness, and say’s she just wants to go and collect her

Countdown to finishing work for JA has now begun, with the end of the month not coming quick enough. What she plans to do all day before we have Alice is anyone’s guess, but I’ll mention the grass looks a bit long and see what response I get.

Anyway, back to the rant and time to eat a big slice of humble pie time.

Called in from the garden, where I have been making sure the play equipment is tip top to hear that JA has taken a call and had an email conversation on a Sunday afternoon from Department of Education asking us to provide our Hague compliant information. Knock me down with a feather, and I’ll now defend every one of them with my last breath. Anyway they have now confirmed that documentation has left the UK and is on it’s way back to the CCCWA.

They also reckon that ITT’s can take between 3 to 6 weeks, without which we can’t book travel, without which we can’t apply for a visa, which can then take up to two weeks to process – All this is very depressing as I don’t now think we will get to China in April – but I may be wrong.

So although the process drags on we do seem to be getting closer to Wuchuan, and this week sent her a package of a cuddly toy, sweets and a picture of her new family. Hopefully this will get to her before we do!

21st February 2012 - News At Last

Ten days ago we were cursing the Department of Education, being convinced that Rumour Queen was correct in confirming referrals had been sent. JA calls and nothing. ‘No I can’t tell you anything.” Then on the 20^th February we get the call from the Social Worker that we had been matched. Some confusion about the name as the call was taken whilst DR was at swim class, so Wu Qiumei was known as Wu Hiumei for 24hrs!

Everyone’s so excited. DR is really joyous and wants to go now! We dive on-line to the yahoo groups and find out that Wuchaun SWI seems not that good, but this is later disproved by an email exchange with Jill from Chicago, (Hi Jill and Phil) and we now believe that they do a good job in difficult circumstances, the SWI not Jill. ;-)

Pictures and paperwork arrive on the Wednesday and we get the first glimpse of our new addition – what a beauty, quite small but perfectly formed. Then it’s time to sort out a name, having decided to wait for a picture before making any firm decisions. Daddy still can’t swing it for Cordelia, and Mummy has to forgo Theordora. We settle on Alice.

Next day DR breaks the news in school, taking in photo evidence in case her friends think she is just being mad. Mandarin class on Saturday doesn’t concentrate on yi, er san but at scanning the paperwork and arranging to get it translated and off to the paediatrician – which happens in the next 24hrs – thanks Daisy. Now we have a few days to wait until we meet and discuss anything, but it all looks OK, except for Alice Qiumei being slightly underweight and unlikely to be picked to play for the school volleyball team

Daddy focuses on trying to plan the trip. Early discussions with Chris Tao Ping result in him contacting the SWI and providing us with further reassuring updates and another picture taken by the director and sent via her mobile!!

The picture says ‘I am fed up please come and get me’ The weekend also sees the finishing touches being put to the nursery with DR anxious that she won’t be able to reach Alice over the side of the cot if she needs help in the night. What every elderly parent needs, an 8 yr old live in nanny! We tell her not to worry.

Read Jill and Phil's blog and like the "mei mei" and "jie jie" t-shirts. Note to self to get some made. Sunday also sees us pop into town for Mummy to assess her and her matching dresses!! Oh and the spare room now has all the clothes that have been saved laid out ready for……….well I’m not sure why they are there, but I am told it’s important mummy daughter stuff

Plans are still in draft until we get the ITT, but we are trying to manage things so that we can complete the adoption, revisit Les, Lisa and Laura in Yangchun, spend a couple of days abusing the friendship of Dave and Alison in Hong Kong and still get home PDQ.

Oh and mummy can’t sleep now with all the excitement.