Caught between a rock and a hard place

Trying to decide the most appropriate time to make the move to Chennai is proving difficult. We will not have school places (due to being oversubscribed) until 4th August when the new term begins. The baby mad dogs school term breaks for the summer holidays on the 23rd July.

So, take them out a couple of weeks early?

Not so easy, in the case of the eldest mad dog. She is in year 6 primary which is the final year before moving onto (English) secondary school. In the final couple of months of the term, after finishing the SATS, they produce a musical and have lots of departure/goodbye events (they have all been together since they were 4). The final being their leaving party scheduled for the 25th July.

If we flew out on the 26th, this would give the girls the grand total of 8 days summer holidays, and usually my girls are burnt out and in desperate need of a few weeks of rest, beaches and sailing. (Mum is too).

But the other option of going in May when Mr Mad dog is up and running in India is equally galling. Trying to keep 3 mad dogs entertained in the hottest month of the year (40+ almost daily) with no school and most expats with kids departing on the next available plane after school breaks on the 6th June for 2 months is not an attractive proposition either.

Eldest mad dog will not want to leave once the rehearsals start for the 'show' so she has to be pulled out early enough that the impact will not hit too hard either. But in a nutshell, we feel caught between a rock and a hard place.

The process of moving to India is taking an age. We just want to get on with it. But I suppose this is what living in India will be like, waiting and keeping hold of my patience.