21 Things Wot I Learnt in 2013
SIXTH BLOG 28/11/13
2018 EDIT - Top Tip - never move house, or try not to have too much stuff!
21 Things I Have Learnt in the Last Two Weeks (OK, some I knew already):
Trust no one when it comes to removal companies or van hire.
Pick your friends well, and trust them - they are worth more than their weight in gold when the chips are down. (Mmmm, chips.)
Valium is your friend when you are stressed to f**k.
Moving house IS one of the most stressful things in the world ... ever.
Those 'last few things' won't take half an hour to pack, they will take forEVER, so make sure you pack everything but a kettle, mugs, teaspoon, and clean underpants the night before your move.
Trying to move into one room when you’re used to eight is enough to fry your brains.
Immersion heaters need to be on for longer than fifteen minutes if you don’t want a cold bath. A harsh lesson when you're used to a gas boiler.
Having too much stuff is NOT a good thing.
Car boot sales do run all year round - *hurray* and *ironic yay*.
I have got too much stuff.
I need to get rid of a lot of my stuff.
Changing your address on your driving license costs £40. WTF! (2018 edit - it doesn't cost £40 to change your address on your driving license. But when you are stressed, even a proofreader can miss that she's on a commercial site mimicking the DVLA one, THEY charge, the DVLA don't.)
Horses poop at least twenty times a day. Ponies only six.
It’s better to eat early than to eat late.
It’s really great to be close to my Mum again (in proximity; we’ve always been close otherwise.)
We’ve got some lovely views to enjoy here.
Devon is so very peaceful.
The beach is less than half an hour away.
So is Dartmoor.
Charity loves her access to fox and horse poo. Us - not so much.
I’m going to use this blog as some form of therapy over the next few weeks, so if it’s not as informative as previously, then I apologise, but it’ll be cheaper than a psychologist.
Last Thursday, we moved the last few bits of our belongings - two beds, a sofa, a coffee table, two TVs, washing machine, things from the cellar, and a couple of suitcases of clothes. We were also supposed to be taking our garden furniture and tools, but more of that later. We'd booked a large Luton van, which would have been tall enough to fit everything into, ten days earlier and received the booking number once I'd provided my driving license. I even called the company two days before the move to ensure everything was in order - to be assured that they'd only be able to repeat my booking details and if I had those then it 'should be fine'. Even though I had a tiny niggle deep inside me, (instinct's an amazing thing, that we really should always listen to), I had enough to be doing and left it at that.
So, on moving day, at 9.35am, when the van had been due to arrive by 9.30 and our friends Joe and Jonathan* had already arrived to help, I called the company up to check where it was. Imagine my dismay, fear, gut-wrench and boiling rage when I was told that I 'had been sent an email the previous evening' (I hadn't) 'that they'd resend to me, but unfortunately they COULDN'T PROVIDE US WITH A VEHICLE TODAY'. 'WHAAAAAAAT!'
I don't remember exactly what I said, although I managed to keep a civil (if extremely livid) tongue in my head, although Fran did say it was like she could almost hear my stomach lurch in panic (it did). 'What do you MEAN you can't provide us with a vehicle today - we're MOVING HOUSE?' Anyway, cue curt dismissal, with me terminating the call (you can't really 'hang up' a mobile phone, can you), and then a frantic ten minutes where we rang about six van hire companies before we got anything close to what we needed. Fran had warned the guys to stay out of the front room for a few minutes just in case my head exploded.
The amazing Jonathan* came up trumps by offering to drive down with us, so that he could then drive the van back, saving us untold time and money. Which reduced the stress considerably. There followed a frantic five hours, of collecting the van, loading the van, packing the kitchen, walking the dog, hoovering all rooms (I'm chagrined to say I never had time to mop the floors, nor clean the fridge, nor hob - which I'd every best intention of doing and leaving it clean and fresh for the new owner.) Then the realisation that we weren't going to fit our garden furniture, tools, kitchen rubbish bins and some random junk (that we couldn't leave) into the van, so we had to ask our neighbours if we could leave it with them until the following week. I did a last minute check of the 'Welcome to your new home' information sheet' I'd left for the new owner - with key pointers but also guidance as to where the local shops and (more importantly) pub are. After shouting 'Bye, House' we finally closed the front door. Then the last goodbyes to neighbours. At 4.18pm we set off to drop the keys with the lovely estate agents and finally commenced our six hour drive, wending our merry way to Devon, arriving (after losing, then finding each other again, in 'convoy') at about 10.30pm.
After spaghetti bolognese at 11pm (thanks, Mum!) and a good night's sleep, we 'decanted' the van's contents into the barn and container, which took us about an hour. Unloading is SO much easier than loading.
We even had some help from Matty the ex-racehorse.
A bacon sandwich and cup of tea later, Jonathan was able to make his way home (even stopping off to buy his 'dream car' on the way). We went back and started picking our way through our possessions; I have a feeling this could take some time.
We had to return to Sheffield on Tuesday, for a nearly 600-mile round trip, with a trailer, and Charity the Otterhound accompanying us. Up at 6am, set off at 7am, arriving at 1pm. We - actually I - swiftly loaded up, whilst Fran and Charity sensibly went for a walk round the 'old block'. I even knocked on the door of our old house to say hello to the new owner (it seemed rude not to, even if it was a little freaky that she had the same colour and style sofa as us!) Whilst I was there I remembered that we'd forgotten to remove two baby gates, and offered/asked if it was OK to do so now. I had a pleasant chat with her, a young doctor - already planning her house-warming, and with the help of her mother, cleaning her new home. I told her that I'm already missing the bath … and the shower … , but not this view … , when I've got this new one instead.
*A million thank yous to Jonathan and Joe, and to their partners, Estelle and Sarah, for letting them help when they both had far more urgent things to attend to.
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