Moving Mayhem

I thought that it might be a good idea to chronicle the build up to our house move as I'm sure that it's going to be interesting. I had that thought on Saturday when things seemed to be going as well as could be expected. Well.....

Sunday Nov 2nd - woke with a smile on my face. Packaging boxes and materials due to be delivered today. It's my last day off until we move so it's perfect timing really. Hubby is also off and, apart from a 2 hour break to watch the footie, he's all mine so we should be able to get a lot done.
By about 3 pm I began to think that something was amiss. No phone call from the delivery driver, no answer from the contact number we have been given and no sign of packaging materials. Even the email that I sent to the address on the business card I was given bounced straight back to me. Alarm bells ringing!!!
Finally, at about 6 pm hubby had to accept that something was wrong. I left a strongly worded email and and even more strongly worded voicemail message to the company asking them to cancel all of our instructions and to issue a refund for the deposit that they took initially to secure the removal slot.
One very fed up couple took themselves to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

Monday Nov 3rd - woke with a more positive attitude than I went to bed with but also with a runny nose and earache. Yes folks, it seems that I have a cold coming. I slept really badly for a variety of reasons and so, this morning, I feel rubbish.
A couple of cups of tea, a bowl of porridge and 2 painkillers later and I feel a little better. Hubby has developed a gout-like pain in his toe and is having trouble walking so I have taken the dog out and been to the post office to post the eBay items that I have been selling to try to make a bit more money.
The expected communication from the removal company has not materialised...no contact from them what so ever which is appalling... so hubby has rung them in a calm fashion and they have apologised for the 'mix up in communication'!!!... and confirmed that the booking with them is cancelled and that we will get our deposit returned. We shall see.
I have spoken with another more local company who are sending round one of their chaps this afternoon when I'm at work to give us a quote for removal and we shall just have to wait and see what happens.
In the mean time we can't pack anything up because we don't have any materials. Happy days!

11.20 Mmmmm...bit worried as I'm not feeling great. Rumbly tummy and I can't decide if it's because I'm hungry or I feel sick. May just have to try a piece of toast and see how we go. Fingers crossed.

14.10 Emails flying backwards and forwards. Organised for someone to come and collect our table and chairs via Freecycle. Organised for someone to come and give us another quote for removals and they are coming this afternoon. Interestingly, they have just rung to say that someone else has just rung to enquire about a Friday removal and they are giving us first refusal.....and given us a quote over the phone for double the price of the the original removal company. However, what can we do? They sound legitimate. We have to move. We have little choice. The good thing is that the chap is bringing packing materials with him this afternoon so, when I get back from work at 8.30pm, I will be able to start packing up....at last!
We have also had an email regarding our refund from the original removal company so, hopefully, that should materialise very soon.
Still sniffing and a bit headachey. Tummy a bit better. Hubby not hobbling quite so much so he has gone to walk the dog. Busy, busy!

21.50 I've been to work. The table and chairs and filing cabinet have been collected. The new removal company turned up....double the price of the original but we don't have any choice. Hubby has just announced that he isn't able to come to the Cat Stevens gig tomorrow night. Now have a spare ticket and face losing £60 if I can't get rid of it. Onwards and upwards.

Tuesday 4th Nov - awake at 5.30am when hubby got up for work. Mind already in full 'lets get packing' mode but there is a dog to walk first. Dishwasher and washing machine already on. Cup of tea in hand. Still coldy but no worse than yesterday. Looks like the removal firm didn't leave any bubblewrap. Doh!

09.25 Dog has been walked. It was a pleasure to take him. It was cold but bright and a proper autumn morning. Took a few photos.I don't know when I will do that walk again.Used to walk there to clear my head when thinking about Mum and Dad. Have packed 7 boxes. Realised that the big boxes aren't big enough for our pictures so I can't seal them. Found more stuff to take to the charity shop. Tweeted Cat Stevens re the spare ticket in the hope that someone may see it and want it. Sneezing from the dust. Realised that there is a hell of a lot to do and little time to do it. Off to see my Mummy no: 2 in a bit to see how she's doing. Will take her to the shops for essentials.

14.35 - Back from shopping and coffee. Now pouring with rain. No offers for the spare ticket for tonight so that's £60 down the swannee! Just paid my beach hut insurance which has gone up a lot!! Organised several pick ups for freecycle bits. Spoken to the council re move. Tried to pay removal people but they're not picking up the phone. Tried to speak with Virgin re move. They are going to ring me back. Time for soup. And if I get one more phone call from some idiot telling me that I used to work in a factory many years ago I'll scream. I have no idea what it's about but when  I say that I've never worked in a factory they put the phone down. Rude, rude, rude.

15.30 - paid the removal people an outrageous amount of money, Tried to ring power suppliers who are 'experiencing a unusually high volume of calls'. Grrr! Ran to the post box in the rain as the removal guy who came last night forgot to take the paperwork with him and they need it before we move. Did remember to tell them not to be here before 8.30am on Friday as I won't be back from my night duty until then and hubby will be doing an airport run picking up friends for Heathrow. He's also working later that day too. Not quite sure when we're going to see each other to be honest.

Wed Nov 5th -  10.47 am - got home from the gig last night at midnight.What a show. Worth every penny to see Cat Stevens sing 'Father and Son' and 'Wild World' etc live. Never thought I would get the chance. Lovely stepdad enjoyed himself too which was fab. Thought I saw Fatboy Slim coming out of the loos behind us. Convinced myself that it wasn't him. Twitter later confirmed that it was. Celeb spotting at my age. Ridiculous!! Wasn't able to sell my spare ticket so I did lose £60 but such is life. Seeing the man play live was on my bucket list. Job done.
Woke this morning when hubby got up for work again at 5.30 am. So tired. Nose running. Hip stiff. Jaws ache. Apart from that I'm fine!  Son stayed here for the last time last night and this morning the kitchen shows evidence of burritos and alcohol consumption. Could do without having to clean up the evidence if I'm honest.
Still, I did go back to sleep and have literally only been up 10 mins which is great. Dog still needs a decent walk before I start getting son up and dragging him to the dump with me. Sun is shining so it will be nice to take him. Then I have to be at work for 3.30 pm where I'm working until 8 pm and then I'll be home again to continue packing. No-one else has packed a box as yet. Laters!!

13.20 - dog walked, been to the dump and got rid of rubbish. Found more rubbish. Going for a coffee with son before work.

20.50 - back from work via Tesco where I picked up some vit c tablets and some multivitamins in an effort to give myself a boost and help to ward off the cold that is starting to annoy me. Came in to find a worn out hubby asleep on the sofa. He's now having a cuppa and watching the football. Dog a bit spooked by the local fireworks. Going to pack a couple more boxes and then call it a day I think. Tomorrow is going to be tiring. Tonight is my last night in this house as I'm working a nightshift tomorrow night. Having a pre-mixed gin and tonic before I retire. Oh, and we also popped into the cemetery and left Dad a poppy as I do every year. Must do Mum's tomorrow.

Thurs Nov 6th 09.35 - woke again, unnecessarily, at 5.30 am but went back to sleep. Getting out of bed was a problem this morning and I put it off for as long as I could. Hubby walked dog and has now taken him to kennels where he will stay until Sunday afternoon. Hubby is then off to work a 10 hour shift and won't be home until 11pm by which time I will have gone to work to do my nightshift. When I get home tomorrow morning he will have already left for the airport to do the prearranged pick up. Manic!!
Can't get rid of the sideboard or the wooden unit that is on freecycle so they need to go to the dump. I can't do that on my own so I've no idea how that's going to work. Better crack on.

11.27 - slight hysteria setting in. So much to do. Boxes everywhere. Me still full of cold. Hubby gone to do a 10 hour shift. Success with the sideboard which has been collected. Still haven't even started on our bedroom yet and that is the most cluttered room in the house.

12.40 - been to Oxfam with more bits and went to the crematorium to give Mum her poppy.

13.40 - ;
last load of washing that I put on -sheets, dressing gown, light stuff- has finished. Took it out and there's been an incident in the drum and most of the stuff is covered in greasy black stuff!! Bloody hell. Put it back on to wash again but I have now run out of washing detergent. Feeling super-stressed as I realise just how much more packing there is for me to do before I go to work.

14.20 - popped next door to let them know we are moving tomorrow. Posted 'warning' notices through neighbours letterboxes to let them know about the lorry that will be here tomorrow that hopefully won't cause any traffic problems for anyone.

15.15 - washing miraculously sorted. Hurrah! Been down the garden and took  the dog collars down from the arbor. We always hang our doggie collars there. Packed Charlie's collar for the journey. Can't leave it behind. Took down lanterns and wind chimes. So, loft and top room done, top bathroom and airing cupboard done, spare room done, last lot of washing done and in the dryer, our bedroom semi-done, downstairs bathroom done, kitchen almost done, back room done. Why does it still feel like I have loads to do?!?! Don't panic! Hoovered the stairs and the bedrooms.

1700 - argghhhhh! That is all!!

17.32 - stopped for tea, precooked shepherds pie of sorts, and a cup of tea and a slice of cake. 10 mins chill and then pack more, get in the bath and get ready for work.
Hubby has rung. He is very busy and has no chance of getting back early tonight. Bless him.

17.50 - cleaned downstairs bathroom but am not going to have time to do much cleaning. Feel a bit bad about it but hopefully our buyers are investors and won't want to move in straight away.

18.50 - well, I think that's all I can do for now. Need to get ready for work. The dishwasher is still rumbling on. No doubt I will be emptying it in  the morning.
I've never seen so many boxes and I have no doubt I will be seeing cardboxes in my sleep for a few weeks.
I'm off to work very shortly. I hope to have a calm night and I hope to get some sleep but it's the time of year for coughs, colds and sickness so we will see.
Tomorrow morning, when I come home, removal men should be here and we will be on our way.
I'm excited beyond words. So much has happened over the last few days, weeks, months. It's a very, very positive time for us. Long may it continue!

Until next time.....

Much love xxxxxxx