Tales of a Moving Day

Moving houses I think requires great organisational skills.  Because it wont happen if you haven't rang the removal company to arrange a time and date, no one's clothes or possessions would be making it to the other side if you haven't packed them into boxes, and on the day itself, the kitchen boxes would end up in the bedroom or even in the garden if you aren't there to direct the helpers.  The best organised bit you can do is to clearly label everything.  From Bathroom to Lounge and even as small as the utility room.

Since leaving home back in 2003 I have moved houses 7 times.  My recent one was in October 2020 and I am hoping this is the one that will stick. The day itself is frustrating and sometimes worrying too. You just want it all to happen as quickly and smoothly as possible.  I often found myself thinking if I had a magic wand, the whole packing, moving and then unpacking bit would be done before I opened my eyes.  Like everything would be in its right place, but just in the new house instead.

One piece of advice, way before your moving date, is to get packing.  It doesn't matter how small or how much, just make a start.  The two best places I usually start are the kids' bedrooms, which is also a great way to minimise the crap that has appeared over the years and to be able to throw stuff away.  My second place is always the kitchen.  Same as the kids' bedrooms, it's quite shocking how many unused gadgets have gathered dust on top of the cupboards over the years.

The night before

Having discussions with some friends, we are all in agreement that the night before the big move is a rather odd one.  A feeling of anxiousness but also allowing some quiet time to reflect.  You are surrounded by boxes, laying on just the mattress in a room that now echos.  You are not sure why you can't sleep, it's either because there are no curtains up at the windows and you realise just how bright that street lamp really is, or maybe because your brain is telling you you’ve forgotten something and you’re up all night trying to figure out what it is.

And then there's the early rise in the morning.  No matter what the time it is you still look out that window, just in case the moving vans have arrived early. You also hope that as you can't find your hairbrush you won't bump into someone outside, and that your new neighbours will forgive you for one day because you are wearing your oldest top with ‘I love the 80s’ on it.  And what do you eat for breakfast? Probably the rest of the biscuits that have been found in the back of the cupboard because you don't want to take them with you.  If you are lucky, you’ve put aside one teabag and not packed that old mug just purely so you can start your day right with a cuppa.  Uh oh, the sugar has been packed and the fridge got turned off last night, so your last mouthful of milk sitting in there is now warm and might have a strange smell to it.

The Moving van

One of the exciting moments of the day is when that van pulls up.  Finally you can start to fill it with your possessions and empty your house.  But it isn't that simple, another worry might be that it's not all going to get in that rather small van.  Now you’re thinking two trips will have to be done but you won't have time to do that.  If there is something I have learnt from my moves, it is to completely put all your trust in a company who does moves for a living. And personally for a few of my moves it was my dad.  He could fit everything into a van that slotted in place just like a jigsaw puzzle.  Several times we have all been astounded as to how it all fit in.

I have had a couple of moving vans with the tail lift on the back.  Is it just me or is playing on them so much fun?  You have to go up and down on it at least once while it's in your possession.  It's a Right to you on moving day.  And does anyone else feel immense joy when sitting in the front of the van, with all your worldly goods loaded up behind you, looking down on the cars below, thinking ‘this is my special day, it's finally here?’

Unpacking 

Personally my little favourite part of the process is the unpacking.  A box may be labelled kitchen but is it the stuff from the drawers or the pan cupboard? nope it's the plastic jugs and flasks.  I quite enjoy the mystery of what I will discover in the boxes.  I know they are clearly labelled as rooms but they don't have a complete list on them informing me that my hair brush is in it or even the remote control for the tv.

Excitement to come

There is nothing more exciting than new adventures. That first time you cook for friends checking out your new place or the satisfaction of standing back and admiring your painting skills in the room that used to look bare. 

I hope you enjoyed this read, and if you are about to embark down this road, I wish you all the luck with your impending move. 

On my moving days, there are certain items that I feel are only safe with me. This includes TVs, kettle and fragile items. What things do you only trust yourself to transport on moving day?

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