h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No, they didn't delay the relocation again. Turns out we have a temporary phone number, so I can get online while our place is getting fixed up

The last few days have been rather busy. Doobry and Dontbry, I was packing up the things I'd had to unpack when we didn't get relocated in June. I wasn't working terribly fast, because I'd gotten an attack of the cynicals and was half convinced packing would be a waste of time again. Then Tom told me the movers were due after lunch on Sodit, instead of at 9 (so second shift instead of first), so I figured I could finish up Sodit morning. I could have easily finished before the movers arrived, if it weren't for the other thing we were doing the last few days. Y'see, when we replaced the car that got totalled last May, we ended up getting a stick shift, which I can't drive. Our other vehicle, a Ford Ranger, is also a stick. No one has had time to teach me to drive anything other than an automatic, so I've been feeling rather trapped this summer, more so than pre-license (I think because I couldn't drive legally anyway, so walking everywhere was no big deal--plus Faith wasn't too big for the stroller). Anyway, since we're trying to get Faith into the preschool at the school I work at, since that would be rather convenient, and, while I can easily walk there (45 minute walk) and back when Tom can't take me, it's a bit far for Faith, seeing as she's just the right height for me to rest my elbow on her head when she stands next to me, so the distance is twice as far for her, so I need my own transportation. Tom spotted one, we looked at it Dontbry, test drove and bought it Sodit, and took care of the paperwork yesterday (transfer of title and such). Looking at it didn't take much out of packing time Donbry, of course, but we got back from test driving (and other errands) just before the movers were due to come, so I was still throwing things in boxes when the movers arrived. Finished up as they were taking the last loads down to the truck (have I mentioned we've got an upstairs apartment?) Faith did a very good job of staying out of the way the entire time. We were relocated to a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhouse (meaning we have an upstairs, instead of being all on 1 level). The extra bedroom is being used to store the still packed boxes of stuff we won't need the next month, so after being surrounded by boxes all summer, we'll get to live semi-normally! In fact, if it weren't for the fact that this place hasn't been redone yet, we'd seriously consider seeing if it's too late to change our minds about going back to the old place when it's finished.

Now, I will admit that it was nice having a truck and people provided to move our things, but I do have a few complaints about the movers. Although each box was labelled with what room it was to go in (with the caveat that the bedroom boxes were labelled "Big Bedroom" and "Small Bedroom" which doesn't apply here, since the bedrooms all seem to be the same size) most things were stacked in the living room, including my and Faith's dressers. Some boxes were on their sides--mostly book boxes, but one was marked "Fragile". The movers took several breaks totalling nearly an hour (out of less than 4 hours from arrival to quitting time)--while I certainly don't begrudge breaks, when there's 4-6 guys (a couple left early) and few things that need 2 people to carry (after all, Tom and I carried most things up ourselves--while a couple people did help us move in, it was less more muscles for furniture than more hands to pass boxes along) there is no reason for there to be nearly an hour with nothing going anywhere (I admit, my time perception may be skewed here, and part of the time that I didn't see any movement was when 2 of the guys had decided to drive the truck across the street and unload while they waited for the other guys to come back from their break, from which the 2 guys that left early didn't come back--it was likely during this time that the things that made it upstairs did so).

So, anyway, with getting moved Sodit afternoon, the movers leaving at 5 (a few things still in the old place, but all the big things over here), my insisting I wasn't going to cook that day, so being out and about until nearly 9, having appointments made before we were told we'd be moving Sodit for Wimpy (looked at that house I mentioned a few days ago--that fixer-upper, and got prequalified for a bit larger loan than we had been last February--one large enough to get us into some real house, especially if the market goes down like it looks like it's going to), taking care of the paperwork for the car, going to the store for something for dinner and some milk (I'd done a pretty good job of emptying the fridge for the move, anyway), and getting the last things out of the old place (which things are in the back of our pickup, and will likely get brought in tonight), not much unpacking has been done. Last night, I emptied the living room of boxes quite a bit, grumbling while resting a few minutes when I started being able to feel my pulse in my scalp (pretty good indication that a rest is needed, no?)--after all, the boxes labelled for the bedrooms should've been upstairs. There's a few more boxes in there, and I need to unpack the kitchen, now that the kitchen boxes are out of the living room. I came on here just in time to arrive at the Tea Party, and I've still got some backlog to clear, but I'm off to get some work done for now.

M'dear, you make me feel exhausted just reading all of that. I can only offer moral support and wishes that the dust settles in on everything soon.

Sounds like you've had a few days, Amy.

Moving is a pain in the butt. Moving for a few weeks and then having to do it all again back is an even more than a triple pain in the butt. Hope all goes well for you. Have you been told how long you are going to stay there? And can you not take that one instead? I know when I moved from one storey place to a two I found it *so* much better.

from all in Marple, Cheshire, England (my home now and, I hope, for a very long time)

for Amy and family. Not for the movers, who've clearly had enough already.

Thanks, everyone

Just about all the boxes are stashed away, so if anyone wants to do a quick trip... We'll likely be here for about a month. The only problem with asking to have this place is that it hasn't been fixed up yet, so we'd have to relocate yet again before settling down. I got the living room pretty much finished today, including electronics setup, and will be tackling the kitchen tomorrow.

Your story is very moving, Amy.

Ba-dum-bum