This expressive
phrase sums up very aptly how I feel and what life is like just now. We got the keys to
our new house last Tuesday morning and since then for me life has been a blur
of packing and beginning to unpack at the other end, while DH gets on with all
the little jobs best done before the furniture arrives. I’ve also filled the
freezer with ready-made meals, so that no time will need to be spent cooking
for the next few days.
I’m pleased to report
that after visits on two successive days from the telecoms engineer, we now
have a working telephone and a broadband service which will at least double and
possibly triple our current speed. OK, it’s only from 2 to 4 or 6 Mbps, but it
will seem very fast to us after so many years at the end of the telephone line miles
from the exchange.
We’ve already
made a number of trips up and down the hill, with the car and the very small
campervan laden with boxes and bags and smaller items of furniture.
Now that I’ve finally
managed to corral DH and get him to decide on a date, we’ve also started to
take apart the heavy furniture as far as we can, ready for D-Day on Friday.
This is when DH will be hiring the van with the exciting electric tailgate and,
with the invaluable help of my very kind brother-in-law, will be moving all the
big items of furniture.
It’s all very
exciting and tiring and lots of other mixed emotions, but above all there’s a
sense of relief that after all the waiting and preparation, the move is finally
happening.
 |
| The view from the old house... |
 |
| ...and from the new. In the distance are the hills where we have lived for so long. |
 |
| Our present surroundings. In the valley is the village we're moving to. |
 |
| Our new surroundings, with the stream that runs past the garden... |
 |
| ...where I keep thinking I may catch a glimpse of Ratty.... |
All the best with your grand moving day on Friday. Your new house has lots of beautiful views too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Molly. Yes, there are glimpses of the hills in all directions, especially from upstairs.
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteOh spookies, I was thinking very fondly you this afternoon wondering if the move had happened yet and how you are doing! You know I know just what betwixt and between feels like!
Gotta say the views are equal so am sure you will not feel so much loss once the dust settles. Blessings and happy shifting. YAM xx
Thanks, Yam. I knew you'd have fellow feeling, having just accomplished a much bigger move, even if in stages. Our move is happening day by day, though Friday is the big one, after which we'll be finally living down in the valley, even though there'll still be a lot of sorting out to do.
DeleteLovely Perpetua - so pleased that things are moving along well for you both. The river looks a likely place to spot a Kingfisher too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rosemary. I do hope you're right about a kingfisher, as that would be so wonderful. I'm not sure yet how rich the stream is in fish, which would be the deciding factor.
DeleteLovely, lovely views all round. I know that even taking things slowly, it can be an exhausting process to move house, but I am sure you've got it as sorted as it can be and before long, you'll have your feet up in your new home. Possibly. Axxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Annie. Yes the views from the valley are different but also lovely and once we're settled I'll get out and about with my camera. At the moment that happy time seems a long way in the future, but we've achieved a lot in a week and the coming week will see the worst over.
DeleteLooks like you are moving from one idyll to another. Best of luck for Friday.
ReplyDeleteThanks, BtoB. It's a different idyll as we now have close neighbours and a view of houses from some windows, but the setting is still lovely.
DeleteI'm glad you've managed to pin DH down to a date for hiring the van for the major part of your move. I would love to have been a fly on the wall whilst that conversation took place :-) Having your phone and internet sorted is a major step forward. Now all you have to do is persuade DH to part with all those things that can best be described as 'vaguely useful' :-)
ReplyDeleteLOL, Ricky! Yes, it was an 'interesting' conversation, but had the desired outcome and we are of course making much faster progress than my Eeyore husband was anticipating. ;-) The phone is fine, but BT is proving very inefficient at getting our email addresses sorted out as we don't habitually use webmail, which is what they now seem to be geared up for. Sigh... Getting DH to get rid of things may well prove to be child's play in comparison.
DeleteIt all sounds very exciting (and exhausting), but at least you are down to the final lap at last. I hope you will be very happy in your new home. The surroundings look lovely.
ReplyDeleteAs for the visit from Ratty, I hope if you do see him it will be in his proper setting and no nearer.
Don't be too sad about leaving your present home, you are moving for the best of reasons and you will both benefit in the end I'm sure.
Blessings.
Thanks, Ray. Yes, it's definitely both exciting and exhausting, with the latter predominating rather markedly at times as D-Day gets nearer. But we've achieved a lot in a week and I've no doubt Friday will see us moved in, even if still surrounded by a good deal of chaos. I look forward to having enough leisure to go Ratty spotting. :-)
DeleteIt looks lovely from both perspectives! But what an undertaking - prayers that all goes well in every aspect, physical and mental.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine, prayers much appreciated. We live in a most beautiful area and I'll enjoy exploring the new perspective once I've recovered from the move itself. We're seven years older than when we last moved house and it shows...
DeleteHaving just made a large move myself two years ago, I can sympathized with you in feeling overwhelmed at times. I admire your planning. You are going to feel much better now that you have a date set for the big move. That helps a lot. I found we had to move in stages with a certain date set for the final loading of the big trip as the big date down the road.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful. You certainly are moving from one idyllic place to another.
Thanks for the sympathy, Sally. In one big way our move is very much easier than yours, as we're only moving just over 2 miles. But it's still exhaustingly hard work and we'll both be very glad when it's all over. Thankfully the advance planning has helped a lot! now for the final push, then we can start to enjoy our new surroundings.
DeleteA very fine view, indeed, Perpetua - even though you will miss the old one. You'll be surprised how fast your new house becomes home.
ReplyDeleteAs to Ratty . . . let us know if he appears.
Thanks, Penny. I'm sure you're right, but we've still got to reach that blessed point. :-) I'll certainly keep you all posted about Ratty...
DeleteYou live in an extraordinarily beautiful area. Both views are beautiful. Good luck with your move, sounds like you are well organized.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chris. Mid-Wales is wonderfully beautiful and varied in scenery and we love it here. We've tried hard to be organised, but there always things we turn out to have forgotten. :-)
DeleteGlad to hear things are going on well. Good luck for Friday. The new view looks delightful.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. Things are mostly going according to plan, though we're having to dodge heavy showers, now the lovely autumn weather has broken. If only it could have lasted for another week...
DeleteYou are leaving a place with a wonderful view but going to another. Best of luck with the shift ... and once everything is in its place [and moved several times as the first wasn't 'just right'] you can honestly say you are settled in. A good move before winter. Not that I envy you the actual move ... they can be trying, but you sound as though you, and DH, are organised:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shirley. We know we're lucky to have found this house and its good situation. I hardly dare admit that the moving things to another place has already started in a small way in the kitchen, but will be much worse after the furniture has arrived. I've made detailed room plans, but have already altered several of them. :-) Only a few more days and the worse will be over...
DeleteGood luck for Friday. I trust you and DH will be SENSIBLE and remember the trials of last autumn, and not over-stress yourselves (physically and mentally) with the move. Your dear BinL will have the heavy end of the 'piano' won't he?
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to take the 'Peace' rose with you.....
Spindrift51
Thanks, Spindrift. I think we'll need it, especially where the weather is concerned. The forecast has gone from heavy showers to no rain to light showers over the past few days, so anything could happen. We're being sensible, I promise, and DH is relaxing with an afternoon TV film before we take the next couple of loads down, while I catch up with comments.
DeleteI'm sorry to have to tell you that the Peace rose won't be coming with us as it sadly died, though I don't know why. Once we're settled I will find a replacement for our new garden.
I hope it all goes smoothly Perpetua. The new position looks lovely, and I wish you many happy hours watching out for Ratty...you are right, he must be there somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janice. It's going as smoothly as can be expected, with the vast majority of contents already down the hill in the new house, though still without the furniture to put them back into. :-) Ratty-spotting will have to wait for a bit...
DeleteI'm sure it must be stressful but I know you'll be very happy there. It looks beautiful and serene, and I absolutely want to look for Ratty.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer, I'm sure we will be once we've finally unpacked. :-) I can foresee many happy hours in good weather in a chair at the viewpoint above the stream, keeping a lookout for Ratty.
DeleteWishing you many peaceful moments and much enjoyment. Beautiful and green!
ReplyDelete(And hoping for plenty of time in your new phase of life for visiting with internet friends, by blog post and photo.)
Thanks, poetreehugger. Mid-Wales is always very green, thanks to all the rain we get, though I'm hoping the rain will hold off on Friday. I can promise you continuing blog posts and photos once we're settled. Blogging is much too important to me to be neglected for long.
DeleteA glimpse of Ratty...
ReplyDeleteyou'll need a seat and somewhere to put a flask....
or treat yourselves to a "trail camera" and see everything that visits at night...
and during the day.
Check out Colin&Elizabeth's "The story of our life in and around Braye-sous-Faye" latest entries... the link is in the sidebar of Jean's "A very grand Pressigny" blog....
they have a nightly visitor to their chicken run.
Discovered by using their "trailcam"....
Also, look out for the odd Kingfisher with water that clear...
put up a "Bill Oddie Kingfisher Trap" to make it stay long enough....
a branch sticking out over the water... where there is a dip that has small fish in is ideal...
although the lowest branch on the far side in the last picture looks well placed...
happy watching once you've settled...
or, more importantly....
take some moments down there as you are settling in!!
It will help....
honest!!
Thanks for another hugely informative comment, Tim. I'll making a point of following up your advice once my head is above the metaphorical water. We have a super outdoor seat in the field behind the present house, which we'll take down and put in the viewing spot above the stream. I've no idea whether there are enough fish to attract a kingfisher, but I'll keep my fingers crossed. As for the trailcam, that sound like a topic DH would be very happy to research once we're settled.... :-)
DeleteI know that moving is so much work and such a mixture of emotions -- letting go of the old and embracing the new, but living for a time betwixt and between. But you're moving from one beautiful place to another! And you will be able to see the lovely area you call home from a whole new perspective! I'm so glad the move is at last underway and that it's going well.
ReplyDeleteOh, so am I, thanks, Kathy. We've been anticipating and preparing for it for so long and now the days are flying past as it all finally happens. Once Friday has come and gone the worst will be over. It will be interesting to see the view from the new house once the leaves have fallen. We may even be able to pick out our old house up on the skyline. :-)
Delete"There's nothing like messing about in boats!"
ReplyDeleteSounds exciting and tiring all at the same time.
Absolutely, Vic, but they'd have to be Ratty-sized boats. This is a very shallow stream, except after heavy rain. :-) It's certainly exciting, but also completely exhausting as the big day approaches.
DeleteYour new place looks every bit as green and gorgeous as the old, Perpetua. I love the stream! Good luck for Friday, moving is stressful, but then you are so incredibly organised. It will all go well :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia. It's certainly stressful as the time before the main move becomes short, but most of the preparatory planning seems to have worked OK, thank goodness. All I need now is more sleep. ;)
DeleteBeautiful places, both!
ReplyDeleteYes, they are, Linda, though very different.
DeleteHappy moving, Perpetua, and happier settling in!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Penny. Not sure the moving is exactly happy at the moment, but the settling-in will be fun. :-)
DeleteHopefully by now the biggest part of the move is behind you, at least in terms of getting "stuff" moved from one house to another. You were so smart to make some freezer meals to keep you fed in the midst of the chaos. Hopefully since you have down the move a bit at a time the unpacking won't be too awful.
ReplyDeleteYes, most of the stuff is now down the hill, Kristie, though a fair bit can't be unpacked until the relevant furniture is finally moved on Friday, and i'll take my time with the unpacking. I'm a great one for putting meals in the freezer for when life gets busy. It's a habit that has often served me well, as we've never lived within easy reach of a take-away. :-)
DeleteI'm sending you love and best wishes for a smooth transition, dear Perpetua. I think we can all hear the bittersweet mixed in with the relief of landing soon and a return to your well-loved routines. I am sure you are very eager to feel settled...I don't care how well you organize, moving a whole home is such a project! Your new views are beautiful, too, and I admire your reslience, my friend. It has to be a tug on the heart to be able to still see where you have lived and loved for so long. I hope the tug on the heart will be gentle. And I do look forward to what you're going to discover in your stream. The sounds should be a gentle balm. ox
ReplyDeleteBoth gratefully received, Debra. Yes, bittersweet sums up my emotions well and I simply can't wait now to get settled-in. It's been hard, tiring work and we'll both be glad when it's over and we can relax for a while. We're both pretty good organisers, but no-one can foresee everything and there've been some tense moments.;-)
DeleteIt was interesting to discover that we'd be looking up the hill towards our old house and when the leaves fall we may even be able to catch a glimpse of it, or at least of its surrounding trees. We've had more than 40 very happy years here, so are taking a lot of good memories with us as we start to explore our new surroundings.
I am sending you my best wishes for a successful move. It’s not so very far, after all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Friko. Yes, it isn't very far, thank goodness, which has made our do-it-yourself, gradual move possible and even satisfying.
DeleteDear Perpetua, I moved 450 miles--from Minnesota to Missouri--five years ago and so I appreciate all the decisions that are part and parcel of a move. What I can remember are endless lists of what to do, who to call and when, and what to give away/throw away/keep/store/etc.
ReplyDeleteMy hope for you is that you will listen to your body and take time out in the midst of all this packing and unpacking and decision making and that you will sip your tea and eat your fill of nourishing food.
The best advice given to me was, "You lived in that MInnesota house for 32 years. Don't expect your new home to be picture perfect, with everything in its right place, in a matter of months." That same friend encouraged me to give myself at least a year to unpack boxes and find places for all those things that had their place in my old home. Peace.
Thanks for your very wise advice, Dee. Having made long-distance moves in the past, I realise how right you are and we are taking things as slowly as we can. It helps such a lot that we're only moving a couple of miles and don't have to empty the old house right away. We're just taking what we need and use and can take our time to make decisions about the rest once we've unpacked in the new house. Today's the last day of packing before we hire the van tomorrow and move the big furniture. Wish us luck!
DeleteI've been keeping up on Facebook with how it's all going. Such an upheaval a move. Good luck with the rest of the unpacking and such.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Annie. FB is so useful for the quick update, but I can't wait to have the space and time for a proper blog-post. But there's some pretty vital unpacking to be done first.. :)
DeleteHi Perpetua, I had to actively look for your last blog as things have been busy around here also... although not as busy as you. We've been in our house for 30 years and the thought of moving terrifies me (too much stuff). But I'm looking forward to pictures of your new abode and it's surroundings. From what I understand you are moving more into the village, right? I would think that this is more for convenience due to age than anything else? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I don't always keep up as well as I should. For what it's worth, I hope this new adventure proves to be one that makes both you and DH happy!
ReplyDeleteYes, we've moved to a house on the edge of the village instead of being two miles away up in the hills along a single-track lane. After last year's 3 weeks of being snowed in over Easter, plus a health emergency each, it seemed like the logical thing to do while we're still young enough to settle in and enjoy living in a different house. At the moment we're still in the throes of moving the last of the furniture in and unpacking, but it's already starting to feel much more like home. :-)
Delete