Counting down the days
Well, it's only just over a week until The Big Move. Not sure whether I'm excited or nervous! It's been really nice to go from a short list of long tasks (a PhD thesis) to a long list of short tasks (getting ready to move) - such a great feeling of satisfaction to get things ticked off.
Kirstin left for the weekend this morning, gone to give a paper at a conference, so once she gets back perhaps it will all seem a little more real? The moving men come on Thursday, with a ridiculously large lorry (they told me 47m. Or 11 car lengths. How can we possibly have accumulated that much stuff? Perhaps they are very careful packers...). They also expect to take two days to clear the house - leaving us time for a quick wipe down and a final vacuum (must remember to borrow a vacuum cleaner from someone ) and then we're off.
We'd debated about sedating the cat, but I'd rather not really. She wasn't happy at her last trip, from Oxford north, but she didn't lose it. Mind you, on this trip I think she'll be losing a lot of fur. Temperatures in Grenoble are almost 40 degrees celsius - more than a black cat will be happy with, methinks.
We've been very graciously offered three different places to stay when we arrive, housesitting for three different friends who'll (like every sane person in France) be on holiday in August. We've narrowed the choice down to two (the third is a bit too far from town for the initial settling in period) but we may rotate between the two a bit - one has a rabbit that needs feeding, the other a cat and her three new kittens. Of course, the latter crew may cause some issues with Pumpkin, but as long as there is no blood, they can howl all they like.
Well, I hope to persist with this (oh so trendy) blog - but you may find this is the only entry! Time will tell...
Kirstin left for the weekend this morning, gone to give a paper at a conference, so once she gets back perhaps it will all seem a little more real? The moving men come on Thursday, with a ridiculously large lorry (they told me 47m. Or 11 car lengths. How can we possibly have accumulated that much stuff? Perhaps they are very careful packers...). They also expect to take two days to clear the house - leaving us time for a quick wipe down and a final vacuum (must remember to borrow a vacuum cleaner from someone ) and then we're off.
We'd debated about sedating the cat, but I'd rather not really. She wasn't happy at her last trip, from Oxford north, but she didn't lose it. Mind you, on this trip I think she'll be losing a lot of fur. Temperatures in Grenoble are almost 40 degrees celsius - more than a black cat will be happy with, methinks.
We've been very graciously offered three different places to stay when we arrive, housesitting for three different friends who'll (like every sane person in France) be on holiday in August. We've narrowed the choice down to two (the third is a bit too far from town for the initial settling in period) but we may rotate between the two a bit - one has a rabbit that needs feeding, the other a cat and her three new kittens. Of course, the latter crew may cause some issues with Pumpkin, but as long as there is no blood, they can howl all they like.
Well, I hope to persist with this (oh so trendy) blog - but you may find this is the only entry! Time will tell...
posted by Kirstin Jeffrey Johnson at 5:12 am
3 Comments:
Wow, it hardly seems real that you're actually moving! Maybe I'll need to come and visit you to believe it. How's the end of September? :)
Are you going to put your stuff into storage while you are house & creature sitting? Is Pumpkin going to go on an airplane?
Hope all goes well, I'm sure the whole family and more we will be thinking about you all.
Love,
Kara & Alex
silly me, I thought the web site name was let - rangers so rather did a double take when the site complete with accent came up on the screen. I had been wondering where the name came from!!!
It is hard to believe you're moving but I'm deeply reassured about the size of the removal van - remembering the peanut that moved you from Oxford to Scotland. That 13 hr. trip was a nightmare I'll never forget. I remember stopping in Upper Largo for phone Kara on the cell phone where we were all gazing at the same full moon though separated by time and distance. By that stage, I realized we would actually get there in one piece, having survived the rain, the gale-force winds, and the rolling gait of that wallowing, muchly overladden van on underinflated tires.
Hope the move goes well, and frankly, I'm glad NOT to be there to help you this time!!!
Safe travelling and enjoy all the new adventures and opportunities.
Keep us posted on the "let-rangers" site, it's a fun mode of contact, especially as you can post pics that all the family and friends can enjoy too.
Love Mum
Well, you'll never guess who this is...your Aunt Stephanie! I've just seen your moving van, (none too big, eh?) and asked Sharon if they could really fill that vehicle? She told me of the under sized "Uhaul" for your move to St. Andrews, so perhaps this makes up for the difference of what you needed last move.
So, you are both off on another adventure, which does indeed seem so exciting even at my age. (Kara and I share the same birth date, and had a lovely party last night...Kara is 29 years and holding, while I am 29 years and "olding"...). Anyway, I can say this is "exciting" because I'm not there helping pack, clean,and find more boxes ...and, maybe follow Kirsten's wise example... joining her for a leisurely swim...Ah, yes,... that would be the life and definitely the best way to move!!! (Don't you wish that you could trust the movers to pack and unpack at the new destination while you go off to Cannes and lie in the sun, checking out antique shops, and sampling the local cuisine, and after a week - return to the new villa, and just resume life hardly missing a beat...)(This has been my dream for the last 30 years. I'm a die-hard faith addict that this will happen or some wonderful variation)... Well, you will soon be looking for the new "Le Dollar" store closest to you, and a favourite capaccino outlet with cosy candle-light decor, and all the other things life has to offer...
Hu-hum! Wake up! Enough dreaming! Back to work!!*? Well, you're probably too exhausted in reality to read all this, so I'll close, so you can get unpacking...or a few more winks...
Best wishes for you both in your new abode.
(Aunt) Stephanie xoxo
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