Thursday 21 July 2011

A moving account 4: a life half-packed

Mood swings? Swearing? Crying? Dropping things? Breaking nails? Panicking? Not sleeping? But of course. I'm moving house.

Sometimes it all gets too much, and not just for me: the animals are feeling it too. Flossie is on springs all the time. Someone - well, ok, Lottie - threw up yesterday right beside a packed box which then went all soggy and had to be unpacked and replaced. Feliway and Rescue Remedy are in constant use.

I don't know where anything is - oh, of course, I do: in one of those unlabelled boxes  that are everywhere. I get up fancying toast for breakfast, having the rare treat of a crusty loaf in the house, and remember too late that the toaster has been packed.

I wake at three in the morning fretting about not having read the meters - then remember that I don't actually do that until the very last minute - but then lie awake for a couple of hours with my head buzzing incoherently, feeling sick with tiredness.

The surveyor's report contains the words 'damp' and 'beetle infestation' one too many times, and I forget that the words 'treatment' and 'guarantee' also feature.

Time is really running out, and I know that I'm not going to be ready.... and so on. Interminably.

That's when I go and have another look at the rather terrible photos that I took when I had that whistle-stop tour of the cottage, and I settle right down again, stop using words that would shock my grandmother, pause to take breath, and remind myself why this brief (as in extremely rushed) period of hellishness has to be got through, because:




Yes, because.

Because it will all be worth it in the end.

Monday.

28 comments:

Jinksy said...

Breathe deeply! All will be well!!! ♥

Anonymous said...

So what if you get to the new house and can't find clean underwear or the teapot ...... you will cope, and one day you will look back and say, yes, it WAS worth all the sleepless nights, the panic, the cats throwing up/weeing!!

the veg artist said...

That looks adorable. The cats and dogs are going to love it - once they get there. Trouble is, it's impossible to explain things to them in advance, and they pick up on how we are feeling.
Only a few more days to go!

Lucille said...

A beautiful fuchsia, herbs by the kitchen door, al fresco meals and a Provencal tiled roofed outhouse at the end of the garden - it's going to be wonderful.

Unknown said...

It is like childbirth, a mighty pain barrier to get through, but completely worth it. Like childbirth, you'll probably block out all this bad stuff when you have your lovely cottage in your arms so to speak!! And we'll all be cooing and asking for more photos please and congratulating you! Hang in. xxx

June said...

Your new home is enchanting! How old is it? (It looks OLD, a precious antiquy old.)
All you need to do is live through the next few days. Once you're THERE, you can unpack at your leisure and breathe deeply.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, you'll be having glorious toast in your new home very soon!

Arthur Ransome said...

Please when you wake up in the night think of all your friends in the ether who wish they could help. The cottage and garden look just lovely. Thanks for finding the time to blog.

annie hoff said...

It looks beautiful....and it will all be alright. You're just going through the pain barrier..!

Val said...

I haven't posted on my blog for such a long time (getting some pix ready to start again) but I wanted to tell you that I've continued following you all the time. I'm delighted to hear about your new home and totally understand the moving house traumas you've been going through. We've bought our retirement home in Betty's Bay although we still haven't sold our home in Cape Town, so anxiety levels are at an all time high! All the best for Monday, I'll be thinking of you.

Dartford Warbler said...

It WILL be worth it Rachel! Tobias Cottage looks so lovely, and I know it will be a good home for the cats. It was named after a Tobias Cat and one of my dearest cats in early days was a tabby called Tobias.

I had been to the National Gallery and seen that wonderful painting, "Tobias and the Angel". The cat came the following week and was named Tobias.xx

flwrjane said...

You can do it. You are already doing it.

Your cottage is a beauty. Eyes on the prize Rachel.

xo Jane

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

It will Rachel, it truly will.

Pam said...

It looks lovely! Eyes on the prize - what a good way of putting it. Must remember this myself.

Anonymous said...

I always dread moving. Next time I'm calling in a dumpster, throwing out almost everything and buying new---NOT! But boy do I want to...good luck and go get 'em. --Amy

Shelagh said...

I'm glad that phrase is still sticking with you because it will definitely positively and indisputably be worth it in the end. You'll get there my friend. Four more sleeps (or semi-sleeps) and you'll be on your way to finally seeing your dream come true. And we're all with you every step of the way. Even though we can't help locate the toaster...
xo

Rose H (UK) said...

The awful pain of packing along with the turmoil of moving - the joy at the end of the journey and placing well loved, treasured things in your dream home. The stress must seem unending, but IT IS WORTH IT! The furries will settle in and in a few weeks you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
Sending a big {{hug}}
Rose H

Anonymous said...

This time next week...

June said...

1600! Oh! I love it!
A malt house!
A house with some HISTORY.
How wonderful....

mountainear said...

4 more sleeps - then relax. All will be ell.

That garden looks like a little gem.

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Think Gloria Gaynor . Think hot buttered toast in that garden next Wednesday morning . Think peace , harmony and floating above it all .
Know that there is August in Tobias Cottage the weekend after this .....

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you and wishing you all the best - Tobias Cottage is a beauty and I'm sure everyone will love it. Not long now!

Jan x

jabblog said...

All the above and more - it WILL all be well, though it may take a few days/weeks to realise it. Breathe deeply, count to 20(at least!!) and believe that you will sleep properly again one night very soon . . . and so will your dogs and your very special cats.

Karen said...

And here's the dirty little secret of moving.

You'll get so tired of unpacking all those boxes that you'll put a couple that you know are full of things that aren't really all that desperately needed anytime soon into a closet where they will sit unpacked for the next nine-and-a-half years (Wonder how I know that . . .).

Debbie said...

The cottage looks delightful - it will all be worth it in the end!

Anonymous said...

Hey, anyone who can convince 4 cats and 2 dogs to live together in harmony can accomplish anything.

Next time just put the bread in the oven. It will toast it just fine. Amy

Hazel said...

Chip up, Rachel - you're nearly there! Thinking of you and the the clan this weekend!

jabblog said...

This, too, shall pass - and you have the summer to appreciate your new surroundings and go for long walks.

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