Just over a week ago now, I packed up and emptied our old house in Edinburgh. A container was filled with the random collection of boxes and furniture that was left behind when we first moved. A final goodbye was said to our home.
I spent the week before the movers arrived packing, sorting and finding. As our house had been rented to friends, our stuff was scattered throughout. It is a strange thing to pack up a kitchen in a house that is no longer yours!
It is stranger still to be reminded of the life you had there, to walk through rooms remembering them as they were, but to know that you have moved on. To find yourself comfortable and secure in that decision; even while you are sad to leave behind a house that holds such wonderful memories.
Arriving in the house at the beginning of the week, my friend and I chatted away the morning. I know that I was reluctant to begin the process. The beginning of the end. But, once started, it was surprisingly easy to do. To extract our stuff, our life, from the house.
It was however exhausting, both emotionally and physically. Spending another two days sorting out the attic and the sheds in preparation for the movers took more out of me than I expected.
Being confronted with a shed full of the things that fill a shed, and a list of (small) items to find from my husband, I did despair for a while. Before sending my husband a set of photos asking him to be more specific about where things were, along with lots of photos asking ‘is this yours?!’. I felt ridiculously proud of myself when I managed to find everything he has asked for!
Moving day arrived. I will be honest, I was dreading it. Our first moving day two years ago was… difficult. I found it incredibly stressful and I was worried that I would again. Alone, without my husband there to support deal with the movers!
As they began to unload their materials and raise eyebrows at the amount of stuff to move, I was worried!
There were a lot of boxes.
As the day went on it became clear that the three guys that had been sent by the moving company were not happy. Somewhere along the line there had been a miscommunication (in their office!) and they thought they were doing a part container. In fact, they were there to do a full container… After several cross purpose conversations where they told me that we had too much stuff, that we needed a container; and I told them that I was aware of that, which was why we had a container… calls were made to the office and a container was despatched. And, a container was filled.
To give the guys their due, they did a two day job in a very long, very hard, ten hour day.
Despite moments of irritation with the whinging; a container should be done over two days, not one. Despite the awkward conversations about head office getting it wrong. Despite me having to point out, several times, that none of that was my fault or my problem to solve. Despite a moment of stress when they told me that they didn’t think it was all going to fit in the container (it did!).
Despite all of that; I remained calm.
Anyone who knows me well will know that this is surprising. My husband phoned/texted several times to ask if I was really okay. I really was!
I suspect that nothing could ever have been as bad as the first time we moved two years ago; with an air freight weight limit, too much stuff and the most disorganised packing order ever. I still struggle to talk about that day.
I believe that making such a huge move, and surviving, has left me more able to deal with potentially stressful situations; things work themselves out and this realisation is liberating.
I know that I am far less stressed, about everything, since we moved and found a calmer pace of life. (Not that the last couple of months have been exactly calm!).
I got back to my mums, after that very long day, too tired to even contemplate wine in a glass; a tumbler was safer! I sat down and I drank that glass of wine, and breathed a huge sigh of relief; it was done and I survived.
It was an exhausting week. It was an emotionally draining day. But, I did it. And, I did it without stressing, shouting or crying.
And, actually, I’m really proud of myself for that.
Well done you Sara. Perhaps it was a mixture of the new calmer you, Brit Mums buzz and not having the kids around? Sounds like you have a *lot* of stuff!! I wonder if you’ll decide you don’t need it all at some point? I had a storage unit chock full in the years I was mostly away traveling and the majority ended up being binned when I finally got home… Hope you’re in for a less draining week lovely xx #whatsthestory
Oh, we do have far too much stuff, but as I only had a few days I couldn’t really sort any of it… I’ll just have to do it at this end instead :( But, at least it will all be in one place then!
Wow what a day and well done to you for managing it by yourself. Moving is stressful enough as it is but when it’s packing up the rest of your belongings in a container that may or may not be big enough in order to ship it to the other side of the world it is a huge thing and understandably stressful. I bet you don’t want to see another box for a while. (Well, besides your own arriving in Boston :))
Sadly I’m currently packing boxes in the US too! Getting ready to move into the new house. But, at least then absolutely everything will be in one place!
Congratulations for keeping calm in the midst of chaos. You are obviously one very tough cookie and capable of anything! Here’s hoping that life gets back to normal (whatever that might be) very soon.
Thank you! I’m not sure about that, but I was much calmer than I expected :)
Wow, that is impressive! It’s brilliant that moving has made you more relaxed. I know how hard it was just moving round the corner, and we had packers and removal men (and I had my husband to help). Finishing emptying the shed with the buyers staring at us waiting to come in was so hard.
I think we’ve been lucky not having to do it all at once, although in some ways I wish we had as then it would have just been done! Next time, it will be packers/movers and a single move!!
You should be proud! It sounds absolutely exhausting, and to have the stress of them booking in the wrong job for you on top of it would have made me want to scream. So pleased it’s all done now for you – roll on the new home!
Exactly, roll on new home! It’s done and it was one of those situations where I was, thankfully, able to say; it’s out of my control, I can’t change it, I just need to get on with it :)
That sounds incredibly stressful – well done you for managing to stay calm throughout – I don’t think I could have done that! Hope you are managing to have some time to relax now that you are back home again.
It wasn’t quite as bad as I expected it to be, thankfully. It is good to have it done and be home though :)
Great post, Sara!
We’ve moved three times in five years (the first time I was heavily pregnant) It’s exhausting!
I doubt whether I’d have kept my cool like you did under those circumstances – I think I’d have gone off on one lol Fair play to you that you didn’t. I’m impressed.
The other moves were from rented houses so the attachment wasn’t there. However, we own our own house now and the plan is to do it up and then buy somewhere a bit bigger. Leaving our own house will be emotional. :( x
I think I just knew there was nothing I could do, so getting stressed about it was only going to make me feel bad. Most unusual for me to be that self aware :) Just need to move house in the US now, and that will be us for awhile…!
I can’t imagine how difficult it must of been moving on such a large scale, well done you for keeping your calm xx
Thanks Gail, it wasn’t easy, and I can’t decide whether one move at the start would have been better – but then I think that would have been worse at the time and that doing it in two stages lessened the number of decisions to make!
Go you! I think we can surprise ourselves if we take on challenges head on. I can only imagine what the day of grumpy packing guys must have been like to handle too :)
It will not go down as one of my favourite days, but I am so pleased that I managed to do it without crying :)
Wow, hats off to you Sara. I don’t like change. Well, I mean I can handle it afterwards but I really don’t like the upheaval, such as yours! And I’ll bet that tumbler was refilled a few times ;)
I did have a couple :)
It’s been very interesting as I would have said that I hated change until we made this move, it has really changed my perspective.
Sara, I know that feeling all too well! 10 moves in 20 years, one to England and back again, and now another move on the way. You did great!
I know, you’ve done it far more than me! I saw you’re on the move again… good luck :)
Wow well done you! What a task! I think I would be more than stressed lol I hated every minute of our move 7 yrs ago and really don’t intend to ever do it again LOL x
It’s funny, I would have expected to never want to do it again, and I’m in now rush, but the thought of it no longer fills me with dread. How bad can it be?!
wow..had no idea you were doing that on your visit here. I am dreading packing up the house. dreading it. You make it sound a little more manageable xx
Well, we did it in two stages to be fair. Shipped about 50 boxes air freight when we first moved. The rest (about 250 items..!) is now on a boat :) I can’t decide if I wish we’d done it in one go at the start, but that just wasn’t an option at the time and it did allow us to make some other decisions along the way. It’s not easy, but it’s also not nearly as hard as I would have expected it to be. Just make sure you’re organised for the movers… they will just pick up whatever they see first, and that may not be quite what you want them to do…!
Wow, that’s a really big job to do on your own. Especially when the company cocked up – why is it that seemingly straightforward things never go smoothly. Hopefully you’ll be able to look back and be relieved you’ll not have to do it again! Now have a breather after a busy couple of weeks.
It was tough on my own, but in fairness it would have been harder with the kids in tow, and even harder to be the one at home wondering what was happening :) And, you’re right, nothing is ever as simple as it should be!
Well done you, moving is so emotionally draining, onwards and upwards x
Absolutely! I’ve just about recovered from the whole thing now :)
awww Sara, it gave me goosebumps to read! i am so pleased for you that you’re on your new adventure and its not been as stressful as it had been first time round!
I am sending you all the love and happiness in the world for your new adventure xx
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments
Thank you Jaime x After the initial move I was expecting last week to be awful, but it was okay. Such a relief. And, I am so glad that it’s done, decisions have been made and we can now get on with things :) Thanks for hosting x
Sounds like it’s been a stressful time for you, glad everything’s worked out okay though. Was great to catch up at Brit Mums a bonus of having you in the country.
Thanks Fiona, it was lovely to meet you too x
Wow this is huge to do all by yourself! Well done you! When we moved here we were renting our house and were hugely limited by the amount of weight we were allowed to take with us (air freight also). It’s so stressful I couldn’t imagine having to go back for round two of that, let alone doing it alone!! #magicmoments
That first move with just air freight and a weight allowance was the most stressful thing ever! At least this time it was a container and weight didn’t matter. But, when they said they didn’t think it was going to fit… Argh, that was a bad moment! But, it did and to be honest, if it hadn’t the overspill would have just gone to their warehouse and followed on a later boat :)
Oh bless you! I bet that was stressful so proud of you for staying do calm. I am not sure I would have. But I know all too well how hard it is to move across the world and take limited stuff. So hard. Good for you and it’s done now. Hurray!!!
Thanks Jenny, I surprised myself too! I’m just glad that all our stuff is now in one place (well, almost) and I’m never doing it in bits again!
I bet, in bits is the hardest part. It’s like being spread across the world in pieces. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
It really is. Even though I suspect that a load of the stuff we’ve shipped will go straight to charity, at least I’ll have had the opportunity to decide what stays, rather than having stuff left behind x
What a huge task! I’m sure you’re relieved to have it done!
Very relieved. Just glad to know that all our stuff will soon be all together again. Although, I suspect I will end up getting rid of a huge chunk of it as I unpack… :)
Wow, well firstly, well done you for not getting stressed or cross or crying! All of that emotion plus some unhappy movers and a confusion over the container would have been more than enough for me! Glad it all got sorted in the end and you got there, though must have been a very draining week for you! xx #magicmoments
I’m still quite surprised that I took it all so calmly to be honest, must have been channelling my husband that day :) Very glad it’s done!
Wow, sounds like a very hard week but rewarding and you did really well. Mich x
Thanks Mich, it was exhausting but I’m so glad it’s done x
Goodness me, no wonder you were exhausted Sara! This is quite some feat to accomplish on your own – well done. It must have been very emotionally draining too. But now it’s all done, you can relax in your US home and settle in properly x
Thanks Suzanne, it was quite a week, but I’m so glad it’s all done x
Gosh that sounds exhausting and very stressful – well done! I hate packing for a holiday let alone a house. We have on,y moved once and that was before the kids – I absolutely dread having to do it again. OH would love to move and it would be great to have a bigger house but we can’t afford it so I’m unlikely to have to do it in the near future – thank god!
It’s been quite interesting, but the thought of moving again now doesn’t phase me nearly as much as it used to. Nothing will ever be as tough as our first overseas move!
It sounds like a good job done – I could never pack up and move ANYTHING by myself x
It wasn’t ideal doing it on my own, but I’m so pleased to have it all done x
Moving is so stressful and you’re coping so well!! I’m personally dreading when we finally have to arrange the movers… Well done!
I didn’t cope at all the first time :) I’m a little surprised myself to be honest! Good luck with the rest of your move x
Well done lovely and well done on staying calm. I hate moving and find it so stressful but you were amazing! X
Thank you Kiran, I think I got all the stress out of my system the first time we moved :) Mind you, ask me again when we do the BIG move back to the UK :)
Wow Sara, you did incredibly well. I did chuckle at the part where you said your Hub was there to ‘support’ deal with the movers! I know if I ere in your shoes mr banana pants (god bless him) would be much more of a hindrance than a help to me! Good luck moving & settling in :) xx
He he, to be fair to my hubby, if he’d been there I would have let him deal with the movers and then shouted at the poor man when he didn’t deal with it the way I would have :)
Well done! We can surprise ourselves at times. My hub is my security blanket. If things go wrong without him I often crumble. But being strong and holding it together alone is quite a feat! Xxx
I did surprise myself, especially dealing with it without my husband there to help. I do rely on him a lot x
Well done for remaining so calm and collected. I doubt I could’ve done it without a meltdown. Moving and/or leaving laces behind is always a mixed bag of emotions. I’m glad it went well for you in the end. #sharewithme
I had a complete meltdown the first time we did it, I suspect that was why I was better able to cope with it this time x
Only ever moved once…. Never again hahaha well done you x popping over from http://www.mummy2monkeys via #LAB
It can be the most stressful thing in the world, and our initial move to the US really was :)
Your doing well. I no doubt would have ended up tearful, stressed and annoyed, especially with those men moving things.. I mean come on..its hardly your fault is it!
Its painful moving and sorting through old memories, but its important to shed baggage otherwise you have to carry it around with you (physically or mentally). I am glad that you are tackling this process head on, well done :-) Be kind to yourself this week, you deserve it :-)
Believe me, I did after our initial move two years ago! But, you are absolutely right about shedding baggage and this move has done exactly that for me x
Wow I can’t believe you did all that on your own! You should feel proud of yourself – I’m not sure I wouldn’t have had a panic attack/meltdown! It must be very liberating to know that such a huge task is over and done with. X #sharewithme
Thank you, it is a huge relief to have it done. And, even though I suspect that loads will go straight to charity when it gets here. I’m so pleased to have everything (almost) all in one place again!
Popping back over from #sharewithme and really hope you’ve now fully recovered xxx
Thank you Cathie, just about!
Kudos for you and staying calm in a rather stressful situation. I can relate. My husband and I moved from our apartment to a house while I was 5 months pregnant, and the same miscommunication occured. Thankfully, we got through the day, calmly–like you did.
I hope everything else with your big move is going well.
Maria
cmntsblog.wordpress.com
I think there comes a point when you realise that there is nothing else you can do other than just get on with it :) I’m just very glad it’s done!
Well done for keeping your cool, I imagine it can’t have been easy. You should definitely feel proud of yourself…that is an awful lot of boxes!!
It sounds like you have an exciting new stage ahead too, even if it was a bit emotional packing the final bits and pieces up :) I don’t blame you for the tumbler of wine! #sharewithme
Thank you Jess. I did have a moment of panic when I went up into the attic and was reminded just how many boxes there were :) Very glad it’s done x
You’re right to be so proud! That was a mammoth task and there is no way I could’ve done that on my own. Not to mention stressful! x xx
Thank you, it was a little full on, but I’m very glad it’s done :)
Wow. Well done you, coping with the men must have been tough, especially when it wasn’t your mistake, yet you’re made to feel like it was! Eek. 1 glass of wine, a tumbler, I would have just drank from the bottle! x
I was tempted, but in all honesty I was so exhausted I managed a glass and then just wanted to sleep :) I did then go to a wedding the following night and drink rather a lot of fizz though ;)
I completely felt your pain reading this post, having done many many moves, and wow, dealing with all of that on your own is intense and so very draining, although perhaps in some ways better to be alone without other people around to distract or worry you. Well done you lovely. You are quite formidable! It sounds as though the first experience put you through the wringer, and also now you are aiming towards letting go fully aren’t you, even though you will always carry home within you. Thanks so much for sharing on #AllAboutYou xx (hope you are enjoying many more tumblers of wine!)
I think sometimes it is easier to deal with things on your own, because you just have to get on with it. I’ve never thought of myself as formidable :) But, I did work in construction for nearly 20 years, so the movers didn’t phase me too much :) I’m just glad that everything will soon be in one place again and we can settle properly, for however long we choose to stay here x
Well done! What a HUGE job to undertake, and you did it! By yourself! With kids!!! WELL DONE.
The longer we live in a place, the more piles of boxes it becomes!! We still have unpacked boxes in our attic from when we moved here 4 yrs ago! In the back of my mind they sit there, and I know they need to be dealt with… Moving from here would be a massive undertaking!
Well done! Seriously!
Oh, we had so many boxes in the attic! I’m sure we’re going to discover all sorts of things that we had completely forgotten about when we start unpacking them when they finally reach us in the US :) Especially as some of them hadn’t been unpacked since our last house move…!
Oh my gosh well done you! That was an awful lot of stuff wasn’t it? You sound really proud of yourself, as you should be. I’m not sure I could’ve been so calm through all of that. Well Done.
#AllAboutYou
I was quite surprised at how calm I was! Glad it’s done though :)
Wow what an operation. We are planning a move to Australia in two years and I anticipate it will be a lot of stress and tears! You don’t realise how many possessions you own until you move and have to pack it all away. On the plus side it feels like Christmas when you open the boxes at the other end, and re-discover all your treasures. I hope you are settling into your new home well and that you feel a sense of pride at the massive undertaking you have achieved, it is no mean feat to totally move your lives and home to another country, so well done. xx
I meant to say I was using the link from #Sharewithme xx
Thank you! It was a big job, although most of the packing was done two years ago when we first moved. But, now that we’ve decided to stay for longer it was time to move everything else! I am very glad that it is done… I wouldn’t want to do that again on my own :)
What a stressful time especially with the mix up over the container, I am glad you managed to get it sorted. Hopefully your house move will go smoothly and once you have sorted out the container you will be able to relax with that glass of wine, not in tumbler this time! #sharewithme
I’m trying not to think too hard about all the unpacking once the container arrives!
Gosh Sara I didn’t realise quite how much of a mammoth task this was – especially when you had troubles with the container folk too! It must have been a hugely stressful couple of days particularly as you were on your own too. You should be so super proud of yourself. Hope the unpacking is going alright! Sorry so late commenting #whatsthestory x
It certainly had it’s moments, very glad it’s done… now I just need to unpack it all when it gets here *ahem* !