Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

EssexHebridean

It's amazing how much just a small amount of activity makes to warmth levels SH - I can be comfortable at home several degrees cooler than I am at work because at home I tend to be up and down doing odds and ends as I think of them, whereas at work I'm often stuck behind a desk. 

Glad that your Boss was understanding about you finishing early - and definitely don't underestimate how stressful moving is, they don't describe it as one of the most stressful things you can do in life for fun! 

savingholmes

Thanks EH - my brain is still stop starting...

Thrown out some OOD food. Easy decluttering decision. Emptied the remains of a sack of cat food into the existing food holder and an extra plastic jar.

I need to contact my ADHD meds provider and make sure they send me a new batch of meds before I move... I need to do that tonight but in the morning I'll need to give them BP measurement, weight etc. 

All parties have agreed to work to the 30th so game on. Exchange likely to be end of this week or early next. My cleaner was surprised how long everything took to do - but may be able to come back the odd time and spend a couple of hours here and there to help me pack.

Boxes that should have been delivered yesterday got delivered to the wrong location and the order cancelled so that was irritating and I had to reorder. They are now due tomorrow. I've also ordered some more of the special paper for use with packing paintings. I have a lot!!  My cleaner bubble wrapped quite a few pictures and mirrors today. Loads left to do though. I have 10 paintings just in my lounge plus a glass art bottle that needs special wrapping... 

I put a washing load on earlier - need to transfer that to the drier. I may empty the remains of the utility cupboard contents into a box other than washing powder and colour catcher sheets. Tiny bits of progress all help. I could also box up some kitchen appliances like the toaster, food processor and a coffee maker. I'm nearly out of boxes so limited on how much more I can do until they arrive.

Struggling to eat today. Keep leaving things part eaten as I lose interest - which pretty much never happens to me!

Merlin's_Beard

Definitely don't underestimate how difficult moving is, especially on your own when there's no one else to share the load with.

Also definitely don't discount making your own life easier if you can, whether that's paying for a packing service, or paying the cleaner to come in extra and help, or paying for an easier way to get meals, or even taking extra leave to give yourself more time.

MovingForwards

The end is potentially in sight.

Personally I'd be asking the cleaner to do more, even if her child is with her, or prioritise important stuff to pack and get the removal company to pack and move everything.

I know it's not a cost you want, but you've got to think of stress levels, health and risk of burnout just because of moving.

savingholmes

Thanks Merlin.

This may seem like a list of excuses but...

I've asked my cleaner if she can help other days and she's promised to look at her calendar and let me know. I may need to rope in DD and her BF at the weekends. I won't remember where stuff is if I don't pack it. I want to leave some things until last like pictures and mirrors in the lounge and possibly my bedroom. What I am trying to do now - is find all the hidden things like stuff under furniture and either pack or dispose of that.

I also WFH most days - so need to leave my office set up until I finish work which is due to be the Friday before the Tuesday move unless I book extra days. There shouldn't be too much left to pack in there - a picture, toner cartridges, a couple of lamps - things like the printer I have no box for and it's on a wheeled unit at the moment so would probably want it to stay on that or the movers would have to do something with it. I'm not even convinced I could lift it. My desk top they'll have to use blankets or something for as it's super heavy and I can't lift it. The desk top is sat on cubed units so they're kind of ready packed.

I don't cope well with other people in my space - particularly if they are not known to me. Hence why I don't want packers - especially if they were male. I am also sensitive to mood - and therefore others that might be able to help could increase my stress levels if they bring stress and anxiety with them or if there's too much baggage attached. Some people would also judge me on my belongings or things I want to keep and wouldn't be able to resist commenting etc... or could be upset by things that turn up like old family photos etc. Some people would require a lot of instructions which defeats the purpose. My cleaner is great as she understands how I think and what's likely to matter to me. 

Most of what's left to pack is split into 5 camps
a) tools/things that are too large/heavy to pack
b) things in daily/regular use or that I feel I need round me for the comfort of familiarity until closer to the move date - or things like curtains which for security reasons I don't want to pack too soon
c) things that require decisions 
d) things I'd like the handyman to clear for me if he ever turns up. This includes a bike, 2 or 3 pieces of furniture and a lot of what is in the shed and some of what is in the garage.I may give him a call again tomorrow and see if he's likely to be able to come. Because of the bereavement his normal van isn't currently available. If he can't come, I'll just mark it as free / low cost on FBMP and hopefully get rid of it that way.
e) things like clothes and curtains that are easy to chuck into a zip bag closer to move out day.

Tonight due to the box shortage I've continued with mirror and picture and ornament bubble wrapping. It's very time consuming. I need to pack a picture from the family bathroom and then that room's pretty much done. Just has an empty metal rack in there and soap and lotion. I'm whittling down the smaller ornaments and pictures in the house that would be less missed. I'm still in declutter mode so also looking at what can be binned or donated as I go which others can't do for me and which would then increase the load at the other end. 

Luckily my bins are due to be emptied the day before the move so I should be able to get rid of most of what can't be donated via my bins which is good. Last time I moved we were still packing after we should have been out. Definitely trying to learn from that and be way ahead of the game.

I've got a room by room list that in theory I'm working to. DD's wardrobes are now completely empty for example and I just need to remove a couple of boxes from DS's wardrobe and then his room is virtually done other than his curtains which I'm leaving until later. The airing cupboard is now empty... In the 4th bedroom I think the cleaner has removed everything from under the bed - I'll check - but that still leaves some paintings, lamps, mini tables and a huge craft crate in the wardrobe.

savingholmes

Thanks MF - must have cross posted.

Definitely want cleaner to help just waiting for her availability. I've wrapped a mix of glass, mirror plates/trays and pictures tonight. Also spent some time just resting. Even though I've sat most of the time I've been packing I still feel exhausted. Going to bed now.

I need to do BP and weight in the morning and fill in a form and then they'll send me my meds. They are giving me 5 weeks worth which is the best they can do. If I can't find a GP to take on the bill - then I'll have to pay about £130 a month for the meds so it's a big deal... At least this puts that off for over another 5 weeks (I still have a few left).  Potentially could do with ringing a GP to see if they will take on the arrangement. Blood test tomorrow. Trying to do the health related life admin before I move... 

I still have another couple of days I could put towards the move if I need to. I might take two more half days this week and see how far that takes me - and if need be I could take another half or full day a week on Friday. I just didn't want to use leave to cover feeling sick / exhausted / stressed when if I'm not fit for work I should possibly be off sick. I do have a couple of urgent pieces of work to do before I go on leave. I'm also trying to save a couple of days for going to see DS in March - including a recovery day from having been away. But worst case I could buy/take some unpaid leave. If I'm feeling better by then I might be able to create some flexi credit.

jwil

Well done on the weight loss.  Hope you get the meds and health stuff sorted.

I hope you get the help from the cleaner and the handyman comes back to you.  

LadyWithAPlan

12 days seems a lot before you move and you do seem far more organised than I ever am  

I find the worse things are what I think I need right up to the end then it’s chaos! 

If you can keep a free extra day  for after your move I find that best just so you have a clear window to kick start the unpacking 

TallGirl

Good luck with the packing I get you do not want to live in a mess and they do say it is best not to pack until you have exchanged but sounds like all is on track which must be so exciting. Can you approach any GP's now before you move so see if they will take it over or does it have to wait. Just thinking it is one less job to afterwards? Hope you get one sounds like the meds are really working so but I know what the NHS is like. 

enthusiasticsaver

Just caught up on the events of the last few months SH and good that your move  is going ok.  I think it must be tough doing it on your own and that will cause stress but you seem to be coping admirably.  

My SIL has just started taking ADHD medication and while helping him in some respects it has taken a bit of fine tuning to  get it right and the supply system  seems strange as he was diagnosed outside the NHS. Hopefully you will get it sorted but it is just one more thing which takes mental energy to think about.  I am sure once you are in your new house things will be a lot easier.

Your cleaner sounds brill.  When DH had his open heart surgery we looked for a cleaner round here as he was upset I was having to do everything but just could not find anyone who had space on their list.  They get snapped up so quickly. By the time we got a name of someone good he had recovered so we didn't bother in the end.