Saturday, September 24, 2005
This has been one of the longest weeks of my life.
On Saturday we took Albertine the cat to her new home with friends down the road; she meowed loudly all the way and then ran in and started exploring wildly. On Sunday the party was a great success, and I said goodbye to old and new friends, neighbours and colleagues.
The next three days were spent packing books, pictures, papers and clothes and making several trips to the Salvation Army shop in Mill Road to dispose of unwanted items – these trips had been going on for some weeks, and the last was on the day of the move itself. We ate out on Tuesday evening as it was N's birthday and on Wednesday because it was the last night; it was good to be somewhere (albeit briefly) not covered in boxes, sticky tape, felt markers and chaos. We also found time to phone the estate agent in the Loire with a view to making arrangements to visit the favourite house of all those we had read about, only to be told it had been sold. This rather dampened my enthusiasm for packing, but all we could do was keep going. We visited Albertine and her new family again; she was behaving exactly as she did when she first came to live with me from the Blue Cross - she had established herself in a wardrobe upstairs, only coming out after dark for food and the litter tray.
On Thursday 22nd our two removal men – Bob and Duncan – arrived at 8.30 am and packed and labelled almost ceaselessly until 3o'clock. As N said, they seemed to have been trained in remaining calm and in keeping those around them calm, and were fazed by nothing; not even the broken bed, although this did amuse them rather. They rapidly wrapped and packed everything in the house and loft and shed, some of it before I had a chance to check or remove it, including two umbrellas in a drawer, stashed it all quickly into the van and whisked it away into store in the depths of Suffolk.
We checked the empty house, the gas and electricity meters and the keys, and left;. The car had been expertly packed by N; a great relief as the main thing causing me sleepless nights during the preceding week had been the fear that everything due to be taken to Paris would not fit in the car – I am pleased to say on this occasion I am glad I was proved wrong!
The journey by Eurotunnel was quick and uneventful; we managed to get a crossing a full two hours earlier than the one booked, and with a couple of stops at Autroute cafés for a very unmemorable dinner and dessert arrived at Saint-Denis at 12.40 local time, quite late enough.
The next day N drove the car through the courtyard right up to the doors of the building (an event in itself) and we unloaded all my belongings, mostly clothes, including several coats on top and finally my mother's fur coat - I hope all the neighbours were impressed by the arrival. I unpacked them into a very little attic bedroom with a narrow staircase, presided over by two teddy bears; not so much a walk-in wardrobe as a walk-up wardrobe.
On Saturday we took Albertine the cat to her new home with friends down the road; she meowed loudly all the way and then ran in and started exploring wildly. On Sunday the party was a great success, and I said goodbye to old and new friends, neighbours and colleagues.
The next three days were spent packing books, pictures, papers and clothes and making several trips to the Salvation Army shop in Mill Road to dispose of unwanted items – these trips had been going on for some weeks, and the last was on the day of the move itself. We ate out on Tuesday evening as it was N's birthday and on Wednesday because it was the last night; it was good to be somewhere (albeit briefly) not covered in boxes, sticky tape, felt markers and chaos. We also found time to phone the estate agent in the Loire with a view to making arrangements to visit the favourite house of all those we had read about, only to be told it had been sold. This rather dampened my enthusiasm for packing, but all we could do was keep going. We visited Albertine and her new family again; she was behaving exactly as she did when she first came to live with me from the Blue Cross - she had established herself in a wardrobe upstairs, only coming out after dark for food and the litter tray.
On Thursday 22nd our two removal men – Bob and Duncan – arrived at 8.30 am and packed and labelled almost ceaselessly until 3o'clock. As N said, they seemed to have been trained in remaining calm and in keeping those around them calm, and were fazed by nothing; not even the broken bed, although this did amuse them rather. They rapidly wrapped and packed everything in the house and loft and shed, some of it before I had a chance to check or remove it, including two umbrellas in a drawer, stashed it all quickly into the van and whisked it away into store in the depths of Suffolk.
We checked the empty house, the gas and electricity meters and the keys, and left;. The car had been expertly packed by N; a great relief as the main thing causing me sleepless nights during the preceding week had been the fear that everything due to be taken to Paris would not fit in the car – I am pleased to say on this occasion I am glad I was proved wrong!
The journey by Eurotunnel was quick and uneventful; we managed to get a crossing a full two hours earlier than the one booked, and with a couple of stops at Autroute cafés for a very unmemorable dinner and dessert arrived at Saint-Denis at 12.40 local time, quite late enough.
The next day N drove the car through the courtyard right up to the doors of the building (an event in itself) and we unloaded all my belongings, mostly clothes, including several coats on top and finally my mother's fur coat - I hope all the neighbours were impressed by the arrival. I unpacked them into a very little attic bedroom with a narrow staircase, presided over by two teddy bears; not so much a walk-in wardrobe as a walk-up wardrobe.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Tomorrow will be my last day in the office.
I am saying goodbye to friends and acquaintances all over Cambridge - where I've lived for over 30 years - from people I've sung with in a local choir, office colleagues, people I see at the gym, university colleagues, to the girl at the beauty salon!
I've also bought my last copy of the Radio Times, which seems very significant. Friends are coming to a drinks party on Sunday, and at the moment we are wondering whether my cat Albertine - who is going to live with friends down the road - should move before the party or after.
There is also the question of The Bed; this hadn't been included in the original list of things to go into store as it is a little broken but now it seems like a good idea.
But what will the removal men say?
I am saying goodbye to friends and acquaintances all over Cambridge - where I've lived for over 30 years - from people I've sung with in a local choir, office colleagues, people I see at the gym, university colleagues, to the girl at the beauty salon!
I've also bought my last copy of the Radio Times, which seems very significant. Friends are coming to a drinks party on Sunday, and at the moment we are wondering whether my cat Albertine - who is going to live with friends down the road - should move before the party or after.
There is also the question of The Bed; this hadn't been included in the original list of things to go into store as it is a little broken but now it seems like a good idea.
But what will the removal men say?
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
My name is Katherine Steele; and next week I am moving from Cambridge in England to France. My partner Nigel is already living in Saint-Denis in the north of Paris; tomorrow he arrives in Cambridge and on Thursday 22 September we will pack all of my furniture and most of my belogings to be put into store and drive with the rest to Saint-Denis.
We then plan to buy a country property with some of my Cambridge house money, thereby having two houses between us.
Frequently asked questions:
Where will the house be?
Not too far from Paris; probably either near the Loire, in Sarthe or Burgundy. We have been studying French house magazines for the best part of a year.
Have I lived in France before?
Yes, about 30 years ago, twice for a year each time, just outside Paris.
Do I speak French?
Yes, I have a degree in French and Italian.
Will I work once I am there?
Watch this space! Not a 9-5 job, part of the reason for moving is the desire to travel in Europe, but some teaching of English or some other interesting activity seems like a good idea. The first task will be to find and set up the house; it might need a lot of work or very little.
We then plan to buy a country property with some of my Cambridge house money, thereby having two houses between us.
Frequently asked questions:
Where will the house be?
Not too far from Paris; probably either near the Loire, in Sarthe or Burgundy. We have been studying French house magazines for the best part of a year.
Have I lived in France before?
Yes, about 30 years ago, twice for a year each time, just outside Paris.
Do I speak French?
Yes, I have a degree in French and Italian.
Will I work once I am there?
Watch this space! Not a 9-5 job, part of the reason for moving is the desire to travel in Europe, but some teaching of English or some other interesting activity seems like a good idea. The first task will be to find and set up the house; it might need a lot of work or very little.
