under another sun

Today Beth and James moved to Seaford. Lorraine and I very happy.  All going well this morning, but Lorraine drafted in at the last moment to drive to their flat as they didn't have quite enough room for clothes. Lorraine picked up a few bags of clothes and made it back to our house shortly before the van driven by Danny, who we met before and is a lovely man, with his son and another colleague.  They waited at our place, and were fed bacon and egg baps and cups of tea after Beth and James arrived a bit later.  Both a bit wired, obviously. They'd been up since 4am.  And they had to wait about at our house till 3pm before they were called to say everything had gone through. They zoomed off to get their keys and head to the house. Lorraine and I turned up at Seafield Close little later, with unloading in progress and ;ottered about helping where we could, carrying a few things and doing a spot of cleaning.  Stood outside in the garden, hearing birds singing up in ...

So up early, in our amazing new house, braced to receive lots of movers. We prepared ourselves to receive all our belongings, and were ready at nine. The delivery was delayed, however, and the removals people didn't arrive till 12:20 as they had staff issues. Friendly bunch as before, one talking lots to Lorraine, who sat outside on a chair in the street and told them which room to put everything in and discussed trading an aquarium for a fridge freezer with one of the movers. I faffed about indoors, unpacking kitchen stuff, and pointing and so on. They were finally done at five-ish and the cats were allowed out of the utility room, and we finally closed the door on the day. Marvellous, and bloody tiring. We are now surrounded by innumerable boxes and objects in the what feels like the world's largest Tetris puzzle.  Dawn popped by -- a very welcome distraction, and our first guest. She brought us a happy new home card, a vase and some roses, and also a birthday card and a pres...

So the big Friday! A sense of tiredness and unreality, this morning, even a strange twitchiness even though we were contacted early by the solicitor to say everything had gone through. Lorraine and I pottered about packing the car, and then locking everything up, as Pat and Maureen were in Devon for the wedding of Louise and Will and cramming the cats into the car. Brian in the back, and Calliope on my lap. We set off at about one pm, and then ignored the sat nav and drove the route we always thought would be the best along the motorways. However, this proved to be a bit of a mistake. All a bit stressful with Calliope howling continually for two hours on my lap. We pulled up Paradise Park garden centre where Lorraine nipped out to get some cat litter, and treats of new bowls and a catnip toys each. Then to Seaford, where Lorraine parked near the estate agent, and passing the hot potato of Calliope over to Lorraine, I legged out and got the keys. From there a one minute drive to park ou...

The great Exodus today. I had a terrible night's sleep, barely sleeping, Lorraine little better.  But up before seven this morning and to work with a cup of tea and a rapid bacon sandwich. The removal people, Bearded Bros arrived on time, four guys with two big vans, a pleasant can-do bunch.  They got to work instantly and made great progress. We cleaned and hoovered as we went. Beth dropped by to collect some stuff for the tip despite having a stressy day. Then when the Bros had filled their lorries, they drove off to unload them and send one back. At 12 o'clock however the buyer's lorry arrived. An impasse. The waiting was stressing me lots, so I went for a short walk around Blaker's Park and by the time I returned the  new owners had arrived and they were bringing stuff in. Our guys turned up and at some points there were two lots of removal people, and the galling business of other people ordering people about in your own home. However, mercifully, this crossover wa...

Big things happened today in the Kenny household, and one national one. First was that Sam left. Lorraine drove him off in the rain to his dad's in London, in a car stuffed with his belongings. Gary will drive him up to Scotland tomorrow. Sam did very well as change is not his favourite thing and coped with the last minute packing and scrambling about very well. Lorraine was already turning the car around to face the right direction, and he gave me a manly hug, after saying a formal goodbye to Calliope and Brian, and then I watched Lorraine and Sam drive off in the rain. Although I feel it was time for him to start the next chapter of his life back in Scotland with Jade, I felt sad to see him go. In my empty home, I did a bit of tidying in my office, filing and so on, and went down to eat a Linda McCartney sausage sandwich and watch the Daily politics, and they covered the speaker saying that the Queen was unwell. A business meeting this afternoon, and Lorraine and I were driving t...

Stayed indoors for most of the day, then late afternoon, Lorraine and I mooched off wearing hats, into town centre. I am enjoying my new pricey Panama. Having bought a few bits and pieces, mainly to do with Lorraine leaving school (although I bought myself a mould green notebook) we went to a pub called The Walrus just across the road from Petit Pois where we we would be meeting Penny and Steve.  Sipping a cold, if pricey, lager chatting cheerfully, when Lorraine took a call from Angie, who we are buying from in Seaford. Unfortunately she is going to have another operation. They are such a nice couple so we feel very sorry for them. However this means our move must inevitably be contingent on her prognosis -- and we both feel a bit gutted by this.  Meanwhile some boisterous blokes had come drunkenly to the pub, loud but fairly cheery. When Lorraine finished on her mobile a drunk woman t hammered on the window just near where we were, came into the pub and seemed to catalyse tr...

So a big day. Accepted the offer made yesterday on our house, actually did this in person by dropping in on Brand Vaughn. Then I called Michael the estate agent in Seaford, and confirmed our offer on the house in Salisbury Road. Eek! Very exciting stuff. Chats with Lorraine when she was out of  meetings. Very happy about it. Then I caught a train up to West Hampstead Thameslink station, and walked up to Hampstead to meet Toby and Mum. I was early so found myself in The Flask for half an hour. Sent a message to Carl from there, as it was one of our old haunts.  Then met the Tobster and Mum in the cafe in Waterstones. Great to see Toby. A bit of a weird place as the people in the cafe sat working on it in silence, and seemed to resent us chatting -- or maybe I was imagining it. Eventually we mooched down the road and went into Côte where we had a good meal and a glass of wine. Mum said that Mason wanted to pay for it, which was very kind of him. Nice for us three to be together,...

Up just after six on the big day, Lorraine Betty and I drinking tea in our last unpacked cups before a final packing frenzy. The two amiable Ark removals guys Martin and Steve arrived to pack the stuff at 8:45. Cats locked into the bathroom, except Brian escaped when one of the movers opened the door, but I managed to snatch him back in the front garden. The van driven off, and we followed in the car. I was last out, with the hoover, after we had conducted a rearguard of rapid cleaning, and dropped Jo’s key through the letterbox. A brisk and unsentimental farewell to Haywards Heath and we drove to our new home in Brighton without incident, other than Calliopes weeing nervously out of the cat carrier. Fortunately away from Betty squished in beside them. Opened up Osborne Road and piled in, cats in the en suite bathroom on the top floor, and the removals guys Steve and Martin rapidly unpacking our skeleton belongings. Feeling elated to be here. Our new home does not disappoint, an...