I previously mentioned about our moving house in Strategic Moving. Now I need to give you an update as I’m sure you are dying to know how it went.
On Wednesday night, May 11, we said farewell to the residents of our new home as they carried their four bags and hand luggage to the car and off to the airport. Thursday was moving day. Fortunately, our house help, Nancy, comes that day as well. By this time, I had actually started packing up things, so we began the process of carrying things down three flights of steps, up a few more steps, across the parking lot, up a few more steps and into the flat. The initial move just placed boxes or suitcases in the appropriate room.
We had enlisted the help of the centre/center staff to help us move and that meant Margaret and I could concentrate on getting together the last things, and checking on where the boxes, etc. were being put. Nancy took care of the laundry and helped put the foodstuffs away. As she started on the ironing, we found the cover on the ironing board was really in a bad way. So, we got the cover off our ironing board and put it on. After a few goes with the iron, Nancy reported our iron was MUCH better, so we reclaimed that as well.
All day we drank the water from the Pentapure filter, but frankly, it tasted like chemicals – nasty! So, on Friday, we reclaimed our Katadyn filter, emptied the Pentapure and put it on the back porch. There weren’t many plastic jugs for keeping drinking water, and all the water that was stored would be nasty, so, we brought our plastic jugs over as well.
On Friday, the shipping company that was picking up my chest of drawers came to collect it. I helped them wrap some protective plastic around it so when they taped it shut, it wouldn’t spoil the finish. It was finally loaded and strapped in, but I had no paperwork. That made me a bit uneasy, but it has since come, so all is well. Apparently, during that process, I did something that annoyed my knee. I didn’t notice it at the time, but by Saturday, it was becoming very painful, and by Saturday afternoon, I couldn’t stand to walk on it.
The big sale was scheduled for Wednesday, and we had not put prices on everything. So, I limped up the three flights of steps to the old flat, sat on a chair and wrote out prices while Margaret organized things and put prices on them. We did the same on Sunday. Margaret was leaving on Monday morning, so it was helpful that she could decide on how much she wanted for things before she departed.
Various people came to pick up what they had put a down payment on, so that entailed my going up to the flat almost every day. My knee did not take kindly to the steps or the standing. Since various people had purchased all our chairs, it was getting harder and harder to find something to sit on! The Wednesday sale went well, and people continued to come and purchase things through Friday and even Monday. So, 85-90% of our things have sold. The old flat is now empty, I think. I haven’t been up to see. However, the fridge and lots of books have been moved over to our new place to await the September sale. In the meantime, we are able to use the filter, the freezer and a few other things we decided we couldn’t live without.
On Saturday, we moved the screens on the windows over to the new house. Again, we just couldn’t deal with mosquitoes or having to keep the windows closed. It took most of the day, but there are now four rooms with functioning screens! The weather has turned cold (probably upper 60’s or low 70’s F), so we may not NEED the windows open. Still, we have options.
Two weeks later, I’m still limping, though I’m much better. We are gradually finding things in the new place, but shoving our things into the cupboards in front of the things that were already there was probably not the most helpful. Just when you think you are making progress and starting to feel at home, like this morning, you discover all is not yet under control. I was frying an egg when I noticed the flame on the gas was really low. I tried turning it up to no avail. It soon became apparent that I had an empty gas bottle. The one on the porch was supposed to be full, I thought. You guessed it; it was also empty.
I was given the number to phone the gas-man, who delivers quite quickly. However, I had left my phone charging in the classroom in Ruiru, about 25 miles from where I am. Having borrowed a phone, we got the gas problem sorted, and now I can cook again. Thank goodness for electric kettles and microwaves!
We don’t have much time to get used to our new home, as we will be spending Monday through Friday on a two-month course, 25 miles away. We will be home on the weekends, however, so there is still scope for discovery!
On Wednesday night, May 11, we said farewell to the residents of our new home as they carried their four bags and hand luggage to the car and off to the airport. Thursday was moving day. Fortunately, our house help, Nancy, comes that day as well. By this time, I had actually started packing up things, so we began the process of carrying things down three flights of steps, up a few more steps, across the parking lot, up a few more steps and into the flat. The initial move just placed boxes or suitcases in the appropriate room.
We had enlisted the help of the centre/center staff to help us move and that meant Margaret and I could concentrate on getting together the last things, and checking on where the boxes, etc. were being put. Nancy took care of the laundry and helped put the foodstuffs away. As she started on the ironing, we found the cover on the ironing board was really in a bad way. So, we got the cover off our ironing board and put it on. After a few goes with the iron, Nancy reported our iron was MUCH better, so we reclaimed that as well.
All day we drank the water from the Pentapure filter, but frankly, it tasted like chemicals – nasty! So, on Friday, we reclaimed our Katadyn filter, emptied the Pentapure and put it on the back porch. There weren’t many plastic jugs for keeping drinking water, and all the water that was stored would be nasty, so, we brought our plastic jugs over as well.
On Friday, the shipping company that was picking up my chest of drawers came to collect it. I helped them wrap some protective plastic around it so when they taped it shut, it wouldn’t spoil the finish. It was finally loaded and strapped in, but I had no paperwork. That made me a bit uneasy, but it has since come, so all is well. Apparently, during that process, I did something that annoyed my knee. I didn’t notice it at the time, but by Saturday, it was becoming very painful, and by Saturday afternoon, I couldn’t stand to walk on it.
The big sale was scheduled for Wednesday, and we had not put prices on everything. So, I limped up the three flights of steps to the old flat, sat on a chair and wrote out prices while Margaret organized things and put prices on them. We did the same on Sunday. Margaret was leaving on Monday morning, so it was helpful that she could decide on how much she wanted for things before she departed.
Various people came to pick up what they had put a down payment on, so that entailed my going up to the flat almost every day. My knee did not take kindly to the steps or the standing. Since various people had purchased all our chairs, it was getting harder and harder to find something to sit on! The Wednesday sale went well, and people continued to come and purchase things through Friday and even Monday. So, 85-90% of our things have sold. The old flat is now empty, I think. I haven’t been up to see. However, the fridge and lots of books have been moved over to our new place to await the September sale. In the meantime, we are able to use the filter, the freezer and a few other things we decided we couldn’t live without.
On Saturday, we moved the screens on the windows over to the new house. Again, we just couldn’t deal with mosquitoes or having to keep the windows closed. It took most of the day, but there are now four rooms with functioning screens! The weather has turned cold (probably upper 60’s or low 70’s F), so we may not NEED the windows open. Still, we have options.
Two weeks later, I’m still limping, though I’m much better. We are gradually finding things in the new place, but shoving our things into the cupboards in front of the things that were already there was probably not the most helpful. Just when you think you are making progress and starting to feel at home, like this morning, you discover all is not yet under control. I was frying an egg when I noticed the flame on the gas was really low. I tried turning it up to no avail. It soon became apparent that I had an empty gas bottle. The one on the porch was supposed to be full, I thought. You guessed it; it was also empty.
I was given the number to phone the gas-man, who delivers quite quickly. However, I had left my phone charging in the classroom in Ruiru, about 25 miles from where I am. Having borrowed a phone, we got the gas problem sorted, and now I can cook again. Thank goodness for electric kettles and microwaves!
We don’t have much time to get used to our new home, as we will be spending Monday through Friday on a two-month course, 25 miles away. We will be home on the weekends, however, so there is still scope for discovery!
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