Moving on (12)

21 5 12

             You'd think by now I should have had the time

            To relax and turn our move to rhyme;

            Yet, though it all went smoothly, everything

            Is out of joint and, what's more worrying,

            While simple things like scissors or a spoon

            Are lurking somewhere in the other room,

            Those items undeserving of the light

            Refuse to disappear from our sight.

            Even trying to make a cup of tea

            Becomes a battle with my memory,

            As if each tiny tea-bag thinks it's fun

            To hide away and keep me on the run.

                      But then that's nothing when I come to think

                      Of phone lines and computers on the blink.

23 5 12

            A day in Brighton, not that far to roam

            But it's worth it, just to come back home.

Brian Hick May 2012

©copyright Sally Hick 9.5.24

           

 Moving on (11)

15 5 12

            We're in - but not before the removal van

            Needed to shift the cars before they began

            To unload everything across the ramp

            Which managed to save our things from getting damp

            Given that it showered most of the day -

            And just as we arrived - but then ok

            We're in - and only one glass sacrificed

            An offering which we hope will suffice.

17 5 12

            No heating,

            No hot water,

            No phone for at least a week

            Not sure about the oven

            Yet

            Forty-eight hours on

            Everything is unpaced - well almost

            The garage is not yet full

            The grass is cut

            The saucepans are hung up

            Most of our clothes are sorted out

            There's champagne in the fridge

            Hannah is impressed

            But we still can't find the lead for the kettle.

Brian Hick May 2012

©copyright Sally Hick 8.5.24

 Moving on (10)

13 5 12

            A day to go and most things are now packed.

             Each room heaves with cardboard boxes stacked

             Almost too high and loosened clothing snags

             On recycling and mounds of plastic bags.

            The family all arrive so we can go

            For Sunday lunch together before we show

            Them how to get to 146 and where

            To park the car, when they are next there.

            Sam has spent the weekend to ensure

            His collections are all quite secure.

14 5 12

            Two men arrive from Chapman's and proceed

            To pack up all the rest, and do not leave

            A thing untouched, and all within two hours!

            I put a note out, hoping that the showers

            Will not wash away a parking ban

            In the space that's needed for the van.

            The chairs are in the road as it gets dark

            Hoping the van won't need to double park

            Tomorrow morning, especially as Tuesdays

            Are rubbish and recycling collection days.

            Sam is back from work hoping that he

            Can finish packing before the clock strikes three.

I

             And so to bed, with night-cap in a cup

            As all the glass is  packed and every drop

            That's going with us is snugly packed away;

            So I must finish off the Scotch - wahay!

Brian Hick May 2012

©copyright Sally Hick 7.5.24

 Moving on (9)

 7 5 12

            We're off to Stratford, but Sam needs to know

            Where to put the boxes or to stow

            His stuff once he's removed it from the attic,

            Sorted it out, then carefully repacked it.

 8 5 12

            Chapman's call us early on to say

            They'll deliver boxes on Friday

            So we start to pack up what we can

            Before they come on Tuesday with the van.

10 5 12

            A form from RB which we need to sign

            To transfer No5  and thus consign

            Twenty-eight years of family history

            To a single entry in local registry.

            Two letters from Sky, saying again

            That they will be there when we move in

            For all that's needed is a simple tweak

            Although the phone will take another week.

Brian Hick May 2012

©copyright Sally Hick 2.5.24

            

 Moving on (8)

We have exchanged!! All's done for good or ill;

Now all we have to do is pay the bill.

Meanwhile, I spend the morning filling in

Endless forms on-line, as we begin

To contact the bureaucratic world

Who insist each item be approved - 

Previous address or mother's maiden name -

Before my driving licence can be changed;

And every site has its own special plan

To make contact as difficult as it can.

Given they know us all, in any case,

Could they not simply change our data base

With one swift click at Cheltenham GCHQ

Then we ourselves would have far less to do?

Chapman's have confirmed that they will pack

Our books, our china, pictures and wine rack,

And all the frames of family photographs

Which should give the packers a good laugh.

Wrote a cheque for over eight thousand quid

So RB can finalise, with nothing hid,

All docs in place, consummatus est,

But moving is now left to our behest.

Brian Hick May 2012

©copyright Sally Hick 1.5.24

 Moving on (7)

 3 5 12

            Though there's no worry, RB rings to say,

            We've not exchanged with 146 today

            Because, though all was ready at end

            Their solicitor closes each Wednesday pm.

            The move will go ahead but technically,

            The final exchange must wait until Friday.

            He phones again, he needs eight thousand pounds

            So that all the loose ends can be wound

            Up and hopes that we were quite aware

            And have the ready cash - with some to spare!

            Sky texted our new number for the phone

            But it will be two weeks before we own

            The new landline and in between will need

            A dongle for the laptops to proceed.

Brian Hick May 2012

©copyright Sally Hick 30.4.24

Moving On (6)

30 4 12

           Bob from Andrews, all excited, rings

          To fix a date for moving all our things.

          We suggest the fourteenth of May

          Hoping we can all stick to that day.

 1 5 12

          Calls go back and forth, as worryingly

          It seems the Masters have yet to agree

          The moving date; meanwhile our new home

          Is sitting empty, all sad and alone.

          We agree to meet at 146 to place

          Some curtains, and a pot plant so the space

          Does not look quite so empty even though

          We still don't have a date - god it's so slow!

 2 5 12

          While we are hanging curtains in the bay

          My mobile buzzed with messages to say

          That they've agreed a date - 15th of May!

          And Mrs M apologised if they

          Had held things up because La vie Francais

          Is even slower than Les sangs Anglais.

          So now we start to ring round and email

         To ensure the changes do not fail

          Nationwide and Sky, E.on and Tax

          Various pension offices and banks

          Southern Water, British Gas, LV

          WNO, National Theatre & RSC

          Then tomorrow, when this first list ends

          We'll get round to family & friends.

Brian Hick May 2012

©copyright Sally Hick 29.4.24

 Moving on (5)

 2 4 12

            Rang the secretary, still no news

            So we'll just sit tight and sing the blues

 3 4 12

            Minor panic, message left to say

            That 146 have packed and moved away;

             On checking this, the truth is not so thrilling

            They've merely moved the boxes they are filling

            To their new address - and wondered if

            We'd like two cupboards left there - as a gift.

13 4 12

            Two weeks now and still no date in view,

            No reason given, so we have to stew

            With tempers fraying, nerves stretched on the rack;

            It may be weeks before we can unpack.

20 4 12

            We are all in limbo once again;

            It seems the Masters have not signed their name

            And at the moment can't even be found

            Though agents and solicitors abound.

23 4 12

            Rang Andrews, who know no more than we

            And Smarts are in the dark, but all agree

            No panic, but there'll be no advance

            Until the Euros flow across from France.

24 4 12

            A call to say the Masters have now signed

            And forms are on their way from France, aligned

            To their deposit which may take some days

            As foreign banks do things in foreign ways.

25 4 12

            It seems that all is well but we still wait

            Until the cash arrives to set a date.

26 4 12

            RB calls to confirm all is arranged

            But our buyers want to be here for the exchange

            So yet again we will have to wait

            Before we can agree a moving date.

 16 3 12 Moving on (4)

            Still nothing in the post but we've purchased

            A wardrobe, as I'll need the extra space,

            And seen a G plan dresser which will tone

            In nicely with the sideboard which we own.

            Meanwhile we're back to working on the nooks

            And crannies to make room for all our books.

17 3 12

            Another lot of questions, most of which

            We answered last time, though it seems that each

            Needs amplifying - to prove beyond doubt

            That living in the loft is really out -

            And FENSA documents, we've never seen,

            Are held by the Council, which will mean

            Another £60 we'll have to find

            To prove they were in place all of the time.

20 3 12

            Today I found the invoice for the floors

            Plus the FENSA certs for the new doors

            And windows which were put in back a while

            All of which charmed RB and made him smile.

24 3 12

            No post today, which may go to prove

            We only need a date, then we can move.

27 3 12

            A wodge of papers needing to be read

            Arrived today - but all that need be said

            Is that tomorrow we've arranged to sign

            The contracts - so now everything is fine!

28 3 12

            Meet with RB to check the reams of facts

            Before, at last, we sign both contracts;

            Now all we have to do is sit and wait

            Until we can agree a moving date.

            Meanwhile phone our house insurers so

            They can set up cover before we go

            Then if someone lets the new house burn

            At least we'll have some cash back in return.

29 3 12

            Into town to drop off the final form

            Which Sam has signed simply to confirm

            That when we move, he doesn't intend to stay

            Up in the attic, as a stow-away.

            A call from RB's secretary to say

            All signatures are in - let's name the day!

31 3 12

            Twenty four hours and nobody has rung

            So we've no idea when we'll be gone.

            Set up postcards with our new address

            And pics of both the houses - to ease the stress.

 Moving on (3)

5 3 12

          The estimate is here and I must check

          That they'll provide the tea chests we will pack.

          No problem there, they'll give us all we need

          And collect them without extra fees.

6 3 12

          Andrews rang - the survey wasn't nice

          It seems that we will have to drop our price

          Substantially to keep the sale on track

          And hope there's nothing more to hold us back.

7 3 12

          Meridian email their survey for us

          Nothing of note, so no need to fuss.

          Try to contact Andrews to ensure

          Mrs M's ok and nothing more

          Is needed now to hold up the exchange

          Of contracts, so a date can be arranged.

          Waiting for a call which will confirm

          That all is well and sales each side are firm.

          Ring Bob who says the letter's on its way

          Confirming all is settled - hip hooray!

8 3 12

          And now we wait - until Solicitors

          Decide aamong themselves it will be ours;

          Meanwhile we rearrange the clothes and books

          Into piles for packing into nooks.

9 3 12

          More forms to fill; and we must sign a list

          To prove that no-one has the right to fish

          Or remove hay from off of our estate

          Nor cut the trees or dig for coal or slate.

Brian Hick March 2012

©copyright Sally Hick 1.3.24

 Moving on (2)

21 2 12

          We make an offer, hoping it will do,

          And meanwhile I am off to join the queue

          At the  Solicitors, to find someone

          Willing to join us in the hectic run

          To tie up all the ends and swap the papers

          Which will bring us all untold new neighbours,

          To say nothing of a long walk to the bus

          But then it's nearer Asda's, so the fuss

          Is worth it, even though we have to wait

          Until we all agree a moving date.

22 2 12

          A letter from the agent seals the sale

          Assumng the solicitors don't fail.

          Meanwhile I must prove I'm who I am

          To prevent a money laundering scam;

          And Mrs M, our buyer, takes the chance

          To measure up before she's back to France.

24 2 12

          Off for a walk but I need to phone

          To arrange a survey of our new home.

          Agreed the price of this with Meridian

          To undertake a basic legal scan

          Which hopefully will find no lurking facts

          To slow up the exchange of our contracts.

25 2 12

          Measure up, check power-points and curtains,

          Sky dish, broadband and all that there pertains.

          Try to deliver urgent forms on Saturday

          Only to find all closed until next Monday.

27 2 12

          Two hours early, the surveyor rings the bell

          But Sam is sleeping, so she has to quell

          Confusion that she has misread the time

          And come back later, when all will be fine.

          Yet again provide my passport and

          The Water Bill to prove just who I am;

          This time for my lawyer, who you'd think

          Was being paid by me, so might have blinked

          Had I been using Hastings as a way

          To launder money into the UK.

28 2 12

          The estimator came to view the stuff

          Which we want to keep and move with us,

          Plus a letter from our lawyer's firm

          That all should be plain sailing from now on.

          Like my dad, I've made a plan to show

          Where all the books and furniture will go.

Brian Hick February 2012

 Moving on

28.1.12

            Malcolm came, convincing us to sell;

            We both pray that everything goes well.

30.1.12

            Malcolm rang; 'can't come today,' he said,

            'Can we make Wednesday morning now instead?'

1.2.12

             Malcolm came to photograph each room

             And sudden sunshine cheered the winter gloom.

2.2.12

             The Energy Survey's seventy-five pound fee

             Is over ninety pounds with VAT.

6.2.12

             The Survey Man was thirty minutes late;

             He left our Doll's House like BritArt at the Tate.

7.2.12

             The details of our house arrive ere long

             The photos look good - but the facts are wrong;

8.2.12

             So back to Andrews to correct the detail

             Only to find our house already on sale.

9.2.12

             Collect the details of some homes to view;

             Hoping it's worth seeing one or two.

             It will take three days to ensure our facts updating

             The computer is in Bristol - that's why we're waiting.

10.2.12

            The ad is in the paper, so we wait

             In hopes that someone wants to take the bait.

18.2.12

            A man who works for Andrews comes to view;

            We talk about the damp spots and the new

            Wood burner, which he seems to like.

            A couple from the south of France seem quite

            Keen that we have kept the wooden doors

            And the picture rails bring their encores.

20.2.12

            We've an offer which might fit the bill

            But this means we have no time to kill

            In finding a place where we all can live

            So frantic visits must attempt to give

            A lighting indication of a home

            Which just might do, given we wish to roam.

Amazingly we find a house which ticks all the boxes

With more than enough places for our underwear and soxes!