4 1/2months to plan o/seas move

[MrsSnaplegs]

Got notice today we are going o/seas for 2 years - so those who have done it please feel free with your advice!
What to take?
What not to take?
How much storage do we get?
How much will they "ship"?
How far in advance will they ship an store?
All advice gratefully received!

Congrats on an o/seas, which continent ? Helps with how much you get to ship, times taken to ship etc etc.

Storage wise they work like this

shipped stuff + stored stuff = total cubic allowance (think it 67.3 cubics currenty)
BUT there will be a limit on what you can ship according to where you are going and how many DCs you are taking

You are allowed unto 2 weeks this side in a hotel so you can arrange your shipping/ storage to accommodate this.

Take all DCs toys, they will grow out of them if you put them in storage.

If you have specific questions pm me could give you more specific details here but would probably out me

It's an RN job which is a bit rocky

2 DC

Ooooo! How exciting!
Four and a half months is a doddle. Get in touch with who you are taking over from and ask lots of questions wrt to what to take. Quite often it's furniture in storage and take everything else, but some people do choose to take the minimum. I'm a max sort of girl myself.

Def all dc's stuff. Everything. Including a month or so toiletries etc so that you can ease them into local stuff. Then you can leave the outgrown toys and clothes there and bring back what fits and gets played with.

We didn't get 2 weeks in a hotel! I think we could have had three days... We stayed at mil's instead.

Find out when the stuff needs to be shipped so that it will definitely be there when you arrive. Or if you are entitled to two shipments (handy with dc's) but get it en route ASAP!! There is nothing more depressing than sitting Ian sparsely furnished mq waiting endless weeks for a proper mug instead of a ridiculous cheapola issue one.

I am ridiculously excited for you, and I think I have decoded your clue correctly...

Who the feck is Ian? In a. Autocorrect balls

It's my dream job
Ok so all of kids stuff goes
We were going to leave our lounge furniture here as it needs replacing anyway so thought we would buy new when we get back. What about beds - store or take?
Piano - store I guess or gum tree

Check out what you get in the mq-sometimes they come completely furnished and they don't let you wharf stuff as there's no storage in some places... So check out what comes as standard. If you have a lovely huge bed then I'd take it, issued beds are always a bit, erm, small? Unless you know the nice store man who has access.

Also ask your predecessor if s/he can forward details of any local orders where there is a 'for sale' section. Often o'seas units have this and people post stuff that they don't want to take back. This often a good way to get garden furniture and kids outdoor play stuff.... Will you drive? Not sure what is de rigeur for where I think you are off to.

Aw, piano

There is provision for shipping such things, but I think you end up paying mahoosive premium and will of course end up forking out to get it tuned etc etc. and that's after you've negotiated the move and associated costs.... I know pianos were mentioned but can't remember exactly what it said. Do you know who's got the contract? (fecking whites)

No I think piano will get stored or sold as we bought it from Someone else going o/seas - I will get a small electronic piano

We will drive from a ferry port so will have a large 4x4 boot space to use for essentials on journey etc and means we have own car there

I am taking over from my old boss so have a good contact but I am a lot more organised than he is so want to plan now

We have loads of books and pictures which I guess I will screen and store most and take important ones

DVDs will take as doubt we will have sky

What do you do about things like Xmas decs ?? Take or store?

Take take take.

And take all of your pictures. Makes it feel like home even if you have rental furniture. Take as much in the way of 'homey'stuff as you can.

We took everything to Germany, obv. But the first time we went to Canada we took the minimum and it was pretty grim. Like camping in a rental house. The next time we took literally everything.

What about electrics? I know zip zaroo about plugs and sockets and voltages, but can you take lamps and stuff/hair dryers etc, or is it all locally provided?

Electrickery is fine

Woo, even better!
You are going to have a ball!

Ah great news Mrs S!

You need to talk to my friend KC (you know her, PM me if you want her email addy) she did 3.5 years (I think) out there so could probably give you lots of tips.

You'll have fun

KC? Now KP I know or even KM as she is now but not KC - pm me

Crikey! 4.5 months! What luxury. I had 4 weeks to pack, move and give birth all overseas. But I would say buy lots of summer clothes for the family in the UK before you leave. Especially uv suits for kids. They rot like nobodies business in the sun. If you can have one, buy an inflatable pool and decent pump from amazon and take it with you. Don't chuck your non perishable foods, spices, rice, pasta, tea etc just pack it yourself and take it. Buy school uniform bits in uk in all sizes, especially the summer stuff and take it. Take the top off your washer and dryer and pack stuff inside and in the drum. Pack the inside of your fridge with bedding. Take duvets, it will be colder to you in the winter. If I think of more I'll be back!

Take all your DVDs and CDs out of cases and put into big folders. Or convert them all and put them onto a hard drive, we took a media streamer and connected it from the pc to the tv. Take your microwave, sandwich toaster, rice cooker, slow cooker etc. whatever you can to cook without standing over a hot stove in the summer. Also plastic containers for cereal, flour, sugar etc. don't underestimate these babies. Creatures and damp ruin food in the heat. If you like particular sachets of cooking things, I.e. Coleman's take them with you. Naafi or equivalent normally charge a premium. Embrace the local food and supermarkets, it will save you a bomb. Also take cool bags for your supermarket shop. There's nothing worse than seeing your carte d'or melt before you even get it home.

Send your uk stuff ahead 6 weeks before you go. Then you'll have days without it there and can rely on friends here and vice versa coming back. But keep in mind that means your washer, kettle, fridge etc will be gone! They issue fridges in Cyprus but they are adequate and often relegated to being drinks fridges, if I've guessed your new locale you'll need that too, so def take your own.

Don't forget that you'll have M&S there, and that the supermarket near the airport does lots of Brit stuff, and it's Morrison's now.

Looks like (from a quick Google) that there's also Next, Dotty P, Monsoon and Accessorize, Top Shop etc, so you'll be OK, and it's VAT free too. It's also great for pearls and perfume (dh kept me regularly supplied with both from there).

It looks as if you can either get Freesat or SKY. We have Freesat in Belgium, and it's great.

Will report back after Mum comes back next week!

You're so lucky, we lived there for 2.5 years and returned last year would go back any day. When we moved we had a limit of 13.5 cubic meters. It isn't much. We only took our bed as far as big furniture goes. The pussers stuff isn't bad.
Things I would recommend taking are you're own hoover, the issue ones are rubbish, I got through 7 when we were there. Winter clothes, my husband swore it never goes below 20, it does - and the wind can be biting in the winter.
Other than that just day to day stuff and what ever the children need.

I don't know what the TV is like now but when we were there you could only get BFBS, if you wanted sky it cost a fortune and wasn't strictly legal.

If you want any more info let me now
Enjoy.

Use every bit of space available when packing. Little things like when you are wrapping things like vases etc use clothes instead of bubble wrap. Fill your fridge with clothes or teddys for the kids.
Ive got from other peoples posts that its cyprus your coming to? It seems to be a love it or hate it posting, I hated it untill I passed my driving test. Also again if it is cyprus there are a few groups on facebook, it may help decide what to bring over... BFC Buy, Sell & Swap and DDs buy sell. he buys and sells furniture and he delivers to all the garrisons. Feel free to ask any questions.

Just seen the new LOA rates - not brilliant! Take as much as possible with you!!!

Mum back - says it has changed muchly from her day - Bianca's at the marina has moved, everything is high rise, the former RNH now seems to be some kind of club, and her MQ is now private housing.

All the buses are free however and Sacarellos still does great coffee.

Don't forget you can Amazon, presuming you still get BFPO there.

Scary - sorry I didn't reply sooner but I've "been away"
LOA not a huge issue as will actually get a pay rise as going on promotion as well anything is better than nothing
Think all accom an the mess is moving to the same area anyway and I knew that would probably happen
Good news about free buses
Will be speaking to the UPO on Monday reference moving allowances and will work it from there

Also have to make appt at vets for dog as she is quite unwell and don't think she will be well enough to go with us

Well time has flown and they arrive to pack our stuff to ship out today
Pack for storage on 29th
Sail to sunny Spain on 3rd followed by a long drive through Spain
Can I just say Aaaaaaargh? HELP!!

Good luck. I hope you have a great time.

remember to pack plenty of snacks for DCs on trip.

Top storage packing trip, thoroughly clean out your toaster, DH used ours the morning the packers came and 2 years later it walked out of the storage lorry by itself . Watch your fairy liquid our packers put it upside down in a box and it all seeped out over the 2 years not pretty.

Good luck, Bon Voyage and remember we will want updates on how you are they do have internet there