Ivegotfamilyandidrinkcupsoftea - I switched to supermarket cearl years ago and can not taste the difference at all, in fact, I prefer Co-ops own honey nut to kellogs and ASDA do a much wider range of cereals with much less sugar!
TooStressyForMyOwnGood - What do you normally wear day to day? If you could dress that up you will feel more confident and comfortable.
SC - I suspect you will be winding down for a few hours yet.
CAG - don't forget to ask for the date of the last boiler service. Don't forget to get the locks changed in case there is someone who has a key that you don't know about.
As far as moving day goes, we used to this:
print off a sheet of paper with an arrow on. Get lots of sticker dots, assign a different colour to each room.
As you pack a box, place a matching colour sticker for the room onto all 6 sides of the boxes. For those boxes that need to go upstairs, add the relevant coloured dots to the sheet of paper with the arrow on and pin this to the bottom of the stairs, pointing up. Make sure each room as the relevant coloured dot on its door. It should be much easier to unpack in all the boxes are in the right room in the first place, if not, a quick glance will tell you where they should go.
The very first trip should include the kettle, teabags, coffee, milk and mugs. These MUST be the first things you unpack. Get the kettle on. Make sure you have money for a takeaway - cooking will be the last thing you want to do.
The second thing that must be unpacked are the beds and bedding - do these and make these up before anything else. Making a bed up when you are tired from a long day just adds to the misery and stress.
The third thing are the sofas, because they are big and chunky, you need an empty room to fit them in, get these in first before the boxes if you can.
If you are using removal men, make sure that VAT was included in the quote! My friend fell foul of this after everything had been removed. It's a bit naughty to be honest, not to include VAT on quotes and annoys me no end.
My parents used to move house a lot when we were children so got used to it and picked up loads of little tips that make it just that bit easier.
I've got a slimline dishwasher and kicked the empty kitchen sink cupboard along to make the room If your cabinet is not plastered in, it could be an option.
Don't take clothes off the hangers, just bind the hangers with the clothes still on with elastic bands, and lay then on top of boxes in the car, they can then be hung straight up. - use one of the suitcases for other bits, such as nappies, night clothes, toiletries and phone chargers.
Make an inventory, including photos of tools, jewellery and other valuable items - they have a tendency to go "missing". Casually mention the inventory and photos to your DP/H, in front of the removals company. During the chaos of moving, you will not notice anything missing until it's too late and too far down the line. If you can padlock drill cases and toolboxes - do so. Put jewellery in the suitcase with the toiletries (in the lining preferably) so you can check easily and quickly. We learnt this the hard way.
Be kind to yourselves, look after yourselves and try to enjoy it. It is stressful but worth it!
My ta-dahs:
Writing the above for Cag
Windows cleaned inside and out
ironing
bedding washed and put away
cleaned living-room carpet
dusted car
made bed
swished and swiped
cat litter
put in hook to hang up wok
paperwork filed
papers shredded
computer scanned and emails sorted
hoovered livingroom
hoovered stairs
hoovered bedrooms
hoovered landing
meal planned for week
online shop done to pick up tomorrow.
dusted
kitchen cobwebs
ensured DS has everything ready for school tomorrow.
I think that's' it.
Like STILL, I'm going in the bath for a long soak.
Hope everyone had a productive day.