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Original poster

*Moving to Saffron Walden, Essex , in August - does anyone live nearby?*

548 replies

SaffyCat · 31/07/2006 23:05

I am moving from Surrey to Saffron Walden in mid-August with my husband, 7yr old son and 1yr old daughter. We don't know anyone in the area yet and I would love to meet other local mums (am happy to drive a few miles) and also to find out about toddler groups/recomended family activities.

OP posts:
2boysmacca · 04/04/2007 20:19

How's the work going Laura?

Millarkie · 07/04/2007 16:48

How is everyone? Packed any boxes? Had any babies?

We still haven't exchanged on our house but I'm still trying to stick to original move day so we are meant to be packing up the non-essentials over this weekend. Haven't done any so far (but then I had to work yesterday and we had various commitments today). Can't wait to have a proper garden to throw the children into whilst it's sunny - got a little square of lawn/patio here which has been destroyed by the children and the cats.

ES - when you get back on here I need your advice on au pairs again - talk me into it - go on!

englishspringer · 08/04/2007 20:09

HI

Just to say had my little boy - Henry James at 11.14 on 4th - he is so tiny 6lbs 1oz my other son was 7lbs 1oz so massive difference. Remembering it all and feeling like a milk machine again. All went well and came out on Friday morning - just 48 hours in the place -everything still aches etc. but would rather be at home.

Will email more in the week as i'm off to bed!

2boysmacca · 08/04/2007 21:03

Congratulations!!!!

Millarkie · 08/04/2007 21:20

Congratulations! Can't wait to meet the little man (and you!)

2boysmacca · 08/04/2007 21:23

What's your completion date then Millarkie? We're in your neck of the woods at the mo. Staying at the in-laws in SW london for easter. Just been out for a Wagamamas. yummy yum!

Millarkie · 08/04/2007 21:41

Still no date
Have spent today clearing out our loft spaces and packing it all up. Spare room is now half full of packed boxes..even the kids toys and books. And I have a massive pile of baby equipment/toys that I have to try to get rid of before the move (or I'll need a stall at the next NCT sale in SW!)
I've requested that even if we exchange later than we expected, that we still move at the same time (end of the month), but haven't heard what the rest of the chain think about that (s'only the people buying ours, and the people we're buying from).
Ho hum...
We are on another nanny scouting mission tomorrow - but this time we are meeting a trainee teacher who is looking for summer holiday nanny work. Meeting up at Bishops Stortford though, so prob won't make it up to stare longingly at the new house
I'm of wagamama's...used to go lots in the days before kids..I work about 10mins away from the original one.

SusieHughsie · 09/04/2007 10:42

Congratulations, ES and welcome to the world Baby Henry!

Still havent started on the packing yet but watch this space as I plan to clear out the cupboard under the stairs and Who knows who or what I'll find. I think I'm in denial that the move is actually going to happen at the end of April so I'm not doing anything fast!

Hope you all had a good easter and like me have kindly helped the children eat some of their Easter Eggs. Diet starts today or tomorrow!

2boysmacca · 10/04/2007 21:07

Millarkie. The chilli chicken ramen was fantastic but boy did I regret it yesterday

Tis very quiet on here lately.

Millarkie · 10/04/2007 21:14

I wrote a long post on here yesterday, then the laptop lost the network and the post disappeared..
The latest reason for us not having a move date is that the people in our chain have not agreed a move date - now you would think that, with only 3 households to worry about, that could be solved in a couple of phone calls but oh no!..solicitor says - hopefully we'll have an agreement by the end of the week ...grrrrr.
On a brighter note, holiday nanny lady was lovely, and kids liked her, so we are going to offer her a job. And the contents of the loft are packed, and we've started on packing dh's office and the kid's spare toys. And I'm trying to get some reasonable quotes for the removals, but so far quoted 3k .. and £560 - am looking for somewhere in between, not an obvious cowboy but not wrapping dustsheets spun from golden silk around my sofa etc.

2boysmacca · 10/04/2007 21:21

Have you ried the SW based company Pretlove?

We used Pickfords and they were dreadful. They dropped our bed and smashed the frame, lost a shelf from the tv cabinet, damaged 2 Heals wardrobes, smashed a standing lamp, dropped the dining room table, so it stood on 3 legs rather than 4, dragged the cream sofas so there was brown scuffing along both the sofas.... the list is endless. Had a huge insurance claim.....

SusieHughsie · 10/04/2007 21:59

We've had three removal quotes all at around £800 incl VAT, have decided to go with the company that has been referred by a friend.

Where are you moving from? Can pass you details for the company we are going to use but we are based in East London.

Millarkie · 10/04/2007 22:15

We have Pretlove coming to quote next week - but they seemed a lot more realistic when dh spoke to them.

2boysmacca - OMG at Pickfords! We had a small rip on our sofa from our last move but that was all - feeling very lucky now.

Susie - we're the other side of London to you, but thanks for the offer. I had a chap to quote from a local company today, but not hopeful about that one since he gave me a long spiel about how great their insurance scheme was, and lots of stories about 'cowboy removal firms'. Dh said Pretloves sounded very sensible on the phone and they estimated £1200 (although they are coming to look at our junk next week). I am because dh wanted me to get firms from the S Walden area to quote and I told him he was daft cos no one would want to travel all this way - he was right though.

laurasmiles · 11/04/2007 13:05

Hopeing this post is going to work. I've been having trouble getting my posts up for some reason. haven't really fallen off the map.

Wanted to say a huge warm welcome to baby Henry and congratulations to all the family ES. Wishing you a speedy recovery and I hope you have lots of help and support around.

Glad to hear that people's moves are gearing up. Speaking of denial about moving: I've exchanged; completed; started decorating, and STILL haven't packed! . Still down in London but hoping to move at the weekend. The house will be stripped of all the old wallpaper by then, which is a start at least.

Slightly traumatised today as ds has just had a fall and one of his beautiful front teeth has been pushed up into his gum. He looks like a right little tearaway now -
He's sleeping it off now but I'm taking him to the dentist this afternoon to make sure he's going to be okay. Poor little man got a horrible shock and so did I.

Ditto about Wagamama's though - I used to go a lot to the original one, then went travelling and came back to find it was a chain - great stuff. I love the Kare Lomen. I've recently bought their cookbook although I have to admit to only drooling over the pictures as I haven't actually cooked anything yet.

2boysmacca · 11/04/2007 21:14

Ouch How is he? Is his nerve still intact? I have every sympathy for him, did the very same myself.

laurasmiles · 12/04/2007 10:01

Not sure - they warned me that it's highly likely that the tooth will die and that the permanent tooth will be damaged when it begins to grow. We can barely see the tooth at the moment so I'm guessing that it's pretty badly damaged.
It's horrible watching them go through these things isn't it? As he's my eldest and only two I'm only just beginning to enter the realms of "childhood accidents and mishaps" - not fun.
I feel very shallow but I keep thinking about his gappy smile for the next few years!

2boysmacca · 12/04/2007 12:11

I would be the same.

Ds has a largish scar across his face where he fell in WH Smiths. and a very faint one under his chin where he slipped in the bath. I fear ds2 will have more as he is a little daredevil

mouseman · 12/04/2007 18:17

Hi - many, many congratulations on Henry's safe arrival. Just a small warning - I know many people who have used pretloves and they always seem to be fine, but when we moved, we used them and we had several breakages and damaged items and it is a real hassle claiming back money. Good luck!

Millarkie · 12/04/2007 23:36

Oh no Laura! How is he now?

Hmm..mouseman. Thanks for the warning! It really does feel like it depends who you get on the day with these firms..getting so many good and bad reviews from friends/colleagues, of the same firms. I've got to the point where I'm looking round the house and thinking ' well at least it's all cheap stuff, won't be too heartbroken if it's dropped' - apart from my new fridge/freezer that is

It turns out my solicitor's assistant has only been reading my purchase file and not the sale one - have been contacted by estate agent today to ask why 5 things have not been sorted out and also told that the buyer hadn't given the deposit money to their solicitor so no exchange possible before at least next Thursday..and people want to move by Thursday after. Dh not happy about the 7 day between exchange and completion - especially since we haven't decided on a removal firm yet...but hey ho..it's either then, early the following week, or we'll have to put things on hold until the end of May. Love this house-buying malarky.

englishspringer · 13/04/2007 08:57

hi

thanks for all your messages of congrats - just remembering what it was like again.

regarding moving - we have moved house 7 times in 5 years and used pretloves twice - both times they quoted us after looking at all our stuff and then sent another bill through saying the front door opened the wrong way and tried to charge us double - they also damaged a lot of stuff.

we have used a company called McKellar & sons several times and they were fantastic - no extra charges for waiting time, turned up at 7.30am and stayed until 7/8pm.

mouseman · 13/04/2007 14:51

TBH Milarkie, the new fridge would be OK as it is new and easily replaced - we had antique furniture broken, stained glass window smashed , and door gouged in the house we were leaving!!!! and lamp, picture etc broken. Not things that are easliy quoted for a replacement. I know someone who as always sworn by a company nearby - I'll try to find out the name for you.

Millarkie · 13/04/2007 23:50

ES - my mind is boggling now at the idea of a front door which opens the wrong way! I've googled the movers you've mentioned and will try to fit in another quote.
Mouseman - Thankfullly we have nothing of any value, I've mentally gone round the house 'dropping' the furniture etc and not been truely upset by any loss (as long as my laptop stays with me ) and I am resigned to the potential loss of fridge - it doesn't really fit the new kitchen anyway.

We really don't believe the estimated exchange date and due to dh being in the US for a chunk of May, we think we may have to push completion until the week before half term as long as our buyers don't get too upset at that. Dh got soo miserable today he was threatening to get a job in London so we wouldn't have to move! - but I've set my heart on the big garden etc..so I've jollied him along for now.

How's Henry ES? I don't envy you the 'shapeless days, sleepless nights' bit..Did you get your bedroom back in time?

And when are the other Saffron Walden babies due (there's at least one more isn't there?)

Millarkie · 14/04/2007 19:15

Hellllllooooooo?
Are you all out in the sunshine?

Today I am mainly trying to flog all my babygear rather than pack it and bought an interview suit because I have an interview in Cambridge!

2boysmacca · 14/04/2007 21:43

What a gorgeous day! I'm up in the Midlands with my folks and we've only just come inside (it's actually bloody freezing out there now). Ds2 has been very poorly the past few days and I had to take him to the Emergency Dr's yesterday. he has a chest infection and ear infection with a temperature of 40. He was given antibiotics and an inhaler. He's been much better today and I am hoping for more than 3 hours sleep tonight.

It's my Nan's 90th Birthday party tomorrow so we'll be pretty busy here with hundreds of wrinklies in the house

I'm all familied out and looking forward to some weekends back at home.....

Millarkie · 15/04/2007 17:10

Oh your poor boy (and poor you for disrupted sleep!).
Hope you're all feeling better and you've had a great party - weather's good at least! My littl'uns have been having a waterpistol fight in the garden whilst dh packs the content of the shed.
Oh, and we've had our first reasonable quote for removals (another London firm).
Now just got to decide if we go all out for moving on the 26th or if we ask to move it by almost a month...don't want to scare the buyers off, but for many reasons it would make sense for us.