March 06 *#* all around the world

[UniS]

sorry couldn;t think of a funny title. but here goes.

Anyone with Dcs born March 06 welcome to come on in and introduce yourselves.

OMG 15 days and no info, that would be driving me nuts Caddy {{{Hugs}}} and more {{{Hugs}}} for the painful parts as well....did you get clipped by the storm of doom, or did it miss you?

So nice to see some sunshine here this morning, have stood for 5 mins in the kitchen window with my cup o tea absorbing the lovely light

Caddy, I don't know how you cope I really don't. I would be in meltdown by now in your position.

Sun...was nice this morning...drove to Fleetwood for cold but sunny opening event...drove back in hail and sleet. Didn't last long eh?

Busy, busy here and my head is struggling to keep up. My procrastination means that I have to do a whole Lottery assessment tonight after the kids have gone to bed. Oops. Also need to do some invoicing before we run out of cash! March is always hell as people give me year end work to use up budgets...still have my bloody Business Mentoring course to write and essay for too. Heeeellllpppp!!!!!!!!!!!!

Waiting for DP to bring kids home from swimming for tea and then off for weigh in...fingers crossed after that birthday cake on Sun.

Uni, as a vegetarian daughter of a British dairy farmer I must make a heartflet plea for you to switch to Britsh butter once those pesky vouchers are done....think of the airmiles, think of those poor suicidal farmers and also the animal welfare in NZ is pants!!!

LL- I know I know. twas a bad choice wasn;t it... picked some up one day my parents like "butter" and anchor was on special offer. go t sucked into teh cute cows web page and rewards thing... If I don't get picnic blanket we have a bunch of 2 for 1 and kids free vouchers instead. handy as we intend to holiday locally again.

In my defence... our beef,pork and lamb are VERY local, I know the farmer, shes got a good reputation for how her animals are kept.

Your move sounds marginally less organised than my SiL. off to central Africa on Thursday, shipping contain to fill tomorrow. TODAY they realised that they can't ship the container till after they have their residence permits which they won;t apply for till they are in country..... I'd have more sympathy if it wasn't the second international move where they have over looked pretty basic paperwork stuff till a bit late.

sorry- it should say caddy half way down that last post.

at your sil not realising that Uni!

you know I never knew Anchor wasn't a UK butter mind I don't exactly buy much butter eh.

Am just being horrified by the TV programme on BBC1 about the amount of sugar lobbed into everything....eeeeeep, I never realised they chucked it into bread!

I am officially in panic-mode.

Somehow the plane tickets got booked today BEFORE the movers... How is that going to work?

OMG! Poor you Caddy, do I guess you box everything and leave the removal company the keys and pray they get everything, then you just leave????

Really should go read my book you know! 'American Gods' anyone read it?

I'm not sure what we will do...

To make matters more complicated, I have done something to my ankle. It is swollen to twice its normal size and I can't even recall what I might have done to it. There wasn't even alcohol or dancing involved.

Sorry Friz My post was not very clear. Thankfully, the movers pack everything but they have not even been booked.

New tenants would like to have the house on March 15 which should be brilliant since dh is supposed to start work that day. Not sure how that should work since the 'move' itself has not been booked. Typical... (and I though I was disorganised.

I am sure that dh's employer will pull a rabbit from the hat at the last minute but in the meantime, it is very stressful wondering what will happen and when.

It is dd1's birthday today and dd2's tomorrow. We are off on a fondue cruise to mark the events. Hopefully that will make up for the running around that needs to be done during the day.

Uni I had friends in a similar situation to your sil when they moved to Austria... They had to pay very high storage costs in the end. Oh the joys of moving. It is often the fine print that gets you in the end.

Caddy, your poor ankle. When you get to Cam will you actually have a chance to put your feet up? I think you should plan a long weekend at Angkor Wat asap - kids can go and explore and you and DH can chill amongst the ruins.

I've a had bit of a stressy day off today. Did a 4.5 mile run with DP this morning and had a lovely bath after then set off for a celebratory lunch at local gastro pub - our friends' adoption of their gorgeous son was finalised this morning. Sadly had my sis (in Scotland) on the phone in an absolute mess for half an hour but persuaded her to admit to PND and agree to make docs appt. Everything happened fast then - my mum phoned sis's DH and her MIL. MIL 'dropped by' sis opened up (at last) and thru HV has docs appt tomorrow. I've emailled her the BFN BFing/drugs info...fingers crossed eh? TBH she already sounds better after admitting she isn't coping which is always the hardest bit IME.

Off out to a Playgroup Committee meeting - what joy.

Well thats good news that she could talk with you LL and that she's opened up, must be a huge weight off her shoulders, hoping she gets lots of help very soon.

Caddy, phew you get 'proper' movers well fingers x'd it all gets sorted for you soon. I'm liking LL's suggestion, please make sure you get around to it eh!
Hope you had a lovely cruise with the girls and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to them both

Dd2's birthday tomorrow too been bonkers here today, 2 staff off on hols, one sick and one HAVING A BABY! well his Mrs is anyway (6cm at 7pm when I kicked him out of work), so that's all hell on tomorrow too, as nooo staff and two stores to run and terminally indebted to Meridian for picking up my kids and keeping them till I could leave work and go get them,(and breathe) and then she fed me too, am shattered and have just finished wrapping prezzies for dd2....thankfully my mum is able to stay late tomorrow to help me out, but I'll hardly see dd2 on her birthday will have to make it upto her on Sunday, looks like next few days will be all work and juggling kids around various friends n family...

ll Well done with your sil. It sounds as if you did exactly what she needed. I hope she manages to get a sympathetic GP.

Well, the movers are booked! Apparently there was no reason for me to be stressed because dh's employer has a standing contract with a certain company and all we have to do is request a date and then it happens. I wish someone had told us that a few weeks ago. It might have spared me some stomach lining.

I must drag my bones to bed. It has been a long day of chaos and confusion. Thank goodness some of the plan is coming together.

Friz Warm birthday wishes for your dd2 today. We spent the evening on a Fondue boat to celebrate with our new four year old.

Happy Birthday birthday girls all!! You know I forget that our kids have birthdays this month which is why we are here on this thread!! Doh. Of course Kiah is last on the 29th so not even got party invites out yet but I must do so soon....

Sis went to docs who was great. Sis said 'feel better today as sun is shining and got some sleep (Kito at MILs)'...doc said 'sun and sleep won't make you better - have some drugs!!'. She also told her to come back in 2 weeks and she has to go out to pub and have a day to herself in that time.ILs are having both boys Sat night and sis and BIL are off out - a rarity for them.

Hey, I ran nearly 6 miles yesterday. Felt good and then managed to avoid working for rest of the day by attacking blackberries in garden which now looks rather naked. My hands are full of scratches and infected splinters.

Just had a haircut...look like a new woman but won't last long.

WOW LL, how dynamic are you.

scratches will heal and brambles are delt with.

Birthdays rolling around again, oh yes indeedy. Boy asks ever morning if it his B/day "TODAY" or "day after this day" one day he will get the idea of using the word " tomorrow" like the rest of the world do.

Boys pressie from us is a set of cricket pads and gloves, GPs are giving him a bat.

How about you guys. what turns 3 yr old girls in 4 yr olds?

Caddy, good to hear that movers are booked. You should suggest that DHs employers perhaps provide a written moving policy so everyone knows what is happening/needs doing. They always expect you to move at the drop of a hat with kids so the least they could do was make the procedure clear eh? You should offer to write a simple guide based on your experiences and then charge consultancy rates to them.

Uni, Kiah has not asked for much really. She wants some aqua beads for model making (a game we bought them in Sept when we were away in Ireland). She still loves dressing up, anything fairy or princess...fairly typical pink girly things really! It's nature over nurture for sure although I'm pleased that both my girls like fairly groovy clothes and thank God are not into High School Musical. They also say 'we don't really like Barbie - do we Mummy' when we are shopping!!

They are also very vocal about why we don't buy gelatine/Nestle/baby bottles. I'm raising little activists.

Tilly only had one request which was an awfully overpriced alarm click that changes colour when you can get up. Bit young for her but if it keeps her in bed at weekends it's a wise investment! She is also officially 'off pink' now that she is 6.

Just waiting for a curry to be delivered - treat for running 6 miles, not for essay which I still haven't bloody started.

I might have a stroke. I am not kidding.

This day has been the ultimate emotional roller coaster. The movers arrived.
They declared the items in our house to exceed the allowable limit by 3X.
The phone calls start from NYC and the movers trying to make suitable arrangements. None can be made. It would cost us 15000 CHF to move everything and about 1/2 that price to store it. We cannot afford this and don't feel that we should have to pay in order to take the post.

April 1, we have no place to live; the house is still full of our belongings; Cambodia are desperate to have dh AND we have already kept them waiting an additional month.

All of this could have been avoided with a little communication but OH NO! Far more entertaining to keep us waiting about our entitlements (and indeed for the booking of movers at all)!

Poor ds2 has spent the evening in tears thinking that we might have to stay here. If only he knew the 1/2 of what might happen.

How can I possibly get rid of 2/3 of our belongings when we use 80% of them on a daily basis? There are 6 people living here.

Oh Caddy {{{Big Hugs}}} I don't know what to say that can make anything better have you accrued everything in Europe since you moved last time, or have they cut down their allowances? or is it allowance to certain countries? wish I could help.

LL, well done you, busy bee! I've not done any exercise today, bar being at work, which I'm sure doesn't count! Glad your sister has the help she needs

Uni, dd2 got 'cooking mama' for the ds, which she is loving (had requested it after playing on her friends copy) and a Peppa Pig princess carriage, which has had lots of use so far too! to be honest we were struggling for stuff to get her, as she's inherited bikes, scooters, kitchens, rollerskates etc

CAddy- would there be any chance of a major tidy up and compression job and then getting the removers back in to re-quote?

Lose all the bikes and out door toys? allow each kid one shipping crate each of toys? and one of clothes, all else to be got rid of? Would you be shipping your car? Can you ship to 2 places- some to Cam, some to storage/ parents...

I guess DH just has to stamp and throw his weight about at work. If they REALLY Want him they will find the money to move you all.

SiL & crew, should have arrived in Africa by now, , awaiting blog from them to hear all safe and sound. they are in temp accommodation for month, while they search for more permanent.

and- BEST Of LUCK for it all.

Thank you for your kind messages.

We have asked for another week to pear down and have a re-quote. The new tenants have signed a lease for April 1 so we need to move and Cambodia is easier than a local move at the moment anyhow...

We will rent a small storage unit locally but the price is outrageous...

The really discouraging part is that we have already sold/given away the outdoor toys and bikes. We only have furniture and books. (Way too many books...) Many of dh's academic books/paperwork are irreplaceable and expensive so not easy to part with.

I have already become practically invisible with all of the moving around: there is nothing in our house that reflects my tastes and my wardrobe would fit in one box. I feel certain that the initial estimate is way off but I still need to try to eliminate our holdings by at least 1/2.

Friz The allocation is complicated because this post is considered a 'mission'. Cambodia cannot offer more money. I just wish that someone had told us how little we were entitled to move much earlier. One weeks notice is just not enough when you have four children.

this may be a dumb query caddy- if you shipping will take X weeks to arrive. how much furniture do you NEED to ship. would you be Ok abandoning beds or living room stuff, an getting new locally in Cam.

Can any of Dhs special books be shipped back to his university library? Or someone elses house rather than paid for storage?

{{{Hugs}}} Caddy I don't envy you having to cut this lot down at all...would it be viable to ship anything back for storage in Canada? (as per Uni's post)It's horrible having to be ruthless with the kids things especially.....

Well we're all partied out here had softplay party this avo, followed by Grandparents round for tea, dd2 had a lovely day though, will pop photos on facebook shortly.

Hope you all had an ok weekend, Caddy are you getting any further with what to keep and get rid of?

Glad the party went well Friz - will look out for photos on Facebook.

Caddy - I see exactly what you mean - if you had been told it was a 'mission' (and what that meant) you could have arranged storage and packed like going on a long holiday. Does no-one locally have an attic/cellar that you could use for free/cheaper than storage for books etc. How much can you each fly with - use all your allocations here.

I wish I could just pop round and help you out but feel very helpless and far away.

Things are starting to make progress. The house is looking more empty and we have rented a storage unit and a van for Friday... ARGH! What a chaotic blindside.

Helping to keep things in perspective: I just sold some furniture to another Canadian mum who has NEVER had a move paid for and her dh works for the same organisation that employs my dh. I suppose that I should count my lucky stars...

Poor ds2 and dd2 are taking things rather badly... Lots of tears and a wet bed last night. I hate that part the most. Stuff is just stuff but I wish my children (though resilient) didn't have to watch all of their things being foisted on the highest bidder.

much sympathy Caddy.