Ever wondered who helps the Queen move house/castle?
No, probably not… and if you did then you’re probably an American, you guys are much more interested in ERII than we seem to be.
However, for those who are interested, there are two companies that the royal household uses for all their relocation needs: Edward’s and Abel’s, the creme de la creme of movers in the UK. Both companies possess the Royal Warrant for removals and storage services.
I was reliably informed by the Harry Taylor, the Managing Director of Edwards, that the majority of royal moving centres around transportation of artwork and wines for entertaining at her various residences. And probably the odd crown here and there too.
Worried you’ve forgotten to tell someone you’re moving?
Or just haven’t got round to changing all those hundreds of addresses? The royal mail offer to mop up the ones you’ve forgotten about from £7.65 a month and send it on to wherever you are.
Also useful for temporary relocation if you’re renovating and if you’re moving abroad.
Pick up a post redirection form from your local post office or complete the online form.
The LEON book… every home should have one
My lovely sister Kate bought me the Leon recipe book for Christmas. She only gave it to me this weekend because she’s been in India, but it was definitely worth the wait, it’s amazing!
Leon is a chain of healthy fast-food restaurants in London, which, at the speed they’re currently growing, will most likely be popping up all over the country soon.
Back to the book: It’s huge for a start (300 pages), very detailed, beautifully presented and has the additional quirks of fold-open cupboard pages, stickers, removable seasonal food wall chart and a pocket containing a cheese map!
It’s an excellent present and quite possibly an essential addition to your kitchen.
Reasons people will (and won’t) move house in 2010
People move house for whole range of different reasons, and while money is almost always a factor, lifestyle changes are usually the main motivator. This year, while the same personal circumstances as every year will make people want to move, the effects of the recession will no doubt influence people actions:
Financial fortune – quite rare at the moment but for the lucky few who manage to dodge the recession, a nice new house is usually top of the shopping list… if you can find one that you like; shortage of supply of properties is one of the main factors facing buyers 2010.
Financial misfortune – Always a risk but more so at the moment. Reports show 1.86% of all mortgages (204,200) were in arrears in June 2009 but had reduced significantly to 48,000 by the end of the year thanks mostly to reduced interest rates.
Big furniture + tight spaces
Big furniture and small spaces aren’t a great combo, especially when you’re moving home.
Unless you want to transfer some of your rooms into your front garden, it’s a good idea to find out whether your furniture will fit into your new abode.
It’s a common problem; SavvySarahP of SavvyWoman tweeted ‘I ended up giving away 2 wardrobes & spending the next few days wearing the clothes that were easiest to find’ after discovering ’someone made the staircase twistier in between me viewing and moving in’.
Moving ho-ho-house at Christmas
As if preparing for Christmas and the frivolities of the holiday season weren’t enough, throw in a house move and any plans for relaxing go out of the window. It is quite possibly the worst time of year to move… but I’m sure you’re aware of that, so here’s a few tips to smooth your Christmas move.
1. Make a list (check it twice)
Planning your move is important at any time of year, but more so at Christmas, when you probably have a lot more on your plate. Write down what needs to be done and when, who needs to be notified and who can help you.
Fishy bin bags
David Nicholls in the Telegraph just uploaded a post about these Christmas Pudding bin bags from Seriouslynuts.com. I think they’re brilliant but couldn’t find them on the site… I’m not sure I’d spend a tenner on bin bags (on average we use between five and ten bin bags for wrapping materials when we’re unwrapping – to recycle, of course), but I do think they’re brilliant, especially because i’m feeling all Christmassy today!
If you develop a penchant for novelty bin bags, these fishy ones, also from Seriouslynuts.com, could amuse you for a mo… and confuse the cat.
Tip 2 – Label your boxes
Image from www.moveout.com
Here’s a simple tip for you: Label your boxes!
Sounds obvious, I know, but so many people forget, can’t be bothered, can’t find a pen, think they’ll remember where everything is… etc….
Chances are you’ll have a lot of boxes when you move… it’s amazing to see how much stuff we all have when it is all taken out of its place and put in a box, and usually, the longer you’ve been somewhere, the more you’ll have. So, label them on the side, on top, even underneath if you think that will make looking for items easier.
If you have enlisted help from your removal company, they should do it for you, but sometimes run out of pens, use biro (you can’t see that from a distance!), or, they’re just not very good! so keep an eye out for it and make sure the labelling is clear.
And here’s another little tip: If you want to re-use the boxes write on the tape so it can be removed once the boxes are empty.
Pan lids are annoying!!
Is it wrong to want your pots and pans cupboard/drawer to be neat and tidy, with easy access to whatever you want at any given time? No.
Is it wrong that I care enough to write a whole blog post about it…? Maybe… but I shall overlook that for now.
Pan lids simply do not stack nice and neatly on top of each other, especially when they’re not from the same pan family – a la creuset here, a John Lewis own pan there… they get all intermingled together around your pans and make a big clatter whenever you go in for what you want. But it doesn’t have to be like this…
Stroppy Removal Men
If only all removal men were as cheery as this one
Most removal men working for decent companies are polite, hardworking (in between regular tea breaks), friendly and really good at their jobs. However, the occasional stroppy removal man shows his face and can be a tricky one to handle.
Everyone has the odd off day, or perhaps they’re just a natural grump. So, what do you do to placate a stroppy removal man?
Here are my suggestions:
1 Keep them happy with refreshments. The guys usually take a much needed break every hour or so, especially on moving day when they are shifting boxes and furniture.
2 If they are having issues with management, talk to them yourself – they will always listen and be more amenable to the client.
