We saw our container driven away for Marseille yesterday. It was a long day for JL who had been with the movers since morning. Glad we won't be doing this for the next three years at least. I only joined the party after lunch and they sure worked fast!
The garage had already been half-emptied before the guys went for their lunch break. As most of the boxes (packed in Singapore two years ago) are still in good condition, the guys only had to redo their inventory list using their own labels.
Nonetheless our three Bulgarian acquaintances came armed with new boxes in assorted sizes. Not too bad, because they've come all the way from Lyon and they'd better not forget nor run short of anything they need. Otherwise it'd be three hours' drive both ways to get it!
Nonetheless our three Bulgarian acquaintances came armed with new boxes in assorted sizes. Not too bad, because they've come all the way from Lyon and they'd better not forget nor run short of anything they need. Otherwise it'd be three hours' drive both ways to get it!
There was nothing much for us to do while waiting for the movers to return from their break. I entertained myself by squeezing through the boxes and guessing the contents behind those exteriors. The round carton against the left wall must be our marble table top. That's a no-brainer, until I saw a wooden crate about the same size (but square). The slab of marble was in the wooden crate, and that carton was just the wooden frame for it.
JL also brought along the Singapore inventory list. 25/06/10: how time flies! And hey, we moved on my sister-in-law's birthday back then!
JL also brought along the Singapore inventory list. 25/06/10: how time flies! And hey, we moved on my sister-in-law's birthday back then!
Then, upon closer inspection, I told the husband, "I hope they don't send our stuff to Madagascar!"... Coz Kwala Lampur sure looks like it's there!
Oh well. Good thing all these boxes are packed in one huge container. As long as the paperwork is correct, never mind the typo on these labels.
Speak of the devil, the container truck pulled up right at the gate. What a forty-footer mother trucker! It's more complicated this time: the movers and transporter are from separate companies.
Oh well. Good thing all these boxes are packed in one huge container. As long as the paperwork is correct, never mind the typo on these labels.
Speak of the devil, the container truck pulled up right at the gate. What a forty-footer mother trucker! It's more complicated this time: the movers and transporter are from separate companies.
Oh, here's a tip for Moving Day: bring your camera. Not to capture those tearful moments, silly! Take a full-frontal shot of the container and the license plate. You'll never know when you need the container number, or the vehicle that carried it.
The driver was chatty - he showed us the 14 staples on his head from a recent injury. He had picked up something on the ground, but hit his head against the bottom corner of a container while getting back up. No kidding, he really looked like some badass character in JL's comic books. But so cool!
The driver was chatty - he showed us the 14 staples on his head from a recent injury. He had picked up something on the ground, but hit his head against the bottom corner of a container while getting back up. No kidding, he really looked like some badass character in JL's comic books. But so cool!
Also, take a shot of your seal for the container showing the number clearly. It's a one-way lock for you to ensure nobody opens up your container. Whoever wants to access your container will have to break this first. So you will want to see this guy - same number - intact when your shipment arrives at your next home.
And while the guys were at work, I took a peek at how much coffee they had consumed, and ah, the croissant and pain au chocolat we got them the evening before. And check out my MIL's classic flask!
And while the guys were at work, I took a peek at how much coffee they had consumed, and ah, the croissant and pain au chocolat we got them the evening before. And check out my MIL's classic flask!
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I was really getting bored and since the guys had cleared more boxes by then, I went back to the guessing game. Look what I found! Remember what I said earlier about things for the "attic"? My CDs!!
And somehow when I saw these, only two words to came mind.
Dusty Springfield.
Two years, darlings, two years!
Dusty Springfield.
Two years, darlings, two years!
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There. The FIL finally gets to have his space back. He had even planned what to do with it, he said the other day. Clear out the pallets and knick-knacks at the side, build a mezzanine level right at the end where the ladder is. I think he's going to rent this out too when the job is done.
The picture looks rather nice with some bokeh, doesn't it? It's the bits of dust on my lens, dammit! So just bring your cheapest point-and-shoot, okay?
And the final touches of loading up the container. 174 cartons for two adults, non-hoarders, no kids, no pets. That's Stapleman talking to our Bulgarian mates. Hot, hot, afternoon.
The picture looks rather nice with some bokeh, doesn't it? It's the bits of dust on my lens, dammit! So just bring your cheapest point-and-shoot, okay?
And the final touches of loading up the container. 174 cartons for two adults, non-hoarders, no kids, no pets. That's Stapleman talking to our Bulgarian mates. Hot, hot, afternoon.
Back to the container seal. Remember what I said earlier about how important it was for the movers not to leave anything behind when they left Lyon for our house? Well, they had forgotten about the seal.
It was Stapleman who came to our rescue with his spare one. And the movers called us two hours later for the container number, because they were supposed to take the consignment note from Stapleman earlier on but did not. Because Stapleman told them the note was for JL to keep. Remember what I said about taking full-frontal shots of the container? That's why!
It was Stapleman who came to our rescue with his spare one. And the movers called us two hours later for the container number, because they were supposed to take the consignment note from Stapleman earlier on but did not. Because Stapleman told them the note was for JL to keep. Remember what I said about taking full-frontal shots of the container? That's why!
