I think I need a good talking to as the shippers are coming in a week and I just feel so disorganised! I have no second thoughts about going at all but am panicking about what is left to sort out before we go!

We have already done so much dumping of old stuff but the inventory isn't complete yet, although the major stuff is done. I need to wrap and distribute all the Xmas presents, pack what we are taking with us so the shippers don't pack it and make it obvious what we are selling/leaving so that doesn't get packed either. I haven't worked out what we will sleep on when they've gone as we don't fly until the 2nd.

How precise has everything got to be? Do you need to have things listed in the minutest detail or am I freaking out about nothing? I haven't even finised disinfecting the stuff in the garage or scrubbed the shoes yet!

Help!

Debs

Know exactly how you feel - brilliant isnt it??? We were meant to spend the entire weekend sorting through our stuff as the shippers are arriving next Saturday - instead we spent the entire weekend running an expedition into the attic to see what we could find (found out I owned more shoes then I thought I did and four boxes we never unpacked since moving in four years ago!!) Sorting out our paper work ( three bin bags worth had to be shredded) chucked a few items in a box that I thought I could car boot, And I also dared myself to open the tardis of a cupboard in the spare room which I have always chucked stuff in and never realised just how much junk I had stuffed in there, oh, and we also managed to dismantle one of the beds - So all we have really achieved this weekend is to make one big mess of the house and not really knowing what we want to do with it all!!! Ah well im sure it will all dissapear like magic eventually.

Best of luck with the packing - Karma for the stress on its way!!

We're with you guys. Also beginning to panic about what needs sorting out & finding we own a lot more stuff then I remember but kinda loving it in a sick & twisted way.

I've shredded so much paperwork I think I must have felled a forest...

Can't wait 'til it's all sorted so can relax & have a big glass of red.

I got lots of help from Friends and family the weekend before the shippers arrived (which was the Monday).

To say thank you I thought we'd have a barbie on the Sunday afternoon (it was July) after we'd done it all. Trouble was we had a quick glass of wine on the Saturday morning and then spent the rest of the day finishing off the wine, beer and champagne and dancing round my front room to the 'Best of the Bee-Gees'.

So Sunday, I had a few no shows because of bad hangovers so there were only a few of us cleaning and scrubbing with an almighty hangover. My sister had to have a nap in the afternoon as it was all too much and I was finding it very hard to focus on the soles of my shoes whilst disinfecting them with an old toothbrush.

So moral of the story is, don't panic, it will all be fine but you can make it easy for yourself by doing what needs to be done rather than getting rat arsed!

If all else fails, send two shipments!

"pack what we are taking with us so the shippers don't pack it and make it obvious what we are selling/leaving so that doesn't get packed either."


we emptied one room & all the stuff that wasnt going for whatever reason got put into this room - all of our suitcases - stuff that was being sold/ given/dumped etc & we closed the door
on the door i put a notice saying " DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING IN THIS ROOM"
any other larger items that were not going i.e fridge/freezer i put post it notes on saying DO NOT PACK!
after all of the stuff has gone we were able to sort that 1 room out at our leisure

with regards to what to sleep on we got these from argos

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/6343338.htm

they were easy to inflate /deflate & were light enough to pack & bring with us - they make fantastic beds for when the kids have friends over- especially as the bedding is already attached !!


hth

pootle26

Thanks for all the sentiments/advice guys - I know so many have already been in the same boat and it really helps to talk to people in or who has been in the same situation.

Debs
x

Chill Debs............Australia awaits your arrival.

Debs
I really really mean this, don't get yourself in a panic.
I realise now that I spent my last 2 weeks in a blind panic and there was no need, in fact I shouldn't have even worried about car booting or taking stuff to the charity shop or giving stuff away because there is always room in the container to stuff every thing in there anyway and then you can sort it at your own pace once you are here, there are far more nicer things to do with your last couple of weeks especially this close to Christmas.
I didnt make an inventory at all, the shippers do all of that, it wont be that detailed but they do list every item that they pack in each box. Also dont worry about clearing out cupboards or draws ready as they happily do that anyway. I had packed a couple of boxes myself ie; dinner service and kitchenware, they unpacked the lot and re-packed it so that was a wast of time
These shippers really know what they are doing, mine was pretty last minute so they had to come on the day of completion, they arrived at 8am and were out by 2pm, they just steam in and wrap everything in site so dont sit still for too long lol. The previous tip about having one room with stuff not to be packed is a good idea, just make sure that you have a big sign on that door so that every shipper knows because we had a couple of shippers turn up later in the day and also the container delivery guys helped out too so they wouldn't have been aware of any instructions dished out earlier in the day.
Afraid there is no way round the Jeyes cleaning fluid but I quite enjoyed that bit in the end although I kept putting it off, I spread a load of newspaper on the living room floor got two buckets of water and a bottle of jeyes and watched a film, had scrubbed 60 pairs of shoes and contents of 2 tool boxes by the end of the film, and then spent 15 mins on the bike and outside furniture.
I know its hard and I can honestly say that my last 2 weeks were the most stressful of my life but there is no way I would get stressed like that again because I regret not chilling and just enjoying time with family and mates.
I know its easier said than done but I can assure you from the biggest worrier in the world, it will all come good in the end whether you panic or not

Good Luck
Sharon

Thanks Shazza I needed to hear that and the TV and disinfecting sounds a fab idea, I now know what I am doing tomorrow night.

thanks
Debs
x

So pleased for you debs,
don't stress your new life is here and everything will fall into place,

big hugs and stuff Lace xx

sent you some karma honey

xx

Lots of good advice there. I thought I'd be clever and have a massive clear out now while I'm trying to get the house ready to put on the market. Big mistake. I've never seen such a mess in my life, and where it's all come from I'll never know. I should just have tackled one room at a time, but no, had to do it the hard way. Feel like ordering a skip and just chucking the whole lot straight in.... What possesed me to start it now I'll never know, not even a space to put the Christmas tree up. Oh well, at least I know what I'll be doing from now till Christmas.

Hi
We're in the same boat,shippers booked for 6th Jan,so at least I feel we can get X-Mas over with before we start the clear out. We're having the family here for X-Mas day,so I don't want too much clutter around the house, I figure we can get it all sorted after boxing day,that includes all the cupboards,wardrobes & "THE ATTIC" :scared:
My biggest worry is all the clothes,what we need to keep here for the time being, is all the stuff we should be shipping,& all the summer stuff we don't need,is the stuff we have to take with us on the flight
Anyway, sure it will all be fine,just can't wait to get the flights booked & get on that bloody plane!

OOOOh I feel your pain! We have a compact and bijou old house with no room to spare but loads of clutter to spare, parents coming for Xmas, DIY being done to ready for on market in New Yr and a visa that arrived 3mths earlier than expected burning a huge hole in our pockets.

Really want to put up the Xmas decs so it actually feels like christmas but can't find a space to put the darn tree up for all the junk,paint brushes and paperwork for the visa evidencing and check list of 'things to do before you emigrate' piles. It's v tempting to say bugger the turkey, let's get on a plane to Aus now but have to show the 80yr old parents how to set up their broadband connection so we can webcam each other from Aus, and a phone IT techline helper I am not so we have to stay and squeeze them into the space somewhere.

Anyone seen my Delia's Christmas cook book or have a decluttered that already? sh*t I'm doomed without her timeline for the day!

Claire

I need some reassurance!

Like you the shippers are coming next week and I feel awful! I think it's just blind panic but I feel sick and seem to spend my whole life crying or trying not to at the moment. There are good days and bad days. We both have jobs to go to and have spent the last year or so planning all of this. The panic has set in only in the last couple of weeks. I hope that I will be ok when we get there. I've looked at other peoples messages and they've recommended trying the happy pills. What happens though if they aren't enough to get me through the next few weeks? We seem to have so much to do and no time. What will happen if I don't like it when I get there? I know we should give it a go but my sense of adventure is causing me great greif now. My husband is far more positive than me and I wish that I was as calm as he is. I think that I would feel better if we were definitely going for a limited time period - say one or even two years rather than it being open ended. Realistically I don't want to sat forever but would like to give it a go. Everything just seems a big deal at the moment. My friends are being great as is my husband but I think that even he is being worn down by the way I feel now.
Reassurance needed!