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PARKED
It's often said that the three most stressful things we might have to confront in life are the death of a loved one, getting divorced, or moving. Moving I'm well acquainted with, having done so several times in my adult life, and I can well believe it's one of the most stressful events out there. However, for all its ups and downs, it has a readily identifiable conclusion and once the move has taken place, the stress is replaced with a renewed sense of optimism for the future. I wonder then how the situation that's facing me and mine 24 hours from now ranks in terms of stress: living with builders. Or more accurately, having builders take over your home. For tomorrow morning, after over 2 years of meetings, inspections and negotiations, work begins to rectify the subsidence of the place that is my home, workplace, sanctuary and haven. Family life is being turned on its head as we will effectively have to vacate the premises for an estimated two weeks whilst the ground floor is dug out and removed. My office is being sealed off as from 08:00 tomorrow morning and life will become somewhat difficult. I fly out to the U.S on Thursday morning for a two week holiday, effectively removing myself from the situation, but until then, I will have to try and live within the constraints imposed by having no ground floor to talk about, the world of dust and dirt that all that encompasses, and having access to just one room (the lounge) via the garden. The house will be out of bounds between the hours of 08:00 and 17:00 daily, meaning I'll have to be up and out with somewhere to be and something to do that doesn't revolve around my being at my desk, working, as is the norm when I'm not away on assignment. From 17:00 each day, if I'm so minded, I can access the upstairs (bedrooms, ensuite and bathroom), via the kitchen - and a plank of wood, which will act as a bridge over the abyss that will exist where we once had a floor. Deep joy.
Tomorrow, after driving our two Russian Blues to a cattery for the first time in their ten years on earth, I've got a meeting and a lunch appointment in the City, meaning I have to dress and equip myself for that. And on Tuesday, I'm in work mode as I fly off on assignment for the day. Somehow, I need to ensure I remove from my office everything I'm likely to need until Thursday, together with whatever non-work things I'll need for my holiday. However, it's the knowledge that even when I return from the U.S, there's at least another six to eight weeks of stress waiting for us. Six to eight weeks in which we live without carpets whilst we wait for the newly laid floors to dry out. Almost two months of redecoration, cleaing, tidying and making good, as one by one, each of the ground floor rooms are cleared, repainted, etc. We've had to choose new wallpapers when there was nothing wrong with those they're replacing. Choose new floors etc. None of which is massively problematic. But the prospect of having to share my sanctum with a team of builders for the forseeable future, trying to work whilst they bang, chisel, hammer and hang, doesn't exactly fill me with joy. Still, it has to be done, and getting stressed about it ain't going to change any of that or make it any easier. So today, sees the sun set on one chapter of our lives, for a new one to open tomorrow. After tonight, I'll be surfing on my laptop from wherever I can get wi-fi access, so my presence on here will probably be intermittent. I'll be around though; I should have some interesting photos and a story to upload after Tuesday, so whether I manage it here or after I arrive in America, I'll endeavour to blog something. There is one positive to report; our close friends Nick and Eva became the proud parents of twins in the early hours of yesterday morning as Sophia Alejandra, then Antonio William took their first breaths. Eva is likely to be discharged from hospital today with the new additions, and a new chapter will begin for them, too. Congratulations to the proud parents! I'll take this opportunity to wish a Happy Easter to all my readers; thanks for your support as ever, and I look forward to catching up with you all after the holidays. |
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2.4.06 11:27 |
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