Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

Better late than never they say!  The weeks are just flying by and my days are full to the brim!

Inside ~ {Internal to, not outside; located in the bounds of}

This picture was taken in March at the house we stayed at previous to this one.  As I write, we are busy moving again.  So in a week’s time this sentence will read: “This picture was taken in March at the house we stayed before the previous one!”  How’s that!

If you look closely, you’ll see two sheets of glass.  Sandwiched between the glass you’ll see weed growing.  These stubborn plants will find anyway to grow…inside anything!

 

I love the contrast of the blue sky and clouds as background.  This house is situated in Roodepoort which means: “red valley”  It is clear why…check that red soil.

Moving weekend…

About two weeks ago I proudly posted on tips for moving house.  After 16 moves under the belt I gave you advice on packing and planning etc.  Thinking I was quite the expert…well, I fooled myself.

Moving house can be fun…but this time it really wasn’t.  It totally bowled me over and I almost lost it on Saturday.  Not only did I almost suffocate in the chaos…I didn’t even follow my own tips! (how’s that for craziness!)

My life on the stoep (Afrikaans word for porch)

For the last 9 years relocating has become part of my life…but I have had enough.  We moved into this house with so many hopes to make a difference in the charity, but I believe for a divine reason we had to move.  This decision brought with it sadness and confusion.  Then I was reminded of the very beautiful verse in Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV) I should have hope for my future.  God allows certain events for a very good reason.  All will be revealed in due time.  

Get a move on: How to move house…

This is the first DIY post for 2012, so I thought it fit that I give some tips for moving.  If only it was so easy…

If only moving was this easy!

Moving house can be extremely stressful and emotional.  Believe me…I know. I am about to move for the 17th time in 9 years.

By now I should be able to do this with my eyes closed but it is different every time.  I have sort of developed a system which naturally progressed over the years.  Here are a few pointers I hope you’ll find helpful:

1. Prepare.  Make lists of what you’ll need like boxes, koki’s, buff tape, newspaper etc.  Start collecting them a few days before you plan to start packing.  Get boxes from your local grocery store.
2. Involve the family.  A friend of mine, Stacey Holland, told me about her nomadic childhood. The one thing she really loved about moving is that her parents got them involved in the process.  So it really became an adventure, choosing paint colours, decorating and meeting new friends.
3. Work room by room.  Draw a mental map of your existing home and what you need to prioritise first.  Decide which room you will pack first and stick to the plan.
4. Work out a system. Try a colour coded system to mark boxes which you will need to unpack first at your new home.  Use coloured sheets of paper and write on it exactly what is in the box.  For example: Mark the bathroom box in red and write on the sheet:

Work out a colour-coded system

Note: Be sure to stick the paper sheets to the front of the boxes so when they are stacked you can easily see what is in there.

4. Make sure fragile stickers are clearly visible.  Nothing is worse than opening a box and finding the salad bowl you inherited from Gran in pieces!

5. Pack a separate box of needs for moving day.

List of needs for moving day

Kettle

Milk

Tea or Coffee

Cups

Snack

Bedding/Towels

Scissors

Toiletries (Don’t Forget the Toothpaste!)

Money coins and notes

Toilet Rolls

Light Bulbs

Small Tool Kit

Torch

Lighter

Pen and Paper

A few pieces of basic cutlery, crockery, can opener. You may fancy a takeaway on your first time at your new property

Keys, car etc

First Aid Kit

Cleaning aids (cloths, cleaners, etc)

This is just an example.  You can customise your list according to your needs.

6. Unpack!  I like to unpack as soon as we get to the new house.  Keep the momentum and try to unpack one box at a time.  Pace yourself and don’t overexert yourself.  I’ll even go as far as decorating some rooms on our first night!!

7. Change your address.  Contact your bank, insurance companies etc to change your address as soon as you can.

These are just a few tips that make moving easier for me.  Try to make the new house a home as soon as possible.  Hang up some pictures and pack out familiar things in your rooms so the kids feel at home immediately.

Moving is an adventure.  It is an opportunity to meet new and interesting people.  It also forces you out of your comfort zone and it is a chance to start over and try new things!  Come on, get a move on!