The Call of the Wendigo wrote:I've always wondered about that. The next time I move house, could I just go away on holiday and leave the removal people to it?

Of course. They're insured and registered. Just leave it to the professionals. In my experience - not just with removal men - professionals like you more and do a better (and invariably quicker) job if you just leave clear instructions as to what you want and then simply leave them to get on with their work, instead of you hovering around. Nothing sets the teeth on edge quite like being observed. Any 'help' you can offer is more of a hindrance, considering they do whatever it is they do every working day of their lives. Just leave them to it.

I do need to be there really, as there are two storage rooms involved, and one is outdoors and has a shutter operated by a key fob.

https://www.jackson-stops.co.uk/properties/17325919/sales/mid

I am moving. I’m sick of living here.

Precisely, my mother wants it, so she’s having it. Her flats going on sale and the proceeds of that I’ll buy somewhere else. There’s not much in it so although hers is larger, mine is a better area. Well, ‘better’ - better shops (and better hookers for those who want them) is all it’s better for now, even dining has taken a dive. They’re roughly an equal price most likely, so it’s almost a swap.

Providing the value of hers and mine is within a hundred or two, we’ve agreed to go ahead. Flog hers, give me the cash, she gets mine. If it’s much over that, it’s likely because mine is worth much more than I think it is, so it’ll make more sense to sell it directly.

She’s prefers it here, and I used to love it but it’s gone terrible over the last 5-7 years. It is used to be gloriously tacky (and more of a community - and much more socially mixed than outsiders ever realised), but now it’s just tacky. The only downside used to be the judgement, and people trying to stick you with the bar tab after finding out where you lived. She doesn’t mind - slightly further into town, smaller, easier upkeep etc.

A friend of mine who got into gardening in a big and quite successful way over the last few years, really since the pandemic, swears it’s the cure for depression, and I suspect she might be right, so that’s what I’m looking for.