Empty Rooms

That’s it. The flat is empty. Andy and his van turned up at 9, we had a completely smooth run down to Chester and were starting loading by 11.30. Apart from the wardrobe, most of the stuff wasn’t too heavy or awkward to manoeuvre, it was just the pain of having to take everything down two flights of stairs and then across the car park to the van.
And, whilst Andy and I might have done this with contemptuous ease a decade ago, a new hip and dodgy knee (Andy) and a trapped nerve/strained back (me) meant we sometimes struggled. The wardrobe wouldn’t stand up in the back of the van, but as it was only going to the auction house anyway, we ran it round there first and then loaded the bed, the settee and a couple of boxes of odds and ends. Mrs C, in the meantime, had cleaned and hoovered as we are the sort of people who could not leave the place in anything other than as clean a condition as possible.
We took final meter readings before locking up for the last time and going to get some well earned lunch. Then it was just a case of dropping the keys into the Estate Agent and heading back up the M6. Another trouble free run - must be the “white van man” effect - had us back home by 5pm.
And then the fun started. Parking on the drive and with no stairs to contend with made unloading easier than loading, but our house is already crowded with surplus stuff from the flat, and adding a king size mattress and a three seater settee did nothing to help the situation. Eventually we managed to squeeze everything into the house and hopefully I can get it all listed - and sold! - over the next few days.
Not sure what to feel about the flat. I certainly won’t miss the expense of it, nor the schlepping up and down the M6, but I think I might miss having somewhere familiar to stay when visiting mum in the future.
But, for now, I’m just glad it’s all cleared and I can get on with advising all the utility companies etc. In theory, we are exchanging contracts tomorrow and completing next Friday. However, I’ve bought and sold enough properties to know that nothing is definite until the money is in the bank account (if selling) or the keys are in your hand (if buying).
And much as I’d like a rest day tomorrow, I just know it’s going to be another busy one…