Wednesday, March 02, 2005

The move to France takes place

The removal process can be an arduous experience. First of all the removal company turned up on Saturday, 26th February, in a hired vehicle that was half the size it was supposed to be. Their proper removal vehicle was stuck in Italy because of the weather. However, the three men got stuck into their job, spending Saturday packing and bubble wrapping all our fragile items, and boxing as much as possible. They slept the night in our house on a blow up mattress, and a sofa bed - I hadn't realised that was part of the game plan, but they are a pleasant lot.
On Sunday they filled up their vehicle completely, and it was driven back to their warehouse in Berkshire - from Kent! Meanwhile the remaining two chaps carried on packing the possessions. Within two hours the driver returned in a similar vehicle, having left the first one in Berkshire fully loaded. They then filled up the second vehicle with the rest of the items, and left us at 9.00pm. Their plan was to fill their proper removal lorry with all the items, and leave in time on Sunday to deliver to us in France by Tuesday at 11.00am. Needless to say, they only finished loading at 2.00am on Tuesday, and set off for the Channel in the morning.
I rang the boss of the removal company on his mobile on the Tuesday morning to find out where they were, to be told that he was friving the vehicle on his own, as the person who was supposed to accompany him had quit on the Monday. He was going to hire labour in Poitiers to assist the unloading! When I rang he was coming into Calais on the ferry, having had to wait in the harbour for 6 hours. He expected to reach us on the Wednesday at 7.00am.
At 11.00am on Wednesday I rang the driver to find out why he was late. He told me he was in Northern France, and had slid off the road into a ditch. He was awaiting a recovery vehicle. He said the lorry was 20 degrees off the vertical. Naturally, I expect many fragile items to be broken. Thank goodness I insured the load on a "New for Old" basis.
And the saga continues!

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