I thought it was time we had an update on the house move. Even though there is not a lot to report, I am sure some people will be interested to know the ins and outs of what moving house on Symi entails.
Today I am having a quick meeting with the new landlord and our agent from The Symi Estate Agent (www.thesymiestateagent.com) who has been very helpful and understanding. We are just going to make sure both parties are singing from the same hymn sheet to make sure everything goes smoothly, for the benefit of all.
Meanwhile, we’ve been looking at furniture and things we need. There are places where you can buy and order furniture and white goods on Symi, and these days you also have the option of ordering online. I’m going for a bit of both. I’ve found out that I might be able to get the supermarket in the village to arrange a fridge freezer for us (the old one is on its last legs and needs replacing). That would be handy as they would also deliver it. We’re looking at Ikea via Rhodes for some other pieces, which does involve someone on the inside knowing how the delivery system works, but we have our agent for that too.
I’ve also has a word with an electrician who is going to come and wire the cooker in when we get there, so that’s that job sorted out. We have also started planning our system of actually moving but there are some questions still to answer and an order of things to do. For example, we need to find out if the current landlord wants us to ‘do up’ this place before we go. As I understand it he’s going to be ripping everything out and starting again, so I don’t see the point of filing in holes made by shelves, and then decorating. But we will ask. This house was last fixed up in 1981, according to the date on the paperwork found with the old boiler.
Then we need to get our new contract with the hand-over date so we can start arranging the moving party. We will need at least two strong men to move the heaviest things for us (will be advertising and paying for this in due course), though Vasilis has already offered his motorbike flat-bed ‘truck’ if we want it, which is very kind of him. A couple of strong lads and a sack trolley should do the trick. (Sounds like a Victoria Wood line.) Then, keys in hand, we will go in, clean up and paint up if necessary and move things in bit by bit.
There will, at that time, also be the thing about moving the phone line and I may ‘go dark’ for a few days if we get cut off here without being switched on there. These are all things you have to take into account when planning a move and the more you plan the smoother it goes. You also have to bear in mind that the nearest road to us is still a way away and the ‘road’ outside the new house is too narrow for a proper truck, so physically moving is not going to be easy. But that is still a few weeks away. I just thought you might like an update on where we are.
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoyed today’s photos which are some of the ones Neil took recently, as promised yesterday.
