Sliding wheels
For the big move, we looked for a removal company and found a local French firm with a good price-quality ratio: loading in Horst on Wednesday morning and unloading in Le Charaix on Friday. It was November 2024. That Wednesday morning we had set the alarm clock to be ready at 8am, as they would arrive during the morning. They finally arrived around half past twelve, and the two young men worked hard to load everything. They were worthy of their company’s slogan ‘Gentlemen Movers’: they were careful not only with our belongings but also with Anita’s state of mind, a mixture of tension as she let go of the familiar and embraced the unknown.
Late departure
By the time the truck was loaded and our car and trailer too, it was 5pm and we were all hungry. How nice to have friendly neighbours! Our neighbours cooked us fries, frikandel and kroket: a Dutch culinary treat, as an introduction to the Netherlands for the movers and as a farewell dinner for us. We could leave the dishes: it was 5.30pm: high time to go to our new home!
Early arrival
We had decided to take Anita’s car with us to France, as Rob’s contract in the Netherlands ends on 30 November, so the lease car had to be returned. To be able to take the trailer with us, the little white car got a tow bar! And so we drove through the night, arriving at our destination at 4.30am, but … in bed half an hour later!
The slope test
What had happened? To get to the house, at the entrance, the gate, there is a bit of a steep climb. It is a gravel road, but there is also grass. Reason enough for our car with trailer to skid: not forward, but backward! There you are in the middle of the night, very tired, in the dark.
After a few manoeuvres, Rob managed to drive up. Another issue to reflect upon: we need to do something about our driveway, maybe pave it? We can’t force our future visitors to buy a 4×4, can we? And what about the removal truck coming to unload on Friday? Oops… if only that would go well.
Friday morning
The removal truck was also having a hard time and did not rise at first. The experienced driver eventually came up, as you can see in the video below:
It was a bright and sunny day that we will not soon forget.
Moral of the story: we are never too old to experience something new, especially if we take on new adventures ourselves.
What’s next?
Blogs are short, with a maximum of 800 words. Do you have any related questions, including the ones that are not written, or do you recognise a situation that you would like to talk about? Feel free to send a message to contact@lecharaix.fr