While the Kids are Away...

We moved house last week. We seem to do this about every 18 months so it wasn’t too much of a hassle. In fact, I’d even go as far as to say it was relatively enjoyable. No I’m not some kind of sadist, it’s just that my parents took the kids for three days while we packed, moved and unpacked. This was the equivalent of a mini break for us. Normally, over the course of a weekend we manage just a few exchanged pleasantries and this is generally done to the backdrop of ever increasing toddler demands, or the unmistakable tug of sticky hands on trouser legs. Thoughts of cold beer and curry usually add a bit of frivolity to one’s step as the kids’ bedtime routine draws closer but other than that, it’s business as usual.

So, anyway, this particular weekend meant three nights out in a row, lie-ins until 8am and more conversations that we’ve had in the last year or so. I’d recommend moving house to any frazzled parents out there! The removal men did make the whole process pretty stress-free. There was the usual contingent:

Old Bloke (usually called Harry)
Been with the firm 40-odd years and they don’t have the heart to let him go. Doesn’t do a lot in the way of lifting or carrying, as his back creaks and everyone (including you) feels bad about letting him lift anything. Stops for a break and a chat every ten minutes and chats about the good old days, the rising price of bread and the problems with the local ASBOs.

The Mouthy One (usually called Geoff)
He’s the leader in all but name, the guy that the others all look to for direction. He puts the clients at ease with very poor jokes. Usually a bit on the tubby side from a diet rich in crisps and Mars bars but can still shift the furniture around when duty calls. Drinks tea non-stop all day long.

The Whippet (usually called Brian)
He’s the dark horse. He’s probably shorter and less well built than the clients but he’s as strong as an ox. He’ll be busy spinning double wardrobes around to get them down stairwells while the others are still sizing up the job.

The Good Looking One (usually called Paul)
Often a bit of a loner, he’s the one whose name you’ll keep forgetting because he just gets on with the job and doesn’t say a word all day. He’s between jobs or just doing this part time while he completes his personal trainer course.