Moving on a Budget

The weekend just gone by was the weekend of the big move.  And as big a move as it was, we still had to do it on a budget.  A budget that pretty much extended to the hiring of a small truck for less than 24 hours.  So here's the numbers:  one small truck, three people, a two hour drive to Sydney, two households to move.  Waking up on Friday morning with those numbers in my head made for a daunting start.  But then, I got up at 7am, where as Mystical Roo and Monster Noggin had been up since 4am.  They ran a load up in the ute and the trailer and then returned around midday with a truck.  We loaded up Monster Noggin's belongings and then the three of us returned to Sydney.  That truck was an experience.  The three of us were squished in side by side and there was no air conditioning, no radio and no chance of getting above 80km/h.  There were a couple of hills where things got decisively iffy.  Still, at least we weren't stuck in the massive traffic queue heading South.  We bounced along, taking much longer than normal to get to Sydney, and I got a really warm bum because I was sat above the engine.  When we finally arrived it was after 5pm and we realised - with ever growing horror - that we still had to go back again, load up our house, drive all the way back and then unload. What a mission.  But we cracked on and the three of us started to haul furniture up two flights of stairs.  All I can say is thank God for Monster Noggin because she can carry some seriously heavy stuff.  If it was left to me to help Mystical Roo then we'd still be sat on sofas outside of the front door.  We scurried back and forth, we battled with angles, we had fun on the tail lift and then finally we were back on the road, downing energy drinks and talking nonsense.  When we got stuck in that southbound traffic (oh yes, a turned truck continued to block the road well into the night) we broke into song and started waving at fellow truck drivers.  Games were played, super powers were discussed and Thai food was ordered.  When we arrived back at our flat it was 9.30pm and Ammy and Treacle were ready to help us load up our furniture.  There was more scurrying, more moving up and down the stairs and poor Monster Noggin had to tackle Mystical Roo's underwear drawer.  11pm and we were back on the road to Sydney discussing the fact that a) we had to get the truck back first thing in the morning and b) there was no way we could start unloading at 1am without angering all of our new neighbours.  The truck continued to bounce, Monster Noggin got cold and I continued to have a warm bum.  A petrol station stop saw Monster Noggin harassed by a staggering drunk and a staggering drunk seen off by a rattly old truck.  More energy drinks were consumed and by the time we reached Sydney at 1.30am we decided we would just have to get up early and quietly unload first thing in the morning.  A mattress, linen and pillows were snuck up the stairs and the truck was parked up for the night.  Sweaty, stinky but totally exhausted we set our alarms for 5.30am and crawled into bed for a rejuvenating four hour sleep.  6am and we were back on it, sneaking down the stairs and skulking back and forth with the "quiet" furniture.  No talking, no giggling, no heavy breathing.  We were like ninjas in the early morning light.  7am and we figured that was it - the truck was brought round, the fridge was unloaded and we started to move the "noisy" furniture.  There was much success and we offloaded the truck before celebrating with a big breakfast.  Then it was back to the flat in the relative comfort of the ute to load up the last of our furniture.......We've been back and forth to Sydney more times than I can count in the last three days.  We've worked so hard but finally, finally are moved in.  And whilst we really need another weekend just to recover, check out the view from our new apartment!