Moving in!

Just to catch up with what has been happening, as soon as I got the key, Ross and I started painting the apartment, hoping to get a couple of rooms finished before the arrival of my furniture, however that got here sooner than I anticipated so most things are being stored in a couple of spare rooms here...I have plenty of them.

My furniture was delivered to Sauðárkrókur last Tuesday which was the beginning of a blizzard, the wind had revved up considerably but fortunately the truck was able to back right up to the front door. The next day the weather would have made the delivery impossible, most roads around Iceland were closed...I could not even see the church across the road for the wind and mega snow fall.

 

 Piece by piece the truck was unloaded and most of the furniture had to go up two flights of steps.  The two gentleman unloading were very obliging and did not complain at all.

 

 At this stage I have not unpacked anything other than my bed and quilts as I intend to paint before I set each room up.

Eventually the truck was empty even my etching press and oversized 140 year old plan draw (which on other occasions when moving has had to be pulled apart to get through doorways)  just managed to fit through the back door...I had, had a few sleepless nights wondering about those two items but there were no problems.

I will be back with more photos when I have finished painting a couple of rooms and set them up.

Farewell to a couple of good friends

This has been a week of goodbyes firstly to Squeek my 10 year old cat who was a wild stray kitten deserted by his mother at a few weeks old, he literally fell from the sky into my lap (long story) so of course I had to take him home.  He was several generations wild cat and pretty much stayed that way, he did not like being inside unless it was dinner time and never took to being stroked, however I think we were a match as I am allergic to cats, so one that didn't like being inside or patted was perfect.  Of course I could not take him with me to Iceland and unfortunately because of his aggressive temperament I was unable to find a home for him.  As the house air changed with boxes and packing, Squeek became unsettled and a little stressed and started to stay inside day and night (very strange behavior for Squeek) and in the last few days took to sleeping on the end of my bed. 

 He starts off as if he enjoys the caress

 and then he gets the look

and you know he is about to bite the hand that pats.

Not  all decisions in life are easy and I had to make the very difficult decision to have him euthanased. Saturday was a very tearful day, farewell old mate.

Moving can be such a stressful period...so much to do within a short space of time.   Sorting, packing, cleaning, getting rid of stuff...giving things away or throwing in the skip for passerbys to grab (and did they ever, so happy that not much is ending up in landfill).  However apart from sheer exhaustion for a couple of days I have to say that the whole experience has been relatively stress free.  From preparing the home for sale, to selling with Radi Estates who were very professional and a pleasure to deal with, to moving.  The moving company Chess were great, they spent a full day packing and wrapping furniture

and then a day to load the container. They were a great team, very hard working and nothing I asked was too much trouble.

 The guy who packed the container (Japanese) Ikki (not sure if that is how he spells his name) made it look so easy as he carefully judged which piece would go in next, even his team mates said that he is amazing and the best at making everything fit...a cultural trait I think.

 The last thing to go on was my press which is extremely heavy and a bit of a nightmare to maneuver

but they did it without disaster.  

The youngest of the team Curtis asked if he could take a root of a Hibiscus that was sprouting as he is creating his garden with plants from each house move he does...cool idea!

A house is somewhat different when it is empty, however I can still feel this old house smile.

I do have a little sadness saying goodbye, as I walk around the empty rooms, my imprint is now only a shadow layer not seen but felt.

She has been a great little home and I thank her for allowing me to share a few years with her but now its time to share another elsewhere.

Getting there slowly!

Well apologies for lack of posting except for Monday Ice, things are rather chaotic here as I am in the midst of packing up my worldly possessions.  Next Monday the removalists arrive to start packing and wrapping furniture...I am just sorting and packing unbreakables such as books, clothes and linen.

On Sunday Eva left home...we spent the day moving her to Kristinn's in North Perth.  Here at home she had two rooms to spread out in and now is down to one...however she pretty much still has two rooms of stuff to deal with.  Eva has been living at home for over 2 years now and I must admit I was half expecting her to walk through the door after work last night...it will take a little getting used to but I will have plenty to distract myself with....at the moment it is all about packing and sorting.

I am not sure getting a 20ft container is all that good for the cathartic cleanout that was suppose to happen, as I seem to not be throwing out too much!  Of course all my books are going...up to number ten box and still counting...I am certain it's a sin to throw away books!

Of course all the bits and pieces I was going to sell hasn't happened as I did not get organised in time....but they are just small antique bits and pieces, not of any real value but too good to throw away... aah well they will have to come with me now!

I like the idea of minimalist living but not sure that I could ever do it, especially in a home, which in my mind is to be lived in...I could not live in a house where you have to hide your living experience behind lots of cupboard doors.  However I have definitely improved over the years and have whittled things down somewhat.  But there is still something to be said for aesthetics and the beauty of objects and what they do for the soul.  My soul loves the worn item, things that have aged, had many different lives imbued with a soft patina brought about by years of existence, artifacts that have had many owners who add tone to the object. I did toy with the idea of not taking anything and starting completely fresh but just could not do it as a lot of my stuff I have had since I was sixteen when I first started collecting things that I love.

 

This little miniature oak roll top desk was the very first piece of furniture I purchased at 16 in an antique auction in 1974. Don't think I could ever sell that.

There is of course a fine line between surrounding yourself with aesthetic life collections and hoarding and the accumulation of clutter...a fine line that I walk everyday. However as they say beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

There is also something aesthetically pleasing to my eye about the Ibis...one came for a visit in my front yard yesterday.