So, the logistics of making a relatively simple move.
Why does no one ever blog about the sheer slog and the practical detail of moving to another country? Boring? Is it? ………….Tough!
This is the “warts and all” blog diary, complete with almost full candour, so you guys are going to get the full picture, is that OK?
I am irresistably compelled to do it my way, so I will just ramble away like I do……
First, the piles of paperwork. We haven’t even started on personal stuff yet, but as I type , I can hear the gentle hum of the brand new shredder as Trev manfully wades his way through six years of confidential waste from my office. Let’s hope this shredder lasts longer than the last one and is sturdier than all those vacuum cleaners we have blown up in France. Unfortunately, my job relies only partly on electronically (or cloud held) data, it’s one of the last bastions of the paper office.
For those worried about all that waste paper, ours will go into packing boxes and be useful.
Blog-sur-Aude 
I would never have thought of using it for packing. I’ve always just composted it and put it in the garden. When/if we move I will do the same. And yes, isn’t it amazing how our computers were supposed to make us a paperless society and now we drown in the stuff?
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As our garden will now consist of terrace and courtyard and space out front I will do only limited composting. We aren’t in any urban sprawl though, there is glorious countryside and mountains a step in any direction and a river next door
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Yes! And I am totally in awe of your good fortune.
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Hopefully the place will keep us sane in the inevitable time of trial ….
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“…inevitable time of trial ….” ???
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I’m sure there will be hiccups and obstacles to surmount
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When we moved from SoCal to N Alabama, just over 2,000 miles, the hardest part was getting everything loaded and locking the door for the last time. Oh, and there were the blowouts of two of the tires on the trailer we had rented to tow the car. (that’s a story for another day…) All in all, it wasn’t that bad. Moving hiccups indeed! 😉
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F*** useful … just the shredding is worth a medal. Honestly. We have an over green mayor here. I’m a little jade. There is only so much we can do and you have a big move ahoy. Bon courage, ma belle amie. Really. Bon courage. It sucks and I’m still recovering (it was September 2013) x
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Now I’m worried! No, seriously, it is pointless to stress about this. We will cope. I may have to throttle Trevor but we will cope
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I jest a little … your words bring back the worst of it but actually it evaporated when we stopped at Zut Kirk (the first Aire out of Calais if you are headed Paris way and aptly named if I may comment) for The Bean to pee and I realised I had done it … I was now living in France. hallelujah and pass the tambourine, I promise there is no feeling like it! Xx
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One thing I shredded were my pay stubs from years ago. Turns out I might need them if I ever try to retire here, to prove I worked enough trimesters. If I were you, I would keep those.
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I don’t have pay stubs, I’ve had too many jobs & moves over the years ; but I can prove my civil service record, the job from 2007-2011 and my self employment for last six years.
That’s all I got I’m afraid
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Perhaps one day there will be a truly paperless system, but for now we are also slaves to keeping seemingly irrelevant and confidential paperwork for years at a time. Aarrrgh! Still, it makes lovely and cushiony packing once it’s all shredded! x
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True.
It will be critical I think for kitchen stuff and my Moroccan beaten copper basin!
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