I'm moving!!!

Finally, I am moving out of my old apartment into my new house! Remember I told you I was going to remodel my kitchen; totally changed my mind as I realize I need bigger space. The feeling of moving into my new place is so exciting!!! I grew up traveling to different states of Nigeria as the daughter of a military officer and I always looked forward to wherever dad was going to be transferred next.

I’ll be starting a new adventure, putting down roots in a new place. I’d been dreaming about the new home I just acquired, and it will be fun to see how fresh and different my new place will be.

After all the exhilaration dies down, I’ll have to start packing. Over the years I had gathered so much stuff which I have attached sentiments to and there was no way I was going to leave anything behind! This is a daunting task; deciding what I need to pack first or how to pack this vase or that CD player. *phew*

I elected to call a friend who runs a moving company (one of the very few I know in Lagos)

Moving is a daunting task *phew*

- he’s given me some pointers and tips which sound really neat which will help me move my whole life to a new home; I would like to share those tips with you:

• Create a place called ‘parking central’- This is an area you need to set aside to keep your packaging materials like boxes or bags, labels, marking pens, cello tapes, old newspapers, etc.

• Make a list – Write everything down, you’ll thank me later. Create a simple record keeping system. Here you write the numbers placed on each box and describe the box content as specifically as possible so that when you are unpacking in your new home, you know what exactly is where.

• Move ahead – If you are hiring movers, call them 2-4 weeks before moving. A week to moving day, move most of those heavy duty properties out. Moving companies will be happy to deliver boxes ahead of your moving day. Or if you're doing the move yourself, get things organized as early as possible.

• Colour code rooms & boxes – this tip is really important if you don’t want to do more work when you get to your new place. Place sticky tapes with different colours on doors of various rooms and colour match the boxes meant for that room e.g. orange sticky tape on kitchen door and same orange tape on boxes with kitchen items. This will help the movers know where to place different boxes.

• Address updates – Be sure to inform the following service providers of your new address i.e. PHCN, your telecoms provider, your bank, etc. and of course, your employer.

• Dump stuff – Hey, you don’t want to move into your new place with all that clutter; get rid of some stuff. You will be surprised there are people willing to pay a few bucks for some of your old properties.

• Eat the food - Run down your food supplies, gradually emptying the freezer and store.

• Clean the old house- if rented; tidy up as best you can to improve the chances of getting your deposit back!

So, then I begin. Anymore helpful tips???