No going back now.......................

[FLYING BANANA]

................................................. Amazing friends. Matt & John brought there van down from Torquay. Paul brought his van down from Plympton. And Allen from his ZTT from Saltash. All to help me move. We loaded Leafy up with the small stuff, although managed to get a coffee table in plus one dining room chair.

Next all the mid sized furniture went into Paul's Tardis Fiat van. Amazing how much it took.
Then finally John reversed the workhorse in, none other than the reliable, Ford Transit. This van took all the large stuff. The Bear also had stuff already loaded in. But we left her at home. Parking is a bit tight around the new house. So with Leafy leading the convoy off we went. Parked up and the unload started.

At 5am yesterday morning I dismantled my bed. Quite straightforward. 6 bolts to remove the mattress support. The was easy but taking the frame apart was something else. The nuts were virtually inaccessible with a spanner. The only way I could undo the nuts was with a pair of long nosed pair of pliers. Only 4 to do but it took time. The spare bed slides in underneath. That slides out OK but as soon as you lift it up the spring loaded legs spring out. So the legs had to be tired to the frame.

So when the boys unloaded the beds I knew I would have to get it built so that I could go to bed. Got a Z bed as well to fall back on, excuse the pun, or just throw the mattresses on the floor.
Then it was tea break time. We sat outside on the decking in the sun and chatted. We decided to see if we could get Banana into the garage. I had already tried and had caught the mirror backing on the post. So back to AM RESTORATIONS to get that repainted. It was suggested that rather trying to reverse in was drive straight in. Banana fitted in OK, but I couldn't open the door wide enough to get out. We tried a couple of things. Had the approach to the garage been on the level then we might have got away with just pushing her in.

But the approach is rather steep uphill way in. So that is out of the question. So we brought Banana back out and parked her back into her allocated parking spot. We'll temporary place a fleece lined cover over her. The plan is now is to get the council to drop the kerb, take out a section of the hedge and put a ramps in and park Banana in the back garden. Got lots of room. Then put up one of those portable garages. So at least she will be protected from the elements.
So the garage will be used for storage. Was going to use the greenhouse to store stuff. But no need now. Will use it for the purposes of being a greenhouse.

Allen and Paul went back to the old house to bring the last few bits back plus take the bookcase back. You should have heard the colourful language that Paul came out with when Allen told him the news.
They were soon back with my fridge freezer although there is a built in one in the new house I thought I could use the old one as well. But everyone agreed it should go and live in the garage and used as a spare wine and cider store. So that has now to be moved again.
Then more tea was required.
After the chaps helped to move the heavy stuff around. And then it was to say our goodbyes.
And they were all gone, leaving me to start sorting the stuff out.

To be continued.

Thanks for the kind comments and pm's Means a lot to me.

[Rev Jules]

Originally Posted by FLYING BANANA

................................................. Amazing friends. Matt & John brought there van down from Torquay. Paul brought his van down from Plympton. And Allen from his ZTT from Saltash. All to help me move. We loaded Leafy up with the small stuff, although managed to get a coffee table in plus one dining room chair.

Next all the mid sized furniture went into Paul's Tardis Fiat van. Amazing how much it took.
Then finally John reversed the workhorse in, none other than the reliable, Ford Transit. This van took all the large stuff. The Bear also had stuff already loaded in. But we left her at home. Parking is a bit tight around the new house. So with Leafy leading the convoy off we went. Parked up and the unload started.

At 5am yesterday morning I dismantled my bed. Quite straightforward. 6 bolts to remove the mattress support. The was easy but taking the frame apart was something else. The nuts were virtually inaccessible with a spanner. The only way I could undo the nuts was with a pair of long nosed pair of pliers. Only 4 to do but it took time. The spare bed slides in underneath. That slides out OK but as soon as you lift it up the spring loaded legs spring out. So the legs had to be tired to the frame.

So when the boys unloaded the beds I knew I would have to get it built so that I could go to bed. Got a Z bed as well to fall back on, excuse the pun, or just throw the mattresses on the floor.
Then it was tea break time. We sat outside on the decking in the sun and chatted. We decided to see if we could get Banana into the garage. I had already tried and had caught the mirror backing on the post. So back to AM RESTORATIONS to get that repainted. It was suggested that rather trying to reverse in was drive straight in. Banana fitted in OK, but I couldn't open the door wide enough to get out. We tried a couple of things. Had the approach to the garage been on the level then we might have got away with just pushing her in.

But the approach is rather steep uphill way in. So that is out of the question. So we brought Banana back out and parked her back into her allocated parking spot. We'll temporary place a fleece lined cover over her. The plan is now is to get the council to drop the kerb, take out a section of the hedge and put a ramps in and park Banana in the back garden. Got lots of room. Then put up one of those portable garages. So at least she will be protected from the elements.
So the garage will be used for storage. Was going to use the greenhouse to store stuff. But no need now. Will use it for the purposes of being a greenhouse.

Allen and Paul went back to the old house to bring the last few bits back plus take the bookcase back. You should have heard the colourful language that Paul came out with when Allen told him the news.
They were soon back with my fridge freezer although there is a built in one in the new house I thought I could use the old one as well. But everyone agreed it should go and live in the garage and used as a spare wine and cider store. So that has now to be moved again.
Then more tea was required.
After the chaps helped to move the heavy stuff around. And then it was to say our goodbyes.
And they were all gone, leaving me to start sorting the stuff out.

To be continued.

Thanks for the kind comments and pm's Means a lot to me.

Good Morning Peeps.
We have sunshine here in Radcliffe at the moment how long it will last, any ones guess.
Well done Bob you have some good buddies there, the portable garage you mentioned I have Dereks car parked up in one from a company in Denmark called Dancover, so far it has coped with all sorts of some serious weather, might be worth a thought.

Rev

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by FLYING BANANA

We tried a couple of things. Had the approach to the garage been on the level then we might have got away with just pushing her in.

If you don't need it in and out a lot and can you stand alongside it in the garage, how about either an hand cranked winch or even an electric one?


I used a hand cranked one for years to pull my caravan up the drive, from the road. Hand cranked ones with a ratchet can be had for £10- £15 on ebay. You could even rig up a couple of pulleys, inside the garage, to enable you to crank from outside the garage.

[FLYING BANANA]

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

If you don't need it in and out a lot and can you stand alongside it in the garage, how about either an hand cranked winch or even an electric one?


I used a hand cranked one for years to pull my caravan up the drive, from the road. Hand cranked ones with a ratchet can be had for £10- £15 on ebay. You could even rig up a couple of pulleys, inside the garage, to enable you to crank from outside the garage.

We thought about that idea but have Now decided against it. But thanks for the suggestion.

[FLYING BANANA]

.................................................. .... Was not as easy as I thought it would be. Took me nigh on an hour to piece it all together. And changed the sheets, pillow cases and put on my Poppy duvet. Chris65's other 'alf Pam gave me some duvet clips. They work a treat. So with my Val scatter cushions on the bed it was done. I slid the spare bed under and it all looked neat.

Went to bed at at 10pm last night and my bladder work me up at 05.30 this morning, and the scatter cushions were still on the bed. Decided to stay up and get on with clearing away. Got dressed and downstairs to make the tea. Managed to incinerate the toast. Cleared away some boxes away upstairs. Then set about getting the telly set up. Allen came round and he set about getting the magic box
working but it took time as the previous house owner had hidden all the cables behind an ingenious shelf unit. But Allen persevered with it. Finally got it all working after we popped back to his house to see if he had a female aerial connector.

Val made us both a bacon and mushroom sandwich washed down with a mug tea. Very great full for that. Back to the house via the old house to collect a few bits.
Then we set about clearing the empty boxes away to the garage. All the stuff I want to sell was re-boxed and that that also ended up in the garage.
Time was marching on so Allen took his leave whilst I cleaned up.

Another day tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

[FLYING BANANA]

.............................................. I pulled up my roots and moved from the home I was born in. From Barkingside to Saltash. Yep! Been here 1 year now. And tomorrow one year ago I moved into my rented two bedroomed house. 5 days short of the 1 year I have now moved out and into my own home. And I love it.

The letting agents at the old house are sorry to see me go but when I showed them the photo's of the new house they were very happy for me. They said that I had got very good bargain.
Still plenty to do here in the new house, but some will have to wait. The last 6 months have finally caught up with me and I'm having to take things easy. Spent yesterday sorting out the model car collection. Took me all day in just one room. Going to be selling half the collection.

Still have my Rolls-Royce and Bentley models to sort out. Hopefully will be able to get them all in the two display cases left.
There is a few railway engines that Belonged to my late Uncle that will be looking for a new home. (2 working and 2 static, although I think one of them could be made to run again).
My WW2 fighter aircraft collection is being donated to a museum in Kent. (Delivering these when I'm up in London next).
My late brothers Fokker Tri-plane kit is currently up For Sale, on here, and will be on ebay soon.

All of Banana s trophies, and her rosettes, are out and on display in a glass cabinet once owned by Father in Law. He bought it secondhand in 1937.
The old chiming clock bought by Val's Aunt is working. Aunt Beryl bought it secondhand from a pawnbrokers in 1948 and it cost £4. 8s. I still have the original receipt. It takes a couple of months to settle down and keep good time.
There are paintings and framed photographs, some I'll keep and the rest I will sell, less to dust then.
Have got my Moorcroft and Caithness collection on display once again. Along with my Poppy flower display.
Even got The Flying Banana in a display case now and on the bookshelf. (Plastic banana with wings all made by me). Might bring that with me when I attend the Clandon show next month.

So all in all we are getting there. Everything takes time. Will start my mini tours again at some point. London next month.

So No Going Back Now.......................................

Many thanks for the kind comments and pm's. Means a lot to me to have so many lovely friends.

[squire]

Well pleased for you. Nice to see some happiness these days

Best wishes for the future.

Martyn

[FLYING BANANA]

................................................ As I'm supposed to taking it easy, ease up on the hard work and slow down to the Cornish pace, I decided to pop round to the old house and swap the Bear over with RedFive. Plus check to see if there was any post, I have applied for the redirect mail. I then brought the bird feeder unit down and put that into a black bag, pulled my metal poppies out of the ground and loaded the lot into the Bear. Then took the rubbish out and put that in the bin. Stripped the last of the stuff out of the kitchen, put everything into the now empty swing bin.

Just left the barest of cleaning stuff behind, will get this done over the next week and then get the carpet cleaning people in to sort the carpets out.
Drove back to the house and unloaded everything. Washed the bird feeders and left them on the decking, in the sun, to dry. Cleaned the metal poppies up and put them in the ground. Emptied the bin of all the other stuff.
Finally got round to getting the Rolls-Royce and Bentley models put into the showcase.

Measured up the area where I want to put a 2 seater settee in. And off to Solomon's furniture store up near Dobwalls, on the outskirts of Liskeard.
Had a wander round in the store, the staff just said hello and let me keep wandering. Saw quite a few nice leather units I rather liked. The sales lady showed me a very nice leather 2 seater, with buttons and studs, matches my 2 chairs. Marked up at £2795 but reduced to £1795 in the sale.

The manager came over and asked if I was paying cash, yes I said. OK he replied, I think we can better that sale price, off he went to check on his computer. Back he came and said as I was paying cash how did £1295 and free delivery look to me.
Where do I pay then? Was my answer.
Being delivered on the 21st, the date suits me.

Home to cook dinner and chill out.

Not bad for a easy day. And filled the bird feeders up.

[FLYING BANANA]

.................................................. .. And replaced with some racking.

I'm not a pond person and had decided to get rid anyway. And Matt wanted it, so he brought me some plastic racking in exchange. So with Allen's help we Emptied the water out. And with a heave the plastic pond was out of the ground. Shirley, Val and Debbie were chatting away in the lounge.
Next was Matt having a listen to Banana's strange noise coming from the fan area when the engine was running. But with a stern word from Matt the noise disappeared. But she is still going back on Tuesday to sort the water leak out.

Once the jobs were finished we all trooped off to lunch. Al had brought Ratty round so I jumped in with him and Val. Matt followed, with Debbie catching us up, she had her 2 dogs with her.
We went to Louis tea rooms at Kitts Hill for lunch. I had a Indian Railway hot curry, and believe me it was hot, judging by the sweat that I was generating. We had a good chat and a laugh.

Then back home. Val went with Debbie as they wanted to go to Waitrose, Matt and Shirley wanted to go to B&B's. That left Al and me, we just went home.
After Al dropped me off it was time for a cuppa.
Going around to the old house tomorrow and start clearing out the shed plus the plants. Will nick the Banana and RedFive's boot trays to cover the Bear's carpet.

Thanks for reading.

[FLYING BANANA]

.................................................. ......... In the last 2 weeks I have used the Bear solely for transporting boxes of stuff from the old house to the new house. With the occasional trip to the tip. Today we made 4 trips just emptying the shed. Quite a lot of the contents of the shed is spares for Banana including a front subframe. I got the subframe out but could not move to the car. I would ask Allen for help later in the day.

A further two trips saw the Bear carrying all my potted plants plus the mower and strimmer. There are 2 pieces of furniture still at the old house. A corner unit which I will now keep. Plus there is a MFI Bookcase. Been a good bit of furniture, had it for about 35 years but it has come to the end of it's life. So I dismantled it, and that was another trip to the tip.
Back to the old house and down came the curtains. All mine except those in the back bedroom. Then off to the petrol station to fill the Bear up ready for her mega trip on Monday.

So back to the new house and put the net curtains in the washing machine. I phoned Allen and he said he would meet me at the old house to move the subframe but not till about 4pm. So whilst I waited I got the mower out and cut the grass, trimmed the edges with the strimmer. Cleared up and made a cuppa. Pleased with myself with what I have achieved today, but getting very tired. Still only the subframe to shift.
Allen phoned and we arranged to meet around the old joust. I got there first and reversed the Bear up. Allen pulled in as well.

The subframe is a heavy old lump but with Allen taking the heavy end we soon had it in the back of the Bear. We decided to leave the corner unit until next week. Then we convoyed back to the new home. The subframe was soon sitting in the garage. And with that I thanked Allen for his help. After Allen left I then set about vacuuming the Bear out and refitting the seats and load cover. Then I swapped Bear over with Banana. Ole Yella is off out tomorrow to the breakfast meet with the Cornish MG Club.

Once to cars were parked up I decided I deserved a shower, then a cider. Not necessarily in that order. Then get dinner ready. Once all was scoffed and the washing up done time to chill. Another apple juice? Oh! Go on then.

So in the last 2 weeks the Bear covered 116 miles and it took £44 to fill her up.

Thanks for reading