Moving House

This is a previously unpublished blogg from 2008

Stage 1 The top few tiles are removed

On Monday morning came the 'house movers'. They take this task literally in NZ. Although there was a removal van outside, I think very little went in it. Just before 7:00 in the morning there was the sound of heavy machinery. By the time we were able to look out of the window (it takes time to get eyes open and in focus) we saw a chain of men on the roof of the house next door passing down roof tiles which were expertly stacked on to a small lorry. Following this, the top roof timbers were carefully removed and then, with little delay a large low loader was under half the house. After lunch a second low loader began to reverse towards the second half of the house.

The house is now in one piece on two lorries. Our bedroom is the two windows in the white house behind.

It was too much for Jim; he had to go and watch - with camera. Surprisingly the house was all in one piece, except for the rear unit which had previously been disconnected. After some carefully manouvering the house sat on two low loaders; perfectly level. During the afternoon there was the sound of tools and by tea time this stage of the work was done. The lonely house was left aloft and all the other vehicles had departed.

At 2.45 am the following morning the sound of engines began again. Men flashed light outside our window, careful checks and adjustments were made. The house was gone by 3.15 am. I was left wondering what would happen to the remainder of the house. More to come.