1010 rue Chartier: JULY 17TH - THE MOVE AND THE MOVERS

Sally and Doug McDougall provided Di and me a 7:30am breakfast

The move was a success beyond all imagining. It started with Di Nancekivell arriving on the 16th in time to steady nerves, to help with lists for the movers and with the final packing.

Wednesday dawned cool but bright and beautiful, and was never too hot all day. Sally and Doug McDougall arrived around 7:30 with croissants, coffee and tea - just in time to watch the upholsterer finish scotch guarding the refurbished sofa. It had been snatched away from him on Tuesday evening in a panic to get it here by moving day, but before he'd had a chance to scotch guard it at the shop. So he called to see if he could come by Wednesday a little after 7 and then did!

The Anber Moving team of three arrived a little after 8am - and they were superb. Rolls and rolls of tape, inestimable moving blankets and a wonderful sense of humour were the order of the day. Nothing was too difficult, but if and when it came close, they found a way to make it fun and/or funny.

They stopped at our storage unit in Ste-Adèle, and by some miracle, they were able to squeeze everything in - well, everything but the queen-bed frame which was simply strapped to the back of the truck...problem solved.

Sue Garland and Heather Calhoun met us at the cottage to help Di and me unpack boxes and direct traffic around Duval workers who were busy in the kitchen, basement and beyond. All reasonably chaotic but no one seemed to care too much.

The last three pictures are really the most important - nothing like unbelievably good friends and unbelievably good movers to make what should have been a difficult day (on almost every level) a happily memorable one.

It ended at the Garlands where Sue, having spent the afternoon working at 1010, magically provided a delicious dinner of salmon and asparagus, and glasses were raised in a toast to the cottage and our return to the Lake.