So after 3 years of living in the same apartment, it was finally time to say goodbye yesterday. I’ve been relatively lucky, I would say. When I came to Bangalore, this was the first place I found. And I had no reason to move out since the owner has been overseas. Away from the main road, with 2 large verandahs and a large utility, it had ample space for Kit Kit to roam around too. It was a nice comfortable place.
The major advantage was that it was a little away from the main road, thus sparing us of the traffic noise and honking cars and trucks. Inside the house, it was like a serene little world for the both of us. And just outside the 2 verandahs, there was a lot of greenery, trees and birds that would keep Kit Kit occupied through the day. She would either be sleeping in her cosy cushion, sunning herself and snoozing. Or chasing birds or getting teased by them.
Last month, the owner said he was coming back. Thus began my month long search for a new place. Finally, I zeroed in on a new apartment, close to my current residence, but unfortunately really close to the main road.
I began packing early morning. Looking around at the mountain of boxes all around I realised how much stuff I had accumulated in the 3 years. Moving is stressful business. And I was so glad when Sil appeared in the morning to offer a helping hand. It was a welcome relief as he handled the packers, made sure they were doing their job well and made sure everything was loaded (and unloaded) properly into (from) the truck.
Gee appeared after lunch with Chinese food and we literally pounced on it as we were really hungry after the morning of packing and moving stuff. I had managed to miss breakfast, so I ate for two meals! She then expertly negotiated with a few bais to get the house cleaned so I’d have some sort of a liveable place.
The packers left in the evening. Leaving me with a lot of stuff scattered all over the place. Boxes of books, CDs, odds and ends and general stuff I have no idea where to keep (which I am going to open later). The kitchen looks like a hurricane hit it with pots, pans, glasses, cutlery, cooking vessels all looking rather lost and out of place. Clothes are overflowing out of the cupboards and suitcases are still unopened (do I really have so much stuff?!).
Kit Kit spent a traumatic night in the cupboard sending me very hurt looks from inside. She hates being displaced and it takes her a week or so to get adjusted to a new place. She went out sniffing a few times and looked suspiciously everywhere and then retreated into the warmth and safety of the cupboard.
I wandered around the place thinking that I should sort everything out. And then I took the easy way out and left everything as it was. Another day, I thought! What’s the hurry?
I listened to the traffic sounds for a long time in the evening before finally falling asleep out of exhaustion, my limbs and back aching from the stress of the whole day. And it’s definitely going to take me some time to get used to the new house too.
And the noise. Definitely the noise.
Funny, how things work out… I shifted to a new house this weekend and was about to do a post on it when my feed reader popped up yours :-)
Posted by Jax | March 12, 2007, 7:37 pmI moved 2 years back and still have un-opened boxes. As like you, I still wonder how quickly I’ve gathered boxes and boxes of books and cds and what not.
Good luck in settling down.
Posted by Joseph | March 12, 2007, 9:49 pmWell, you are lucky you found a new place..
as for me, I will have to begin hunting this june. I dread it. :(
Posted by Bijesh | March 13, 2007, 10:04 amMy mom is an expert in moving houses… I always ask her to help me whenever I hve to.. in the last 5 yrs in mumbai, this jus my 2nd house :).
I hope u feel at home soon at the new place :)
Posted by Viewer | March 14, 2007, 1:11 pmHey Anita
I always have a peep at your blog whenever I find some time and I think you are such a wonderful photographer. You really capture such wonderful emotions and variations.
Dont mind me asking ( I am only a novice photo enthusiast)but what kind of a camera do you carry?
Good luck with your move — I moved last weekend and I know it can be such a pain.
Sandhya.
Posted by Sandhya | March 15, 2007, 1:58 am“expertly negotiated with a few bais”.…LOL.
Posted by Geetha | March 15, 2007, 12:23 pmI found your blog as was looking for some info on Gokarna. thanks for sharing those many inspiring pictures.
I am also moving this week. Direction india for 3 monthes, then back to denmark.
Et puis vue que je vois que tu apprends le francais, je te passe le bonjour et bonne continuation à toi et Kit Kit:)
Posted by manue | March 15, 2007, 5:22 pmAB!! Congrats on the new pad. Really close to the main road, eh?!! I can imagine what u will go thru now. My house was right on that udupi intersection — my sleep patterns have been distorted permanently!! Stay well
Posted by AG | March 23, 2007, 1:19 amHmmm lot of unopen boxes, can understand that well. I just moved in this march and still have to settle things in my room.
But then wonder what u are working as, cause u seem to b in vaccation always.
Posted by Aditya | March 23, 2007, 2:41 pm