Four years ago, we spent Christmas time in Orlando, on a visit to Disney World. Growing up in a Western-influenced environment, I’d always been exposed to the North American Christmas vibe via TV and movies: the songs and decorations and general atmosphere of what, for many, is the most wonderful time of the year.
But it was the first time I was in that part of the world at that time of year, and it was a wonderful experience. (Being Florida, though, there was no White Christmas…just some crazy rain at times, and weather reports tracking cyclones or typhoons or whatever it is that threatens Floridians in winter.)
Usually, I’m home in South Africa for year-end – which lies in the heart of our summer: blazing temperatures, long days, and a beautifully relaxed period.
If I’m fortunate, I’m on leave and this particular week (between Christmas and New Year) is a twilight zone in which the days have no name, and time can feel endless. Even if I’m working, though, it’s still lovely, because of how slow things are.
This year, however, life is very different. We’ve been renovating for the past 6+ weeks, and moved house last Thursday. I was (and still am) working throughout all of this – aside from the public holidays – and I take leave time (in little bits and pieces) to cover the interruptions. But even when I’m not working my job, I’m working for this house: mountains of financial and renovation admin, almost daily trips to the hardware store, supervising or helping those still doing work here, and the unenviable tasks of moving stuff over from one home to the other, plus packing stuff away (even though I’m just dumping most of it, because most of my cupboards won’t be ready until February).
There’s always something to be done. ALWAYS. It feels like it’ll never end, and it’s strange to think that this is the most wonderful time of the year for many (or most?) others, because it’s a real slog for us.
But such things were to be expected. Moving house is never an easy task, and the timing just worked out so that our December has been swallowed by this exhausting mental and physical treadmill.
Hopefully, when it’s all said and done, this will be worth it, and we can finally relax and settle into a mode of home being a comfortable living space again, rather than a list of tasks and constant contractors coming in to do their work.
Whatever your festive season has been like so far, I wish you well for the rest of it.
I leave you with some visuals below – my December highlight reel 😉:
Counter protection 
Moving door snags 
With great power comes great headaches 
When Groot’s friends invaded the drainage 
Paint makes all the difference 
Almost done 
The office desk I tried to assemble myself 
The office desk the professional assembled in 20 minutes 
Washing line woes 
They do the same thing, apparently 
When the plumber from 5 weeks ago needs to come back again (for a third time) 
Access control 
A moving day disaster was averted (and this was what we needed to make a bed connect to a headboard as it should) 
An insanely efficient moving service! 
The day the furniture moved in 
Bedroom prep 
Festive cheer amidst all the chaos
slip-sliding away..... 
Wow, I admire your DIY attitude, Yacoob. When we bought a first home many years ago we took a stab at some smaller projects, including painting a small bedroom. Then we gave up the ghost and went with contractors.
Also, good to hear you all have done the Disney World Experience. We did a few years ago as well — and survived to tell the tale.
Best of luck with the renovations and Happy New Year!
Happy new year to you too, Vance 🎊. We didn’t actually do much DIY…the desk (failed attempt) is the most I’ve done, and changing light bulbs. But managing all the people working here is crazy enough.
Peace and ends-in-sight as the New Year gets underway, Yacoob. The home looks beautiful! I can imagine how welcoming it will be after the work is completed. Next Christmas will be gorgeous.
Thanks, Kitty. I didn’t even think as far ahead as next year 😲
Sometimes it helps in the midst of such chaos to breathe and imagine a year or so ahead…envision the completion of all this hard work. It seems insurmountable as you face it now, but you really are chipping away at it, Yacoob. It’s like this very frustrating therapy work I’m undergoing, often doubting my shoulder will respond as I hoist another puny weight…but I can look back and see quite a lot of progress has been made. Not at the pace I wanted, but probably very much at the pace that was healthy and necessary. And, as crazy as it sounds, when Phillip and I, both working, moved here and had the house stripped to its bones, we took days off from remodeling and went on adventures. One more weekend day of work was worth the boost such an adventure provided. 💛
Important lessons, Kitty. Thank you for always sharing your wisdom ☺️
Almost 14 years in the same house and we are still renovating 😁
It’s definitely worth it though!
A grown up “Never Ending Story” 😁