Let’s do this together

I’m moving house in two weeks’ time and I haven’t packed a thing yet. I’ve also failed to book a slot at the dump before we move, or with our local charity, to bring them Jesse’s old toys, which means I’m going to have to take them all with me.

Everyone keeps asking me if I have packers. “Yes,” I say, “these two hands.” And I must admit, I’m now beginning to regret not having booked professional packers.

Although the one time I did get them in, it took me twice as long to unpack all the boxes – surely one spoon doesn’t need to be wrapped in several layers of tissue paper? Plus I couldn’t find anything for years.

The Dark Lord’s not a huge help either. Every time I ask her to make a start in her bedroom, she goes upstairs and disappears for hours because she’s found a book to read, or an old toy she hasn’t seen for years.

When I did finally get her to fill a few boxes, I discovered she’d packed a football, which to my knowledge has never been used, her old doll’s pony and accessories, plus two dressing up hats.

I’d forgotten how completely useless she is at packing and it reminded me of the time we almost missed a flight because she’d brought her friend Sticky (he was in fact a stick), a large rock and a pair of scissors and set off all the security alarms. Or the time she filled our suitcase with her “special white stones”, which meant I had to pay for extra heavy bags coming home to avoid a meltdown.

So in the end, I think I’ll be quicker packing on my own.

Do please keep your stories, memories and photos coming to siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk