So in the last blog entry of this blog i discussed why using a mover is better than (in most cases) than self moving and how that was partly due to the experience (often vast experience )that professional movers have , but that only really touched on the subject of a movers experience

So I will be again discussing it and expanding on what i previously said 
you might have expected me to discuss equipment movers have and how that is an advantage which is true but experience comes in here to , a mover has the equipment to do the job yes and the knowledge gained means they know how to use that said equipment in an effective and safe manner.
So what you might say anyone can use a sack barrow yes that is true but a sack barrow is only one piece of equipment.
I am more referring to things likes of Ratchet straps (and other load securing means) and the knowledge of how to properly load and secure the load on to the removal vehicle in a way that is :
A secure 
B The weight is properly distributed (as there is axle weight (each axle on a vehicle has a max weight each axle can take)
C The weight is evenly distributed so one part of the removals vehicle is not over weight/over balanced (connect also to Axle weight)
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Moving home is often said to be in the top 3 stressful thing we can do in our lives, well while that can be true 
There are many ways you can reduce the stress or avoid the stress all together 

*And before I get into this article remember that moving can be stressful for both children and pets for various reasons 

*Make a plan 
Make a moving plan and stick to it

*what should be in my moving Plan ?

​​1*Start by writing a list of the tasks you need to do 
And it will need to be more detailed than just pack 
2* Write on the plan who is responsible for what task and what day it needs doing by 
(and where possible let your kids (if you have any that is) get involved in the move so they feel involved and not left out. 
*Tips for moving with Children can be found here 
*And please ensure that you have no packing to be done on the morning of the move as that will increase the stress levels*
3* On the packing plan where you have the dates things need doing by, start packing early as possible, and list items that can be packed away first as they will not be needed and can be packed earlier as well as listing items that should be packed last* 
*some items will not matter when they are packed *
*And list any items you don't thing you will be needing
4 *And plan in to the moving planning a decluttering As after all what is the point of taking unneeded or unwanted items 

5 *Write a list of the people and companies/Organisations that need your new address 
(Tv licence , gas , water , Internet , phone , Doctors etc )
*And if moving aboard Let the tv licence people know the date your moving aboard and that your moving aboard*
*and don't forget to update with the Dvla your driving licence address *
*And it is a good idea to set up with the Royal mail a redirect service for your mail *
https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail
Moving with pets don't forget to either let the vet know the new address or to register with a new vet 
And don't forget to update your pets Mirco chip when you move 
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*and as you sort the people /companies that need the new address out tick them off the list *
6*Make sure in the moving plan you allow yourselves plenty of time , you do not want to be rushing around 
7* And make sure that as soon as you know the moving dates you book the mover you want to avoid the risk of them been fully booked if you tried booking closer to the moving date
8* In relation to the above when you start the moving plan before even knowing the exact date you should start looking for the mover you want and doing research on the Mover
(Reading feedback , checking their terms and conditions etc ) 
​9*when looking around for the mover I would suggest that only one person is responsible for this task to avoid duplicating work and causing confusing of oh have you do this or that , which movers has x spoken to or have they spoke to Y if one person is doing that stage there will be less confusing of course discuss what you have found out with your partner etc as applicable 
10* Write a list of questions you have for the mover out during the initial moving planning so that you can tick them off as you are in contact with the mover and know what you need to know 

For more moving/Packing  advice click here 

Summing up 

• Write a list of tasks needing doing 
• Write who is responsible for each task 
• Set deadlines for each task to be completed by (allowing sufficient time )
• Make sure everyone is aware who is doing what 
• Do your research on movers 
• Book the mover you want as soon as possible (don't leave things to the last moment )

So in the last blog on the topic of dealing with the heat in Spain (and many people love the Spanish heat as I said before Spain is a heat lovers paradise ) I discussed some tips for dealing with the heat during the day but what about at night when we ant to sleep?

Well here are some tips on just that 

• ​Just before you go to bed have a cool shower to cool down and don't get fully dry leave your self a slight bit damp
• Put a bottle of frozen ice under your pillow in a position where it will cool you and the pillow but not be a hard lump don't worry about any wetness thou as after all you will wake up in the morning with a damp pillow from sweat if you didn't do it (may or may not last all night but as long as it cools you enough to sleep that is what counts )(I have used this one myself quite a few times and a two litre soft drinks bottle is a good size i found  )

Would love to hear what you find helps some people have a glass of water beside their beds for example so add your tips in the comment section 
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So as we all know I am sure Spain gets hot in the Summer in fact some regions can hit at times mid 40's in the height of summer , but the coast is cooler at often mid 30's (Speaking of med coast )
Either way Spain is a heat lovers paradise

And something people sometimes say is oh it would be to hot for me Spain in the summer I don't do heat, well I use to be the same as in struggle in the heat 

But rest assure there are ways to survive and love the Spanish heat (beyond putting up with it and getting use to it and finding you know think 20 c in summer is cold ) (a few hopefully helpful and easy hints and tips for you )

• Drink lots of liquid 
• Keep cold water in your fridge 
• Keep ice so you can put ice in your drinks (if you want to)
• Love coffee or Tea or other hot drinks ? don't worry enjoy them as you feel like they can as strange as it sounds help cool you down something to do with they raise the core temperature or something along those lines ) (but remember Coffee and the likes are not the best source of hydration ) (in fact in mass they can as can any high caffeine drink dehydrate you ) 
• Avoid the heat of the day which is 2pm - 5pm in Spain which is often also siesta time 
• Keep your shutters closed when your out it keeps the place cooler 
• Have windows open (don't worry about the insects most Spanish homes have bug screens ) and the reason that Spanish homes have those metal bars is so windows can be left open when your out or at night 
• Might just be me this one have showers not baths as they cool you down (cool showers that is
• Got a pool why not have a dip 
• Don't forget the Sun is Spain is strong your skin will take time to get use to it so use sun screen 
• Wear sunglasses when out 
• And a hat (Even if you have been in Spain years still wear a hat even plenty of the Spanish will wear hats )
• keep a cloth or something you can wear and soak in water to act as a cooling device if outside for long periods of times (some say scarf ) I personal wet my hat so that it also drips cool water onto the face slowly (And as a scarf can be worn on the neck it has the benefit of when wet been in contact with a point on the neck that I am advised help cool the whole body and the neck is a part of us that can burn very easy in the sun as well so there is that advantage to )
• Wear light weight cloths 
• Know the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion so you can avoid them happening as it can be easy to over do it in the Spanish sun if your not use to it (and even then there is a reason the Spanish don't do much physical work between 2-5pm)

Is it a cloudy but warm day (yes they do happen in Spain ) well remember that the sun is still strong and those Uv rays are still getting though so you will still burn if you don't take precautions 
Same can be said if there is a cooling breeze 
Know other tips add them in the comments as these are just a few i have found that help/work for me 
I will cover sleeping at night tips at a later point 

some tips added/expanded via a chat on twitter and comparing my tips for ones I do but had over looked on https://www.piccavey.com/tips-heat-spanish-sun/

A  bonus tip 
Keeping your pets cool in Spain 
*do not put an ice cube in their water dish as this in fact has the opposite effect as a dogs body will naturally heat up to deal with the cold ice water 
So use water at its room temperature 

Important moving tip always be sure to check the movers Feedback 

It is also a good idea to check the movers Terms and conditions 

Moving overseas is a hugely exciting thing , it offers new chances and new opportunities, and can be the best thing you ever do 
But that doesn't mean there are not challenges but been prepped for those challenges can make moving overseas such a rewarding thing to do, 

Tips for moving overseas

• Try to learn the local language (but relax no one expects you to know it all at once or for your grammar or pronunciation to be prefect straight away try leaning a word or two a day  ( we have a handy little guide to about learning a new language )
• Know the local laws
• Know the local traffic laws
• Know if you need to always carry id with you when out and about
• Know the phone or phone numbers for the emergency services (112 in Spain and much of Europe)
• Know where you nearest Embassy or consulate is and how to contact them (We have a list of a few helpful numbers for Spain here )
• Know if you will need health insurance 
• It is also worth making a photocopy of your passport like many of us do before going on holiday 
  

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We have more detailed and specific tips for Spain here 

This is only a short summary of some general tips so please feel free to add your suggestions in the comments we would love to hear them

It is often not until we come to pack up to move home that we realise how much stuff we really have. 
But how much of that stuff do you want ?
Or need ? at your new place 
Well packing is also a great chance to declutter 

• Ask yourself do I need it ?
• Do I want it ? yes then it is not clutter
• Ask yourself also when did Last use it ?
• Also ask yourself will it fit in my new house ?
• And by fit I mean 3 things does it have a place to go in the new house ? Does it fit within the new houses style eg Lightwood in a house with dark wood etc and also does it fit though the doors into the new place (And can it safely be dismantled ? eg many reclining type sofas can be dismantled if it can get in after been dismantled no problem for things like sofas and dining tables,but it is worth noting if wardrobes are dismantled they are often weaker when put back together)  
  And if you decide you do not need a certain piece f furniture many local charities will be glad to have it, just ring them and ask how to donate furniture 
• Clothes are simple to declutter Will I wear that again ? And will I need to wear it again ? and if your moving to warmer climes like Spain yes you will need a few jumpèrs and coats as it gets cold at night in the winter
• Decluttering Books , again can be simple , when did I last read it ? will I Reread it ? has it a special value to me? Is it worth keeping ? (See our blog on packing tips for tips on packing books and loads more packing tips)
• So you have finished decluttering and have sorted the things your moving home with, the things going to charity and have a pile of things to good for the bin? well Why not look to up cycle them for example a table, chest of draws etc you like could be repainted or redecorated etc, this can also be the solution if loved furniture doesn't fit your new places style

But somethings people pack for moving to Spain may surprise you We have over the years had people pack 1/4 full bottles of washing liquid or 1/4 boxes of wash powered , you can get these at your new place so bin them ? well no infact these may not be clutter at all but can come in handy for the first few days while your to busy to pop to the shops to buy more 





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Spain is a large and very varied country, with no two areas or two towns been the same, so how do people moving to Spain decide what part of Spain is right for them ?
Well firstly everyone is different with different needs and wants, so list what you want from Spain and what you need, 

For example do you want to be in an area with a large amount of fellow Brits ? (Yes/no) the upside to this is if thats what you want it makes the transit in someways easier but can make learning for example Spanish more tricky, but many people do life in areas with many people from there own country,. 
Or would you prefer an area thats mixed ?
Or mainly Spanish ?

If you have children what are the schools like? and how far are they from where we are looking to life ?

Will you be there year round ?Yes then what is the summer and winter temperatures like (they vary all over Spain ) If you want for example warm but not hot Summers the more northern areas may be for you. Or if you want hot summers and Mild winter regions like Almeria, Malaga may be your preferred area 

these are just a few of the questions you may ask yourself, but all I will say is be sure where you move is right for you and if in any doubt why not do short term rentals to be sure.  

It is worth noting that as a rule of thumb generally in Spain houses away from the coast and outside of villages, so for example in the mountains and other inland regions are often both larger and cheaper than their counterparts at the coast, the trade off thou can be some of these houses can be very isolated and miles from the nearest shops, now if thats what you want to be alone and away from it then that is a big plus for you 

 (Moving is among the most stressful things do in our lives , and of course this is also true for your children. Who depending on their age may be leaving the on home they have ever known, but even if they have moved before they are leaving a place they know well for some where new, And of course depending on how far they are moving they may be leaving friends behind, going to a new school etc . And these are among the factors that can make moving stressful for children of all ages 

When it comes to leaving friends behind there is a simple trick here firstly they can easily chat to them on Facebook , Skype and the likes so can stay in contact with friends that they wish to. 

It is also a new opportunity for them to meet and make new friends as well (Which can be a thing children are worried about what if I can't make new friends or fit in etc) (I mean we all know what the first day in a new job can be like but multiply this in many ways for a kid in a new school,  if in a new area or even a new country ) 

I would suggest where ever possible and practical to let your children see the new house before hand (If your for example moving to Spain do your viewing trip during School Holidays so you can bring the children with you ) and again where possible let them explore the area a bit while there. And listen to their comments and suggestions let them feel like they have a say don't exclude them

And talking of letting them explore the area a bit when your viewing new houses, I suggest letting them also get online and look the area up as well so they can be like oh cool it has x y z and I love those things. 

And if your moving to a place like Spain don't be scared to let your children play with the local children, it in fact will not only help them feel more comfortable with the area as a rule it will also help them learn the local language
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And talking of learning the local language your children depending on their age will most likely pick it up before you but learn together and have fun learning it as a family  

Have you found a home you like ? Great let the children see it let them be like oh can this be my room? let them think oh where can I put x picture etc again keep them involved 

One tip I read from an other source which was discussing this topic in regards army children was unpack the children's room first as this will help them feel at home quicker as they can make their new room their old room sort of unless they want to of course go in a different direction as everyone is different 

The same source also suggested that you put things like your pictures up as soon as possible for the same reason (The mentioned Source https://childmind.org/article/advice-for-moving-with-children/ )

Also talking of getting your children involved where possible get them involved in the packing,let them pack there own toys and games when ever possible and with younger children, don't pack the toys until the last moment. 

And let your kids decorate their boxes after they packed them so they can spot them easier when unpacking,plus they will spot them on the removals vehicle and know they have arrived,plus t is fun for the younger kids as well 

And Talking of packing let your children also help pack other things than just their toys if you fell they are old enough to help in that way let them, as they will like to feel involved and not excluded, plus it will help you spread the workload  

Maybe have a list of tasks for the children to do that they helped write again this will depend on your children and if you fell this will help them, but if they are helping pack make sure they know what they are meant to be doing and not doing 

And with younger children maybe keep a toy or two about that they can play with on the moving day as this can distract them form their boredom which is bound to develop 

 But as we all know Children are adaptable and love as a rule of thumb an adventure and moving can be that for them if handled correctly, so make sure they know whats going on.  

This is only a few hints and tips and there is lot and lots more so feel free to drop a comment with things you found helpful 
And I have kept it quite general as of course some tips are going to be more applicable to a certain age group 
But Don't be scared to move overseas with your children many many people have over the years and not looked back