Moving house - by pedal power

I recently moved to Forgebank by bicycle! I borrowed an eight foot cycle trailer for the move. It took me six days, and 11 trips, to take my belongings the three and a half miles from Lancaster to my new home. Frances has done a great video about it that you can view on youtube here:

 

Lots of my new neighbours helped out. On one journey I had five cycling helpers, towing two more trailers, two baby buggies and one with large panniers.

 You’d be surprised how much can fit in a baby buggy!

Everything went by bike, including a dresser, chest of drawers, bookcase, dining table and chairs and two garden benches.

The last day was hard. It was pouring with rain and the trailer got stuck in mud on my garden path. I had to unload and start again. Then at the end the slope, the heavy load and the rain meant I only just managed to screech to a halt!









But it all feels worth it now I’m settled in to my warm eco home by the River Lune and enjoying living in the community. It was a lot more fun and less stressful than moving the traditional way!

When I had finished with it, Kathy used the trailer to pick up a festive tree for our Common house. Happy Holidays!

Debbie

www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

GM Weekend and more residents move in to Forgebank

Another month, another GM. This September saw a move closer to the Common House, just up the road at The Centre, Halton. A great location (with an amazing skate park) if, on that Saturday, a mite toasty what with the warm September weather and the number of bodies in one room.  Long discussions on Common House food were lightened by Polly taking the role of energy monitor and communicating with her fellow cohousers  through the medium of toy gesticulation, and sprint circling of the room.

The view along Terrace A. All is peaceful. The location of the children identifiable by the assemblage of bikes, scooters and shoes.

A view from the South side of Terrace A looking East to the Common House.

Sunday sees the return of another Marshalls van, this time loaded with Paul and Kathy's worldly belongings all of which are swiftly transported  to one of their two current abodes in Terrace A. For some (well me) this was the first experience of life on the pedestrian street - everyone lending a hand with a tag team of watchful adults keeping a relaxed eye on children whilst being able to help the removals.

Then afterwards hanging out on the stoop formed from the steps up to the cycle store opposite Huw and Lucy's house .

Martha, Lucy and Eliza at home.

Whittles must be feeling the pressure to deliver our homes on time. Even their most junior apprentices are working their weekends to help meet the September deadline... 

Some of our first guests to Forgebank. Two (or was it three) nests of swallows with their accompanying displays of aerial bird acrobatics in the sky above the street.

Wednesday sees work starting on the gabion wall to Terrace F. Pouring rain slows the work but must help to wash the mud off the stone.

And finally, through the deluge, the view of Forgebank from the over the Lune. Our homes are coming along fast.

Can't wait to move in...

Tom

www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

The first pioneers Forge ahead..

The first residents moved in today!


Everyone helped Miles & Jo to unload the van.









Whilst Fiona organised the celebrations and a Mezuzah ceremony. Amazingly there were 28 people in the room with plenty of space spare.

Though the same could not be said of the doorstep...

We even have a temporary post box until the common house letterboxes become available.

We've got there at last!

Only six terraces to go :o)

Luke.

www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

Slow boat to Lancaster

Between us, the future residents of Lancaster Cohousing have many talents... which is one of the things that's got us this far. Alison knows how to tell a story -- since she joined she's been behind some of our best media coverage, and has been working with Frances on filming the project, and capturing our thoughts as we make this big transition.

She has a story of her own too of course, and she's turned the camera on herself to share a bit of her journey from London to Lancaster by narrowboat... what she's giving up, and what she's hoping for when she gets there.



Miles and I met up with Alison and Kevin on their way through Oxford, where we are still mainly based. Since we sold our house last year in preparation for the move, we've been living in what we fondly (and occasionally not so fondly) call our Interim Bungalow. Watching Alison's film made me realise what a special time this is, even with all its stresses and strains. I am inspired to try and capture a bit of my own journey on film too. So thanks Alison for sharing this and showing us what can be done!

jo

www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

Latest photos from site - end of May 2012

Foundations for terrace D are now progressing well

We now have the detailed engineering design for the gabion walls, which is much more involved that you might imagine.  The mini-digger is excavating where the gabion will be founded

Air tightness testing underway.  Note the balloons sealing the vents and the fan in the window.  See Luke's previous blog for more about this 

Terrace C has windows (and PV panels on the other side)

Terrace E is now coming on ahead of Terrace D.  Scaffolding about to arrive

Stairs are being installed to the top floor flats, which will make access much easier!

Finally, a close up of the common house roof...

www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

Moving House

Dawn's Big Move

So what lessons can we draw from Dawn's recent move from the lovely Peak District Village of Tideswell to Halton?




1. Book top removal man Chris Coates and his trusty Marshalls Hire van 

2. Have a party the day before the move so you can co-opt the party-goers into loading your van the day after

3. Don't underestimate the amount of stuff you have and end up having to make two round trips, taking twelve hours and then running out of diesel 400m from your house with the van blocking the local mini roundabout in Halton

4. Don't forget to have plenty of room in your new house for all that stuff that is disgorged from the two van loads and remember to keep the kettle and brew kit handy for the workers!






So good luck with your moves!
Luv 
Steve 
(packer, unloader, broken down van rescuer and blog artiste)