Dear Hillary,
We have some friends coming over from the UK at Xmas, and normally I’d be delighted to see them, as they are old and dear friends, but this time we will be in the middle of shifting house and I don’t think I’d be able to look after houseguests at the same time, as I used to. The children will be back from boarding school and it’s all too much. How can I put our English friends off? Nicely without offending them? They have been coming every year for the last five years and staying with us.
Babs
Dear Babs,
I can sympathize with you in this predicament, which happens to a lot of ex-pats resident here, but it’s easy to get over this problem. Just explain to your friends that you can’t give them a bed this time, because of the shifting in, but suggest that you’ll find them a little hotel close by for around GBP 30 a night (B. 1,000). They won’t be offended – we’ve all been through the problems with shifting, especially as these are old friends. I also suggest you contract out the shifting to one of the professional removals people. They come in, pack everything, take it to the new house and then unpack everything and place the items where you want – but please have an idea just where you want the wardrobes before the truck arrives! I have used JVK International Movers myself when changing from one attic to another, and nothing was broken.
