Julie Helen: First of many gatherings in our new home

I have decided that September feels like a mini January. It’s time to reset and find a routine that is sustainable and works for my family. September 2024, has been a big deadline in my head for well over a year. We needed to have moved house and be settled long before our small man started big school. There was a part of me that thought we might be down to the wire and make it to our new home just before school started. Luckily we got here in July and I was very deliberate and intentional about packing at one side and unpacking on arrival. There is a lot that is still up in a complete heap but on the whole I’m very happy with how the move went.

David had project managed the whole build of our home. He has a great head for logistics, but more than that an ability to gather good people and trust in what they do. It certainly helped that one of his groomsmen is an excellent builder by trade and Brian guided us so well through everything, we will be forever grateful.

When the house was starting to look liveable- I knew the coordination of the move would be my contribution. On other occasions I have felt very overwhelmed when moving and family have stepped in with mum doing the lion’s share of packing and organising.

I have little recollection of our move home in June 2019, I was so sick and exhausted while pregnant. I know it was mum who spent days with David and his army of supporters loading our belongings into a lorry and closing the door on our rental. I’m sure my brothers and dad were there too but it’s all a blur to me.

This time, the process could be gradual over weeks so I enlisted help in both locations. My friend Louisa was packing up our life in Woodside and my friend Mary unpacked and organised everything on the West Cork side. I wanted to ensure there was no pressure on my mum. Cancer treatment is enough for her to deal with. Of course she has been gathering bed linen and sneakily buying us dishes and storage boxes and been my chief advisor and confidante through it all, but I needed to make sure that the hauling and dragging was not her job this time.

There was a part of me that wanted to show my parents that I can coordinate big things and take charge for my family. I will always want and need their support and I wouldn’t have the know-how without them so it was nice to show off how I can take control of a situation.

Even nicer than managing the move was the couple of occasions we have already had in our home. Mum, dad and Diarmuid came one evening for supper. Of course mum brought the food with her and dad brought his cowbox with the final bits of furniture. 

Then last weekend we had both of our families on the Sunday afternoon for the birthday parties over the four years that Ricky couldn’t have due to Covid and illness and everything in between. It was so great to have most of the gang, there were a few missing but I am very hopeful it was the first of many gatherings we will have in our home.

I’m absolutely wiped with exhaustion now. My brain has met all the deadlines and we have welcomed people so those are big milestones to reach. I just want savour where we are now and be glad and grateful we got here and look forward to the term ahead.