After 16 years with GB Liners, working under the Brighton branch, I could probably write a book on the unexpected challenges, near disasters, and funny moments that come with relocating people’s lives from one place to another but here’s a few that stick in my mind the most.
the hardest and most memorable job
Some moves stand out not just for their complexity but for the sheer adventure involved. One such job saw me and my great mate, Daniel Murdoch, transporting a client’s belongings from London to an Italian property. Our luck was in as we managed to park within walking distance of the centre of Pisa, meaning that in our downtime we were able to take in the sights, which included going to the top of the Leaning Tower itself and a cheeky meal in a little local restaurant – a great day indeed. We were delivering to a former monastery which had been converted into separate residential homes carved into the mountainside. An impressive view for a passenger but not without challenges when you are driving a fully loaded truck; I think the sat nav even wanted to cry at one point!
Whilst trying to avoid a low bridge, we opted for an alternative route to the standard. However, this “better” route took us through a tiny village where we inadvertently became the day’s main event, causing traffic chaos as we manoeuvred our way through. The mountain road followed, full of tight switchbacks that required me to jump out and guide Dan around hairpin turns, apologising profusely to the growing queue of frustrated Italian drivers behind us.
Hours later, after a gruelling uphill battle, we finally completed the job. Dan then threw me the keys and said, “Your turn!” A fair enough comment as teamwork makes the dream work. What followed was another comedy of errors as I attempted to navigate us out, only to find myself reversing back through a town’s one-way system with Dan providing banksman assistance, much to the locals’ dismay. The real kicker on top of all this was the bridge we had detoured to avoid in the first place was, in fact, tall enough for us to pass under. Lesson learned, always double-check the height restrictions. Despite the chaos, we made it through the day and we are still great mates. This remains one of the stories we can laugh about today.
DINNER MONEY DISASTER
Among the countless moves I’ve done, one particular incident stands out the most which involved me losing my dinner money. This happened in Hove where the client had a puppy named Jax, who was really naughty as puppies are. As I was wrapping up a bed on the floor when Jax decided to pounce on me, tail wagging, before bolting off. Moments later, I heard the client asking, “Jax, what’s in your mouth?” Turns out, the little Herbert had managed to snatch the £10 that had been hanging out of my pocket and had promptly chewed it beyond recognition. That day, Jax got his lunch – I, unfortunately, did not. But looking at that face, how could I be mad?
16 years, countless moves and three exceptional trucks
I’ve been plying my trade for the last 16 years with GB Liners. As a Relocation Specialist, my mission is simple, get people’s belongings from A to B in the safest, most efficient way possible. Think of me as the “grey man” of the moving world – swift, precise, and gone before you even know I was there. No fuss, no drama just a job well done.
Over the years, I like to think I’ve done well with the science of removals, to an extent problem-solving on the go and even dabbling in the psychology of keeping customers calm during one of the most stressful times of their lives. It’s a delicate balance of strategy, experience, optimism and occasionally knowing when to reassure someone that yes, their houseplants will survive the journey.
Since starting to drive, I’ve been like the third child and had the hand-me-downs. First, I had a four-door “BKK”, then “YOM” a five-door. Driving both trucks have left me with some great memories and I was sad to give up “YOM” as she was an absolute workhorse, never giving me any bother, but “WMU” is going to make my future missions even smoother. With its power, reliability, and efficiency, it’s like upgrading from a trusty Swiss Army knife to a state-of-the-art precision tool. Every relocation will be quicker, safer, and even easier.
So, here’s to another chapter of relocations, with a truck that makes my job easier and keeps clients happy. At the end of the day, if I’ve done my job right, you’ll barely even remember I was there – just the way I like it. Wes Phillips
