Well chaps, that was an adventure and a half. Ten days in all. Flew out from Gatport Airwick on 20th. Met at Palermo by young lady who'd had some English lessons by BP's S, and she and her boyfriend proved invaluable throughout. Helped with local customs, getting around, dealing with Italian post office, showed us the sights, nothing was too much trouble for them. Both also University students doing five year (!) electronics degrees so busy anyway.
The flat was right in the middle of Palermo, you could almost shake hands with people on the other side of the street, it was so narrow. Only a small flat, a livingroom/kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, but stuffed with stuff. Why do women need so many clothes? Ended up getting 3 boxes, 60x40x40 cms, filling each with 30 Kgs, posting two back (109 euros each)and the third went in the car. Together with two big suitcases jammed full with vacuum-packed clothes, a vacuum cleaner, a steam cleaner, a 32" TV, around 150 DVDs, similar number of books, 6 setting dinner service, two 1 metre square rugs, a dozen pots and pans, a table top oven (Baby Belling type thing, size of a microwave), countless shoes and handbags, two adults and their own bags.
The Peugeot started first time, but we weren't going to move it until departure - when I get the photos up, you'll see how difficult the traffic is and the car was right outside the flat - we'd never have got the parking spot back, and Palermo drivers are crazy. The car drove well, held 70/80, but needed 3rd or 4th on some inclines. Ferry from Palermo to Genoa, then autoroutes practically all the way. Through the Mont Blanc tunnel, past Geneva, towards Macon then A39 to Dijon, A31, A5 to Troyes, Reims, St Quentin, Calais. Then over to Gloucester to drop off cousin, then home by Friday 30th, lunchtime. Only three stopovers - outside Genoa after the ferry, north of Dijon, and at cousin's at Gloucester. Just over 1100 miles. I'd do it again at the drop of a hat, but in a bigger car!
Thanks to everyone for all the advice building up to this.
