Hello!

A selfie with Miss Oswin

After a busy Friday where the movers came and took everything away, a busy Saturday where I had to clean the apartment and cuddle Miss Oswin, a busy Sunday where I had to clean the rest of the apartment and cuddle Miss Oswin again, I woke up early this morning.

Four in the morning to be precise. We needed to be early, because a certain Miss O needed to have her breakfast before going in her crate. She didn't eat that much though, I think she sensed something was not quite right. In fact, she spotted my front door was open and legged it up the stairs! Which meant I had to go and find her, so she could go into her crate.

GET ME OUT!!!!

Once caught and locked in, we loaded the big and small suitcase in the boot of the car, before putting a howling Miss O in the back seat. She was certainly not happy! And it didn't get any better when we arrived at the airport either. I checked in my luggage first and then I had to find the place where Miss Oswin would be met. I had to take her out of the crate, so they could check it for dangerous things and then she went back in (unwillingly), before I left her in the care of the baggage handlers. 

I left at 7.20am in an almost empty plane and from Oslo to Dublin it was again an almost empty plane. Not sure why she couldn't come on the same flights, but it probably has something to do with heated luggage holds. Anyway, I arrived safely and a bit ahead of time in Dublin, where I was met by my sister. 

The last thing I did in Norway was sell my car (finally, on Saturday), the first thing I did in Northern Ireland was buy a car. Or at least, reserve the car to be bought. My sister will kindly pay for it, until I have the money to pay her back. We will most likely go and get it on Thursday. 

Dinner Afghani style on Sunday afternoon

During the afternoon we drove up to a vet where I will be registering Miss O tomorrow, after that we went to a shopping center: a brand new second hand iPhone was bought. We also got supplies for Miss O, like food, cat litter and food bowls (I threw most of mine away during the last few days). I also made an appointment for having a sight test, since I need new glasses. Them being way too expensive in Norway (1 pair there means at least 3 pairs here and I need 6 pairs). 

Tomorrow we will go back to Dublin to collect Miss Oswin, then it's off to the vet to get her registered. We will (time permitting) also be going to my new work place for contracts and such. And if we still have some time left, we will be heading to the bank to open a bank account. 

So far, so good!

A short goodbye

In about ten minutes from now I will be saying goodbye to you all for a little while. I hope to be back posting something on Monday at my sister's. Right now, the computer is uploading all my photos, files and music to an external hard drive, just in case!

I believe everything is packed and if some items are found that aren't, but are supposed to come along anyway, I can always use a pen!

So, goodbye and see you on the other side...

Check, check and.... check!

It's been a few days since I last wrote and if you think I have been resting on my laurels ever since last Sunday, you would be very much mistaken. I have been very busy! For starters, I still work full time (last day tomorrow though, pfew) and I have to organise any packing around that. 

On Sunday one of my friends came over to collect some wine I had for her and she talked me into moving. I am not living here anymore already, although I haven't moved out yet. Instead, I am staying at my friend's house, where there is no chaos and where I can just relax.

In between shifts (I have had split shifts this week), I go home and pack. And pack. And pack. Because I am now living elsewhere, I was able to get all my bedding washed, plus towels and any clothes left. Yesterday I got a bit of a nasty shock though, when I still found two kitchen cupboards full to the brim. I managed to get some packed yesterday and will do the rest today. 

After that it is just trying to find anything that has thus far escaped being packed and tidying up before the lorry comes on Friday to take everything away.

As you may remember as well: I needed to apply for an import permission and two days ago I received the news that I had it. Which makes things a lot easier for the moving company, since they can then import all my stuff without any trouble for me later on. The same permission also goes for Miss Oswin, so I will have to take good care of the number. 

Talking of Miss O, I am sure she is feeling a bit abandoned at the moment. House in complete disarray, her climbing steps to her cupboard taken apart and gone to the great big pile of things to move, food at strange times. She is getting used to the big new crate (it's massive, honestly) and has been seen sleeping in it, but I have yet to put the lid on. Perhaps it will be different then.

So, that's us. Trying to get everything done in the short time we have left. But, we're nearly there!

And now for something different

Lighthouse on ?

 When I started in my current (not for long) job, there was another person who started the very same day: another Dutchman. He had been living in Norway for several years already and understood better what was going on. During those first few weeks, he was a great support to me, being able to explain things and such.

Recognise these? The rowing boats ready for this year's race.
Well, as soon as the second to right has been pumped dry...

One day though, we had different shifts and he was asked where his wife was. Ehm, who? Well, eh, Mara? She's not my wife! But it stuck somehow and ever since we have referred to each other as husband and wife, even though he had a girlfriend. When he left the company, we got divorced and he (really) married his girlfriend. 

Avaldsnes Church

Last night I met up with my ex-husband and another Dutch friend. We were going boating around some islands to get the last sights of Haugesund. Unfortunately I had already packed all the warm winter stuff, but the boat was well-equipped and a blanket was soon found for me.

Not quite so fit anymore

It was a lovely trip. I had taken my camera with me for some last shots and was enjoying the gentle chugging along. It was cold and on occasion a bit of drizzle came along as well, but overall, it was great.

My ex-husband being stabbed

After about an hour and a half or so (I think, it could have been a bit more), we got to dry land again so we could get some dinner. It was good food and even better company. At the end of the evening, I was taken home by boat and car. A lovely way to say goodbye to my Dutch friends/ex-husband!

Stress and sadness

The beautiful adventurous Linette

When I moved to Norway I wanted to take my two cats with me. Unfortunately I was unable to do so and in the end they moved to a great home: that of Pepperfly. They were treated like royalty and spoilt rotten. The plan had been to collect them later, but after Linette did a massive runner and stayed away for about three weeks and Wuppie had gotten into everybody's hearts as well, there was no way I was going to get either cat away from her home.

Probably best as well: Wuppie died in December 2013 of cancer and Linette five months later, also of cancer. Three days after Linette passed away, Miss Oswin came into my life, slowly creeping very deep into my heart. 

The great Wuppie

So, when I thought about moving to Northern Ireland, there was no question for me: she was coming along! And at first the signs were good: I would be able to take her along in the cabin. Until I found out she couldn't. No princess treatment for her: cattle car more like! 

I rang around for a solution, which meant talking to so many people in so many countries, that I got grumpier by the minute. Until eventually I landed on a company about 10 miles from here. And they could get her moved. And then? Nothing! Not a peep from them. My moving date was getting closer and I was more and more anxious about perhaps having to leave her behind. Something which I so did not want to do!

Last Monday I phoned them up again. Still no response. That evening I sent an email: no reply. Then on Tuesday I found out that no emails had gone anywhere, so they never got it in the first place. I found another way of sending emails and sent off another one to them. This morning I got a reply: they were working on it. Two hours later they contacted me again. 

Miss Oswin in our garden back in the country side

On Monday Miss O will be taking a later flight than me and Brom (and Mouse). She will fly to Oslo as well, but instead of then traveling to Dublin, she will travel to Copenhagen. Where she will stay in a hotel!! The next day she will travel on to Dublin. So, a bit of a princess treatment anyway. But the good news is of course:

SHE IS COMING!!!!!

Puffy and tired

On Saturday I managed to fill several boxes with kitchen stuff. Slowly there seems to be a pinprick of light in the far distance. Yes, there still is a certain amount of stuff to do, but overall it seems to get better. Today I continued with the bathroom. Toiletries (7 different colours of nail polish, whodathunkit?) and first aid thingies like plasters and such. Two small boxes were filled, while at the same time the bin bag at my side seemed to be filling with things I either never use or is so out of date and crummy...

Then later this afternoon, I tackled the first of the paperwork. Several forms had to be filled out for the moving company: address here, address there etc etc. It is necessary, but it is a drag I can tell you! Then the biggie: HM Revenue & Customs! There again I had to fill out this, that and the other. Unfortunately it cannot be sent off yet, since I haven't got a job contract yet. I phoned on Friday, but the person responsible for contracts was away because his wife had just had a baby. Obstacles, obstacles!

But, hopefully when I call back on Monday, that can be sorted. The sounds on Friday were promising anyway. People I hadn't met knew who I was, since there had been talk about me coming to work for them. And as soon as the contract is sorted, I can send a copy to HM R&C together with the filled out forms and a copy of my passport and a list of things I take with me (I hope they don't want to know exactly how many nail polishes I take along, but will be satisfied with make-up). 

That is what has made me tired this weekend. The puffy thing is something not at all related to the move. I cried. Simple as that. For nearly two and a half hours. You see, Compo died and what with all the hormones and stress running around in me right now, that got me even worse this time than it did the first time around! 

Don't worry: Compo isn't somebody I know personally. He is a character in the comedy series 'Last of the Summer Wine'. A wonderful series about several retired men going about in the countryside and getting into all sorts of scrapes. And last night I watched the three (four) episodes that were the goodbye to Compo. 

Tomorrow it is back to work. With two telephone numbers in my pocket so I can ring the people I need to ring. One about a certain feline and the other about a certain contract. 

Did I say I was tired?

Just when you thought...

Apparently moving is one of the most stressful things you can do in life. This upcoming one is my 4th in the last 6 years, although it is the 2nd that will be international. I can't remember the first one to be that stressful, but I can tell you: this, the second one, IS!

Of course, the amount of notice didn't help the situation much, but even after some of the stress was alleviated, other stress arrived. But where do I stand right now?

Well, as of Thursday, I have a moving company and as of yesterday, the date is set for them to pick up all my things (April 27th, less than two weeks from now). But, they also threw me yet another curve ball: had I filled out the application to import my household goods into the United Kingdom? Ehm, the what now? 

Turns out, that since I live in a non-EU country, despite being an EU-citizen myself, I have to fill out an application for moving my trinkets across the North and the Irish Seas. I don't really expect any bother with it, but you never know of course. I will fill that out this weekend and cross everything I have at the times when they can. 

As for the delightful Miss O, still no news. I will have to get back on the phone again on Monday to get her traveling details sorted. Because worse-case scenario would be that she can't come at all! Oh, and for that again, I need to fill out that form. It not only deals with trinkets, it also deals with fluffies like Miss Oswin. 

My car still needs to be sold. I have put the word out and today (or tomorrow) I will put it on one of those online selling sites. I hope to get as much as I can of course, needing every penny I can get. Other things that need to be sold: my satellite dish (to watch Doctor Who and Strictly) and a few small things. 

Then there is stuff that needs to go to the dump: like rubbish and the scratch pole (hardly ever used, since a certain feline prefers the walls apparently), a surplus of bad cardboard moving boxes and other thingies. 

If there ever is a next time: this will be it!

Last, but certainly not least, stuff needs to be packed. I think I have been doing great so far. All my books, my dvd's (can't bother to capitalise), Christmas stuff, most of the craft stuff (I pack something and something else appears, it's never ending!), most of the clothes that I won't need in the immediate future and today it's the kitchen's turn. I don't think I will be baking any cakes in the coming two weeks, so a lot can already be packed away. All in all, I would say about 75% is packed at this very moment. 

And as soon as the packing is complete, the places where the stuff used to reside, will need to be taken apart for easy transport. The first room divider was done yesterday, other stuff will follow. Fortunately next Friday my friend will come over again to help me with the larger pieces of furniture that really do need two people. 

From the cupboard to the wall. And back again several times over!

Well, if you could hear me speak right now, you would hear an awful lot of curse words. Directed mainly at Emma! Because Emma said Miss O was allowed in the cabin. Which she is. From Haugesund to Oslo! After that however...

Yesterday I got a text message about two hours after making the booking for us all to fly out. Could I please ring them back, because of Miss O. So, I rang back to a Swedish number. Got put on hold. Rang off since I had to work. 

This morning I rang back to a Norwegian number. Got a Swede on the phone. Who told me that the UK and Ireland have separate rules and regulations and the only way Miss O was going to be able to travel was in a cargo plane! Far removed from a cabin!! After I had vented my anger and displeasure, he gave me a number of an Irish based company that moved animals. Ha! They no longer did business with SAS. 

I called the KLM in the Netherlands. Finally got some intelligent person on the phone (called Celeste, lovely woman) who explained in a language I actually understood and was very helpful. She gave me the number of a Netherlands based company that worked for them. Who got me a new number in Norway (which was in Sweden). They in turn got me a number in Denmark. Who got me two numbers: one was the Norwegian postal services and the other one was a company that used to work with SAS. Both duds!

By this time I was getting really grrrrr again. I decided to look on my own. I found a company (who worked with SAS according to their site), called them. They gave me a company in this area to call. Guess what they said: Yes, we can do that. We will try finding a solution and will send you an email as soon as possible. 

It will not be cabin traveling for a certain feline. I will just be happy if I get her over there! Oh, but she did get her rabies shot last night!!

Miss Oswin is nearly ready

Miaow

I heard from Brom that we were going to move. Again! But this time it was going to be a longer move. All the way to Gera. I don't mind Gera, but she lives a long way away! I did not want to travel by car all that way.

But, this morning Mara phoned somebody. She had to wait for aaaaages, but finally Emma answered. A Swedish girl who helped Mara book our flight. Yes, you read it right: OUR flight! I am going flying.

Come on Mara, get a move on! We are ready to go!!

I am not sure how I feel about it. Well, honestly? I know exactly how I feel about: not good! But Emma said that because I was the MBF in the WWU*, I could travel in the cabin. I will not be traveling in any luggage compartment. I will not be treated like any old suitcase. I will be traveling in style!

The only thing Mara said I needed before we will be traveling is a rabies shot. Which is going to happen today! Yikes. But then? I will be ready for our trip in 21 days exactly...

*MBF in the WWU: Most Beautiful Feline in the Whole Wide Universe

Brom is ready!

Coocoo

Guess what: we are moving! I love new adventures and I am sure living closer to Gera is going to be fantastic! And another guess what: I am all packed!!!

Of course I haven't got as much stuff as Mara has and she has a lot! Lots of books, lots of yarn, lots of DVD's, lots of things. And today she thought she had packed all the yarn and... she found another batch. She was looking for shoes (which she found as well by the way). 

The place looks like somebody tried to burgle it though. It looks really awful. But Mara says that slowly but surely there is some order in the chaos. Me and Mouse don't see it really and Miss Oswin just goes to sleep. 

Only three weeks to go!

Photo on Sunday 2018-10

Just over one cubic meter of stuff to move! If you look closely you can see more (large) crates in the background. Those are filled with my Christmas stuff.