Asterisk

My first car

Remember yesterday's post about me being illegal/legal? I put a little * by the word driver's license and told you I would address that today. So here goes...

As I was talking to the lady about this that and the other, my driver's license came up. I thought it would be valid until the end of 'it'. Basically until December 2022. Until she dropped a bombshell: 185 days and it has to be exchanged. Or, in case there is no agreement between the Netherlands and Norway: I have to retake all my tests! 

Now, I owned a British license a long time ago. In fact, it was my very first one and when I moved back from England to the Netherlands back in 1994, I had it exchanged fairly quickly. Then when I moved to Norway I used my Dutch license until it 'ran out'. Basically I needed compulsory lessons and they had to be put on the license. So, a Norwegian license it was.

I moved to Northern Ireland and hey presto: one year after moving there, I would have to exchange it. *Sigh*. In the end of course that didn't happen, because I moved back to the Netherlands before the year was up. So, what's the deal now?

Well, after looking into it, it turns out that...

If it is a license issued by a member of the European Union, I can drive with it until it expires in December 2022. If it is a license issued by a member of the European Free Trade Association, the same rules apply. If it is a license issued by a country with which the Netherlands has made agreements, then the 185 day-rule comes in. And if it's a country with which the Netherlands does not have any agreement: retake all tests. 

If I had for example moved to Alberta or Quebec in Canada and then back: car license fine, bus license retake. But British Columbia or Ontario: retake the lot. My license was issued in Norway, which is not a member of the EU. It is however a member of the EFTA, which means...

December 2022! With all the trimmings. 

Illegal

Looking out over the Atlantic Ocean over Northern Ireland

That's what people (read Mum and Dad) call me right now: illegal. I am in this country illegally. Of course that is rubbish. I have a Dutch passport and I have every right to be here. However, there are certain things I am not allowed/can't do. 

As I said, I need a compulsory health insurance. In Norway I was state-insured and only had to pay a little for doctor's visits and medication. In Northern Ireland I was state-insured and didn't have to pay anything. In the Netherlands I need the health insurance and then doctor visits are free and some medication is free. 

But the insurance companies do not want to insure people who are not officially entitled to it of course. So, if you think Dutch healthcare is better than elsewhere and you want to enjoy it, you have to be officially registered in the Netherlands. To avoid fraud obviously. 

Yesterday I went back to City Hall (well, City Office as it's called) where all things relating to officialdom is handled: births, deaths, marriages, driver's licenses*, passports, id-cards, registration to name but a few. I had the paperwork required (a letter from my Dad stating he allowed me to live with them, signed as well, isn't he the nicest Dad?) and my passport. I had to give them my last address abroad, give information about my possibly changed status (single, married, widowed, divorced, children) and that was it. 

They checked my passport against the new photo they took with their fancy gizmo on the desk (they matched apparently) and I signed a piece of paper. But, I wasn't registered yet! From the lady's office, it would go upstairs to be checked and then, if all goes well, I would be official and LEGAL! However, the lady was very kind and wrote on top that they had to deal with it asap, as I need medication. 

The medication I can get even without health insurance: full price thank you very much, both for doctor and meds. I still have enough to last me two months (endometriosis) or several attacks (migraine), but I will need a renewal after that. But once I am registered, it should be smooth running. 

*See tomorrow's post.

Week 2

1997

On Saturday my sister left to go back home. It was tough. We have been spending so much time together in the past year that we have become even closer than we already were. Not being able to see her that often is going to be hard and I am really going to miss her. But I knew that ahead of time of course. My life for the time being will be here in the Netherlands and that means I have to get everything on the rails over here again as they say. 

Tomorrow I will be able to register myself and that has immediate consequences for other things as well: my health insurance will then become valid. Which means I can get my medication sorted (pill and migraine) and have a little looksie-over by a doctor. Right now I do not have that insurance that is compulsory here. But I should get it this week. 

At the end of this week I will be contacted by the temping company regarding my job wishes. I am a bus driver and want to go back doing that, but my paperwork is not exactly what I would need over here. Yes, I have a driver's license (Norwegian, not a problem), a digital driver's card (Northern Irish, should also not be a problem). I even have a police check from Norway. But, I don't know whether they would accept that here and of course there are nine months missing when I lived in Northern Ireland. I will also need a medical before being allowed to drive. 

I have however also decided that I might retrain to go more into the planning area of the driving. Office basically. I have found over the last year that my body is suffering more and more from the irregularity of the job and that it needs more time to recover. So, I am thinking of doing a course in transport and logistics. It's mainly aimed at the goods side of transport and not the person side, but in effect the two are quite similar. I will keep you posted on that.

Which means this week is not going to be too busy, but I do have some things to do. I will keep you posted.

Photo on Sunday 2019-05

February 2018

May 2018

July 2018

February 2019

I am going to miss you so much!

Back home

The first few things are being unloaded

So, we made it home. Nice and early on Sunday morning. A day which was mainly spent lugging heavy suitcases up two flights of stairs and doing nothing much. Apart from Miss O of course, who spent her day exploring. 

On Monday I had to register myself as living in this municipality. They only work by appointment, so made an appointment for Tuesday. On Tuesday I went again. When she asked from what other municipality I had come, her face fell when she heard the answer. I needed a different person to help me with that, because it would take a whole lot longer than she could give me, plus I would need some more documentation. *Sigh* Next Tuesday it is!

Fortunately the bank account was a lot easier to open. We went in, talked to the guy, he took my details and before we knew it, a regular and a savings account were open. I couldn't do anything with them yet, needing a bank card and some other details and stuff, but as they arrived today, I am good to go. All the money that my sister had held in her account for me, was transferred into mine, so at least now I can pay my own way instead of asking her to get my money for me. 

The very last

Other things that have already been sorted: the vet for Miss O and the registration database for her (she has been chipped). I am in the middle of getting my health insurance sorted, which may come through tomorrow or may take a bit longer as it depends on whether or not I am officially registered in this country. But at least it's in the works and only needs a final 'yes'. 

On Tuesday evening Gera and I visited some friends of my parents/us, who live in an apartment block. In that block apartments become free quite regularly and I have been thinking of trying for one of them. I just wanted to see whether it would suit me size wise. They also showed me the 1-bedroom apartment of a friend of theirs, which was definitely too small. But their 2-bedroom one would be quite suitable and I think I would have the room to park everything I own. 

As soon as I am officially registered, the tax people will know about me as well and I then I can get the tax form I need and then I can start applying for one of those apartments. Eventually I would want a bigger place of course, preferably one with more than just a small balcony, but for starters it would be perfect. I will keep you posted on that. 

Other than that, not much. I have been asking for a job, but even if I don't get to drive immediately (police record checks abroad might take some time), I can work in other places as well. I have done in the past and am not afraid of it. 

I will be using the green one, the other one will be sold.

So, I made it home. In fact, not only did I make it home, so did my things. The container arrived on Tuesday and the four Dutch movers made short work of getting it unloaded into the storage unit. I took a few things out, like the bikes, as I will not be buying a car just yet, but cycle. I might get fit again! *Gulp*

Let's go again!

All my belongings waiting for the container

Well, plenty has happened in the past week and a half. The movers came and the container arrived on Monday and all my things were placed in said container. After first being carefully wrapped up of course. They were nothing if not diligent! I didn't have a thing to do apart from looking on and was freezing by the time they had all left. 

The 20 ft container is full

On Tuesday I went back to the apartment to clean it. That took a couple of hours as it wasn't a big place. I took photos of everything which I sent to the landlord (he wasn't around to do the final check) and then I left the keys and left. 

Gera and me at the beginning

On Wednesday I tried to close my bank account. Again, as I had already closed it on Monday. But then money appeared on Tuesday. Which I transferred to my sister. And then I was below zero. She transferred back. Zero. Then below zero again. So I paid up and managed to get it closed. Until Thursday when more money appeared in the account. *Sigh* I transferred it to my sister again and this time around it finally did close! 

Me and Gera all done! And yes, she is red and I am purple

On Friday my sister's holiday had started and we spent the day preparing for the trip ahead. We had the car fixed (I had broken something off that was already broken), we bought the last things we needed, we had our hair done. Okay, the last one wasn't really needed, but as I had been paid a lot more for the car than what I had expected, we wanted a treat. Also because soon we will live in different countries again. 

Being silly on the first ferry

And then on Saturday morning we packed what was left to pack: cat, computer, assorted things we wanted to take. The car was full. We set off to the port of Larne. Where we were told we were at the wrong end! I had actually booked the trip the wrong way around! Fortunately she could undo the damage (after me forking out money of course) and we got on. Puss was not happy, especially as she had gone potty and I had to clean both her and the crate. 

We drove through lovely snowy landscapes in the beautiful sunshine

Once off the ferry the trip was smooth. We had take Oswin out of her crate but with the possibility to get in as well and she was much happier for it. Not happy happy, but she was better than if she had been in the crate. She panted nearly the whole way though, which was quite sad to see. But she was on my lap a lot of the way and seemed to be coping. 

Not liking it much, but enduring it like the trooper she is

On the next (international) ferry she had a whole kennel to herself. The crate went in and a small litter box and food and drink. Then she was left on her own. I checked in at 10 pm, but she was doing fine. Quiet anyway. The next morning we collected her and she was still okay. Once the car got moving again though: the noises started again as well. Ah well. We were only a short distance away from my parents where she would get the run of the house again! 

All pooped out!

So far, she is settling in well. As I said, she has the run of the house, apart from three rooms and she seems to be getting the hang of sitting on the window sill in the living room. My mother moved everything out of the way to give her room and she is appreciative. No accidents, just back to normal. In a new house.

The cactus and the squirrel (in wood) are even further apart now

I am settling in well as well by the way. It is of course strange to live with Mum and Dad again. You somewhat feel like you're twelve again! Although they don't tell me when to go to bed. *Grin*

Radio silence

Well, as you read this, I am having a week off from blogging for the main reason that my computer will be packed up and there isn't the room at my sister's at the moment to get it unpacked again. I took so much food I had left, that neither of us know what to do with it right now. 

There will be plenty to do for me this week though. The car has been sold, but there is closing of accounts and insurances, cleaning of the apartment and other things that crop up. On Friday Gera is off as well and we plan to get the car cleaned and packed ready to go early on Saturday. 

I will see you again when I am in the Netherlands!

Photo on Sunday 2019-04

Found on my camera, taken in September last year at the local craft fair in Antrim.

Really?

I knew there was not much to do today. Yes, some boxes needed to be filled and one box needed to be opened again (vacuum bag not working). Yes, I needed to take my bed apart. And the sofa, otherwise it won't fit down the stairs. Other than that though: a fairly easy day.

Before I got going with my bed, I checked one of the drawers of my nice dresser. I knew it was empty, but still, I had found several things lurking in my night stand, so I was not as confident. But even I was surprised by what I actually did find: lots of pj's! Honestly? Had I not checked that dresser a gazillion times already and how had I missed them?

Anyway, I took them out, put them in a box, which is nowhere near full, and got going with the bed. The mattresses in the plastic covering I had kept from the last move and the rest just apart taking of thing sort of. I got going with the sofa, taking the cover off first and then tried to take it apart. I managed eventually. 

I don't know what made me go into my bedroom. I don't know why I looked up, but when I did, what did I see but a photo. On the wall. Meaning it wasn't in a box where it was supposed to be! I mean, really?? It went in the pj box which by now was half way full with things I am still finding. Not full though. Not full. 

I think my sister and I will have to come up here tomorrow as well (after a trial fitting and selling my car), just so she can check whether I have forgotten anything. Knowing me...

Nearly! Oh no...

I thought I would have the kitchen packed up by now. And to be honest, it is. Sort of. There are just two or three things that I haven't found a place for yet. Big bulky things that don't fit in the regular size boxes. Like the dish drainer I have. It fits in a box alright, just not nicely. Annoying. 

As for the clothes: they are mostly either packed away to send on or packed away to take with. Until I find yet another pair of socks or a scarf. The unpacking party is getting more ridiculous by the day, as I am really putting everything together now to fill up the last boxes. Plates and shampoo and scarves and stuff that comes from nowhere (don't ask, not a clue). 

Left-over boxes on the left

The last three days I have been working hard I think, although others might not feel the same. Which to be honest is not really my problem just now. My problem is that I noticed muscles in places I didn't have muscles. And they are a bit tender. It's a good thing this whole move is nearly done, otherwise I would start to look like Arnold's little sister!

I am know just tidying every single room to see whether there is any more stuff that needs to be packed away. The stuff that I do find now however, is usually weird shaped or very big. It won't fit in a box or very badly. But, I am nearly there, so I am not too worried. 

About 6,5 cubic meters (about 230 cubic feet)
In total (incl. furniture) about 26 m3 (918 ft3)

Once I have packed everything that needs to come, I need to get rid of the things that don't come. Like rubbish and stuff that goes to a charity shop. But that can wait until next week. The place is mine until January 31st anyway.