Miss Oswin is getting used to it all. Again

Miaow

It's okay for some you know, like Brom (and Mouse) and Mara, but for me, this whole moving business is not so nice. I mean, no one else got stuck in a crate without a toilet to go to! I think it's cruelty, but it was only for a short while Mara said. Like 87 hours? That's not short, that's like forever!!

Perfect to watch the world go by

But we made it eventually and I was allowed out of that awful crate and that awful car. And then I got stuck in a kitchen! What?? I was there for ages before I was allowed out to go and explore. Mara says it was five minutes at the most, but don't you believe anything she says. She said the crate was fine too!

Don't worry, he is not real

I have been living here now for two and a half weeks and I am enjoying myself a lot. It would be even better if I were able to go outside as well, but Mara says that is not going to happen just yet. If at all! What?? I promised her to be good if I were allowed out after and now this? Oh, Mara says I shouldn't fib. 

The side window
Oma grew those orchids herself!

Anyway, let me show you my new house! It is great, because there are windows again. And things happening outside so I can watch it all. Oma* says I run around from one window to another to follow the cats, but I have to don't I? I can't follow them outside, so I have to run around.

Overlooking the garden

I can go upstairs as well, but I am not allowed in all the rooms. There is a bedroom that I am not allowed in, but Opa* doesn't always look carefully and I have snuck in. I know how to get a treat you know, because Mara then has to rattle the treat tin to get me to come out! And of course she gives me a treat.

The lace making bobbins are perfect!

Oma has her own room as well, she doesn't sleep there, but she does something with a lot of things perfect to play with. Mara says she makes lace, I say she plays with cat toys and I am not allowed in! I am allowed in Opa's room though, which he now shares with Mara. They have their computers there and Opa sits by the window. I have to keep him on his toes of course, so sometimes I just jump in front of him and then I can look out of the window!

That's where Opa sits and to get to the window...

There is another upstairs as well, that is where Mara has her room. I am allowed there, but only at night, because it is cold there. Fortunately there is a big landing as well with some lovely garden seat cushions: perfect for resting after chasing cats and birds and garbage trucks.

Yawn

I hope we can stay here a long time, because I like it. And one day I get to play with all the cat toys in Oma's room as well...

*Oma and Opa are Mara's Mama and Papa. 

Moving along

2012, Drenthe, Netherlands

Even though it is lovely to be home doing nothing, nothing also means nothing. No money coming in, no people to meet. Nothing. 

I sent another email to the temping agency people about work. Great to see they will contact me, but it is quite vague and as the bus company doesn't deal with me directly (everything through the temping agency), I need answers. I will need a criminal record check which has to be negative (ie no criminal record) and I need a medical before I can start driving. The medical is easily done, the check might take a bit longer. 

I also decided to check my health insurance status. I have one! Last week I got a letter stating they couldn't insure me because I wasn't registered. I thought I would get a letter saying I was registered, but so far I am still waiting. However, if I do have the insurance I think I can assume I am now registered. Still with me here?

Health insurance also means something else: doctor! So, this afternoon I will be registering myself at the local surgery. I also asked for a double appointment with my doctor to be, so we can go through the medication I use and the physical and mental problems I have had over the past six years. 

Not quite there yet...

Anyway, other than that, not much going on. Yesterday I tried to find some things I would like to use at home, but alas: unless I want to move a washing machine and a drier stacked on top, no go! Although I did see some mittens that were easily accessible. When I am wearing my summer coat and still huffing away because of the temperature!

Photo on Sunday 2019-06

Starting on the nativities that I want to make for Mice for Mama.

The days

View from Castle Ward, Northern Ireland
June 2018

My days at the moment are quiet and easy. Not being registered as yet means that some things are not possible: health insurance or finding a home for myself. Although the latter is not possible anyway as I have not got any income either. I would be able to pay first and last month and then have to live in the dark and cold and without food and drink. I have thought about it and decided it was a bad option.

I sorted through some paperwork I had left at my parents' house when I left for Norway: all before 2012 so was alright to get rid of the lot. One or two things that I kept, but everything else will be destroyed. 

Wheeeeeh, not happy here

The last couple of days I really suffered again. Well, it started last week really when I did something with my knee and it started hurting really bad. Walking the stairs was agony, sitting down was only possible with my leg in a weird angle. Driving was excruciating. Then on Monday night, I sort of fell through my knee (I didn't fall over, I just felt my knee go. Like), made a strange move, felt something click and from then on the pain started abating. Pfew.

But then the headache started again. It makes me tired and as no meds so far have been able to help, I just gave in to the sleepiness. I think it helped and today I am h-free again. As soon as that insurance is sorted: doctor! Enough is enough now. I have been suffering from migraines and headaches all my life and it is starting to impact on my life. My body doesn't recover as quickly as it did before and I am fed up.

The newest member of the Mouse family

As there is not yet much to do, I decided to make use of the one thing that I did take home to my parents: my knitting. I made a mouse and I made a Joseph. I will need to make several more Josephs, as I have already made several Marys, but it is good fun to do. Last year's charity have received the money now and this year's charity has been picked: a mental health one. 

I spoke to my sister yesterday. Usually, if we were both free, we would have a coffee on Friday afternoon. Occasionally on other days, but mostly on the Friday. It was nice to chat to her again. Even though we wouldn't chat that often when I was living close to her, being so far away again, makes it more more, if you know what I mean. It is still really strange knowing that I can't just hop in the car and thirty minutes later we meet. 

Today I made the first step to a change in career as well. For years now I have been thinking that planning is something I could do. Especially after having worked through some of what other people have thrown at me. I have twenty years experience at driving a coach and a bus and I am not stupid, so I should be able to get my head around the whole thing. What with me getting older and needing some more regularity in my life, I have decided to go back to school. Starting in March, I will be doing a transport and logistics course. It is mainly based on heavy goods transport (lorries) instead of people transport (buses), but the basics are the same: we both use the same driving laws and hours. 

No dishwasher, unless you count me!

But, it's not all serious. Yesterday I was left on my own with Miss O, Brom (and Mouse). Oh, and a pile of dishes. We stayed in, had a nice and easy afternoon and evening. I did the dishes at some point. Was mistaken for my mother on the phone (always happens, we sound the same) and watched some television. And then today I will go to a craft fair and possibly to the ice sculptures as well. Even though there is no income yet and pretty soon the bills will arrive, I have decided that doing nothing at all is not good. I need to get out and do things. Become a yes-person again!

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*