For those of you in Canada, I mean “Waiting for GOD (?) – He!”
In Singapore, “Waiting for GOD (?) – Lah!”
In Australia: “Another stubby, Mate!”
In this case, GOD is “Goods Overdue Delivery”. After 20 days at sea, a 6 day grand tour of Europe (I am jealous), with stops in Rotterdam, Felixstowe and Hamburg, ‘my’ container finally arrived in Antwerp last Wednesday 12 August.
Since then, I have been waiting … and waiting … to hear when my furniture (my goods) will be delivered to my new apartment. There is little I can do to start settling down until I get my ‘things’ so I am in a holding pattern. My cable TV and Internet was supposed to be installed on Friday – I have had to delay by one week … I have my temporary apartment until Monday – I have also extended for one week. I still do not know when I will be able to move in.
There is some progress, though. The movers informed me today that they have decided that the only way to get my ‘stuff’ into my apartment is using the stairs! The elevator is too small, and the lifts that they normally use on the outside cannot reach the ‘recessed’ area near my apartment. I cannot imagine how many people are going to be required to carry all my furniture and other things up 10 flights of stairs – just assuming that all of it will even fit through the narrow staircase. I politely (right!) asked them to reconsider!
Other aspects are going well – at least I am making slow progress.
- It took my five phone calls over 10 days to the credit card company to be able to make on-line purchases. On the fifth call, “Customer Service” gave up and told me that my only option was to lodge an official complaint. I did and the problem was solved in less than two hours.
- I have 8 separate ‘problem tickets’ open with our Computer Help Desk to resolve problems related to me move. Today I called the Help Desk four times, twice to resolve issues that were caused be action taken during previous hone calls the same day.
- I have spent 3 months salary to buy things for my new apartment – I am certainly doing my part to recover for the world wide recession.
- My company owes me over 3 months salary in expense accounts related to my move
- I should get me new curtains next week – unfortunately, the store where I ordered them went on vacation at the beginning of August and will only be back next week. But then, with the overdued delivery of my good, I am still likely to have my curtains before I move in.
- I have already ‘tried’ 12 different kinds of Belgian Beers – still a long way to go.
- I signed up at a local club and yesterday went to a class called “Total Body Cycle” – It is one hour long and we finished with 130 ‘crunches’. Oh how I am going to hurt tomorrow!
I have to stay busy waiting for GOD – Oh! Only a few more days before the next chapter in my life starts for real!
(876 Page Views)
Your waiting time sounds like the story of an immigrant … although it’s really going back “home” for you. I guess you’ve been away so long that your country has forgotten who you are.
Hang in there, mate! Hope the moving-in experience was not too traumatic. At least you have the assurance that your worldly possessions did the European Grand Tour, albeit without you. What I had was a lot more disconcerting – having been separated from mine ( 1 small air freight box, travelling by air from Singapore to Louisiana) for abt a month I was told “Erhm, we’re not sure where your cargo is. We think it may be in Chicago. And no, we can’t check its status because our office in New Orleans is closed today for Mardi Gras!” The best way to deal with it? Laissez les bon temps roulez! Have another one of ’em fine Belgian beer. Or a kick boxing class, perhaps?. :o)