It's April Fools Day. Do you know where your stuff is?
Mine is stacked and partitioned and boxed and piled...all over my house. Tomorrow is the big day - the day that the movers come to pack up and ship my furniture, books, pots and pans, and gads of other stuff. They will spend the day putting everything in "official" boxes (no self-packing allowed), creating an inventory (everything has to be logged in and insured), and stuffing it all into the smallest possible space in a shipping container (you know, those big semi-trailer looking boxes that the cranes lift on to the cargo ships at the port of call).
The shipping firm says it will take 6 to 9 weeks from door to door for my stuff to arrive in Brussels. Which is okay since I still don't have my work permit/visa or flight yet. I expect to be able to get there by late April. I hope. Especially since the relocation people in Brussels tell me it really only takes 3-4 weeks for the shipment. Gulp. Either way, I'm glad my firm is paying the shipping costs...cuz the total estimate is pushing 10K. (Gulp again)
So, what are they shipping?
Well, there is the bed of course...
And dresser...
And one of my barrister bookcases for the Lincoln collection....
And another...
Did I mention I have a few books? Here's one of the overflow bookcases...
And another...
I'll leave out the big hutch bookcase, the two tall ones, and the other book shelves I have stashed around the house...but here's a small one for the classics...
Of course, I also have to send over my sofas...here's one (leather, it's a guy thing)...
And I'll need transportation over there, so I'll have them ship my shuttle...
And my sailboat for those lazy days on the North Sea...
Gee, I hope it all fits in my new apartment...that's it on the left in the photo below...
Okay, okay...I admit it. I played a little April Fool's Day joke on you. That isn't really my sailboat (it was a charter for the day). :)
Next week...updates on the final arrangements, including becoming a landlord for the first time.
Thanks for visiting "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium."
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Comments: 113
The other couch is Chinese red...which goes well with the Asian theme I have for that room.
I have some large items I need to move.
I promise to have it cleaned before I give it back.
^_^
Yes cardboard and book ink can make you goofy.
The figurines, CDV cards, etc are part of my collection. Some of it is just junk, but some of it is quite collectible.
Well I have to ask, if you keep your text books or not? You have as many, if not more books them I do. And I keep all of mine for future reference, as needed. Just wondering if you do the same.
Thanks again for the pictures.
Skydiving is on my list as well. But for the next three years I'm planning to travel around Europe and western Asia (or was it central Asia?) as much as I can.
Love your icon. I'll be there in May.
Don't forget to visit Bruges or Brugge depending on your preferred language. It is beautiful. Don't miss the Van Eycks.
I love your pictures. To think that you are moving all those delightful pieces to a foreign country. They will make your place feel like home. Some mornings you are going to wake up and wonder where the heck you are. I've been known to walk into doors when I stay at motels. I wake right up. It's the dardnest thing! Avoid this at all costs, okay?
We here at home will be missing you on home soil. You stay safe and write when you can. It will be so exciting for the rest of us.
Wishing you the best in life.
Barbara S.
As for walking into doors, my landlord is supposed to install light fixtures before my arrival (normally you just get wires hanging from the ceilings). So hopefully I'll be able to find my way around without too many bumps and bruises.
Best wishes cutting through the red tape so you can be off to Belgium and your new home.
I have a few words of French that I'm trying to reglue back into sentences. As for Dutch, I figure if I can learn to say "Give me a beer" I'll be fine. :)
I'm wishing you the BEST on your new adventurous life. Keep us updated. And, do some Art Journals while you're waiting on your furnishings to arrive. Check out the Art Supply Stores there and let us know what you find. And, don't forget to JOURNAL your DREAMS!
{smile}
BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS to YOU DAVID!
Your Friend,
Rene
After tomorrow I'll be camping out in my almost empty house.
I get to live VICARIOUSLY through someone else's moving adventure! My husband fred and I have moved 12 times in 13 years of marriage....and we've lived in this house for nearly 8 years! It was all do to his career and the fast track they put him on for promotion.
I actually enjoyed the excitement of new places and meeting new people - but man, was it a lot of work! Yes, living that vicariously is defintely the way for me to experience it these days...I just don't have the stamina any more!
But it will be worth it once I get there.
Hey I didn't realize it is tomorrow! (Or today, since it's after midnight). I hope they don't damage anything. I hate movers.
Post-move leftover sale is this weekend.
Ah, but still so much to do to get rid of the stuff they are not shipping.
David U r Graced !!!
My kind Belgian voisins returned Sunday night and brought my daughter another pot of Galler!
Hooray!
The moving part I don't envy you one bit - living in Brussels sounds like fun though!
Thanks for posting to All Photo Essays Here!