So, how come Paola's blogging has practically ground to a halt? See here for the answer: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=76348&l=4086c&id=664241054

[More:]

I'm sure many of you know that moving is the third most stressful event that can happen to you, after a death in the family or your own divorce. Have a look here: http://www.fearfreeselling.com/Moving%20Stress.htm

We survived. There were some tough moments...like when last Wednsday the Expert's wife called to say the Expert had been delayed on a job in Portugal and couldn't do his Expertise as planned on Thursday...would next week do? Absolutely not. The movers were bringing the boxes at 8 a.m. on Friday. The Expertise is a very important thing here in Belgium: the Expert makes a detailed report when tenants move in, and they have to leave it in exactly the same condition when they move out, when he makes another report. Every spot, crack and scratch is noted. The landlord (me, in this case) has to sign a paper to release the tenants' bank guarantee only when everything is tip top. And I knew the tenants had messed up the parquet in the living-room, so no way could I move in before the expertise. And I couldn't move in later: no way could I change the box date, and we'd handed in our notice to the aparthotel, and my husband had taken two days' leave to help...Panic stations. Phone calls to the expert's poor wife, who had very little to do with anything...but she got hold of her man who managed to find a colleague to do the job.

Phew.

Thursday morning (the day before the movers came to deliver the infamous boxes) I discovered my passport had disappeared (probably pickpocketed). No time to deal with that just then. Thank goodness I'd taken out travel insurance on my trip to Egypt which is meant to be the day after tomorrow (more on that later).

Or like when, on the same day, we found that the movers were not allowed to raise their huge mechanical lift outside the front of the building, which has a private drive, but had to do it on the busy narrow street behind, and for that we had to get special police permission and get all the traffic diverted. To late to do anything about it. Hard luck. In the end there was not too much disruption.

The movers were superb: I stood at the bottom of their huge mechanical ladder directing 'the big picture', list in hand, calling 'TROC!' or 'UP!' for each package. Troc is a second hand junk shop, and the movers had kindly agreed to take a whole bunch of stuff there.

My husband was up in our sixth floor flat, list in hand, doing the 'fine-tuning': 'Bedroom 1!' 'Bedroom 2!' 'Kitchen!'

Mobile phones at hand, we communicated 'hey, shall I send the kids' old desks to Troc?' 'No, hang on, keep one, it'll do as a dressing table till we get one...'

We have made some amazing discoveries: a notebook written by my husband's grandmother who had seen a huge ship being built in Belfast - we are sure it was the Titanic. Kids quote books: 'Mummy if its not to much trobell can you tech me how to coke?'

Some grim discoveries: a totally moldily disintegrated stool.

And so on. And I am exhausted. But back to blogging. And today I at last got to the Consulate to try and get a new passport. 'Signora, did you have an appointment?' No, I didn't know I was meant to have one. I stood my ground. 'Signora, are you registered yet at the embassy? We can't start the procedures for the passport till you're registered.' No, I didn't think it was a priority. Okay, I'll register now. 'Photos?' YES! I had those. 'But signora, you need photos without glasses.' What? I ALWAYS wear glasses! Okay, I'll go and find a photographer. 'Signora, that'll be eighty-five euro.' Here's my credit card. 'No, cash.' Okay, I'll go and find an ATM. So far so good. Only three hours have passed. 'Now signora, we need a nulla osta from Montevideo where you last lived.' Well, they faxed Uruguay for that, and let's hope the time difference plays in my favour and that they get a response today, in which case I MIGHT, just MIGHT, get a passport in time for Thursday's flight. And if not, there is plenty of boxwork for me to get on with instead. Egypt will still be there, and hubby can handle his conference without me.

Good night all.