Beer and Open Heart Surgery

We spent most of today organising stuff; opening bank accounts, a bit of grocery shopping and the like.  In one of the supermarkets called Albertsons, I came across a 12 pack of Harp beer.  Now Harp beer has a bit of a reputation.  Something similar to the way St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, the Irish masses drove Harp beer out of the country.  On the taste-ometer let's just say it's a couple of scales below Budweiser (and you thought that wasn't possible).  So anyway there it was in all its glory with catchy marketing slogans like "Genuine Irish Recipe" and "Specially Imported" and "From the Brewers of Guiness".  So I thought to myself ... "specially imported eh?" ... this I have to see.  After scanning the packaging for the small print, I eventually discovered that it was imported all the way from Canada.  That'd explain it I thought ...

So the alarm system is still not fixed.  In the meantime, it took some open heart surgery to put it out of its misery (or rather ours).  With the precision of a surgeon and the dexterity of a 10th dan master ninja, I whipped out the battery and unplugged the transformer silencing the menancing beast.  A bit easy I thought really.  I mean where's the anti-sabotage protection?  Let's just say Mr. B. Urglar just happens to break into the room with the control box, all he has to do is grab his favourite screwdriver from his McGyver belt (what was his first name again ... oh yeah ... Angus) and Bob's your uncle ?!!?

Rudely awakened....

After the 6th attempt to get some sleep, the alarm lured us into a false sense of security by keeping silent for an hour and a half.  We were out for the count when the ugly beast started beeping at us again..  2.30am and off we had to head to a nearby hotel.  Bonus point was the lovely warm chocolate chip cookies presented to us with sympathic eyes... finally we slept!!!!  Who knows where we end up tonight....

Alarm Hell

It's clearly alarm hell week this week.  The alarm in the house just keeps on beeping every 15-30mins for reasons unknown !  Pressing either the reset or clear buttons solves the issue, but then only temporarily.  Having scoured the internet for user manuals, it would seem the only way to silence the beast completely is with the operator code, but guess what - we don't have it ... and having contacted Oakwood I now know neither do they !  This could be a long night ...

We've Arrived

After a very pleasant flight we've finally arrived at our new home.  It's scary using words like that !  I'll keep this one short cos we're totally wrecked.  Like I said, the flight was good.  We got our precious seats and one of the flight attendants even gave us a small house warming present which was really nice.  Getting the rental car took an age because it was more a mini-lease than a normal rental seeing as I'll have the car until 1-Nov, so the guy behind the counter had to pop off here there and everywhere to collect paperwork and I don't know what.  Of course he couldn't have been more pleasant so obviouslt he felt obliged to arrange a free upgrade for the inconvenience caused (whatever that may have been).

Anyways we had a little bit of excitement on the way down.  Wendy (as Rob likes to call the GPS system) decided her battery was running low, at which point - much to our horror I might add - we discovered that the 12V connector wasn't working.  Alma dived into the glove compartment for the kind of map that only a child could draw, to see if we would at least be able to make it to San Diego on paper power.  After driving a little further and having some time to "think man think", I realised that you often see kids in the back of those newer fancy cars watching their DVDs and other high tech stuff so I had me the brainwave that there must be more than one of the 12V connection in our most precious vehicle.  After a frantic scramble round the back we found it; plugged Wendy in - to which we were greeted to the sweet chorus of "continue along the I-5 for ....".  Oh joy I say !

The rest of the journey was rather uneventful.  When we got to the house we discovered that Oakwood has decided to ignore a number of aspects of the paper work we filled in and decorate it according to their own wishes - which in fairness wasn't all bad.  Still though, I'm sure they'll be paying us a return visit.  Other than that no serious problems.  The internet connection works (obviously eh?), the keylock box worked first time, they've left some essentials for us and we've made a trip to supermarket (where I thought Alma was going to go into anabolic shock judging by the drool coming from her mouth) .  All good I say ! .... oh and did I mention the weather yet?!?!?

I'll have some new photos of the place a little later.

Citizen M

We've made it as far as the hotel.  Picture a nicely decorated shoebox interior - filled with electronic gadgets - and you're in our room ! ... now get the beep out !

Above: Multiple views of our room.  Who am I trying to kid; only two are possible.

It's actually not that bad ... we've stayed here once before so it can't be THAT bad.  You do however need to feel pretty comfortable with your roomie, or this place is not for you - if you dig what I'm saying.   It's a quirky experience, and sure you're only young once (marketing was never my strong point).  The other really cool thing is that the hotel is literally 5 minutes walk from Schiphol plaza.

You might not have guessed it - but I actually like it !

Het is zover !

We're currently in the process of lashing the last few dots on the 'i's and then we're like out of here and stuff. Up to now we've only had a few little hick ups like the alarm not working and our seats on the plane being given away. OK, so captain hyperbolization (note the US 'z') strikes again. The alarm system currently generates a false warning message every so often so the GSM module has to be replaced during our absence (thanks Erwin !), and then hopefully we're back in business.  For the burglars out there, the warning message is non-critical so the system still works .... sorry for getting your hopes up.

On top of that I logged in this morning to the KLM website to check us in, and low and behold the seats that I booked about two weeks ago were no longer allocated to us. Not to mention we had to pay extra in order to book them in the first place !  I proceeded to phone KLM customer support.  The reassuring agent couldn't find any record of the payment in her system (which would make sense seeing as I fabricated the receipt myself .... oh .... feel the sarcasm).  She helpfully suggested to take the receipt I already had to the airport and to explain the situation there ... with of course no guarantee that we would get the seats we paid for (seeing as they were now free again according to the on-line check in service) and with no guarantee that there would be any seats left in economy plus.  Best idea ever I thought - so I directly proceeded to re-book our 17D and 17E seats and sure if they charge us twice for booking the same seats then I'll just have to claim it back.

Happy Days I say ! (the Henry Winkler flavor)

Wil's Last Day

It comes to us all in the end - the feeling that the time has come to cut the umbilical cord, and then before you know it, you're out on the street; a very wet street as it turned out. The whole campus was flooded ! At one stage, I looked out the window - pondering the path our futures would take (that, or I was bored) and the skies were jet black. It was nighttime, but then during the day - mad Ted ! Anyways after feeding the masses with a few 'vlaais' (tasty tarts to you and me ... the cake variety Andy in case you're reading), I handed in the phone and headed for the hills; strategically placing one foot in front of the other - though not necessarily in a fixed pattern - to avoid getting totally drowned. Game Over ... or at least paused for the next while.

Boxes on the move ...

Finally, after weeks of gathering our life treasures together, the removal men came and packed it all away within 30 mins. Barely a word was spoken until the poker set was found.  That caused all sorts of excitment, with talks of making it big in Las Vegas ... not sure we are at that level yet; the neighbors already clean us out in their second ever poker game!!

Asuming the poker doesn't work out, we still have the badminton, although saying that,
I've a feeling that will be quickly replaced by tennis as there doesn't seem to be much happening on the badminton scene over there.

They say ''curosity killed the cat''.  Well in this case, our nosey little friend that arrived with the removals guys mananged to hang on to his/her lives and got a bowl of milk thrown into the bargain.

Alma's Last Day

Today was another sad day. Poor auld Al had to say goodbye to FedEx (and of course her little family there). It was an emotional time. Some of us ...

.... and I don't like to point fingers

may have gotten a little emotional, but in the end at least there were no serious casualities. I quote,

The tears fell, the goodbyes were said and it's now time to enjoy being a lady of leisure

(it might just take longer than I thought for her to recover)

The Luckiest Day

Some say it's lucky if a bird should lighten its load on your general persona. If so, then this must be the luckiest day of my life !

Yesterday evening, I hoovered out the car in preparation for the big handover this coming Tuesday. When I came out this morning a pitifully constipated large flying pig (just to give you an impression of the sheer volume we're talking here) had decided to purge his innards on and around (but mainly on) the general location of said vehicle. Three 1.5 litre bottles of water later there was just enough visibility to continue on one's morning journey. All I can say is here's hoping it lashes rain today !

Conspiracy Theory ?

I think all the electronic items in the house are starting to become self aware. I blame the car ('Beasty'). I'm sure she's behind it (remember: all cars are girls, even if they're called 'Beasty'). Yesterday the vacuum cleaner packed up - fading from the last few feeble motor rotations to a strange and stinky smell ... that kind of 'oh there go the brushes' smell. Today it was the iron's turn. In fairness I don't think he ever saw so much action in one day and let's face it after 11 years it was probably his time - but still - 3 weeks before we leave - REALLY ?!?!? What ever happened to king and country; pouring your guts out to give it that last few percent that could make all the difference?

The Big Day

It's official - the big day has been set for the 27th of August. OK, let's be honest it's been set at that date for I don't know how long but there's no harm in being all dramatic now and then.

Goodbye beasty

Today's a sad, sad day. It's time to wave goodbye to Mr. Beasty. After years of loyal service we unfortunately have to come to terms with the fact that poor old beasty just can't come with us (a tear formed in the corner of Wil's eye).

And before you ask - yes I'm sad - but not sad enough that I go around taking random pictures of our car. I need them to get rid of the old heap via the ANWB website !