Our personal belongings have arrived

January 3, 2010 - On December 29 we received a welcome call: your belongings have arrived. What a gift, to know that after 5 weeks your own nicknacks, clothes, books, kitchenware, etc. can be retrieved. We quickly hired a small truck on the 30th and went to Winnipeg with the speed of light to pick up our stuff. Well, it’s not quite that easy.

We had to report to the freight agency which transported the goods from the east coast of Canada. At their office we had to pay for warehousing and administration costs plus sign and receive several necessary documents. As it turned out: our stuff was already sitting there since the 21st, but for some odd reason they hadn’t contacted us any sooner than the 29th. Which means it was already waiting for us for over a week…… Oh, and the lady said that only if we were very lucky we may also take it with us today. But that only happens if Customs are really cooperative, which they normally aren’t. What? But I’ve rented a truck for today! Well, good luck to you then, she said.

Anyway, after that with fresh new documents up to the Customs Office to hand over the freight agency’s papers together with the papers which we had signed when we arrived in Winnipeg on December 3rd. First we had to fill in another form, then we waited, then we answered a few more oral questions, then we waited, then we explained what groceries where in the boxes exactly, then we waited and then finally came the finishing sentence – you can go. What do you mean, you can go? Well, your goods have been declared and we see no reason to further investigate, so please go back to the freight agency and give them back these papers. Okay.

The lady from the freight company was highly surprised to see us come back within the hour, after which she told us to wait for approximately 2,5 hours until she had a truck to pick it up. If our goods arrive at the freight agency, that’s when we can load it up. Aaaaarrrgh… can’t that be done any easier! Oh sure, she says, but we’re not allowed to. Oh.

In the meantime we went to McDonalds until they contacted us to come pick up our stuff. The next problem arises: the rental truck is small and the loading dock very high. So the forklift can’t reach the truck and can’t go outside either. There is perhaps a ramp, but that’s still covered with snow, because they only use that in the summer. Gimme a shovel, I say. Well, I don’t think in my whole life I have shoveled snow so fast, because after 5 minutes, I have cleared a path of 20 meter long and 2 meter wide. Take that! Now let’s load our stuff up.

After a little measuring only 2 pallets can fit in the truck and we have to unpack the 3rd to get everything in. And then a 2,5 hour trip home through a snowstorm with occasional gusty winds. Oh well, with a little motivation everything is possible.

After a short supper we unloaded everything and finally got to open up our boxes. We’re glad everything was still in one piece and believe me, if we look around us now, our house has truly turned into a home. Yippie!