08/08/2022
I have a two-day stress headache. At least I hope it’ll be resolved soon (getting better 🤞) Let me tell you how it started…
On Saturday, we cleaned ourselves out of our friends’ flat as they arrived home, bringing back our camper van. The van had started dripping a bit of oil on the last leg of the journey, so we refilled it and started off to Vantaa, to check out the neughborhood of a possible sublet. I was busy arranging the short-term rental details while Sami investigated the increasing oil leak.
After a lot of talking, some crying (me), and exhausting decision-making (anyone else find that so draining???) we risked one last drive to pick up the keys to the flat from a few suburbs away. The car survived, but when we got back to the building, the key didn’t work. We couldn’t even get into the lobby. After Sami had tried several times, scaring one of the neighbours so badly she decided against leaving her flat for an evening walk, it was my turn. I circled the building and immediately ran into a lady in a fancy dress who told me she was in the body corporate committee and could open the door to the lobby. So, we tried the key to the apartment door. It didn’t work. I contacted the owner and her daughter agreed to get another key the next day. So, we ended up camping outside in our car, which was fine, especially since the committee lady refilled our water tank, gave us juice and showered us with much love and interest.
The next morning, I woke up with a headache. We had to wait for the key, so the kids hung out in the apartment courtyard and we got to know some neighbours. Without the headache and the gnawing fear of what the future held (we’ve been on the move for months with no permanent address) it would have been quite lovely.
Meanwhile, the committee lady texted me that she’d checked the code on the key and it was the utility key. Sami had already figured out it opened the door to the rubbish bins.
But, an hour before we were due to get the key, as I was lying in bed with a pounding head, something shook the van. It turned out to be a young driver parking a trailer. Unsuccessfully.
The trailer ripped out the whole back bumper and peeled the corner of the van. Sami called a tow truck, which arrived so timely we only had a half hour to move all of our life from the van to the apartment, which thankfully opened up with the proper key. So, we now live in Vantaa. 😂 We have plenty of space and lovely playgrounds and walking paths around us. It’s leafy and safe and very international (already got to know our Albanian neighbours). All in all, we’re fine, I just need a moment to adjust, again. Taking the little one to the playground now while our 9-year-old is hopefully enjoying his 3-day science camp at Heureka.
