"911 Emergency"...

Oh dear, so I jinxed myself when I said I hope there are no dramas this week.  Well, the dramas have been a bit too major for my liking... that's saying a lot given I am a somewhat of a drama queen i.e. I like a bit of it my life.  Brett even has a special award for me "DQOTY" - Drama Queen of the Year (of who equally deserves the award as frequently as I do!) .  So, in this situation I don't deserve the award, the situation deserves the award.  Let me take you back to Monday...

So, Monday is move day.  It was always going to be chaotic. The plan was: removalists at my apartment gear in the morning 8:30/ 9am, going over to Jersey; back to midtown for a meeting at 10am, and arrival of my rental goods in the afternoon.   It was never going to work....

8:00am and I'm checking with the doorman that it's ok for the removalists to start at 8:30... of course no, the garbage run is on in the service elevator and won't be free until 9... oh well, I've packed my boxes, they can be in and out in 10 mins.  Anyway, so they arrive and I have the bright idea that maybe I can give them my spare keys and they can take the goods over without me.  "Of course we can do that".   Excellent, one stress down.

Second task for the morning, confirm the cable / internet / phone connection with Cablenet... "oh, I'm sorry maaam, your order has been cancelled"... "pardon?".... "well, the owner extended his service, so we cancelled yours, you need to speak with the owner".   Seriously, what the hell????  Message to owner to find out what's going on...

So I go to my meeting, it finishes on time and I head over to Jersey for my furniture delivery.  I arrive, and I can luckily get in and all of my boxes have arrived.  Unfortunately, they have left all of my boxes downstairs (even my clothes ones), so I need to take a few trips of heavy boxes up my steep stairs.... oh well, this is the sacrifice for not having to come over and miss my meeting.

The rental furniture crew arrives at about 4, with a full truck full of goods - 4 1/2 later and the house is filled with goods.  What a day, but the house now feels like a home, albeit I can't put the tv on because I have no cable.  Good time to ring the cable company and get another appointment.

"Oh, I'm really sorry maam, that was a bad mistake by us that shouldn't have happened... we can connect your services Wednesdy between 2 & 5"... "but I have to work tomorrow, so that time doesn't work, I can't do until after 6:30pm, and you know it wasn't my fault that you cancelled my order"... "yes maam, it's okay, I'll leave them a note and make sure they don't come until after 6:30, and even if they come before 6:30, they'll leave you a business card and they'll come back that night and put your services on"... "Excellent! thank you"....

So I get home on Tuesday knowing I'll have no tv... that's ok, I can deal with it, at least the stereo works.  Get home Wednesday and there's no card in the door.  That must be good news, they haven't been yet... time goes on and it's getting to quarter to 8, why is there no cable man?  Give Cablevision a call "yes maam, a technician went there at 4:40pm and tried to call you, but didn't leave a message"... "can he come back tonight?"... "no maam, technicians won't come out after 5 for connections".... "then why did they tell me they'd come after 6:30pm?"... "well, that was an error maam, and I'm sorry for that".. " I understand it's an error, but it's not my fault, so can someone come tonight and fix it?".... "No maam".... "Ok, so when can be the next appointment?".... "The only time we can do it 2-5 tomorrow, otherwise next week".... "Given the mistake was yours, can you please come after 6 tomorrow because I can't do during business hours?".... "No maam, sorry, we can't".... "(hysterically)Do you realise that you are leaving me with no internet or tv services because of your mistakes?"... "I'm sorry maam for these issues, but I can only offer you these times"... "I can't do that time"..... "I'm sorry maam, but I can only offer you these times"... "FINE! I'll take 2-5 tomorrow".

So the next day comes, I'm planned for leaving work early (with some reshuffling), but before I do, I think I should call them to confirm... "I'm sorry maam, there's no appointment recorded for that time"... "WHAT?"..."No, it just says you were very upset and that you'd find another supplier, but not that you would have an appointment at this time"... "But I confirmed it with a man at 9:20pm, I have the call log on my phone"... "I'm sorry maam for all the trouble, but I can't help you"...  "So, when can I get an appointment, Saturday morning?". ... "No maam, the only time available is Friday from 2-5". ... "FINE! I'll take that and just work it out ".

So, I go home Thursday evening and the garage door is open a bit with the light on... that's strange, maybe the old owner is still getting some stuff out (we'd been coordinating to make this happen).  The front door is unlocked.. the owner must be in the house.   I go inside, look to my right and the big 55 inch tv, stereo and blu ray player are all gone... holy f!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    I run upstairs, my bedrooms disturbed, the tv's gone, the drawers are all open.... holy f!!!!!!!!!!! again!.... I've been robbed and it's only my 4th day in this house!  911, "what's your emergency?"... "my house has been burgled"... "Pardon?"... "my house has been burgled"... "I'm sorry maam, I don't understand you".... "SOMEONE HAS BROKEN INTO MY HOUSE!".... "oh, you've been burglarized"... "yes!".... "ok, don't touch anything, I'm sending around a patrol car".

5 minutes later and arrives the police officer.  He asks a lot of questions, comments that "this never happens in this street.... it's such a lovely and quiet street... it's a nice part of town... this is so strange".  It was just like the movies.  He asks "do you know if anyone is still here?".  I said of course I don't know.   "Stay here maam", as he pulls his gun out checks all of the floors of the house.  "Is there a security system in the house?"... "Yes (with a look of embarassment on my face)".... "Why wasn't it on?"... "I only moved here on Monday and I was going to get everything sorted out this weekend".... "Mmmmm".

About 10 minutes later the detectives and their dust kits arrive ... more questions.  I realise that not only is it the electronic rental goods, but also my new personal  laptop, and the house's small tv in the kitchen thatIi was so looking forward to watching whilst I bake.  The worst thing is that my spare set of keys is missing, same as the garage opening clicker.  I think it's best to stay at a hotel....

So, I stayed in a hotel on Thursday and Friday night, whilst the house got new locks.   But the question is, what have I learnt from this experience?:
1: fix is my lax approach to security - use the security system, the dead locks, etc. etc, don't give strangers keys to my house - you know the basics.. & most importantly realise I'm no longer in an apartment with a 24 hour doorman or in Narre Warren North with dogs.
2: put more focus on me - don't put off important things because I'm too busy...

....(you always have to learn from these types of experiences)

So, last night, lovely Judy and Teena from work put on some friendly bubbles (champagne style) for me, which helped put a smile on my face.  My head's a little heavy today, but oh well.

So, I'm going back to the house soon, I've got the security system working and registered for monitoring, the locks are changed and internet should be getting connected tomorrow... fingers crossed!

Let's hope that's the drama over and done with and I can now settle in.... 

Signing off!
Michele