I can haz chairs!

My stuff arrived yesterday, and I was on my feet for a good ten hours, unpacking boxes. It's the same every time: at the beginning it seems impossible that this chaos of boxes, random pieces of furniture and tissue paper might ever turn into something resembling a living space, and ten hours later, that's just what it has become. Next time I think I'll be wearing one of those nifty thingies which tell you how many kilometres you've done. I'm sure the score would have been quite impressive.

So,to keep to a semblance of chronological order:

Last weekend was so-so. Saturday was the hottest day so far, with 42°, and since there's no such a thing here as public pools, I just stayed home and enjoyed the a/c. Going away wasn't and option, because of a farewell party at 7 p.m. -- the colleague who will be replaced by Irene -- but doing extended pedicure and reading was fine with me.
The party was essentially nice, but I had a bit of an accident. The tables were in the (rather small and most of all very dark) garden, buffet was inside. On my way back to the table I was looking more at my plate than at where I was treading, and so I stepped on the stone edge lining the garden path. It's about 10 cm high, and I stepped on it with half my foot and slipped off, twisting my ankle. I didn't fall though (I never do, always catch myself), and didn't even drop he plate or -- gasp!! -- lose any food from the plate. The pain was absolutely excruciating, and I thought, well that's it, I've torn a tendon. I managed to get back to the table and, while still painful, the ankle was fully mobile. Pain ebbed away after maybe 10 minutes.
It returned on Sunday morning, with a vengeance. I could barely get out of bed. Still no swelling, though. So I decided to sacrifice a marvellous, cool day and my plans to climb the Vodno in order to stay at home, put up the ankle and give it plenty of ice, despite the lack of swelling.
I was really fed up with having to stay put, but the result was worth it -- almost no pain anymore on Monday.

I might have risked walking on Sunday, had it not been for the work and, most of all, walking I knew were expecting me on Tuesday. But being able to actually finish it all in one day was more important.

Ze boyz had to spend the better part of yesterday in the larger bathroom and did, quite unsurprisingly, not like it a bit. Silly me left the key inside when I closed the door on them. When Lucius started scartching on the door a few hours later, I got very alarmed, but then thought of the old trick you see in films: put a chair under the handle, et voilà. Lucius hasn't opened a door yet, but with people moving around and the entrance door open, I just wouldn't have risked it.
When we were finished (about 5.30) and the entrance door was closed, I let ze boyz out of prison. They had to declaim long odes or whatever it was to every single item of furniture, but on the whole they were obviously satisfied to have "their" things back.
When the movers had left, I continued to tidy and store and put away till 7 p.m., and then I declared all was done. Cleaning is for today -- I couldn't have done it all yesterday, so leaving it for one day later was just as well.

More bookshelves will have to be bought -- one box had to remain unpacked but does excellent services as a door stopper -- and I need mirrors. These, however, aren't urgent needs. There's a lovely interior decorating shop in the centre of town (Italian of course), and I'm planning on heading there once I've finished the cleaning. I need more bed sheets, I have to buy pretty boxes or baskets for the walk-in wardrobe (socks, underwear, scarves), and maybe they have some mirrors, too. Since I'm home on Friday evening (Irene arrives at about 5 p.m.), they can be delivered then.

Something very strange happened on Monday, though not on my way to the Forum. It was a quiet day at work, so I went to Hubo (basically a DIY place, but it also sells electric appliances, garden furniture etc) to buy a few fans for the office. (My I say that going in the embassy car is *much* better than going by taxi?) While I was wandering through the aisles, I felt a sharp pain on my right breast,outer side. It was pretty much like the pain of a super-ant biting. Well, that is what must have happened. When I undressed in the evening, I was appalled to see a big, angry red welt. It itches like hell. I'm not going to scratch, but I'd kill for some steroid cream. Hopefully I'll find some today -- pharmacies here are badly stocked, so I don't expect too much. If I can't get it, I'll ask my colleagues; maybe somebody has some at home and can bring it to work tomorrow.
Since it isn't getting worse and just annoys the hell out of me, I'm not upset. But it's *ugly*!!!

It seems that the Ambassador will finally take a holiday next week. It's kind of funny, actually: whenever I meet people from other Embassies, they ask me if he's already gone on holiday. He looks tired, and everybody notices. So do I, but it's not very nice to hint at it every chance I get. Especially since he had a heart attack about two years ago, right after he arrived, and I'm sure constant remarks on his health would go down like a cup of cold sick, well-meant though they may be.
Anyway, now he's finally decided to go, if only for a week, then he'll be here from the 10th to the 15th, and then again away for 3 weeks. That ought to do the job.

Three weeks into the job, I can honestly say that Ankara was obviously the karmic down payment for Skopje. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself to ascertain I'm not dreaming. After three years with the Daughter of Satan, working with a boss who is not only competent and appreciative of my work and skills, but also clever, funny and able to quote from Life of Brian, is almost overwhelming. I'm getting used to it, though.

Now some cleaning, then off to hit the shops, and in the afternoon I just might try to catch up on my HGLM reading-and-reviewing.

Have a good day, f-list! *hugs*