This time of year seems to be one of major transition in our lives, and this year may be one of the craziest. Last year, I was finishing up Dutch classes and starting to look for work, not realizing that I was about to get pregnant. In 2008, we moved into this place and Ivo started a new job. In 2007, I was in my last few days at my job in Canada, was pregnant with Liam and we were about to elope and get married before we got the apartment reno’d to sell and moved to Europe. In 2006, Ivo had just arrived in Canada to try out this relationship thing full time. In 2005, I was a few months into my first post-grad school job and loving my new motorbike. And in 2004, I was just finishing my thesis and about to head to Europe on the trip that got this whole relationship thing going.
But this year we’ve outdone ourselves. We had planned to leave Saturday on a three month trip through Europe to have a relaxed time as a family. But then we found our house and bought it, and because it was an inheritance, the owners wanted to move as quickly as possible to get their money out of it, meaning we needed to take ownership in May (things move slowly here – signing in March and getting the house in May is considered very, very speedy). So, we get the house on May 20, and because it needs a lot of work, we’re going to stay here and get it done, realizing that if we try to do while Ivo’s working and I’m taking care of two small children, it’ll never get done, and heck, Ivo already has the time off. I’m really, really gutted that we don’t get our vacation (there’s a little toddler inside lying on the ground insisting “I want my trip!” in increasing volume and intensity), but I am excited to get the house looking like we want it to. And, after all, the point of the vacation was family time, which we will definitely get, if not quite as relaxed.
However, being the careful planners we are (ha!), and because of the cats, we’d already subletted our apartment, to people who are relocating here from Vancouver (just a coincidence). Having done the relocation thing, we didn’t feel we could back out of the contract and leave them without a place to come to while they find their own place – it’s scary enough moving without having the first rug pulled out from under you. Which makes us homeless for 20 days and then almost so as the major renos take place on the new house.
Assuming they do. Because we can’t get in to let contractors see the place to get accurate bids because the sellers are now being asses – although they had said they would give us access, they now will only do it through some huge contract thing which would mean more costs for us, and be a huge deal. This really, really sucks, because of course contractors don’t work at the last minute. So, we’re just hoping it works out.
Actually, we’re hoping that the mortgage might come through earlier, and then we’ll move the transfer date up. But things take a long time here. We’ve submitted all the pieces as of last week, but even getting it by the 20th is considered fast and will only happen if there are no snags. Of course, we’re on the hook if it doesn’t, just something else to stress about.
But, I’m starting to just have to trust that somehow it will all work out. We’ve had some offers of places to stay while friends are on vacation, if not for the whole time, and even an offer of a guest room for a month (!), and we’ll just have to do our best with the contractors.
So, being homeless as of Saturday, we’re taking off to Northern Italy for as long as it takes the mortgage to get done. Then we’ll be back in Utrecht and working on the house. And we did enjoy working on my apartment in Canada, so this should be even better because it’ll be for us and not for some generic buyers.
All of this has made for a very busy month or so – dealing with the house transfer, cleaning up this house for subletters and packing stuff for both phases and a million other small details. And just so you know, although the tone here is positive, it’s been really, really stressful and there have been some moments where one of the other of us has given into the stress and lost it. It’s always the moments of uncertainty and lack of control that kick us in the ass.
But despite all that, I have managed to take a few photos of the kids and stuff – you can see them in the annotated album here (or click on the photo below).
Oh, and just one last thing – I have the best parents-in-law in the world. They came up today to help take care of the kids and clean the house in preparation for this whole thing. Without their help I’m not sure how we would ever have gotten everything done. I’m very lucky. Thank you, again.
Not sure when the next update will be, but there’ll be pics of Italy there. We hope. Unless something changes again. Until then!
Wow. I can only imagine how exhausted you must be. But after looking at all the pictures I also have to say that it’s all so amazing. Family, love, blue sky, a safe place, people who will always care for each other as best they can. Despite stress or tears or tiredness you’re all there and it really is beautiful.