I haven't had any vacation this summer, the one in April came and went without me noticing any of it: I was selling my place in Tallinn, Estonia. One and a half weeks! That must be some kind of a record, what with the market these days in Estonia.
Then came the buying of this flat here and moving in. Renovation work, of course, although I didn't do any of it myself, this sort of thing can be very hard on the nerves! You just constantly pray that the men will show up, do their job, finish in time. Thanking all powers that be, my Robin Hood and his merry men did their job and did it well. We were happy with each other. At one point I even hugged one of them, the painter, impulsively draping myself over him. He didn't seem to mind though!
I'm moved in now. The furniture is in its place, so are the curtains, and the place looks like a home. It looks lived in! Cosy beyond imagination.
Probably the reason I could afford to buy it at all was that it is situated in a very *continental* neighbourhood. OK, I knew it full well, I used to live in the next street but still ... first of all, the building houses a sex shop! I live right above the nest of vice. So no worries someone will miss my place!
Secondly, the lovely little square in front of the building is the meeting place of all the drug addicts and drunks of Letzebuerg. All of them, oh, let's see ... that should be ten, no more than fifteen. Seriously! All very well behaved and nice, albeit noisy.
Thirdly: the guy who lived here, quite young, had a serious drinking problem himself. So his dad got rid of the flat and shipped the lad off to the countryside. Let him party with the cows, he said.
Considering everything I thought it sensible to have this place blessed. By an actual priest. To get rid of any possible old bad vibes and attract some new and good ones. As this is a Catholic country with a strong cult of the Mother of God, this seemed only appropriate. We must always work together with the energies of the land. After all, we are all One. But we must take into account of the many manifestations of this One. Or, in other words: in Rome, let's do as the Romans do.
As it happens, I have met some super sweet people here in Letzebuerg. One of them has a friend who's a priest, and he has agreed to come on Monday and we shall have a home blessing.
Somehow the party kept growing and now we have 9 people, myself included. We will be 3 Estonians, 2 French and 4 Letzebuergers. If Robin Hood will join us, it will be a round ten and one Irish.
Today I went, in my car (she adds importantly) to buy some champagne glasses which will be used to serve Letzebuergish Cremant (local shampess, as they say, accent on the first syllable, hehe) at the event. I wanted to explain about the car. I have a new garage in the next street and have been using the car more and more, like a normal person almost. And I haven't scraped it any more going in and out of the garage, as I almost always did in the last place.
I got the glasses in the local Villeroy and Boch factory store. There's a store but the factory was closed down last year. Lots of people lost their jobs. It was a real tragedy, because Letzebuergers were very proud of Villeroy and Boch and considered it a Letzebuergish company.
The factory was closed down and production was moved to Vietnam, or India or wherever.
The glasses that I bought are made in Chekoslovakia. The placemats, in India. Something else in Vietnam. There's hardly something - if anything at all! - that's made in Europe. And, wait for this: drum roll ... the Marimekko design fabric that I bought for my kitchen curtain is made in Estonia !!! Somehow I doubt that the workers in those countries are getting the same pay or enjoying the same benefits as they used to (used to, because they are now jobless) in Letzebuerg. The only ones reaping a profit are the very few super rich who are getting super richer. As the rest of us are nicely levelling out, getting poorer and poorer. Europe will be one big third world country before you know it, mark my words.
But back to the preparations. The pleasant stuff! Got some cheesy snacks from a cafe called Namur. I had a little taste and found them to be dripping with buttery goodness. I'll warm them up a bit before we eat. Made reservations at the nearest Chinese restaurant with Mr Walter, the Chinaman. He's a real character ... very tasty cooking though and the restaurant is funny, looks like a Chinese Disneyland. Kitschy to the point where it becomes almost an art form. That's where we will go afterward for a meal.
Then I got a picture frame for the postcard of the Madonna in our Cathedral, which is a very strange and wonderful Madonna. They call her *the consoler of the troubled*. And She does, She really does do that! I'll go into more detail some other time. Anyhow, wouldn't it be lovely, if She would be present at that event?
I also bought a vase because I seem to remember from somewhere that we have to have white lilies. Saw some in our shop today but it was too early to get them. They have such a strong smell that if I had got them today I would have been dead before Monday.
And some more good news: I heard that next Monday is dedicated to St Therese, one of Letzebuerg's favourite saints! Father Emil will come directly from Mass in her honour. I think it's a good omen!
I'm so looking forward to this event. Heaven only knows how this idea entered my mind, but I'm glad it did. My place has very good vibes already as it is but I'm sure that after Monday, it will be even better. But above all, the chance to be together with kind and lovely people, to do something positive and uplifting! Oh, I'm so incredibly lucky.
