domenica, dicembre 9
Many of you, through emails or Facebook comments, comment about the wonderful life I am living. And I have to agree with you - it is fabulous. But it is not without its' trials and tribulations. So in the spirit of Christmas giving, this blog will make you feel glad about where you live and you will be happy you don't live in southern Italy. 😜
Since August I have been working on a project to remove my fireplace and replace it with a new cast iron wood burning stove. This project in itself deserves a full blog post but I'll save that for another day. Needless to say the project is still not complete. A decision was made, which I agreed to, to add an additional part to the stove after it was completely installed. So a week ago last Friday, my cousin Antonio, a friend of his and my cousin Angela and I set out to buy this part. The men believe it should be no problem. Well, three hours later and after having driven to every hardware store and construction supply store within a 20 km radius we come back empty handed. (Now why we just didn't pick up the phone and call these stores is beyond me). Well the next day I find the part on Amazon/Italy (I say Italy as there is a BIG difference between Amazon.com and Amazon.it.). I order the part and it says it will arrive on Thursday.
Earlier this past week I get the updated shipping message from Amazon telling me the
package will now arrive on Wednesday and it will be shipped by SDA. My happy face 😀 (for coming a day early) now turns into a sad face 😟 because it is coming via SDA. Side story here - a week ago I was expecting another shipment from SDA. On the expected day I do get a call from the driver - he is in Acquavella but will not deliver the package to my house. He is at the bar and will leave the package there. WHAT?????? I live 30 seconds up the hill from the bar - but he will not drive up and bring me my package. So that explains the sad face.
Well I am resigned to the fact that SDA is delivering and Wednesday I check both the Amazon website and SDA's website and the package is on the truck for delivery before 8 p.m Wednesday night. Yippee!!! But wait - at 10 a.m. the websites are both updated to say - oops - external problem the package will not come today - but tomorrow. OK I guess I can't get too upset as Thursday was the original date for delivery.
Thursday morning - I again check both websites and yes it is back on the truck for delivery. At 10 a.m. I check again and still good. But wait - at 11 a.m. the websites are both updated again to say - oops - external problem again - now the package will be delivered in the next 5 days. Another WHAT???? Can you see the smoke coming out of my ears?????
Now remember in southern Italy you MUST be home to accept the package - no leaving at the front door/gate/wherever. So on Friday morning I decided to wash floors - I had to do something to stay busy while I was waiting again for the package as YES - the package was once again on the truck for delivery. I check at 9 a.m. - still good, 10 a.m. still good, 11 a.m. still good (by now I am feeling very confident that today is THE day.). At noon I check the websites again and guess what - The package has been delivered!!! But where???? It sure wasn't delivered to me. Someone with the last name of Volpe signed for the package. Oh brother, maybe again he delivered it to the bar.
As I am walking down to the bar to retrieve the package I also send cousin Angela a txt asking if she knows the last name of the gal that works in the bar - assuming for sure it will be Volpe. She doesn't respond right away but as I reach the bottom of the 132 steps that take me to the main street in the village I get a txt back.
Angela tells me my package has been delivered to the shoe store next to the Parafarmacia in Bivio Acquavella (a totally different village than mine). Yes that's correct. The explanation goes like this.......
SDA wanted to deliver it to the Parafarmacia because apparently the driver knew I was family of the pharmacist (Luigi) who owned the Parafarmacia. But the Parafarmacia was closed that day as the worker was sick - so SDA delivered the package next door to the shoe store. I kid you not - you can't make this stuff up.
Well I get my package - finally. But you won't believe this - the part is not correct. Oh it is the right part - the one I ordered - but Amazon's description on the website was incorrect. The measurements were wrong on the website so the part will not work.
Oh one point I didn't explain - SDA is the Italian post office's package delivery service - enough said.
So I continue to hear from people that they miss my blogs - as I have not posted as frequently since May. For 2019 I have decided to post monthly. I will give you an update of my life each month. It will be a year in the life of KK. Hope you enjoy it.
As I close out 2018 may you and your family and friends have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!
