A descent into the maelstrom/Apathy

We’ve been weak, apathetic, tired, headachy and more allergic than usual this autumn. Not long ago I connected mentioned annoyances with the bubbly creations in the roof (and walls and floor) in the stairway, as I felt the typical stench of mould when heading out with the dog for morning toilet. It is obviously some sort of water damage that we’ve become allergic to and which has gotten much worse the past month with all it’s rainy “winter” weather.

We decided right away we couldn’t stay, as prolonged exposure will only make us sicker, and contacted the landlord prepared with ideas for a solution. They were positive about letting us have the apartment we had found (close to where we lived in 2002) so we decided a time to come look at it. All was fine so Jenny called the fire chief just to check if it was still ok to keep Jenny’s “car” in the entrance hallway (he’d promised us to another time). He said it wasn’t his thing to decide so we went on to ask a member of the local housing comittee about his view on it. He told us there would be no problem and was generally very positive, but called back a moment later regretting his promises. He had obviously gotten complaints from someone about his decisions and informed us that the new municipality guidelines are to keep staircases and hallways totally free from every imaginable thing including handicap aids.

So we were without a home. We started looking around the country for a new place to live but December isn’t the best time for desperate relocations. It was Friday afternoon when we finally found an apartment that seemed to work, in Råneå. We applied for the apartment without being able to ask anything about it as the office in Luleå had closed for the weekend, and waited worried. Hours before the deadline on Monday morning we decided to accept the lame offer given to us by the landlord, to keep the car in the hallway of the apartment (paying the electricity for loading the batteries ourselves) we first wanted and seal one of two bedrooms to make it a “tvåa”, a one bedroom, one livingroom apartment.

Yesterday (Monday) morning we went back to check again if the emergency solution would actually work. It did. Relieved, we went home and called them to let them know we’ll take it. Not even taking up their “generous” offer was without problems though, they needed extra time to talk it over within the company (why? what?) before they could let us know if we may have it. The apartment has been empty since January 1999 so I would’ve guessed they’d be happy to get it rented to somebody, anybody, immediately. Later, in the afternoon, they called and gave us a positive answer.

Relieved again, but not without fears. This morning we got up and went straight to their office to sign the contract, hoping to persuade them to let us just switch over to the other apartment on the 15th without paying anything extra. That was already planned and the contract was prepared with the new rent (minus the large bedroom we don’t need and can’t afford) and new ip info for the internet connection. It’s all signed and agreed now but can we ever really trust people? Nah.

It all seems good for now, but we still have lots of forced socialising to do. We need someone to move all our stuff from here to there without asking for lots of compensation. We got tips from the landlord and the guy at the municipality but they lead to nothing so I decided it shouldn’t be hard finding someone in this small, friendly place to help us. I bought breakfast at Statoil and asked there if they knew anyone, they recommended a company (”road carriers”?) and Jenny called there. They could rent us a truck but not a driver so we’re not quite set. Next time we passed Statoil, Jenny went in and asked if they knew a driver and they promised to think of it and let us know. They’re very helpful people.

Kan du hjälpa oss att flytta? Vi har inte mycket saker och det är inom orten så det tar inte lång tid.

I’m satisfied. I’m sure we’ll get there somehow and I’m glad we get to stay in Vilhelmina, we like it here. It’s peaceful and beautiful. People are much less faked here than out by the coast and down south, it’s a great difference. The myth about norrlänningar being quieter than other Swedes isn’t a lie.

This post turned out to discuss the moving matters more than the update I had in mind so I’ll write another for that. Here’s a photo I took when we saw the new place last week.