"Are you in yet, George?"
Sorry, let me rephrase that, "Are you in your new house yet, George?" Yes, that's better.
No, of course not. This is the Philippines. The plan was that on Monday, Madam and various ladies would blitz the place, Tuesday was a public holiday and I took Wednesday off so we could get cracked on and done. However...
First the power had been cut off, due to non-payment of the bill (isn't that the sort of thing the landlord collects a security deposit for?). Anyway, he paid that on Monday, but we didn't get power until Tuesday lunchtime. We had given the landlord some electrical snagging to sort out but, without power, this was a tad difficult. But I was promised that by Wednesday morning, latest, the guys would be in and I could start moving in the afternoon.
I go in the house Wednesday morning to find nobody there, doing nothing. I also find the two plumbing issues which, strangely, are not power dependent, also haven't been done. On top of that, there are still items of furniture that should have already gone, plus the garage still needs emptying. I'm not best pleased.
Sort out a sparky and plumber, followed by a call to the landlord.
"I've got an electrician and plumber starting later today, both of which I shall be billing you for. In addition, I'll be sending an invoice for X,XXX US$ that I've lost today because we still can't move, despite your promises. Oh, and the furniture, if not gone tomorrow will be in the street for the garbage men, along with the contents of the garage."
Next thing is Madam rings me telling me the landlord wants to meet her this morning at 10am.
Now, not wishing to cause any offence here, but there is no such thing as political correctness, racism, or any other -ism for that matter. I may have mentioned this before. Our landlord is a Filipino, but of obvious Indian descent.
"The Mumbai says you are very strict," Madam tells me. All Indians are known by her as 'Mumbai' for some reason, just as I'm known as a white guy by other Filipinos.
The full, free and frank discussion between them continues in this vein...
"No, he just doesn't like being messed around and lied to. You were quick to take the money, you Mumbai always greedy for the money, but now you not do your part."
This was countered, strangely, by, "We have many people to see the house."
"Fine. Tear up the contract and return our cheques then. Oh, but you can't can you, you've already banked the first one. So just do your part or my husband will be very angry. You not like him when he's angry."
"Sorry, sorry, Madam. You are nice lady and husband is nice man. We will do everything tomorrow."
"Yes, I am nice lady, but my husband, he can be very hard. Make life difficult if people don't tell him the truth. Has very good lawyer also. It simple, we have done our part, you do yours, and problems will all go away."
"Very sorry. We promise. Everything done tomorrow."
That was the gist anyway.
Let's see.
Why is something so simple, so bloody difficult?
Sorry, let me rephrase that, "Are you in your new house yet, George?" Yes, that's better.
No, of course not. This is the Philippines. The plan was that on Monday, Madam and various ladies would blitz the place, Tuesday was a public holiday and I took Wednesday off so we could get cracked on and done. However...
First the power had been cut off, due to non-payment of the bill (isn't that the sort of thing the landlord collects a security deposit for?). Anyway, he paid that on Monday, but we didn't get power until Tuesday lunchtime. We had given the landlord some electrical snagging to sort out but, without power, this was a tad difficult. But I was promised that by Wednesday morning, latest, the guys would be in and I could start moving in the afternoon.
I go in the house Wednesday morning to find nobody there, doing nothing. I also find the two plumbing issues which, strangely, are not power dependent, also haven't been done. On top of that, there are still items of furniture that should have already gone, plus the garage still needs emptying. I'm not best pleased.
Sort out a sparky and plumber, followed by a call to the landlord.
"I've got an electrician and plumber starting later today, both of which I shall be billing you for. In addition, I'll be sending an invoice for X,XXX US$ that I've lost today because we still can't move, despite your promises. Oh, and the furniture, if not gone tomorrow will be in the street for the garbage men, along with the contents of the garage."
Next thing is Madam rings me telling me the landlord wants to meet her this morning at 10am.
Now, not wishing to cause any offence here, but there is no such thing as political correctness, racism, or any other -ism for that matter. I may have mentioned this before. Our landlord is a Filipino, but of obvious Indian descent.
"The Mumbai says you are very strict," Madam tells me. All Indians are known by her as 'Mumbai' for some reason, just as I'm known as a white guy by other Filipinos.
The full, free and frank discussion between them continues in this vein...
"No, he just doesn't like being messed around and lied to. You were quick to take the money, you Mumbai always greedy for the money, but now you not do your part."
This was countered, strangely, by, "We have many people to see the house."
"Fine. Tear up the contract and return our cheques then. Oh, but you can't can you, you've already banked the first one. So just do your part or my husband will be very angry. You not like him when he's angry."
"Sorry, sorry, Madam. You are nice lady and husband is nice man. We will do everything tomorrow."
"Yes, I am nice lady, but my husband, he can be very hard. Make life difficult if people don't tell him the truth. Has very good lawyer also. It simple, we have done our part, you do yours, and problems will all go away."
"Very sorry. We promise. Everything done tomorrow."
That was the gist anyway.
Let's see.
Why is something so simple, so bloody difficult?
