We are currently without the use of our car. There's nothing wrong with it, we just aren't allowed to drive it at the moment because we haven't been able to register it for this year. We haven't been able to do that because our visa hasn't been extended yet. So we are waiting for someone in Sarajevo to stamp a bit of paper and send it back to Tuzla. This will, apparently, have to be done in the next 6 weeks. Because apparently it is really time consuming to stamp a piece of paper and pop it in the post.
So our perfectly serviceable car sits in the drive mocking us, as we become acquainted with the Tuzla cabs, buses and I drag the boys kicking and screaming through the rain on foot. It isn't that much of a problem, we walk to and from nursery, we shop in local shops and the cabs are frequent and cheap. But it is getting me down not being able to use the car. We can't take the dog for proper walks as there is nowhere within walkable distance to let her off the lead. I hadn't realised what an important part of my day the dog walk was. Not only did it exercise dog, but it took the brunt of the energy levels off the boys, killed an hour and a half of the afternoon and kept everyone excited with changes of scene.
I feel trapped. The weather is horrid, we are stuck in the house and all have a bad case of cabin fever. I can't do any more jigsaws, bake any more cakes, glue any more bits of paper. I'm bored of it. And so are the boys. We want to go and fight dragons in the woods, track dinosaurs, practice throwing and run down hills too fast.
Think I might go shout at some Bosnian officials later. It won't do any good but it might help me rid myself of some intense frustration.
******* Update *********
Just when I thought I couldn't get any grumpier... the circuit in the kitchen keeps fusing which is shorting the radio and FAR more seriously is preventing the kettle from brewing a cup of tea. And it's snowing. I am officially cross. There might be stomping involved and behaviour of which my 3 year old is embarrassed.
Thursday 4 March 2010
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31 comments:
Yelling and using lots of (typically forbidden) swear words can work wonders for your blood pressure. Both ways.
But I highly recommend it nonetheless. Get the boys to join in too, although you might have to moderate you choice of inappropriate words.
LCM x
I know exactly what you mean about walking the dog - I would feel desperate if I didn't have a dog to walk, it's my main form of exercise. I don't drive but MoTH does and we're only a hop skip and a jump from public transport - I think I'd feel very frustrated otherwise. Fingers crossed everything gets sorted soon xxx
Poor you, it's horrible being stuck without a car.
Bureaucracy can be such a pain in the proverbial.
Do you have a good stock of childrens dvd's?
Just wanted to leave a comment in a non-disqus box ;-)
Are you enjoying your rants today, Mrs Brit? xx
I miss not ahving a dog to walk, it was a great excuse to get out even when the weather was horrid.
Go shout at someone it will make you feel so much better.
do some art, and put on a guerilla art show somewhere in the woods - or in the car :) - that's what I would probably do, but then again, I would wouldn't I??!!
Cabin fever is horrible, I get it when my son get's ill. It usually means at least a week indoors.
Thanks for stopping by, nice to get feedback! And I hope your car gets sorted soon and I look forward to hearing adventures of dragon fighting!!
Amelia.x
where's your paper, I'll go throw rocks at their windows :))
LCM - My Bosnian is sketchy but I can swear in it. Don't care if my boys swear in Bosnian so it'll e all guns ablazing.
Liz - it is such a life saver the dog walk. I really miss it when we don't go. Can't take the dog on public transport here, most people are frightened of them.
Gappy - This being Bosnia there is no official place to get childrens DVDs. Luckily for me you can get pirated ones everywhere. We are fairly well stocked.
Trish - the whole Disqus thing has really got me going today. I'm ranting about everything!
Lorraine - think I might have to. Will make me feel so much better!
Amelia - we tried the art this afternoon. It wasn't a success.
Laruca - MUP! Go throw stones at them. Grrrrr.
How intensely annoying and frustrating. I hope it gets sorted soon.
We have had a few very cabin-feverish days too as the weather is cold and wet this week. I let the boys watch too much TV and then they are really lively come the evening and don't want to go to bed. Nightmare.....
I am without car as well at the moment and i understand the frustration. Only we can't get cabs, and there are no buses or trains. so basically I'm stuck. never mind, the local shop is only a 3 mile round trip. sigh.
Hope your papers get stamped and sorted soon.
Oh yikes, you've got it bad. I can only empathise as I'm crap at being in the house and get very rapidly bored of brumming cars around. Are you allowed to drink wine in the daytime in Bosnia? Just a thought....!
You poor thing! Don't you just hate bureaucracy? If Bosnia is anything like Bahrain, nothing can be done online, there is no information on the net, no-one ever answers the phone and no-one seems to be able to tell you the rules. Maddening. Hope it all sorts itself out soon.
How big is the fine if you get caught driving the car ?
Is your insurance still valid despite the lack of doo dha thingimabob ?
How high is your risk of being pulled over and being checked for up to date doo dahs ?
Have I been living in Italy too long, just on the basis that these are the questions that occurred to me first ?
I like Sarah's approach, though probably wouldn't be brave enough.
Pillow fights?
Hey, I'm sorry that things are not that great at the moment.
When you went to apply for your visa, did you actually take a Bosnian person with you, to help you out? I'm not sure, but, it could have made a difference. My understanding is that in order for things to go smooth, you have to grease it up, £££ :( ...I know it's unfortunate.
I hope you get your visa soon.
I'll be thinking of you guys.
alex
Did the swearing help? If not, i find throwing fruit also useful (better outside, though - is the snow gone enough?). Either way - let that rant out!! It's so much fun...
Be saintly. Tell every Bosnian you meet that you are suffering in silence as your way of making reparations for your government's total insensitivity towards them. Be glad they're such patient people that they are simply gobsmacked rather than utterly enraged by us.
Sounds like you'll get it back just in time to drive home!
How frustrating.
Yah boo sucks to red tape! Hope they get it sorted soon before you go stark raving bonkers like me.
NVG - I know how you feel. It is a nightmare.
Heather - hope your car is back on the road soon too. Not being able to get around is hideous (and makes me cranky!)
HCM - brumming cars does lose its appeal fairly quickly. The wine thought had crossed my mind earlier...
Kate - online? Ha ha ha ha! Bahrain sounds very similar to Bosnia. Do you have the queues so it takes you an hour to reach someone who can tell you something. Except they usually don't. Sigh.
Sarah - Hmmm, good point. We had considered it (having clearly been living in the Balkans for too long) but I'm just too English!
Iota - pillow fighted out of existence here.
Alex - we have all the docs, it just takes time. Sigh.
Plan B - probably not, but I do feel better after a good shout.
Owen - most Bosnians can't believed that we followed the rules and imported the car in the first place. And in hindsight, following the law was a mistake!
CalifLorna - we hoping to get it back in time for the drive back.. but it could be a close run thing!
Deer Baby - Could be too late on the going stark raving bonkers stakes ;-)
Poor you...when my car was snowed in for a week just after Christmas I was going stir crazy...the prospect of 6 weeks of it would've sent me over the edge x
Dude, I have a herd of pending skypes and they won't go through. Trapped in a compound in Iraq for the weekend and early next week, try to see if you can skype me and you can have a good vent and keep me entertained!
Cx
ARRRRGGGHHHHHHHH - I do hope that helped a teeny bit. Could you hire a Bosnian Car? Or is that just a bit of red tape too far....???? Hope it all gets sorted sooner that you think.
Urgh, it's so frustrating being at the mercy of other people, which you seem to be rather a lot. Here's to spring and speedy beaurocracy.
Most people would just drive the car around anyway. I know they do here in Chicago!
Shouting at some Bosnian officials sounds like a great idea to let out a rant.....you may end up in jail but at least it is four new walls!
I'd be throwing a diva style-y tantrum faced with all that ... why can't you use the car whilst they do the paperwork? Surely more logical? Oh the delights of expat life !
Nothing to do with your post (although I do hope things are looking up for you) but I just had to comment on your last visit to my place. Oh my goodness I can't believe you and I were in hospital at the same time. Oh how very strange. I wish we'd have known each other. x
You are entitled to a tantrum. I hope things clear up soon.
Mummmeeee - it's not been pretty...
Thirsty P - what the hell are you doing there? last I heard you were in JoBurg! Yes, I'm around! Lets skype and keep each other entertained! xxx
TW - we might have to. Driving in a left hand drive car! Gah!
Victoria - that is the problem with bureaucracy. Hope you don't get too much on your trips. It does take up an awful lot of time.
Expat Mum - I think that is what they do here too, but I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to breaking the law. So English!
Diney - I tell you what, it does feel like that sometimes!
Muddling - I think a diva style tantrum is definitely called for. Perhaps I have been practicing for this moment all my life?
MJAM - it is a small world. x
Mwa - I do love a good entitled tantrum!
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