Yesterday we received our bank ATM cards in the mail from ABN/AMRO. While we were at the bank last week opening our account they gave us each an E.dentifier2. It's a card reader that is tied to the computer via USB cable, and is needed to use to use on-line banking. Everything here has been digitized. They haven't used checks here in over ten (10) years! All of the instructions to use it are in Dutch. So, Andrew took the cards and the E.dentifier2 to work today to have his coworkers help with translating the instructions!
Last night we received a call from Natasha. She and the two realtors (ours and the landlord's) are working on the contract for the rental of the house in Haarlem. They should be getting back to us today to let us know if they accept our offer of EUR 1400 semi-furnished or EUR 1600 fully furnished.
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Today I decided to spent the day at the apartment and just "hang out". I've been reading a book lent to me by my sister-in-law called "My Life in France" about Julia Child's adventures in France. Not often I have the chance to do nothing!
This morning I received an e-mail from Natasha telling us not to worry, that we should hear something by the end of the day about the rental house. It is now 1700 hrs. and we have heard nothing back from the realtors about the rental property. So, needless to say, we are getting worried. Andrew and I will be going shopping at IKEA tonight after he is done working to see how much furniture would cost to buy and how quickly they can deliver it. Since we will be leaving the country on the 21st to go to the U.S. for Christmas, and Andrew is coming back alone on January 2nd, we have a lot to get done!
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At 1745 hrs. I left the apartment to meet Andrew at the train station next to where he works. I took the #51 Metro to Station Zuid, then got on the #50 to the Bullwijk Station, and arrived right at 1830hrs. He showed me his new office, then we drove over to IKEA. We want to be prepared in case we need to buy a household full of furniture. We got a pretty good idea of what we would need to get started.
While we were at IKEA Natasha called! She said it's looking good for us to get the house, fully furnished, for the price we would like to pay. She said the reason we hadn't heard anything was because the landlords were checking into the tax implications of renting. It looks very good for us getting the house! We should have a contract to sign in the next day or two.
After we purchased a few small items (some hangers, a pillow, and a makeshift humidor for Andrew's cigars!) we went back to the apartment for dinner and a nice glass of wine!
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