Shikata ga Nai

RELIEF!  The movers showed up!  At the appointed time!

They glanced at my flat and asked who did all the packing.  

C'est moi!!!

You packed the mirror as well?  Wow, good job!

Pleasantries over, I was eager to get on with things.  I mean, how difficult can the moving of 500 sq feet be, especially when the last inhabitant, c'est moi, lived so minimally, and already did the bulk of packing?

15 minutes later, I was asked if I would like some coffee because they were going to head out for a coffee break.

At this point, I noted that 2 dining chairs and the kitchen table were wrapped up.  My bed had been successfully dismantled. From my perspective, there was an obvious cultural misunderstanding going on.

Coffee break?

In Japanese, the phrase is, Shikata ga Nai.  Somethings just can't be helped.  Often the phrase is used to describe an extreme act of God, of nature; something tragic, irrevocable occurring.  Like the earthquake, or the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.

Coffee Break?  Shikata ga Nai yo!

So Bruno and I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

The London girls kept us company:

Welcome to England, said TJ.

Obligatory my dear!  Great British tradition!  Did you hear how they lost Singapore during WWII?  (Oh, SF, how you make me laugh!)

If you ever need a mover again, I have got a reliable contact, assured J.

At least they came! -B

Should have told you about Van Girls...None of that coffee break, smelly male BO nonsense- K.

Shikata ga nai.

Finally about 10am, they returned.  They came back!!!  Relief!

I observed that they are actually very nice folks, and worked well as a team.  I observed that they were truly working hard; I could hear them panting away, sweat was visible, and twice, they asked to use my bathroom.

I observed that without leadership, the best of teams may lose momentum and sight of the goal.  The goal to me at 500 pounds (per trip) + 20% VAT + 90 pounds to the Council for the right to park their van on my street, is a simple one.  Please lets get out of my flat before lunch.  Because I still need to  mop up, hand over keys, turn all power off, and sit my post-advance yoga-ed, sleep-deprived body down to imbibe.

One of them accidentally dropped and broke part of my closet.

Shikata ga nai.  

I uncoiled myself, re-arranged Bruno, strapped him to my body.

Against my husband's wishes, I pitched in.

For many hands make light work.  And sometimes, men just work better, when directed by a dragon.