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Going, going, gone!

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So I’m back in Mayotte. Arrived a few days ago actually, but whereas I thought I’d be getting back to routine after the summer, things have in fact been hectic. At the end of the month, Mrs B. retires, which means we’ll be leaving for good, which means we have to sell what little we have in the flat. Many people, when they leave Mayotte, set about this well before: in January last year, struck by the uncharacteristic conviction that we couldn’t live without a vacuum cleaner, I called a woman who was selling one. ‘Fine,’ she said, ‘It’ll be available in June.’ In the end it turned out that we can live without a vacuum cleaner.

The reason for such ridiculous forward planning is that people are afraid of having stuff left on their hands. But I can confidently reassure them – unless you’re too greedy (which some people are), it won’t happen. The turnover of French administrators is such that household equipment is constantly being passed on. As soon as we placed the ads, the phone began to ring, and within a few days our flat was stripped even barer than it was before. Fortunately, we’ve negotiated to keep bed, cooker and fridge till our final day, but I’ve had to borrow a garden table from our neighbour to serve as my desk. This evening, some young teachers are coming to carry away all our crockery. That’s OK. As long as I have a few pens and a notebook, I’m happy.

 

17 thoughts on “Going, going, gone!”

  1. Lol! A real seller’s market. Shouldn’t that mean you have the power to release each item on the date of your choosing? Let’s hope the buyers coming for your bed, fridge, and cooker don’t show up before you’re awake. 😉

  2. Blessed are those who are able to retire and return home at will to live in peace! Majority of folks are forced to live life the way it happens, unplanned and unforeseen, and yet the magic and joy of life lies in its sheer unpredictability! Good luck!

  3. Mayotte sounds like a nice place (for those who like a tropical climate) in your previous posts, but this post indicates that U are going elsewhere. Hope it is a still nicer place, by whatever criteria U and Mrs B may have.

  4. It is just so different there… I marvel at this post. Safe travels to Provence (if not already there).

    I keep checking for when Perfume Island is on Amazon. Been a little flaky here with keeping track of posts on WP.

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