Monday 26 September 2011

Strong language and culturally insensitive subject matter

Now that I am getting closer to THE BIG DAY, I am consistently dividing my belongings into 6 categories:
Category 1:. Handcarry. Two suitcases, max weight 40kg. Like a really, really long trip. This I can do. Just like one of my recent Asia visits. But longer.
Category 2: Airfreight. I get to take 100 kgs by airfreight, which will all be taken care of by the moving company. Here it gets difficult already. My electric guitar? Definitely. The amp? Hmm.. 10 kgs... Lets just do the preamp and headphones. My new coffee machine? Tempting... but including the grinder it will be around 50 kgs, so I decide, sadly, against it.
Category 3: Sea container. This will be the bulk of my stuff, I will only have it sent after getting a final place in Singapore (hopefully after a few months). I go through the restrictions of goods to bring into Singapore. Alcoholic beverages turn out to be a nono. The import taxes are simply too high! So it all needs to be consumed this week. (Parteeee!) But then my DVDs: I read that 'nudity, strong language and culturally insensitive subject matter' is forbidden. So this totally rules out my seasons of "Curb your enthusiasm". But how about Seinfeld? That was on public TV, so should be OK. And Madonna's Drowned World Tour DVD? I seem to remember it's got it all: nudity, strong language and definitely culturally insensitive subject matter. It's got to go! Then I read the following sentences: Charges for screening DVDs are 4 Sing$ per DVD hour. I realize there will actually be some dude looking at my DVDs! Only Cartoons and childrens's movies exempt, which in my case is all condensed in one masterpiece: 'Finding Nemo'. I decide to leave all my DVDs here.
Together with my Samurai Sword from my old Aikido classes, even though I spent many hundreds of hours mastering some basic moves (I just do not have the right permit for it for Singapore)
Category 4: Storage. Apart from my samurai sword and above mentioned DVDs, this will include big pieces of furniture, books, and anything else I do not (yet) want to get rid of. It will sit here in NL patiently, waiting for my return.
Category 5: Stay in the house. To accommodate my new (still to be found) renters I will leave some closets and garden equipment, so at least they will have the opportunity to mow and water my lawn (as if).
Category 6: To get rid of. The hardest category. Even though they already know me at the recycling store ("Yo Benny, got some more of those pleated pants?") I want to limit this. It is really really hard to dispose of my little inflatable rowing boat that I successfully used to conquer the seas, albeit some 25 yeas ago for the last time. But yes, the toughest decisions fall into this category. Bye Bye Little Boat, I hope some kid, somewhere, will get equal pleasure out of you.

OK I you will now excuse me, I have a mobile internet account to cancel.

1 comment:

  1. You a have a funny way of writing, makes me laugh! Yesterday I was at the recycling store in naarden so who knows I bought some old crap you just got rid of :-) (accidentally dropped some plates with floral print and a golden frame??)

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