In Japan, on time means early

I didn't know manga/internet places were so... plush. I have a "private space" with a reclining chair and a comfy footstool, and with the little half-door closed, it's easy to forget about the people walking by. Now I understand how freeters can spend entire nights in these places!

So I'm pretty much all moved in! I woke early yesterday morning for a frenzy of last-minute packing, and figured that since the movers were scheduled to arrive at 9, I'd have enough time. I'd forgotten, however, that this is Japan, so they showed up at 8:50, before I was quite done. No matter, they got my little apartment cleared out in record time and it was no later than 9:05 when I hopped into the cab of their truck and we took off.

Even with an unexpected detour -- the driver missed the turn-off for the Chuo Expressway, so we had to circle back around most of Tokyo because we were on the toll road -- it was much quicker getting to Mitaka-shi than it would by public transport. I chatted with the movers, and was really confused as to why they were asking if I was a fashion design student, of all things, until they asked about Brunhilde and my sewing machines. Right.

Once my things and I were settled in, I set about taking care of the most important tasks, namely putting the toilet paper where it belongs, I discovered that the toilet wasn't working. Luckily, the landlord's office is only a three-minute walk away, so I went over to explain the problem. One of the ladies came back with me and using my serger's screwdriver (and slicing my finger open with my rotary cutter while looking for it, and damn did that bleed!) managed to get it to flush. It was all good, except for the water leaking from the tank. >_>;

It was not yet 11 and I was already exhausted, but I made myself unpack a few boxes before I went to buy some food. After lunch, I couldn't keep my eyes open, so I lay down for a short nap, only to be awakened by the doorbell, which I didn't at first recognise as the doorbell, that's how bleary I was. It was the plumber, and the problem was fixed within half an hour.

The next time the doorbell rang, at around 2:30, it was a man from Tokyo Gas, there to hook me up. Everything was going fine until it wasn't, and he explained that he had to call someone else who would come later that afternoon to fix whatever it was. In the meantime, he showed me how to get hot water and how to hook up my gas range (which hadn't yet arrived).

Once he left I went back to unpacking boxes and marvelling at how much SPACE I have! It feels positively palatial, especially because I can walk around in circles: the two rooms connect both with each other and the kitchen, which is a novelty to me, as well as the fact that because both the doors of the not-my-bedroom are sliding doors, you can choose 4 different configurations of openings.

*delighted by simple things*

A bit before 4 o'clock, two more men from Tokyo Gas showed up, determined it would take a special part to fix whatever was wrong, and could I call the landlord to see if that was all right? Sure! Except, in my flustered state that morning, I'd forgotten all my Important Papers (lease, insurance, etc.) on my bed... in the old apartment.

Doh!

So I walked over to the office (again) with one of the men in tow. When we made it back, there was a delivery truck parked outside, and a guy waiting to give me my washing machine and gas range. The ones that were supposed to be delivered between 5 and 8. When I'd bought them, I'd been told that the washer would be installed for me, but I'd have to do the range myself, only one of the Tokyo Gas guys ended up doing it for me, so he and his buddy could make sure everything was in working order.

In summary: 7 different men in my apartment, all of them earlier than expected, all of them gone before 5 o'clock.

That's enough for now, I think I'll save my tales of tatami slugs for next time.