Again. This time, within the same country, which is relatively simpler.
I’ve already made friends, not least with the chairperson of the residents committee, a lovely Scottish man. We first met in the communal garden as I was somewhat bewildered at my key not letting me back into the building. He introduced himself as Andy, said he was the chairperson and found it a total pain in the arse, and he was funny and pleasant.
He kindly let me back into the building with me profusely thanking him and him promising to get a new key sorted out for me. I then came back out shortly after and realised I had, in fact, been using my key in the wrong door and it worked in the right door. Amazingly. Bumped into him again and had to rather sheepishly admit what had been the problem.
Fast forward 10 days, I meet him again in the garden when another neighbour introduces us as I had been looking to get something sorted in my flat. So Andy introduces himself, by name, again as I hadnt recognised him…despite this, he very kindly offers to help me the next day with the water cut-off problem. I needed to confirm the time the plumber was coming and I reappeared in the garden 10 mins later having done this.
I go to find him – asking a table of women if they have seen Tom. They tell me they don’t know a Tom – I think they are clearly stupid as there he is in front of me, but refrain from saying this. I shout out ‘Tom’, he turns around and says ‘John?’, I reply no, ‘Tom’, walking towards him. He looks slightly confused as I ramble on about what time the plumber is coming, then interrupts me to tell me his name is Andy. For the third time in 10 days, and in fact, the second time in 20 minutes.
The gardens here are absolutely beautiful. I will not be going out in them for a while in case I bump into Tom/John/Andy again.
Life Changing Times 