My folks keep trying to keep things in order, while keeping an attitude to the state somewhat different from ours.
Namely, they run a campaign here to legalize all structures built without permit and paid utilities and other duties, with a deadline on 11th of march.
We legalized in 1986, paid the fine, signed a contract with the communal [enterprise].
What confused us was that your house is burdened with all the dues except tax, so I thought maybe this applies to you too. Yesterday I went downtown and dropped by the city hall and stumbled upon the right address, the window, where we got explained. We found in the plans your street and guessed the house number, counting houses from the railroad backwards. Whe I explained that you paid the utilities and social dues and couldn't even start building before that, he then explained to me that, if I can find the decision paper, to bring it or at least bring its number and date so he can register it. I then said you'd be coming for a vacation this summer, and then he said that I should just visit him and the matter will be settled.
That they still don't have the data is their problem. Worry you nothing. We pay no [real estate] tax because the house is unfinished, still didn't pass the technical inspection, it's not registered, and thus can't be taxed - she already asked around, even filled the forms and then they told her to do nothing, until the house is posted in the court, it formally doesn't exist. Which is why we keep your address on our IDs.
Don't touch anything. If I even dig out that contract when we come, it will serve only to sue the communal for never fulfilling their commitments from that contract. They're trying to scare people to hand them over some cash. Anyway, the contract itself is registered in their own books, so let them find it. If they don't have the data, it's their problem, not my job to maintain them. Or, if they want, 100$ an hour, I can entertain myself a bit with their system.
....
Lena went to school yesterday to only the last two classes, because she had an interview with Utrecht scheduled. The lady with whom she talked was an Italian, with the proper accent. Interesting, though, this is a general sciences university, they learn several exact sciences in parallel, and it lasts for three years, which fits her profile, hasn't quite decided what she'd prefer, probably chemistry first, but she's into other things as well. Specially with the tuition being so much lower than in England, we'd almost be able to pay all three years right away. And after that, may she master wherever she knows.
No many newses in the neighborhood, except that baba Đuđa got so senile and exhausted, that she spent three weeks in the hospital, and is presently in some private nursing home, because madam daughter is too busy has no time to care for her, has to run the car sales salon in the family enterprise.
Perhaps a home is right for her, she can do a round of news gathering and distribution all in the same building. Complete radiomileva and its audience under one roof.
...
Nothing much new with Go's coming here, no known schedule yet. She waited two weeks for her boss to return from vacation and tell her if april is okay, and when he came he just said to ask upstairs. Wait in vain. She had the periodic review, no promotion but salary increase and one time bonus, so alltogether she ended the year with 80K$.
Lena's school is ending 20 minutes later these two months, to make up for the snow days.
Ender found some job, on the other side of the bay. Says even traffic is a better option when combined with full time job, then the other division of the same company, just 3km from here, where he worked for three days and then thanked them for cooperation.
Here, we made pihtije twice the same winter, as per Nina's wish. On the picture they're freshly poured - two trotters, pack of ears (at least half a kilo) and about a quarter kilo of butkice, smoked. Shot this overyester; only the right pot remained for today, we already ate the rest. Even Ender tried, Nina somehow talked him into it... says it's somehow similar to sinigong (a philippino dish), just that he expected saltier. Well, at least he tried, while most of other Amers get dizzy as soon as they learn the ingredients.
