New blog post, 3 MAR 2025, Reijer Staats
The chico from SEUR
Here I stand beneath the tilted garage door of our Villa Merise. A large white lorry awkwardly blocks the road, and two burly, hairy Latin American hombres, whom I remember from the earlier chaotic delivery of the broken fridge, are now busy packing it up to send back. Turning my head to the right to somewhat avoid their construction worker cleavage, I wonder if I can help with anything, and the words "Necesitáis ayuda?" slip out.
When we made our new penthouse Lolapaluza in Salobreña our own, quite a few online orders were placed. After the bottle holder in the fridge at Villa Merise broke for the second time, and the guests there – as they claimed – had to finish a newly opened bottle of Spanish white wine in one evening, we immediately ordered a new fridge online.
However, the appliance we received failed to cool or freeze after being plugged in overnight. All the contents thawed and spoiled, and since Johan managed to find a new, identical bottle holder for the old fridge online, the return and refund were quickly arranged. A real full-day effort: all the deliveries and returns, driving back and forth between our four houses, couriers who were usually late or didn't turn up, and their incomprehensible chatter on the phone... How does one manage that with a regular job?
The words "Hola, soy el chico de SEUR. Tengo un paquete." ring out over the phone. It's the delivery guy with the headboard for Lolapaluza. I rush home because this chico from the delivery service is always punctual, calls half an hour ahead, and by now knows exactly how to find us – despite the illogical Spanish house numbering, the unreliability of route planners, and the absence of a house number on the gate to our estate. Oh yes, and the intercom system in our small estate, which hasn't worked since we moved here, doesn't help either.
The box is damaged, taped up with REPRECINTADO tape, and with a deadline looming – the first guests are almost at the door – I must fit around fifty loose slats between the top and bottom of the bed's headboard. This proves impossible without the screws and assembly template, which were missing from the damaged box. Johan hears me swear, comes upstairs shaking his head, and stares at my flushed face. Only then do I accept a new return – fortunately, it's the chico from SEUR collecting this package.