At the moment, Mr Sweetie has a visit from a former colleague from our days of living in Ireland. They're off taking a day in Brussels, while I continue to study (or something resembling it).

A Very Large freight truck rumbles by in the street, and stops. I don't really take much notice until the doorbell rings, and then it's one of those, "Oh.... shit!" moments. This one is rooted in Mr Sweetie's hobby, which I fully endorse, of running a small press publishing house. Contact with an on-demand printer has meant the occasional delivery of books - a single full pallet, sometimes two.

But this is the first time I've taken delivery of one by my lonesome here. Ooops.

The first hurdle is relatively straightforward: explaining to the driver that, yes, they have exactly the correct address. Part of the problem at this initial moment is that they're looking for a warehouse; but what they find is a private residence on a not-quiet street, frequently backing up a bus or two while we sort out what needs doing. It's only because they have to deliver that they'll agree to our solution: leave the pallet on the sidewalk.

In the usual case, Mr Sweetie and I can clear one pallet in less than ten minutes, and with two of us (and the cats safely trapped behind two closed doors - they helpfully flee as soon as the doorbell goes, thank goodness for small favors!) we have a reasonably secure view of the goods before we get them safely indoors. No one's ever tried to help themselves to a box (it's impossible to see what's in them, and only a reasonably thoughtful person is going to realize they'll probably contain books) but even in a smallish place, there's always a first time.

Luckily, "first time" was NOT today. *Phew!* and other noises of relief. Only one pallet and that not too horribly loaded. (We've unloaded one pallet that was stacked five deep - not fun!) So, by my lonesome, that was not quite 20 minutes work, and that just before lunch, which definitely felt earned after all that.

Mr Sweetie had been so good with his timing - not just being away (he's already let me know via text message he's grateful for my help) but also having just finished a first phase of delivering excess stock to the recycling. On the other hand, he's going to be the one to fill up all that lovely freed space with the new books!