23rd November 2024
Well hello peeps … long time no speak …. We are still here, with lots to report. Since getting back to the UK however temporarily we have had the urgent button pushed down, in action mode, to get our heads round organising stuffing a shipping container to the gills. There is nothing like having one’s stuff around you to make you feel at home. So we thought; albeit a tall order … we love a challenge … yet another one, if we could get organised we may be able to get our preciouses on the high seas before Christmas, to meet us there when we arrive before the New Year. So where does one start?
Actually in these days of general global movement there are loads of companies shifting goods on the tides so we set about finding out how one goes about this. My good buddies in “Expats in Barbados” facebook group once again came up trumps and we managed to narrow down the options to the three most recommended shipping companies. This should be simple we thought. Ha ha you have heard that before … usually preceding a tale of complications and multi-pronged options. This believe me is no different.
Back in the day bringing bananas over from the West Indies … who has not heard of Geest … banana boat yes? I’m sure Lenny Henry had a punchline about that …. Well that’s where we started. They respond promptly to our email (don’t get used to this we tell ourselves). Yes with our comprehensive list of goodies, two chests of drawers, one pine table various boxes of paraphernalia, paintings crockery etc etc we could fill a 20ft shipping container. It’s all sounding doable. UNTIL … this is how it works ….they let us down gently… they bring the shipping container to you … can you imagine a smallish crescent resident road in Kent with a huge lorry parked outside of my father’s garage. Then imagine that lorry tilted slightly with the near side wheels onto the pavement so the cars, skateboards and scooters can still get past. Have you got that image? Then picture this, the container on the lorry is five and a half foot off the ground and there is no tail lift …. To be fair they did tell us … we have three hours to load the container ourselves after that it’s £90 an hour waiting time. So we ask … how can anyone do that? …. “Well most people hire a forklift truck, or a Luton van with a tailgate” Nope neither of us can drive a forklift truck … ride on mower experience yes, forklift truck no.
Ok so Geest are the basics option. We upgrade. The next lot drive down to the house in a smaller van, pack everything for you, drive back to the warehouse and then repack into a container, that is then put on a ship. We identify a timeline. Deadline to get everything ready is 10th December. The ship sails 3/4 days later and takes 9 days on the high seas. It docks in Barbados and then you need a customs broker. Ok what’s one of them? Well they negotiate with customs. We understand if you are bringing in used items belongings and chattels there is little or no duty to pay. However you need to assign a value of nil or there abouts. But you also need to value it for insurance…. Of course the value to replace it is not nil……. Hmmm if that’s not a conundrum. The Customs officer will either want you to empty everything to make sure it’s all used stuff or only a partial inspection… luck of the draw. Then you need to arrange onward transfer … another forklift truck …… another van?
We try again, upgrade … full door to door service ….. and for the pleasure of having a shipment of your own stuff a small fortune will have to be parted with. Who knows what mood the customs officer will be in so all in all ….
I’m sure you are all feeling our pain. We kick the shipping plan down the road for the time being, the forecast was sunny and now feels too stormy to navigate with everything thing else going on.
We also find out that Virgin Atlantic charges £65 for an extra bag. Ok we won’t be able to bring the church settle, but perhaps a small painting each and who cares about all that personal detritus …. We will spend a small portion of the money we’ve saved, on second hand Bajan detritus. Andy Tempro … watch out the Bebbs are on a mission.
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