Customs cleared

8th October 2025

I spent a bit of last night thinking, overthinking and to be honest worrying about how today was going to pan out. There is a very good saying that 3am is not a good time to make judgements and so it has fared. All in all the anticipation has been the worst bit. The appointment was at 1pm for customs. At 11am the container still had not arrived. But soon after that I saw its cheery face at the top of the cart road. The driver got out and started waving ….. hmmm what does that mean? I waved back and before I knew it he had turned and was reversing all the way down the drive. He was just checking that we were expecting him … hell yes.

Crunch time…. Well hopefully not…. With precision reversing he made it through the gates only to be thwarted by the mirrors… nope despite the recce a few weeks ago it just was not going to get in. It was going to have to be left outside and then a smaller truck ferry stuff in. Apparently they anticipated it. 🤷‍♀️.

There was a conscious uncoupling of the truck and the container and then we wait for the next phase. It looked lonely and disabled there, now I don’t have emotional feelings for a container but there is emotional investment in the contents.

Next to arrive were the unloading team. What a team, they were so reassuring and confident, hanging out in the back of the truck, chatting and laughing, waiting for enforcement. The head honcho is on it. He says “I’m not sure if you are getting enforcement… they will just break the seal. The container has been Xrayed at the port so they know what’s in it. No drama. Or customs …. That’s a whole different story … if they are coming you need the whole table, comfy seat, cold drinks situation. Some of them are very difficult” Hmm perhaps not sure reassuring.

Next to arrive is the plant quarantine officer. She needs to inspect the wooden furniture. She is definitely official, important…sits in the car in the air conditioner. Comes out for a chat, comments on the St Lucia T shirt and then back she goes to the car.

Nothing can be done until the seal is broken and so they wait in the shade under the trees or in the car. We wait in the house… anxiously

Then we see it. A white car turns off the highway and makes its way down the drive … the time has come.

He steps out of the car and immediately we are met by a massive smile. What a nice guy … honestly.

The bolt cutters are out and the seal is cut.

In a blink of an eye, it’s all unloaded, paperwork ticked, zero duty. All that worry, served no purpose. It could not have gone more smoothly. The small truck manoeuvres through the gates and Christmas has come early.

Time to celebrate.

Tomorrow we unpack.