Talk about shitty timing. I found out yesterday that my portero automatico (what is that called in English?) connection isn’t working. And only mine. All the other ones in the building seem to be fine. So I called the landlord, who is away on holiday, and he got someone to come over and have a look. Turns out it’s a problem that can only be fixed by gaining access to one of the downstairs patios … the one that can only be accessed from the Farmacia, which is closed for holidays until August 3rd!
Normally this would just be annoying … especially the me having to go down and then back up three long flights of stairs to open the doors bit. But as I have chemo again on Monday and, if things go like last time and I’m in bed for a few days, there is no way no day I’m going to be able to let anyone in who comes to see me. Which is something much more than just annoying.
I toyed with the idea of rigging up a little basket on a rope to lower my keys down from the balcony (since I do not have long Rapunzel-like hair) but in the end I will just have to rely on other neighbours being at home and letting in any visitors. And although it’s crap timing I’m really glad this didn’t happen last week when Kristin surprised me with a visit or we would never have met up and had such a lovely time together.
[picture by sue langenegger]
casa azahar 
I’m guessing this is your entryphone buzzer thing, yes? That’s a pain. Maybe you could train one of the cats to pop downstairs with the keys tied to their collar???
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Yes – entryphone buzzer thingy! You sure there isn’t a more technical name for it?
Meanwhile, two problems with the cat training plan. They wouldn’t be caught dead wearing collars and they aren’t tall enough to open the two doors downstairs.
Maybe I’ll give Pipocas some keys for next week. No problem with La J because she lives here now. And Nog will be back a week Sunday (the 27th) so then he can go downstairs if someone comes to the door. 🙂
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bummer!
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Bummer
Oops, there is an echo in here 😉
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And all the way from Australia too – impressive, guys!
Though I think this situation is what the Spanish would describe as bummerísimo .
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The key-in-the-basket idea is creative and fun! You could attach little notes or a card each time saying how happy you are to welcome your visitor. Unless it’s the bailiff or a tax collector.
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It is a bummerisimo!
I like the keys in basket idea too, although I imagine that if I was really going to do something like that I’d just drop the keys down without the basket, thinking that was a fine idea until I hit some poor innocent passerby in the head with key/keychain. The basket is probably a better idea, come to think of it!
When I had an apartment in San Francisco I think that was called the door lock release buzzer; we just talked about “buzzing people in” and didn’t really think about what the actual technical term is. I feel research coming on. . .
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The industry refers to this as the “remote door release”
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Hmm, definitely think dropping the keys down three floors could hurt someone — hopefully someone will find a way to fix that little buzzard, er…buzzer!
If you’re lucky someone else’s will go out, too, and the complaints from more than one person will get action. Once had to wait a week for someone to fix the hole in my bathroom ceiling, during rainy weather. Nothing quite like using the commode, under an umbrella…
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I actually did something like that when I was sick. I would toss them the keys off the second-floor balcony. If your buzzer isn’t working at all, just set up a cowbell on a loop of nylon or something; you could always hang it from your balcony, haul it up when it rings, attach keys, lower it down. Less work on you is important.
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Have you ever read the Kinky Friedman mystery novels? Kinky’s character lives in a loft, and has no buzzer. Instead if somebody comes to visit, they shout, and inserts a key into the mouth of a doll he’s rigged up with a parachute. He hurls it out the window and it slowly drifts to the ground, delivering the key to his guest.
I hope your treatment goes well on Monday!
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The industry refers to this as the “remote door release”
How boring is that! I much prefer “automatic doorman”. 🙂
I don’t think more complaints will make much difference, SC. It’s just bummerísimo that the Farmacia happens to be closed until August.
I definitely shouldn’t drop the keys. I’m on the third floor (fourth floor North American) but the apartments have super-high ceilings so it’s almost like being an extra floor up. Even if I managed not to hit anyone the keys might break when they hit the pavement.
If I’m going to do the rope thing I’ll have to get it sorted tomorrow morning. Something tells me it ain’t gonna happen. Luckily La J next door is almost always home. And … hey! I’ve just thought of something. If it’s okay with the girls next door, if they’re not home I could just use my keys to pop over and open the downstairs doors from there. I’ll have to ask them about this.
Thanks, mister anchovy. Feeling a bit nervous but plan to spend Sunday preparing snacky foods for the rest of the week, doing the laundry, etc.
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good luck for monday
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“Feeling a bit nervous but plan to spend Sunday preparing snacky foods for the rest of the week, doing the laundry, etc.”
Sounds suspiciously like some kind of forward planning to me. Which is a good thing but so very, very un-English. And therefore deeply suspicious.
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Well then, you will no doubt find my latest post very suspicious indeed. You have been warned.
We totally simulposted there, Blues. Ha! 🙂
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I hope you can do the pop-next-door-and-buzz idea, az. Sounds like a winner, and the least stressful on you — that’s the most important thing!
I hope your chemo went well. Hugs and snibbles.
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