Today I had to drive to customs. My order couldn't be delivered by mail. But I had a nice conversation with the guy next to me in the queue.
Zuhause werden Juliet und Modesty aufmerksam: Da ist eine große Kiste angekommen! - Aus Amerika! - Sie ist wirklich sehr groß!
At home Juliet and Modesty get alerted: A big box has arrived! - From the US! - And it's really large!
Hey! Anyone help us to get this open? Something is moving inside!
First we have to bring it down!
Die ist aber schwer.
That's heavy.
Milo, mach dich doch mal nützlich! - Wieso? Ich hab schon die Schere geholt!
Milo, make yourself useful! - Why? I brought the scissors, didn't I?
OK ich stell den leeren Karton zur Seite. - Da ist doch jemand drin? Bloß wer?
Alright I'll get the empty box out of the way. - There's someone inside? But who?
Oh cool, es ist eine Mumie! - Sei nicht albern Milo, in den USA mumifizieren wir keine Leute!
Oh cool it's a mummy! - Don't be silly Milo, in the US of A we don't mummify folks!
It moved!
Wer bist du denn? Bist du ein Junge oder ein Mädchen? Und wieso bist du so komisch angezogen? Stimmt das auf der Packung, du bist ein Prinz? Weißt du bei uns gibt es keine Prinzen mehr. Wir leben in einer Demokratie! Sollen wir dich etwa mit Königliche Hoheit anreden?
Now who are you? Are you a boy or a girl? Why do you wear those funny clothes? Is it right what the box says, you're a prince? You know we don't have princes anymore, we're a democracy! Are we meant to call you Your Royal Highness?
Demokratie? Keine Prinzen? Supi! Ich hab 30 Jahre im Exil gelebt, in einer muffigen Schachtel, und hatte die ganze Zeit diese Sachen an! Ich heiße nicht Hoheit sondern Charlie.
Democracy? No Princes? Fab! I was exiled for 30 years, living in a niffy box, all the time wearing this gear! My name's not Highness, it's Charlie.
While the other three politely pretend to be looking elsewhere, the ex-Prince very swiftly gets undressed from his fantasy uniform.
Hooray! Normal clothes at last!
OK. Wollt ihr mich jetzt vielleicht ein bisschen herum führen?
OK, will you now show me round please?
Er wirkt schon ein bisschen bossy...
He's a bit bossy...
Great little story of Charlie's arrival. Did you get caught for a lot of customs?
AntwortenLöschenAm I right in thinking that there are a lot more boys than girls in your house or is it just coincidence that I discovered your blog when the boys are just taking a front seat?
I like the little glimpse of dolls in your display cabinet too :)
x
Actually, the boys are still outnumbered by the girls, but they're catching up. I like the Sasha boys - but for the girls, I can sew prettier clothes...
LöschenGerman law is that on parcels from the US, a copy of the invoice has to be stuck outside the wrapping in an extra envelope, so Deutsche Post can collect the Einfuhrumsatzsteuer at delivery. When this envelope is missing, they don't deliver and you have to pay that tax at costums. Over the last weeks I had to drive there three times, and each time I had to open the parcel to prove there REALLY is a doll inside and nothing else! Susanna Lewis wrote me this is pretty uncommon, she often sends to Germany and usually there is no problem.
With Charlie, it was funny. The officer asked which doll it is, I said, Prince Gregor, and he pondered that, then asked, Is he the one who stuttered?
Well - no --