The past weekend was one of woes and worries. The worries mostly in my own head, but that doesn't really help...
The worries started when I was going out for my Friday afternoon walk. A message from the landlord's office had been put up on the inside of the entrance door, telling us that from 25th June, that door will be locked around the clock (while over the 17 years I've lived here, it's only been locked during the night). The reason: Lately people with no right to be there seems to frequently have been found hanging out inside buildings in the area, causing worries for (some) tenants.
That was all the info. For my own part, I have not noticed anything of that kind. Actually I've even found my immediate surroundings unusually peaceful lately! So I can only assume that this must have been happening in some buildings; but worrying enough to extend a new locked doors policy to the whole neighbourhood.
This had my head spinning the whole rest of the weekend, and of course it also totally clashed with the relaxation and "presence" (noticing details in nature etc) that I usually connect with my walks.
As I myself have not noticed any strange strangers sneaking about, my own immediate reaction was/is instead to worry about the consequences of locked doors (with no entrance code system attached).
The first thing that jumped to mind was my regular food delieveries from the supermarket. So far (over 10 years now) the drivers have been able to just walk right in and deliver to my own door - actually, to inside my hall. Which is what I need, as I can't lift/carry heavy bags myself.
Now I shall have to be even more alert to watch out for the delivery van arriving outside, and not only open my own door, but hurry downstairs to open the front door for them. And even if that might work, I still worry about perhaps having to explain each time that they still need to help me carry the bags upstairs. Is it possible to include those instructions on my order? And even if it is (I've still not checked) can I trust that they'll read them?? Etc etc. (I think at least some of my fellow bloggers will be able to imagine even more "what ifs" buzzing...)
Over the weekend I took some time to google; and for a while, Google AI gave me hope that it might not be all that complicated after all, because AI claimed that my landlord (a municipal housing company) uses a lock system that allows for some digital solutions - even including food deliveries.
So I calmed down and wrote an email to ask about that. They answered promply on Monday morning (today); but alas not with the answer I wanted. The only way to get in is by key. So from now on (and who knows for how long) I shall indeed have to go down and let delivery guys (or other visitors) in manually.
Head spinning again - and imagining even worse predicaments than how to cope with deliveries... (Not having any family in town, and no trusted friend living really close, it's not practical to let any one person keep an extra key.)
Inventing worst case scenarions not helped by yesterday also receiving news of the death of an old friend of mine, from cancer. I knew she's been ill, and while in the beginning she was bravely sharing about it on FB, it's been a long time now since her last post there - until now, and now it was not heself writing, but her daughter informing friends about her death, and time and place for the funeral. (A long way from here, so I won't be going, just sending a greeting to the family, and a donation to a cancer fund.)
It's sad enough when friends older than oneself pass away - but even sadder when they're younger; and my friend had only just turned 62. Our friendship goes back to when we were in the same youth gospel choir, up in Karlstad - where I had then recently moved to study, and ended up living for ten years. So when I first got to know Ulla, I was 20, but she still only 12, and one of the very youngest members in that choir. (She was very talented, and ended up a music teacher - whereas I was never really much of a singer. But that choir was of the kind that welcomed everyone.) We remained friends (with many mutual friends) through her teens and beyond. I attended her wedding, and I visited her and her husband when their children were little; and the whole family also visited me in Borås after I moved here (the children still small, and their visit included a rainy visit to our zoo). And the last fifteen years or so we've kept in touch via Facebook, where she posted quite frequently - even through her "cancer journey", for as long as she was able to. But now all I can do is send a last wish out into the Final Beyond: Rest in Peace, my friend...
There was a bit more on my mind when I started writing this post, but it's getting late, so I'll save that for another day (perhaps), and just finish off with a couple of quotes I've kept reminding myself about more or less constantly ever since my own teenage years...
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)
Oh my, I am so sorry! I would be worried about the same things myself!! Maybe enough people will complain? Maybe a petition? Depends on how many are frightened by the lurkers. Since the lurkers were on private property, I wonder why they could not just address their trespassing rather than lock the doors. Maybe they fear retribution. Keep me posted.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ginny. Although it raises some "everyday" practical questions for me (and no doubt others as well), I doubt that they would take a decision like this on such short notice unless there are good reasons for it, though. It is after all a big municipal company with properties all over the city (and many of them in more problematic districts than this) that is managing this large housing complex; not some minor private landlord. The notice they put up also says to report anything suspicious. While personally I find the info we received so far lacking in clarity, I suppose there may be reasons for that as well. There are criminal gangs operating in this city, as in many others - so who knows what's really involved.
DeleteI’m sorry for your loss, and I hope some ease finds its way back to you soon
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ro.
DeleteI am sorry to hear of your friend's death.
ReplyDeleteAs for the locked door policy, how are people going to be assisted in the case of an emergency? Say, someone falls in their apartment and can not come to door to let the paramedics in? I imagine that people who regularly require assistance will give an extra key to their nurse/assistant, but what about one-off situations? It all seems like something of an over-reaction. Maybe the administration of your building complex HAD to react in order to stop those who were worried about "strange strangers" from constant complaining.
Meike, as apartment buildings (including where I live now) are usually locked over night, I have always assumed that there must be special routines for ambulances. But yes, this was another question that popped to mind for me too, so I wrote another email today to ask for details about that. (No answer to that one yet.) I also think there must be more reasons for the decision than just a few people complaining, even if the info given so far has been vague - cf my reply to Ginny above.
DeleteI, too, am sorry to hear of your friend's death. Having "lost" several friends in recent years, I know how you feel.
ReplyDeleteMeike has a very good point about the locked door policy. It must be difficult for the Landlord's office to know what is the right thing to do under the circumstances. They have a duty to ensure that you are all safe, but unfortunately some people do tend to over-react. I do hope that you can resolve the problem about your grocery deliveries, as a long-time customer, I'm sure they will find a solution.
Thanks Carol. I doubt they'd make this decision on such short notice if there weren't good reasons for it - see my reply to Ginny. There have been serious incidents around here before even if I personally haven't noticed anything just lately. (Like in 2020, an explosion in the entrance next to mine. It "only" destroyed the entrance door, but it shook the whole building. Both literally and mentally...)
DeleteMy condolences on the loss of your friend, and I too have had this happen several times in the past 4 years, which means I understand and the two verses at the end of the post are perfect. I also understand the axiety, fear and the way your mine rushes in circles trying to come up with how this will work out.. I do that to myself a LOT.
ReplyDeleteIs the office where you can go in persona and share your thoughts with someone in charge? I find I do better in person.. the delivery people will find it hard, since they will have to wait for you to show up at the door, and that will not go over well. the cost of having the building set up for you to put in code from your phone would be a lot i am sure.. with my brain I imediately started to run thoughts of what for you to do, I don't jus fret over solutions to my own issues but over my friends also
Thanks Sandra - I knew you'd get the fretting part... ;-) Yes, the company has an office in the city centre, but it's a large company with a wide-spread administration and I doubt there's much chance of immediately getting face-to-face contact with the right person about something like this. Personally I usually find it best to start with sending an email, that gets forwarded to the right person. Now I know who is in charge, I can get back to her if necessary. (Actually I did send her another email today, asking about how it works with the locked doors when one needs to call an ambulance. Since the building has always been locked at night, I have always assumed there must be solutions for that - but now I'm feeling a bit puzzled. Haven't got an answer to that email yet.) See also my reply to Ginny.
DeleteI am so sorry for the loss of your long-time friend. News of that sort is very sobering.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that the prospect of being locked in (or out) is rather worrying, particularly with managing deliveries.
I hope the coming days will bring some answers and reassurance.
Thanks Janice. I guess some things will become clearer with time!
DeleteI am sorry about the loss of your friend, and your worry about the locked doors. As you point out, it does us no good to worry, but we do, don't we? I know I do. Just heard that a friend of mine died, I had known her for forty years. It must have been sudden. I see her daughter quite often and she always told me her mother was fine. You never know. Enjoy your walks in nature. Breathe deeply and be at peace! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Kay. I'd say that "a bit" of worrying is a natural part of adjusting to new circumstances, and of trying to find solutions to new problems popping up. No good if "fruitless" worrying takes over, though... Sorry about your recent loss of a friend, too. I guess we all have to accept that this is likely to keep happening, the longer we live ourselves...
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