I am working some 4/10s this week so that I could have today off, as this was the first opportunity MediaMarkt had for my appliance delivery and installation. I got my Starlink internet equipment Monday, and so have some decently fast home internet set up now. My washer, dryer, and most importantly, my refrigerator are being delivered and installed today.

Being off work, I started the day a little later than normal, and was doing a small bit of tidying up in the kitchen before I made coffee and did important things like brush my hair, or put on any kind of layer or shoes. I popped out the front door quickly to put some trash in one of the outdoor trash bins, came back, and my heart sank when I realized the door had fully shut behind me. I was locked out, all three copies of the house keys, my phone, my jacket, my shoes, all locked away.

I felt like a complete idiot I tried to ask Sensi through the door to pull down on the handle, but alas even if she understood at all, she is too small to reach and almost certainly not heavy enough. I looked around the various windows but it turns out my new abode is very secure from intruders. And from locked out tenants.

I bare-footed my way over to the neighbor’s house and rang the doorbell. He opened the door and I started trying to say I was locked out in German “Entschuldegen sie mir bitte, aber ich bin die neue nachbarin und ich habe mir…. locked out? uh..” “Oh no!” he replied in English, “let me call your landlord, please come in”. I expressed my embarrassment and gratitude, talked to my landlord on the phone, expressed more embarrassment and gratitude as he said he’d be able to head home to grab a spare key and come meet me at the house, it would take him about an hour.

The neighbor and I sat in his downstairs room and made some small talk; he gave me a pair of socks to borrow and made a cup of coffee for each of us. He said “You’re very lucky. Normally I am not home until quite a bit later but I had to stay and take care of some things here!” He told me how much he loves Hamburg, and a bit about the area; he’s from Landstuhl, his wife grew up in the house we were sitting in.

My landlord arrived, he found the spare key and was able to let me in. “You’re very lucky” he said, “Normally I would be all over Germany and not close to home, but today I was nearby and able to interrupt without problems.”

I made breakfast and contemplated luck. If I were really lucky, wouldn’t I have not locked myself out of the house in the first place? But then in my bad luck of getting locked out of the house, I was doubly lucky that I could get quick help where it normally wouldn’t be available. Either way I think I need to start wearing my housekeys on a necklace or something. I will probably be excessively paranoid about locking myself out going forward.

I spent the rest of the day getting various packages, building some furniture, waiting for the appliance delivery, and creating a list of thinks I will be buying from IKEA soon to start populating the rooms with useful things. Earlier in the week I borrowed an OBD2 reader from a coworker to find out how kaput my auto is. Seems the codes imply that the connecting rod bearings in the engine failed. So bad news, blown motor(?), but good news, likely a part of a global recall for these vehicles. Another thing on the list of things I need to worry about at some point soon. Thankfully the 1999 Opel Astra I have is working great. But that means I am out an SUV for a while and will therefore have to get my new furniture delivered.

I guess the same theme holds for my Hyundai. Unlucky: it broke. Lucky: I could get it towed back; I was able to read the codes; it’s probably a recall; I have another vehicle to drive in the meantime.