Cyprus-Forum.com

[miltiades]

The last couple of weeks had begun to take their toll on me, mental fatigue begun to show, it was time to take a long weekend hoping to replenish my mental state and begin the process of restoring my eccentric well being.

During the gruelling 2 weeks my other third , here and after to be referred to as MOT, had been very supportive and shared my anguish, she knew both Charly and Caroline.

Decided that a long weekend was what the doctor would prescribe I took a flight to Minsk on Friday, came back yesterday, 3 days of recuperation did me a world of good.

I have travelled to Belarus during the last 5 years perhaps on 30 occasions. Got to know Minsk and Belarus quite well and have always enjoyed my short visits coupled with the company of MOT.

The flight takes about 2 and a quarter hours so a relatively short flight. The weather was almost as hot and sunny as Cyprus .

Going through Customs, apart from one occasion when I was stopped and asked how much money I was bringing with me ,I had never been searched, not so this time, first ever. A command in Russian aimed at me made me stop naturally as a young customs officer asked for my passport on being told by me that I don't speak Russian, I said this in my broken Russian.

His first question was a demand to see my passport, British I replied handing over my passport.

Open your case he asked.

Now, all these times I have been visiting Belarus I always take Italian Milano salami, Parma ham, and a selection of cheeses as well as a bottle of Glenfiddich whiskey.MOT is very fond of Italian Salami as well as Parma ham.

The young officer examined the contents of my suitcase informing me that I should have declared the food items. In order to distract him somewhat I told him in Russian , moya zhena belaruskis, lublu Italian Salami. My wife is Belarusian and loves Italian salami.

He smiled, I offered him my hand and asked for his name, giving my name first, Alex he responded, oh I said my sons name .
OK, you can go now he responded with a smile.
To be continued...

[Cap]

Phew...
For a second there... I pictured dollar signs, lots of them, with wings.. taking flight, out of Milti's pocket.

[CrookedRiverGuy]

Phew...
For a second there... I pictured dollar signs, lots of them, with wings.. taking flight, out of Milti's pocket.

I rather fear that we will learn what obscene way an old man uses his salami...

[miltiades]

Phew...
For a second there... I pictured dollar signs, lots of them, with wings.. taking flight, out of Milti's pocket.

I rather fear that we will learn what obscene way an old man uses his salami...

Not ...so old, at 69 and a bit Im merely a ..mature spring chicken !!
Will tell you more after my lunch...

[umit07]

I've felt old since the age of 12

[miltiades]

As always Valera the taxi driver I have been using for 5 years was waiting at the exit to meet me, a friendly sort of chap with limited English but a very good and careful driver.
MOT was apparently in a supermaket getting some ...refreshments, wine etc. He drove me there and while waiting for MOT to appear I thought I would go into the Exhange currency office and obtain some local currency.

A young lady sat in the cashiers desk and I handed her 400 dollars and 200 Euros as well as 100 STG which she refused as the British pound was not accepted, only in bigger banks she told me.

I watched as she calculated the currency passing me a note stating the amount to be received as 10 million, 450 thousand BRs.

I watched as she checked each note slowly, first under the light detector then with a magnifying glass, a practice I had watched many times.

She then started puting notes on to the counter machine which kept starting and stopping. She did this 3 or 4 times until eventually the machine counted the notes.

She handed me the receipt along with the notes, rather bulky, I put in my pocket and off I went to meet MOT who was just coming out of the Supermarket.

On arriving at the apartment after a few drinks and a chat I begun to sort out the notes so that I did not have to have the entire lot in my pocket.

Im used to counting the notes, a shopkeepers way, five notes with the fifth folded over so each bundle contained 5 x 200.000 = 1 million.
I counted again and again, asking MOT to check as I had 11 million 450 thousand. Checked the receipt but it was clear that I had received ONE MILLION too much !!!

In the meantime I handed MOT the italian salami, parma ham etc, delightfully she thanked me with a grin on her face.

Watch the story unfold....

[miltiades]

Will continue this real life story tomorrow.
Attending my daughter in laws funeral today which is been held at a small village near Plymouth .

[miltiades]

On making certain that i was given a million belarus rubbles too many I immediately and quickly decided with the full agreement of mot to go back in the morning and give the money back. I asked mot what she thought the cashiers wages were. About 250 dollars per month she replied. And I said , would the young woman have to make up the shortage? Oh yes she replied, might even lose her job.
1 million BRs is about £40 , I just had to go in the morning and give it back .

[miltiades]

Early morning we took a ride to the supermarket, shortly after 8 am. The bureau of exchange was open, we waited for turn before opening the glass door and going in, I walked in first and there was the same young lady sat behind a glass partition. She immediately focussed her eyes on me, a look of surprise and anticipation, but not for long. Vega, Vega , mot shouted, the young cashier stood up and shouted mot's name with sheer delight.

Were you working yesterday evening mot asked, Yes Vega replied, I made a mistake and gave the ...English man one million too much. The reason we are here mot responded while I handed over the million rubbles.

It turned out that young Vega was from the same small town as mot, younger by 8 years, but her older brother with whom she lived with in Minsk was at the same school as mot.I felt goose pimples as I witnessed two ladies affectionately interacting. They soon exchanged phone numbers and off we went but not before asking mot to tell the young lady that I was a Cypriot not as she wrongly presumed an Englishman .

Later on, early evening Vega called mot and invited us both to a BBQ, the following day, Sunday, yes they do have BBQs in Belarus. Mot asked for my consent which I gladly gave. The BBQ would take place just outside Minsk by the river, Vega's brother along with his wife and two small children would also come. Vega stressed that we should not take any drinks or food since her brother on being told of this event wanted us to be his guests.

What happened the following day will remain in my memory for ever....

[Pyrpolizer]

Excuse me, but all these happened while you were expecting the funeral of your daughter in law??