Thursday, 4 June 2009

Home sweet home

Yesterday I signed up for another two years at 8c Street 460. Like most things, lease signing is a process that has taken a few weeks.

A few new clauses were inserted into the lease this time around. One of them said that we were to be wholly responsible in the event of any fire. It was all fun explaining that we are tenants, not an insurance company. So three days later the ammended lease comes back ...

Monsieur Bonnvee at Rue 460

Anyway, the lease got signed - well, thumbprinted actually. We were all happy smiles. Then out came the second lot of lease documents - the same as the first but stating we were paying $200 monthly rent (we are paying $400). Son of landlord happily explained that would we please be helpful to them as this second set of lease docs was for the tax man.

Son of landlord is doing his masters in law. Daddy is a lawyer - high up. He's sitting on the Khmer Rouge tribunal and raking it in courtesy of the UN. I really enjoy my get-togethers with son of landlord. He is a fun Cambodian guy who at this time may not be particularly helpful in straightening out the crooked paths within this nation. There is no point in being all dogmatic and righteous. I just told him that his daddy is a very clever man and that he would know how to handle the tax man.

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