Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Busy month

      I've managed to do so many things last week, and during this one I'm afraid I won't be able to do much. My usual panic about the last exams in April began, I need to finish writing my graduation work, and it's almost killing me. I don't want to be the student anymore!:) At least, two diplomas is enough;)
    
      This week made me very sad. Our Russian Post was always very slow, but now it's too much, it has increased the standard shipping time to Russia from other countries from two weeks to two months (http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-03-09/mail-flooded-postal-service.html?fullstory). It's official now and drives everyone here mad. I feel like we live in medieval times again.Two months mean I can't order anything from ebay, using express services doesn't guarantee I get the package in 3 weeks or so, it may be stuck at Russian customs for months, or can be stolen at the post! I was planning to buy some lighting kits from UK and now I think I'll have to wait when our Post will change the rules again. It's very humiliating. Buying miniatures in Moscow can be very expensive, and all you can buy here is very bad quality, so I don't really know what to do with lighting except making it all by myself, well, as usual!:)

32 comments:

Evelien said...

Good luck on your graduation work!! 2 diploma's is definitly enough, how cool! Can emagine you're a bit nervous right now.

And how stupid they changed the rules at the post! How is it possible that they make it 2 months! Is it to increase the sales in Russia?

groetjes Evelien

Victoria said...

@Evelien: Thank you, Evelien! It's taking all my time, and I can't wait to get back to my roombox:)
About the Post - everyone thinks it's about increasing sales in Russia, how stupid it is! But the official statement was about the problems at customs and launching two new centers for sorting packages, so they promise these problems will go away soon. But I doubt they'll make it.

Merry Jingle said...

Thumbs up with your studies, I know how pain the ass they can be...

That post thing sounds ridicilous, do you think that it's also with Finland that way? I mean they might let the Finnish post come through faster, don't know. But if it would be so, I could send the stuff for you from here. Just email me if you need any help :) And another possibility is that many of my dog owner friends go to Russia to dog shows quite regularly so it might be a possibilty to mail the package from Russia.

I would have a small question - is there any miniature samovars on the market? I'm making a small Russian house and I would love to have a real looking samovar, but can't find any.

Ira

Sans! said...

I am sooooooo glad I am not a student anymore!!! But my work still involves a lot of homework and reading and writing and that's just like being back in school! :)

There are no dollhouse lighting kit here as well and even if they do, I don't think we have the right plugs for using it so yes, I make them by going to an electrician who can fix the wiring and then work with what they can make. You can get very interesting results that way.

I have also bought Ikea lighting and may be using them in my next dollhouse.

Victoria said...

@Merry Jingle: Russian post is all the same, same customs, I won't be surprised if it'll take 2 months too. It's very sad. But I could try though:) Thank you for your offer!
About miniature samovars - I had one when I was a kid, but it was about 9cm, so it's more for 1/6 scale, but give me some time - I need samovar too, I'll go to our local flea market this weekend and have a look there, also I'm going to look for it at some souvenir stores, I'm sure I'll find something there! Let's hope! I'd be happy to send it to you.
Small Russian house - it's so exciting!:)I'm in the middle of making furniture for mine too!:)

Victoria said...

@Sans:Oh, homework, I used to hate it:)
Thank you for the tip with lighting! My hubby also offered to make our own lighting, besides it doesn't involve too much efforts for me - he's ready to make it for me:) I hope it'll work.

Merry Jingle said...

Thanks if you want to look for some, I've so far found one webstore that sells some Russian minis, mainly nesting dolls.

My Russian house will be a small cottage, I would love to have all the scroll work on the house, but can't do any so it's not going to look too authentic, I'm afraid. I just love the old wooden Russian houses, the craftsmanship on them is just amazing!

And I love Russian food, pelmenis filled with mushrooms are my favorites. And the salami. And tea. And blinis. I just could go on and on :) We even have 2 russian dogs, sredneasiastkaja ovtcharkas, they are so nice. I'm hoping that I'll have a change this summer to visit St.Petersburg if we're going to a dog show :)

Ira

Victoria said...

@Merry Jingle: Ira is a very Russian name you know:)
I could do some scrollwork for you, just send me the design you like, and the size. It's kinda easy for me.
Russian food is great, I love it, though I love pelmenis with meat, hehe:)

Merry Jingle said...

Yes I know, I actually have been named by our friend, Irina, who's nickname is Ira, of course :) My ancesters are from Russia, their name being Ignata before the made sound more Finnish, Ignatius.

And if you could make me some scrollwork, I would be SO HAPPY! Then I could say that my house has really authentic wood work :) I will be receiving the house kit in the mid April, so I'll start to design it then, need to block some windows etc.

Ira

Victoria said...

@Merry Jingle: Wow, it's a small world!
Okay, when you get the house, drop me a line about what you need, I'll make it for you, no problem!:)

Lize said...

Hey, don't listen to them! Being a student is great! No real responsibilities of a JOB! The homework and studying are the only downsides. So enjoy it while it lasts! Good luck however for the exams.

Listen I am very intrigued by your statement:'Scroll work is kind of easy!' What!! How lucky you are, for me I have too many fingers, or something.

The postal service here also gives reason to scream. And they open ALL our mail at customs. I have received a package before where everything inside was broken and with careless fingermarks and even footprints on the covering! It is heart breaking.

Victoria said...

@Lize: I'm lazy, I admit the fact.:) First diploma was fun, I loved learning Arabic and Japanese, I loved my university. Now I'm studying World Economics, it's not what I wanted to study (it was more my parents wishes), so I can't force myself sometimes.
Scrollsaw surprisingly easy for me, yes, maybe after I made like 15 windows for my dollhouse:) And I love it, to be honest.
That Customs - I hate them, they open the packages too here, all of them. Recently I read about the woman who's buying antique dolls, so she often gets the packages from US or UK here, in Moscow. So these expensive porcelain dolls come broken, absolutely, their heads are smashed. And it's obvious that the guys at the customs did that (they say they're looking for illegal drugs in dolls' heads). Last time she got not only broken doll, but the note (written by hand) from the customs in the package - it was saying - that the guys got tired from her dolls, well they are sick of them. It's outrageous, I can imagine her feelings.

rosanna said...

I promise I shall not complain about Italian Mail anymore. Custom can take ages, sometimes things disappear but it's not the rule and if they open a parcel they take care not to damage anything and write a note to explain what's gone on. I promise not to be picky anymore... Congrats for your graduation, I must admit that I'm much happier at work than I was at school.You'll realize what you like better soon. Have a nice day
PS scrollsaw is a nightmare for me!Rosanna

Victoria said...

@Rosanna:Oh, I read about Italian Post recently - that ebay sellers don't work with Brazil, Italy, and, as I can see, with Russia too now. I always thought that the worst Post was Russian:)
I was happy when I was working, hope this education period will be over soon.

Begoña said...

I used to hate being a student but now that I'm working I miss it a lot. I guess is one of those in life you just value when you dont have them anymore! Like a good post service, I guess. I'm stock with the lighting part to, we could help each other!!

Victoria said...

@Begoña: I don't mind helping each other!:) The wiring is okay though, I'm worried about lamps: I need to make one Tiffany-like table lamp and I think couple of wall lamp lights too.For now I have no idea how to make them:) - just looking through several workshops.

Sans! said...

Sorry for eavesdropping but you guys sound like you live in the nightmare part of George Orwell's town! I must be thankful I guess, for living in a country where the postal system is a dream although our ballots are not a secret ! :)

Victoria said...

@Sans: Don't tell:( It's awful, I'm currently reading one forum about buyin' dolls from ebay and some internet shops, it's just terrible, broken dolls and no one takes responsibility for it. But, I'm happy, Sans, that somewhere on this planet there's a good Post:) Hope, that one day...

Thmini2 said...

I was just looking at your blog. You do beautiful work!!!

Victoria said...

@Thmini2: Thank you, Teresa!:)

Glenda said...

Good luck on the graduation work!
The post around the world seems to have changed and slowed since the recession, but Russian post seems demented!
I'd like to make a dacha one day (on the ten-year plan!) - the closest I got to Russia was Karelia in Finland, I loved it there.
Glenda

The Old Maid said...

Good luck with exams! Sorry to hear about your post, I hope they will change the rules to the fast delivery soon! We had the same problems with our Polish Post some time ago - they were lounching a new center but nobody said officially to us there would be delays...not to mention letters and packet which...some how dissapeared:)

Victoria said...

@Glenda:Thank you! Karelia is fantastic place, it's so beautiful there, I'd love to go there some day.
The whole thing about Post is very sad, I hope things would change.

Victoria said...

@The old maid: I do hope it'll change! Representatives from our post say that this is because of the new center too, so there's always hope!

Irene said...

Good luck with the exams. Poor you with the post. I shall never again complain about the service in the UK (well, not for a while anyway!). To receive an open parcel with broken contents must be so upsetting.

synnøve said...

The best of luck with both study's and the post problem! But no ned to worry, you make the most wonderful miniatures!
Synnøve :)

Victoria said...

@Irene:Thank you! I heard only good feedback from Royal Mail customers, a friend of mine lives there, and she's happy with it. Luck you!:)

Victoria said...

@ synnøve: Thank you so much! I guess I'll have to start learning making lamps too!;)

Unknown said...

Oh second diploma, good work! I'm studying for my first, so I understand your panic for the exams! ahah.
By the way, don't worry about the post. I have a similar problem here in my country, that's why I stared to do all by myself (:
Good luck on ur graduation work!
Thanks for follow me! (:
Belén.

Karin Corbin said...

I don't use lighting kits for the dollhouses I build.

If you can't buy thin wire for dollhouses there are small insulated wires inside the bundle of wire used for telephone connections and also the cables used to network computers there are 8 pairs of small wires. Those small wires can be run in grooves on the dollhouse wall.

Victoria said...

Belén, thank you for support! I have to do all by myself too, unfortunately, well, I'm happy to do it all, but sometimes when I look at the items at internet shops I feel like a kid who wants to buy it all!:)

Victoria said...

@Karin Corbin: Thank you for the tip, Karin! I saw some wiring kits in Moscow, but when I compare the prices, that's when I start to think of buying it abroad. My husband offered me also to make it instead of buying. Wiring, adapters - shouldn't be a big problem, I guess. I'm more worried about the lamps - I can buy mini bulbs (inch scale) - but how to do the rest I don't have a clue by now.