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Father died in Begium - How to deal when we have to quarantine

10 replies

curlydiamond · 09/02/2021 01:57

My lovely Dad ( British national) died 4 days ago at his home in Belgium. I live many hours away from my siblings (we're all in the UK) and Covid is making an awful time worse. The Consulate rep was as useful as an umbrella under water , we're still unclear on whether we need to quarantine on arrival (negative PCR test required in any case, some sources say quarantine not required if staying less than 48 hours).
The funeral directors have been really supportive and we think we're just about sorted regarding the legal bits and the cremation. But there's no-one we can ask to go and deal with Dad's personal effects, no-one who can pack up his life on our behalf, if we can't go due to 20days quarantine in total. We all work and have young families and have used most of our leave to manage homeschooling / wrap around care - we just can't take that amount of time away from our families and our work. I just don't know what we're going to do , we've got a month to vacate his apartment, cremation taking place at the end of this week and none of us can be there if we have to quarantine. Dealing with his death from abroad was always going to be hard but the added issue of the pandemic is just impossible - ironic when he survived two lots of admissions to ICU being very ill with Covid19 last year.
I know it's shit for everyone, but knowing that doesn't answer my question as to how we are supposed to proceed. Has anyone dealt with similar recently? if so, how did you manage it ? I feel completely lost at this point.

OP posts:
Mumof3dogs · 14/02/2021 09:30

Sorry for your loss, it must be incredibly difficult at this time of pandemic.

Having lived in Belgium and other countries I have done relocations with professional companies and I am wondering if you could maybe use such a company to pack up and ship his belongings over to the UK ? Or even out of his accommodation into some storage until you can get over there to them ?
I'm sure it's an unusual request but it's maybe something worth checking out ?

FiveShelties · 14/02/2021 09:33

I am so sorry for your loss.

I too, wondered about an international moving company who could pack and ship the contents, or hold them in storage for you.

redcandlelight · 14/02/2021 09:40

sorry for your loss.

there are companies that do that for you. but for ££££
removal companies if you want to keep the posessions.
clearance if you don't.

was your father involved with an eu institution? they might be able to help or point you to a solution.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 14/02/2021 09:40

There are options. Try an international removers such as Bishops to clear and bring everything to the UK. Alternatively, see if you can find a local movers to him that can clear and store in the Netherlands? I know both are not ideal but if that's what's available? Did he have personal items that were valuable?

BonnyandPoppy · 14/02/2021 09:43

We used Pickfords international when we had a storage container full of stuff in Holland that we needed to be brought to the UK. Not quite the same as it was reasonably packed already (though not everything was packed in a box). It was really expensive though! £2200 for 7m2 and that was a part load that they combined with someone else’s.
Is there anything you desperately want from his stuff? Otherwise I would be tempted to try and get a house clearance firm to clear everything.

BonnyandPoppy · 14/02/2021 09:45

7 cubic metres not square metres!

Elwynne · 14/02/2021 10:08

Try a call out on the Facebook group Expats in Brussels, there will be someone who can help or good offer advice. As people have said above you could get someone to pack everything up and either ship it or put it in storage until you can deal with it. From personal experience, Bishops are great for international moves but expensive.

Alternativy, Can you pay for a couple of months extra on the house to give yourself more time to pack and for restrictions to lift?

I am really sorry for your loss, it is never easy but this is such a terrible time for having to deal with the additional madness of covid restrictions. I really hope you get everything sorted soon and have time to grieve Flowers

ScrapThatThen · 14/02/2021 10:30

I hope you get the advice you need here. And make sure that you arrange something to replace the rituals so that you can grieve too.

curlydiamond · 15/02/2021 07:05

Thank you everyone. The British Consulate were no help but we managed to confirm with the Belgian Health Authority that a stay under 48 hours was permitted without quarantine thank goodness. My sister travelled there and back with her covid test needing to be valid for the return journey so had 24 hours in Belgium in total. We were under pressure from the authorities to get everything sorted ASAP, so she packed a couple of suitcases of important things, arranged shipment for a few more bits and that was it. All very rushed and not what any of us would have wanted but at least she was able to go - French police were turning dozens of people away at the Eurostar for not having valid reasons to travel. An awful time definitely made harder, Dad deserved better than this.

OP posts:
ScrapThatThen · 15/02/2021 09:48

I am so glad she was able to go Curly, that must have been a really stressful trip for her. Your Dad does deserve more, and he will be remembered in different ways by you all and by his friends and associates over the next few weeks and months I am sure.

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