Flat acquired, furniture built - almost have a home ;)
Apologies for the delay since the last posting - hopefully we'll get some internet action in our flat soon, which will dramatically increase the amount of time we can devote to this sort of thing :).
Which leads me to my first point...we have a flat!! We'll get some pictures going around at some point - but for now, it's a one bedroom open kitchen, "garden level" (half underground), flat with a private entrance to a private patio area :)! The patio will be great in the warmer months....already planning a cinquo de mayo party....so if you're in the 'hood you should come by :).
I'll get out address up on the sidebar soon if anyone needs it.
So - we signed the contract and got keys last friday, spent the whole weekend between Ikea and other stores trying to furnish it - and a good portion of the start of the week building Ikea furnature :).
We had a bit of a hassle with our estate agent...who's basically a weasle...but we should be sorted at this point (basically, the place wasn't clean...and it took them a full week to get around to having cleaners come in). So we should be settling in a bit more this weekend....really making the place our home.
I'll try not to rant too much - but the flat letting system in the UK is a nightmare!! We both longed for the relative simplicity of the system in the US and Oz. Basically, you have to work through agents, haggle for price...pay enourmous sums for contract drafting and approval....basically get hosed completely....and even then the agent might not ever call you back....or you might not get the place. Really sucks. If you ever move to the UK - talk to us about our experience & we'll give you some pointers :).
On the downside - Penny had her cell phone stolen right out of her hand on Wed night. Really sucks...someone just came up behind her and ripped it out of her hand. The whole thing is stupid really, because Vodaphone can completely deactivate the phone and sim card as soon as we reported it. So this kid may have had 20 minutes of time on a pre-paid cell phone....which was switched off for most of that time (I called several times).
But back on the positive side - it is now officially the weekend :). And we're very much looking forward to a relaxing one. Going out with friends for Indian tomorrow night in a neighborhood that's supposed to be awesome for curry...we'll let you know :). We also need to start planning our first trips!
Ok - 5pm - time to sign off and go to the pub. Hope all is well back in Oz & the US!!Talk to you soon!
Which leads me to my first point...we have a flat!! We'll get some pictures going around at some point - but for now, it's a one bedroom open kitchen, "garden level" (half underground), flat with a private entrance to a private patio area :)! The patio will be great in the warmer months....already planning a cinquo de mayo party....so if you're in the 'hood you should come by :).
I'll get out address up on the sidebar soon if anyone needs it.
So - we signed the contract and got keys last friday, spent the whole weekend between Ikea and other stores trying to furnish it - and a good portion of the start of the week building Ikea furnature :).
We had a bit of a hassle with our estate agent...who's basically a weasle...but we should be sorted at this point (basically, the place wasn't clean...and it took them a full week to get around to having cleaners come in). So we should be settling in a bit more this weekend....really making the place our home.
I'll try not to rant too much - but the flat letting system in the UK is a nightmare!! We both longed for the relative simplicity of the system in the US and Oz. Basically, you have to work through agents, haggle for price...pay enourmous sums for contract drafting and approval....basically get hosed completely....and even then the agent might not ever call you back....or you might not get the place. Really sucks. If you ever move to the UK - talk to us about our experience & we'll give you some pointers :).
On the downside - Penny had her cell phone stolen right out of her hand on Wed night. Really sucks...someone just came up behind her and ripped it out of her hand. The whole thing is stupid really, because Vodaphone can completely deactivate the phone and sim card as soon as we reported it. So this kid may have had 20 minutes of time on a pre-paid cell phone....which was switched off for most of that time (I called several times).
But back on the positive side - it is now officially the weekend :). And we're very much looking forward to a relaxing one. Going out with friends for Indian tomorrow night in a neighborhood that's supposed to be awesome for curry...we'll let you know :). We also need to start planning our first trips!
Ok - 5pm - time to sign off and go to the pub. Hope all is well back in Oz & the US!!Talk to you soon!
posted by Jeff at
4:46 PM
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