Journal Entries
Finally!
Posted Feb 25, 2010
I've been kicking my heels a bit with theis move; first I was told I had to move in on the 8th February... next I'm told I had to wait on the Council's contractors to fix the place up a bit.
The flat's about 51 square metres in total area... I mean... how much "fixing up" does it need?
Apparently, lots.
It certainly needed a new bathroom suite and front door (and locks), and an awful lot of TLC on the internal decoration.
When I first went to see it, there was household rubbish and detritius strewn around the back door - this, I was assured, would "All be cleared up love" by the contractors. Likewise "The 'ole place'll be nicely painted for yer" and "The cleaner's'll get them stains off" and so on.
I went down there agian this morning to see how progress was going - the lad who was working on the front door said they'd probably have the keys back to the council "By the end of the week"
And I had anothr look around, and saw the same (now weather ravenged) household rubbish and detritus outside, the same window catches smashed off the kitchen double glazing still gathering dust...and the smallest room (which I've mentally earmarked as my bedroom) is the only room that's had a lick of paint on it.
And I *mean "a lick", too. Honestly, I'm no handywoman, but I could have done a better job with a rag on the end of a stick with my glasses off, singing the Star Spangled Banner. I'd be ashamed if that would be the best I could do.
And I said... "But the end of the week is tomorrow; are you sure you'll have time to do all these jobs that are left?"
"Oh yeah... they'll only take about a half day's work"
H'mmm. At the speed this lad was working, I thought privately, it's an old fashioned sort of half day's work.
3.oopm this afternoon the phone rings. It's the Housing Officer;he has the keys... the flat is ready to roll - Tenancy starts Monday 1st March
Could I meet him at 11.00pm tomorrow to get contracts signed, utilities and packed lunches and other details sorted, please and thank you. At the new place.
Wendy and I drove down - the rubbish is still outside, skanking the garden up, and the place is absolutely filthy! 
Obviously the contractor's idea of "cleaning a property" and mine are not compatable.
I don't think they're even on the same planet, frankly.
It can loosely be described as rancid.
ANYWAY... moans and grumping aside, it's all systems go - hopefully I can persuade the Housing Officer to raise cain with the contractors and get them to actually *do the jobs they were supposed to do -
especially the rubbish and making sure the kitchen window latch actually works once I'm in
-because I need to get that nice young man with the carpets to measure up officially, and Eldest's carpenter friend to have a look around and find me extra dead space we can use for extra storage and a hundred and one other things before I can really get my belongings in.
Utilities - moving the landline and Internet Supply - finding out the wheres and whose and hows of the heating system... all sorts of stuff.
And I must buy some pegs for the washing line.
But first and foremost... it's a smashing kitchen - and it needs a damned good scrub: in all the cupboards, the work surfaces... *everywhere. Once that's done, and I have a sensible place for essentials, like the kettle and the tea caddy it'll feel a lot more like home.
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Latest reply: Feb 25, 2010
I appear to have inherited...
Posted Feb 16, 2010
...a cat.
Found one via the net in one of the many Cat Rescue Organisations in East Kent, rang up on the off chance she was still availiable, and lo and behold, she is.
And they're quite happy to hold on to her till early April when I should be pretty much settled.
She's small and plump and black and white, about 10 years old; she's known as Bessie. According to the Rescuer, she's a bossy, independent Matriarch of a moggy, can be affectionate when she feels like it, but likes things on her own terms.
I reckon we'll get along really well
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Latest reply: Feb 16, 2010
If I see another ....
Posted Feb 14, 2010
cardboard box, I am going to run screaming, hide in a corner and with a great deal of effort sit and suck my big toe
And I won't come out until the men in white coats tell me there are no more cardboard boxes around.
Apart from a week's worth of clothes, and my books I think I've got everything packed that I am likely to fit into the New Abode.
We've split the dry goods in the larder 33:67,likewise the towels, cleaning gear, bathroom stuff, because that seems pretty fair to me;
I've probably donated enough Stuff to the local charity shops to pay the manager's wages for a couple of weeks, and found 3 bottles of wine I'd put aside for special occaisions that I'd forgotten I'd put aside... or possibly the special occasion didn't happen at the time.
Now it's down to 
Paperwork, Admin, change of address stuff and finding a van hire. And some willing muscle to help with the move. (The lads will help, but I don't doubt they'd appreciate a few other helpers)
Oh yes.... and a loan for the flooring and things. That's tomorrow's job
This is nearer my thirtieth than my twentieth House move, and I don't remember it ever being quite so arduous before
Sometimes it surprises me that it surprises me I have some grey hairs.
Personally, I reckon I've done well to even keep my hair!
I rather suspect I'm getting older and I perhaps really can't do what I was able to do with little effort 20 years ago.
I don't think I like admitting that, so I'm away for a restorartive cuppa and pretend I didn't say it
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Latest reply: Feb 14, 2010
Things is Moving
Posted Feb 8, 2010
...on the Move. I'm going to see the property Wednesday morning, so at least I can measure up for flooring - from what I could see, it has those lovely cold Marley Tiles on it, (and that awful pine cladding on the living room walls - but I can sort that out - plenty of paint and an awful lot of bookcases at the very least.
And as I don't particulally like carpets, and no way could afford to buy wood flooring (which I hanker for with a passion) then well sealed corktiling thru'out seems like a good compromise.
Clean, warm underfoot, and best yet, no hoovering - just a damp mop swished over every other day to kill the dust bunnies. And I can change the rugs when I get bored with whatever colour I choose, because I have the attention span of a mayfly sometimes. And I'm good at finding bargains. Thank heavens.
That's imperative - I can't get furniture in until I have decent flooring down, and I want to get the walls and woodwork painted before I get the flooring down.
And in the meantime, I have to raise a loan from somewhere - Crisis loans apparently arn't for anything as "essential" as floor coverings (which I would have thought *were pretty essential if you haven't got any thing appropriate to walk on), just bassix, like a bed, wooden spoons and stuff. And obviously I have more than enough homely things.
I must have a look at the local Credit Union and talk nicely to them.
In the meantime, Eldest Son suggests I Google "Hammer Me" to see which local trademan can offer me the best deal for the havy duty jobs I need doing, which I know darned well my two lads won't or can't do. So that's where I'm going now.
They're great lads, honest.
But about as reliable as a chocolate fireguard on some things.
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Latest reply: Feb 8, 2010
I was told...
Posted Feb 5, 2010
by the council, the day before yesterday that I am moving into a property of their choice this coming Monday.
(Today, unless I've lost count is Friday)
I can't go to look inside it yet, because their contracters haven't finished re installing fancy dancing dtuff like new electrical conduits and gas pipes, so although *technically I move in on the 8th... they won't be finished until the 22nd.
And no, I didn't quite understand that either
Wendy and I drove down to it yesterday afternoon, and from the small peep we got of the interior it looks Alright with a capital A, so that's a good thing.
And it also appears to have a bit of a communual garden Or at the very least nice grassy lawns all around the properties.
Its about 2 miles away from where I live now, so I can at least move in in easy-ish stages, since the Lads are going to take over tenancy of our home. Well; Youngest is. Eldest is going off to Austraillia in about 8 weeks. Youngest however is smart enough to have lined up a couple of his friends who'll share in with him.
In the meantime I am downsizing rapidly; it's a one bedroomed place, and I have no idea what furniture I have can fit into it yet - obviously most of the stuff will stay "here" and give Youngest a Good Start as to his first solo home.
I began culling in January, just for something to do, really; I achieved 6 bin bags of shredded paper work, all scrunched down into recycling sacks and more donations to the Charity Shop over the road than I could count even then.
So far in the last 2 days, said Charity shop apears to have more of my clothing now than I do,never mind nealy ten years worth of bric a brac and homely things that I've held on to more of of sentiment than anything else.
I am being utterly without ruth;
Well, almost.
It'd take a crow bar to part me from my books, my CDs and Vinyl, and the huge carcophany of pictures hanging on every availiable vertical surface. I just hope the new place has enough walls to hang them all up.
I'm running out of boxes, packing materials and physcal strength in roughly that order.
And I appear to have mislaid the shredder, to achieve another half dozen sacks of paper streamers for the bin men to cart away.
It was here, somewhere, honest. I'm sure I've seen it recently.
Oh well; in a few weeks time I can look back and grin quietly to myself I managed to get it all done, I guess.
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Latest reply: Feb 5, 2010
Moving On
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