h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When I arrived at the new apartment yesterday (on time, no hitches), it had to be dusted and vacuumed before I could unpack

It has been empty for a few months and smelt like it The main culprit of the musty smell was the bed Unwashed sheets that must have been there since the previous tenant left (4 months ago). I immediately stripped the bed, put everything into the wash and found a 50% sale at a local bedding store

This afternoon I shall have to clean everything in the kitchen before I can bring myself to use it

I have sent a stern email to the owner, who lives in Brisbane. No wonder he hasn't been able to sell it.

I am in the library at the moment, letting off steam and relaxing.

Chchch is 21C I've spent most of the day sorting out the essentials - bank account, tax number, new mobile sim card, sussing out the shops etc.

To my delight I have found a local cheesemonger and a cupcake shop Also an Indian takeaway and about 20 Thai takeaways There is an organic food store somewhere between the city and home, which I hope to stumble across on my way back there in an hour or so.

I've got bus maps and timetables, train maps and timetables, maps of the South Island, Canterbury and Chchch itself, What's On booklets and brochures This evening is going to be spent pouring over them all ... I'm really looking forward to it

So, despite the disappointing start, things are already shaping up.

Of course!

Thanks for all your good wishes, folks. I do love hootoo

Fb

Very dear fb,

How totally ghastly to have to walk into a flat that had a However I am glad you enjoyed the first wander around your new hometown You are so efficient and certainly managed to get a lot done. Don't tire yourself out.

Thinking of you with all the work you have to do and so pleased that the inital day was so productive even if parts of it were jolly horrid.

I saw a marvellous documentary on NZ it looked great and beatufil but slightly "smelly" with all the sulphurous hot boiling mud baths. !!

With affection

Christiane. AR80

Fb,you seem to have everything under control.It'll all seem more like home with your own new bedding,,sounds awful been greeted with a pong!!!Plan some nice evenings of entertainment,to help you relax,in amongst the chaos of unpacking

Frenchbean,

What a shame you had to start with housework. Having said that if you are anything like me, you would have given it a good 'bottoming' anyway before it felt like home.

Perhaps the owner was relying on someone like you to bring it up to scratch? - which reminds me have you vacuumed the mattress too

Enjoy your explorations, it sounds as if you are well organised already. You don't muck about do you gal?

Take care, you might come down with a bit of a bump after all the activity, but no doubt a will put that right. Here's a in advance, just in case


Websailor

Sorry to hear the accommodation was less than heavenly when first entered. It reminds me of a flat I looked at here in Canberra with a view to renting it. The outgoing tenant hadn't taken seriously the agent's advice that people would be viewing the place - there were burns in the curtains, stains on the carpet, a smell in the kitchen and an unconscious prostitute behind the couch. I asked the agent if the unconscious slapper came with the property or if I'd have to provide my own. In response I got a funny look. Can't think why.

I hope you didn't find any comatose individuals of easy virtue behind the furniture...

Websailor

Oh dear I've just embarassed myself in the Chchch library, laughing out loud at your post, Ivan No slappers here, but plenty of dust and a rotten prune

Fb

A prune? How odd. Who leaves prunes lying around in libraries?

Not in the library... behind the sofa in the apartment of course

It is now totally spotless and I am relaxing in the spring sunshine

And I shall have the internet at home on Monday night - if it really is "easy" to install the wireless modem in "just 10 minutes"

with the wireless modem. We shall look forward to having you 'on tap' again very soon.

Websailor