A new definition of HELL
or: How to gain a new appreciation for pretty much everything that doesn't involve moving.
Sit in a van between two Brummie removals men while they:
- Take detours to 'pick up a couple things' for six hours
- Eat eight packets of beef-flavoured Hula Hoops and four Dairy Milk bars
- Smoke twenty-three thousand cigarettes
- Break everything you own.
And then pay £475 pounds for the privilege.
But, it makes London that much better once you're here. Smokey? Crowded? Not at all! It's like Hobbiton in comparison.
Every journey starts with single flight and a year in Birmingham and then a two hour train ride
I have taken a flat in Kentish Town, which is just north of Camden Town (on the Northern Line, for those of you who are into that kind of thing). It's a shared place with two others, in a brand new flat that's been converted from a school. Be proud of me, it's very financially responsible. Now if I can avoid the inevitable Ikea shopping spree for a few months, I may be able to actually pay for this move...
Here's a little webcam I can stand under and wave to you all.
Busting a move all over London this weekend, and feeling a wee bit stressssed.
Can't anyone rescue me by having a friend with a great flat for let near Kilburn? Ah well.
Wish me luck!
Sheer Mentalism
Rail station evacuated
Last night, after tossing and turning with pre-moving stress and jetlag exhaustion, I was woken at midnight by the police banging (crashing? destroying?) at the door. Out I go into the freezing rain with my jeans over my sheepytime jammies, along with everyone else in Stephenson Tower (out, not in my jeans), because of a "suspicious car." (My response: "Every car in our parking lot looks suspicious.")
After a couple of hours in the Hill St Q's pool bar (hey, I've always wanted to see inside), everyone smoking like chimneys, dogs barking, drinking pints of squash, it was back inside to get my four hours of kip before my last day at work.
But virtually instant karma meant that today was fantastic, with beautiful weather for my last stunning train trip through the Cotswolds. The bank was helpful (!) and generous (!!!!) about my pricy move to London, and all the train company managers were meeting on the platform to talk about problems and complaints!
Whew, what a day! And it's not over yet. Let's hope the pendulum doesn't swing back too quickly. Wish me luck for happy and prompt resolution of my flat hunt, starting tomorrow. Yay!
Southward Ho!
I am happy as a clam to tell you that I have accepted a new job in lovely Londinium! It is at SPSS, which makes statistical analysis sofware. I'll be documenting the Dimensions product line, which is for survey and market research data.
The office is located in Kilburn, NW6 if you're into such postal codery.
So, you know, no excuse not to visit now! It's practically on the 99 B-line from Vancouver. Of course I'll be living in a broom closet, so bring a sleeping bag (broom optional). My phone number and email stay the same.
I'll be starting January 26th, after spending next week in a frenzy of apartment-finding and moving.
Shiny!
