England 1 - Eleanor nil
I actually started writing this post last weekend, but didn't finish it up because I was struck with a nasty cold, and couldn't do much other than rest on the sofa and watch The West Wing on DVD. Ironically, the original post was entitled 'Finally some luck!' Ha. My oh my how things change in the course of a week...I have been a good girl and, knowing the tight flat-letting market, have been resigned to making myself available to see any decent-sounding place the moment it came on the market. Sod my sniffling cold and stressful work week. Every Saturday and nearly every evening after work, I've trekked the hour(ish) journey down to meet with various estate agents in the Fulham area to view anything and everything that comes available. I thought I had caught a break when I found--and had an offer accepted--on a great flat in Parsons Green. By no means was it incredible, but it 'ticked all of the boxes' as they say. Convenient, charming, converted Victorian, refurbished, with 'all mod cons.' Most importantly it was on a great, safe street right near the tube station.
Here you have to negotiate with the landlord what you'll pay, what is included in the rent before you can sign a contract (eg, furniture, fix the bubbles in the wallpaper before I move in, etc) and we'd made it through all of that, I gave notice on my current flat, and started to plan my move. Phew - finally some luck, I thought!
But just as I thought my bad English flat-karma was on the mend, I got a call on Thursday from the estate agent telling me the bubbles in the wallpaper I had noticed actually had turned out to be not just old, dodgy wallpaper as I had thought, but evidence of a major structural problem in the building and they were going to have to remove the entire 300+ year old external wall. Not only has it now been deemed 'inhabitable' but the landlord had decided to sell the property because he didn't want to deal with the problems. So, feeling completely dejected and more than a little anxious with the thought of being homeless soon, it's back to the drawing board...There's not much available out there, and I don't have much time, so it is kind of a crap shoot at this point. If you know any spells to un-do my bad English flat-karma, please let me know...
It has just not been a very good week. My friend Ruby who is 7-months (and quite obviously) pregnant, told me stories about how she rarely is offered a seat on the packed tube on her hour-long journey into work. WHAT?!? Excuse me? I mean I know I come from College Station, where guys got up on the school bus if there was any woman standing, which might be taking the gentlemanly behavior a bit too far. But how in the world can the people of this city leave a heavily pregnant woman to sway and topple (and sweat!) for an hour every evening because they're too busy zoning out or reading their free newspaper?!? Ugh, it really gets my back up.
Oh, and it's been in the 30s outside, windy and raining like crazy. As I was leaving work on Friday, hurrying to get off to view yet another bad flat, I got caught in a major wind tunnel outside my office. Trying to get to the tube station as quick as possible while hiding under my umbrella, the wind caused my umbrella to close half-way, turn itself inside out and SMACK me in the face, throwing the dripping water all over my head, face, and clothes. Left me in a great state to smoosh onto the train for an hour! Luckily I got to stand next to a guy with really bad BO for the journey. On top of that, my heat has been broken for two weeks. It just doesn't turn on. I've told my landlord, who has yet to call me back. It's time to move into my cardboard box under Waterloo Bridge, me thinks.... So yes, this country has definitely kicked me in the ass this week. It's definitely England 1 - Eleanor nil.
But just like a weeble, one of my favorite childhood toys, I am a-weebling and a-wobbling, and trying not to topple over. In an effort to trigger a change, I'm getting out of here today - am off to Richmond to meet my friend Alex for a boozy pub lunch by the river. Maybe a nice G&T is just what the doctor ordered...
posted by Eleanor @ 9:47 am
1 Comments:
Mmmm - a boozy pub lunch sounds like the highlight of the week. Hang in there.
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