get my own flat

so I am spending my evenings after college packing up all my stuff. Managed to get two big cardboard boxes for free from the SPAR next to work, so that was great help. And it’s a great opportunity to go through all my stuff and declutter. :)

It’s very close to work and in a good area. The apartment itself needs a bit of TLC but nothing that a good clean and some decorating touches could not sort out. Plus, it comes with a parking space, so I will sublet that, which means that I’ll even end up paying a slightly lower rent than I’m paying for sharing currently. :)

At this stage I’m really worried about not having found a new place yet because I only have about a week left. Yikes!

I’m worried sick to be honest, lying awake at night and obsessively checking my emails to see whether anything new has been listed on the property website.

Please do keep you fingers crossed for me!

that there is always something. So, I viewed the very lovely apartment tonight. And it really is lovely and they would reduce the rent by a 100 quid. But they will only let it for a year and I’d have to move out then. I really don’t want to move in a year’s time again, I’d like to find a home.

So, I guess I will have to keep looking. Only two weeks left but I’m hoping it’ll all work out.

Had a couple of viewings yesterday and I could have one of the flats but I am not entirely sold on it, so I haven’t confirmed yet.

Had another viewing tonight, which was a really lovely apartment but I think it’ll go to one of the couples who viewed it. Have I mentioned that I dislike open viewings?

Also, have two more viewings tomorrow. One of the apartments I am already in love with because it’s everything I’m looking for (nicely decorated and new) and more (water views sighs) . But it’s a little above my budget, so I’ll see how far a bit of bargaining will get me. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please! :)

and I have three viewings tomorrow. I’m hoping there will be at least one place I’m seriously interested in among those.

The apartments I have seen so far were absolute dumps, to be honest. I’m just not willing to shell out quite a bit of money for a place that doesn’t meet most of my (and thereby most people’s) standards. I mean, having done some work to a place within the last two decades doesn’t seem like a luxury to me.

It’s been getting a little ridiculous at my current place. When I told my flatmate/landlord that I will be moving out he apparently took it badly, because he hasn’t spoken to me ever since. All communication at the moment is via email. I’m not one for childish games, so I’m pretty put off by that type behaviour.

In other news, I am still looking for a place. The market seems to be pretty slow at the moment. There are only about 10 properties available in my preferred areas from February 1st. This is pretty untypical. However, there are lots of apartments out there to rent immediately and some of them have been on the market for a good while.

So, I’m thinking I might be in a good negotiation position closer to the end of the month. I might even snap up a property that’s currently above my budget for a price that’s within my budget. Definitely will be taking the rental price they’re advertised at with a pinch of salt.

Fingers crossed.

I’ve handed in my notice which means I’ll be moving out beginning of next month. So, my priority for the next weeks is to find a new place. As rents are coming down I shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something.

Feels like a load has been taken off me now that I know I’ll be out of here in a couple of weeks.

woohoo, I’ve done it! After four year I’m living in my own place again!

The day started at half 4, as I got up early to finish the last pieces (wrap the mattress, take apart the bed, etc.)and then I headed into the office early because I needed to take off to go sign the lease mid-morning. On my way to the bus stop, I slipped and fell on the ice. Picking myself up and dusting myself off, I mumbled how I hoped that wasn’t an omen for the day.

I fell asleep on the bus and ended up in city centre, where the bus terminated.

Fuuuuuuuuuck.

Had to hoof it, hurriedly, in order to get to the office before my co-worker (who was traveling across from Edinburgh and didn’t have keys) arrived. Gah!

Got the lease signed everything okay, then back to the office where I (tried to) worked until 4 when I left the office and (tried to) meet up with ember.

I had just said “I’m on the corner of Berkley and Elderslie” when my fucking cell phone died. I couldn’t even borrow a stranger’s mobile because I didn’t have ember’s number written anywhere! All I could think to do was to stay put—and half an hour later ember actually found me!

As there were A LOT of stairs, I wanted to split the move into two parts: take all the shit downstairs and then once there we could load it into the van. Took a lot longer than I’d planned for, but we were on the road in under two hours.

I left the flat cleaned, the plants watered, and turned down the heat—and then made a video of the place before we left (just in case).

Had a bit of a hassle trying to find a parking spot at the new place, but a superb parking job and we managed to unload all the shit in record time (ground floor this time).

3 days of scrubbing the place and it is (nearly) livable. I seriously need some furniture cos right now there isn’t anyplace for company and this flat looks so giant compared to the amount of space I had before.

Plumber was (hopefully) there this morning to fix the sink leaks and this weekend I’ll get a ladder to pull down the manky curtains and put up my clean ones. Yay.

fingers crossed BT has the phone line hooked up tonight, and then I can order internet and not have to stay late at the office.

so sleepy. so happy.

I’m taking a break and googlechatting with ember while my potato wedges finishing baking.

Everything is out of the closet and in the hall and man alive I have accumulated some shit.

10 boxes, 3 suitcases, 5 Aldi bags, 4 Ikea bags, and 5 Zipped clothing boxes. 1 bed, 1 step stool, 1 mirror, 1 drying rack, and 1 lamp!

Good thing we’re getting a van or this would have taken two car loads.

I’m cleaning tonight so after we load up I’ll just quickly run the broom again, grab the trash, and that will be that…