Winchester
We've been remiss recently... very remiss. Unfortunately, we are going to have to be for a little longer (until we're relocated and have internet hooked up again). But just a tidbits for now:
-I started my job the Monday before last. It's going well, though the ball has not fully gotten rolling yet.
-We got the apartment in Winchester that we applied for and we're moving in tomorrow.
-Still a lot to do in our Norwich apartment, but we should be able to head out of here by 10am tomorrow, which would put us in Winchester around 2 or 3pm.
-RP-
Saturday, August 27
Thursday, August 11
Gas Prices
(or as they say here... "Petrol" Prices)
Oil Prices Rise to $65 a Barrel
Pretty crazy how high the gas prices have gotten in the US. I guess I have sympathy even though the average in the UK for Unleaded (95 octane) is £0.88 PER LITRE*, which equates to about $5.97 per gallon.
One of the reasons the prices are this high over here is to affect people's driving habits and the car-buying decisions they make. Instead of Hummers, most people buy "those funny little cars" (though the ever-encroaching American culture of SUVs is steadily rising in the UK). But Europeans generally drive a lot less.
This is a way of life that we definitely support... despite the fact that we have a BMW (in our defense, it usually only gets driven about 3 miles one day per week). However, the US is not used to this way of life. The majority taste is for HUGE vehicles with pitiful gas mileage and people drive practically everywhere. Because the US is as spread out as it is, I can understand why people drive as much as they do... there is often no other option. BUT, there's not much excuse for the glut of HUGE vehicles. So, in one sense, I'm hoping that these soaring prices will have a stronger effect on America's car choices from now on because it is foolish to expect people to change their driving habits.
-RP-
*1 US gallon = 3.7854118 litres
(or as they say here... "Petrol" Prices)
Oil Prices Rise to $65 a Barrel
Pretty crazy how high the gas prices have gotten in the US. I guess I have sympathy even though the average in the UK for Unleaded (95 octane) is £0.88 PER LITRE*, which equates to about $5.97 per gallon.
One of the reasons the prices are this high over here is to affect people's driving habits and the car-buying decisions they make. Instead of Hummers, most people buy "those funny little cars" (though the ever-encroaching American culture of SUVs is steadily rising in the UK). But Europeans generally drive a lot less.
This is a way of life that we definitely support... despite the fact that we have a BMW (in our defense, it usually only gets driven about 3 miles one day per week). However, the US is not used to this way of life. The majority taste is for HUGE vehicles with pitiful gas mileage and people drive practically everywhere. Because the US is as spread out as it is, I can understand why people drive as much as they do... there is often no other option. BUT, there's not much excuse for the glut of HUGE vehicles. So, in one sense, I'm hoping that these soaring prices will have a stronger effect on America's car choices from now on because it is foolish to expect people to change their driving habits.
-RP-
*1 US gallon = 3.7854118 litres
Wednesday, August 10
The Searcher Returns
I got back from Winchester yesterday afternoon, having found a suitable place to live. I saw four properties on Monday and one on Tuesday morning. They ranged from £675 to £900 per month. The first two I saw were £750 and pretty ratty. They were also placed on a noisy street, so it would be a lot like the place we're in now. I was a bit discouraged by those two because we were thinking we would just take one of them if it was doable. There was a third one I was scheduled to look at that day, but it was taken before my appointment. So, then I pounded the pavement, stopping in at practically every agency. I landed two more viewings on Monday afternoon. The £900 one and the £675. The 900-pounder was SO NICE! Waaaaaaaayyyyy out of our price-range, but you definitely got a lot for every pence: three levels, high cielings, tons of storage, back garden, attic, very recently remodelled, brand new fixtures in the kitchen, off-street parking, and on and on. We tried really hard to figure out a way to make that fit our budget, but decided that we would be fools to go into something like that as our first step in Winchester, especially since we would essentially only get to enjoy it on the weekends. Later that afternoon, I viewed the 675-pounder. Didn't expect much because the 750-pounders were so crappy. However, I was surprised to find that it actually wasn't that bad. A bit dated with pink bathroom fixtures, green "hotel carpeting" everywhere, and blue carpet in the bedrooms. Despite that, it was no worse than the one we're in now and much better in terms of the size and placement on the street (i.e.- not a main road). Hmmm...
I had four viewings scheduled for Tuesday, but K and I pretty much had made up our minds on Monday night: to go for the cheap one. However, I kept my 10am appointment to see one for £780. It was nicer than the £675, but there weren't enough good points to tip the scales in its favor. So, I went to the estate agent that showed me the cheap one and said, "I'll take it! What do we do now?"
So, we're in the waiting stage now. They're doing a banking check and we need to send them references from our employers and one from someone who has known us for at least 5 years. Assuming that all checks out, we can probably move in as soon as August 19th. However, we may wait until the 27th because it will be cheaper that way. I'll stay in a London hostel for the first two weeks of my job. Then when K is done with the theatre (last day on the 26th) we can relocate to Winchester.
-RP-
I got back from Winchester yesterday afternoon, having found a suitable place to live. I saw four properties on Monday and one on Tuesday morning. They ranged from £675 to £900 per month. The first two I saw were £750 and pretty ratty. They were also placed on a noisy street, so it would be a lot like the place we're in now. I was a bit discouraged by those two because we were thinking we would just take one of them if it was doable. There was a third one I was scheduled to look at that day, but it was taken before my appointment. So, then I pounded the pavement, stopping in at practically every agency. I landed two more viewings on Monday afternoon. The £900 one and the £675. The 900-pounder was SO NICE! Waaaaaaaayyyyy out of our price-range, but you definitely got a lot for every pence: three levels, high cielings, tons of storage, back garden, attic, very recently remodelled, brand new fixtures in the kitchen, off-street parking, and on and on. We tried really hard to figure out a way to make that fit our budget, but decided that we would be fools to go into something like that as our first step in Winchester, especially since we would essentially only get to enjoy it on the weekends. Later that afternoon, I viewed the 675-pounder. Didn't expect much because the 750-pounders were so crappy. However, I was surprised to find that it actually wasn't that bad. A bit dated with pink bathroom fixtures, green "hotel carpeting" everywhere, and blue carpet in the bedrooms. Despite that, it was no worse than the one we're in now and much better in terms of the size and placement on the street (i.e.- not a main road). Hmmm...
I had four viewings scheduled for Tuesday, but K and I pretty much had made up our minds on Monday night: to go for the cheap one. However, I kept my 10am appointment to see one for £780. It was nicer than the £675, but there weren't enough good points to tip the scales in its favor. So, I went to the estate agent that showed me the cheap one and said, "I'll take it! What do we do now?"
So, we're in the waiting stage now. They're doing a banking check and we need to send them references from our employers and one from someone who has known us for at least 5 years. Assuming that all checks out, we can probably move in as soon as August 19th. However, we may wait until the 27th because it will be cheaper that way. I'll stay in a London hostel for the first two weeks of my job. Then when K is done with the theatre (last day on the 26th) we can relocate to Winchester.
-RP-
Tuesday, August 9
Our new city.
Rich went to Winchester yesterday to look at apartments. A challenging thing to do because apartments in Winchester get snapped up as soon as they're listed. Unfortunately I have to work all week so he's on his own! He just this minute called and said he found one and if everything goes well - fingers crossed - he should be home tonight.
This is going to have to be just a quick update because our estate agent just phoned and said he's bringing people by to look at our apartment. I need to do some super quick cleaning!
If you want to see more about our future home city, this site has some great information about Winchester. The "Walks Around Winchester" link is especially good as it has a whole bunch of photos from the town.
~K
Rich went to Winchester yesterday to look at apartments. A challenging thing to do because apartments in Winchester get snapped up as soon as they're listed. Unfortunately I have to work all week so he's on his own! He just this minute called and said he found one and if everything goes well - fingers crossed - he should be home tonight.
This is going to have to be just a quick update because our estate agent just phoned and said he's bringing people by to look at our apartment. I need to do some super quick cleaning!
If you want to see more about our future home city, this site has some great information about Winchester. The "Walks Around Winchester" link is especially good as it has a whole bunch of photos from the town.
~K
Saturday, August 6
The End of an Era
(a very small one)
I've just cleaned my last mussel. They went easy on me today, only 30 kilos. The last mussel sort of snuck up on me, I wasn't even thinking about it and all of a sudden I was scraping the barnacles off the very last one. The Belgian Monk will have more, of course, but it won't be me cleaning them.
I'm home for a break right now. Have to head back to the restaurant at 8 for my last shift washing dishes. Definitely not going to miss being elbow-deep in filth and scraping mussels until my fingers go numb, but I'll miss the guys in the kitchen and a couple of the wait-staff (the ones who aren't miserable people). I've had a lot of fun joking around with the chefs and the other kitchen porters. A good bunch of blokes.
The head chef gave me something to remember them by... a 2nd degree burn on my leg from searing hot garlic-y oil. It was a complete accident and mostly my fault because I always wore shorts in the kitchen (too hot for jeans). I was standing at one sink cleaning mussels and he went to throw the pan into the other sink. In his hurry, some oil flew out of the pan and landed on my left calf. Hurt like a bitch at first, but I washed off the oil and just tried to put it out of my mind (a method I developed over the years as a frequently-burning-myself pyromaniac). It's not a big deal, but it's a pretty large burn with some really gross blisters. Looks a lot worse than it is!
Anyway, on with the next step (yeah, another one). I'm going to Winchester on Monday to look at a couple of apartments. We actually had decided we would move there even if K didn't get the Bournemouth job, but not it's definitely the one. It's an amazingly great town, probably the nicest one we've been to in England (reminded us of the feeling we got from Scotland). It will mean a "commuting life" for the both of us, but it will be worth it because we live in Winchester. We have to find a place this week, otherwise I'll be staying in a hostel in London for the first week or two of my job. I'll stay through Tuesday to find a place, if I have to. We found a little cheap B&B I can stay in if needed. However, if I'm lucky, one of the three I'm going to view on Monday will be a winner.
-RP-
PS- After two years of being "low-tech", we've gotten ourselves a cell phone (or "mobile" as they call it here). It's "mine", but right now we're sharing it. K will get one when she starts her job in September. Need to be able to get in touch with each other on our commutes!
(a very small one)
I've just cleaned my last mussel. They went easy on me today, only 30 kilos. The last mussel sort of snuck up on me, I wasn't even thinking about it and all of a sudden I was scraping the barnacles off the very last one. The Belgian Monk will have more, of course, but it won't be me cleaning them.
I'm home for a break right now. Have to head back to the restaurant at 8 for my last shift washing dishes. Definitely not going to miss being elbow-deep in filth and scraping mussels until my fingers go numb, but I'll miss the guys in the kitchen and a couple of the wait-staff (the ones who aren't miserable people). I've had a lot of fun joking around with the chefs and the other kitchen porters. A good bunch of blokes.
The head chef gave me something to remember them by... a 2nd degree burn on my leg from searing hot garlic-y oil. It was a complete accident and mostly my fault because I always wore shorts in the kitchen (too hot for jeans). I was standing at one sink cleaning mussels and he went to throw the pan into the other sink. In his hurry, some oil flew out of the pan and landed on my left calf. Hurt like a bitch at first, but I washed off the oil and just tried to put it out of my mind (a method I developed over the years as a frequently-burning-myself pyromaniac). It's not a big deal, but it's a pretty large burn with some really gross blisters. Looks a lot worse than it is!
Anyway, on with the next step (yeah, another one). I'm going to Winchester on Monday to look at a couple of apartments. We actually had decided we would move there even if K didn't get the Bournemouth job, but not it's definitely the one. It's an amazingly great town, probably the nicest one we've been to in England (reminded us of the feeling we got from Scotland). It will mean a "commuting life" for the both of us, but it will be worth it because we live in Winchester. We have to find a place this week, otherwise I'll be staying in a hostel in London for the first week or two of my job. I'll stay through Tuesday to find a place, if I have to. We found a little cheap B&B I can stay in if needed. However, if I'm lucky, one of the three I'm going to view on Monday will be a winner.
-RP-
PS- After two years of being "low-tech", we've gotten ourselves a cell phone (or "mobile" as they call it here). It's "mine", but right now we're sharing it. K will get one when she starts her job in September. Need to be able to get in touch with each other on our commutes!
Friday, August 5
So, I got the job at Bournemouth University. YAY! The interview went well on Monday and they phoned Tuesday afternoon to offer me the position. I am still a bit shocked that I got it. They are actually going to pay me to do media research and let me do a PhD (for free) at the same time - it is really unbelievable. I'll write more about the job and the university once I've really absorbed all this. Between Rich getting the cataloguing job in London, me getting the B.U. job, both of us quitting our current jobs, finding an apartment in Winchester and planning our move, well, my head is spinning.
~K
~K
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