I've just signed up for Sky satellite TV as cable is crap and the titchy antennae I bought at Argos last night is also crap. They'll be by to install it Tuesday a.m. so after that I'll be able to bask in 100+ channels of TV crap.
4:22:00 PM
Moving Day
There were only two hiccups on moving day; the van rental agency wouldn't accept cash for the �64 fee or �300 deposit, and they closed too early for me to get it back the same day. They didn't charge an extra day if I returned it by 9 on Sunday, but it meant I had to stay in Banbury Saturday night after the move.
Otherwise all went well; I didn't do too badly driving on the left, with a manual transmission, and didn't kill anyone. Mom and I moved all my stuff in one trip and since we had the time we went to Tesco and Morrison's to get some groceries and kitchen and bathroom stuff. I also managed to find a little portable TV to tide me over until the finances recover. The move really went smoothly thanks to mom's help; I'm very lucky her trip here coincided with my getting the house.
After returning the van Sunday a.m. I took the train to Oxford and did some more shopping, to get some sheets and a duvet cover, and to find a mixing bowl and a measuring cup so I could make my own birthday cake. I think I've mentioned before that no one else in my family like German Chocolate cake with Cocoanut Pecan icing, so I've made my own for years and years. Of course, all of the measuring cups here are in millilitres and grams, so I'll have to do a bit of converting.
Speaking of litres, the van took almost 10 (about 2.6 gallons) that cost �9 (about $14.50).
I've managed two loads of laundry so far, but as was the case at Gran's each load takes over an hour and is about half the size of an american washing machine's, so it will be slow going. I've also unpacked some books as I have built-in shelves in the big bedroom. I don't have internet access or a phone line yet as the previous resident hadn't notified British Telecom that he'd moved, and I can't get cable or satellite until I have a phone. Shouldn't be too long.
Mom's leaving for the US tomorrow so I'll be in Banbury tonight. Unfortunately I won't be able to meet my former colleague from ICSID, Ginette, who is passing through London on her way back to the States from the Annual Meetings in Dubai, because she's only here until Friday. Still, I have Todd S.'s and my dad's visits to look forward to.
3:47:00 PM
Friday, September 26, 2003
Anyone want a more-than-slightly used suitcase?
I have a home, finally. I got the keys to the house Thursday after work and met mom and gran there this evening. Tomorrow I'll rent a van and move my stuff over -- it may actually take two trips. I'm very pleased at how different the house looks after its renovation, and was particularly happy to find a clothes dryer I hadn't known about in the garage.
Now I just have to get "stuff" to finish furnishing it. Cousin P and her husband P came by Gran's on Tuesday and since they live in a village not far from Oxford and have a ton of stuff in their loft, have offered to off-load it on me. I won't say no.
10:50:00 PM
Birthday
I had a great day off from work Wednesday to celebrate my birthday, and mom and I made our way leisurely down to London for the day. I made a mistake in trying to use my weekly train pass from Banbury to Oxford and thought I would only have to pay for my fare from Oxford to London Paddington. There was no problem with buying the tickets, but I hadn't realized that the last return train from Paddington would leave after the Lion King finished, so I was hoping we could take the later train from London Marylebone instead. Traveling from Banbury via Oxford to London also took 2.5 hrs when it only should have taken 1.25.
We took the tube to east London in search of the Burberry Outlet, as mom was looking for something to take back to the States. They were out of that particular item so, after a pub lunch and a quick stop at the British Museum's reading room, we went over to Regent St to the main Burberry shop. They didn't have it there either so we pretty much gave up. The day was sunny and warm; very unusual for London this time of year! We had a look at the newly redesigned Trafalgar Square too but I wasn't very impressed.
The show was super, and I recommend it to anyone especially if you have kids. The seats were very good (not cramped) and the costumes and sets were just amazing.
We got home after 1 and I had to work Thursday after only five hours' sleep.
10:41:00 PM
Mom at the Head
Here's a photo I snapped of mom after our pub lunch at the Head of the River in Oxford Saturday.
10:32:00 PM
Helen Mirren can do no wrong
Mom and I went to see Calendar Girls at the local Banbury Odeon earlier this week. It was a light, fresh comedy, and a chance to get out of the house.
The Yorkshire countryside pictured in the film was just beautiful, but I couldn't live there.
10:26:00 PM
That's bass ackwards
I know it won't mean much to you, but I've found that I've already adjusted to the european way of writing dates with the day first, then the month and year. I get momentarily confused when reading US web sites that have the date in mm/dd/yy format.
3:46:00 PM
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
I'm still older
My ex-roommate from uni, Todd S., has decided to fly here over Columbus Day weekend. He's just in time, as I'll be in the new house by then and may even have purchased some bedding and curtains for the guest room. Todd and I will be able to celebrate our joint birthdays just a few weeks late (his is 3 days after mine) at His Favourite Pub in the World!
Todd and I were lucky as the city council for Washington DC (where GWU is located) raised the drinking age to 21 our freshman year, and grandfathered everyone who was 18 by the 1st of October, so I made it by 6 days and he made it by 3.
I'm taking the day off tomorrow to celebrate, and Mom and I are in to London in the morning. I don't have any definite plans for the day so we will play it by ear until the show at 7:30. It will be a very late night (and an even earlier morning--ugh!)
11:15:00 PM
Monday, September 22, 2003
Mom and I took the train to Oxford Saturday, the ninth day in a row of sunny, dry weather in the 70s. We were hoping to have a look at the house again, and I wanted to show her the new neighbourhood. We snuck in the back gate and got to see the conservatory and peeked through the curtains. I'll be happy to get the keys on Thursday, and she and Gran will be taking the bus in from Banbury to meet me there after work on Friday. Saturday I've booked a van to move the stuff from Gran's house, and Sunday's a free day. I sure hope I remember the lessons I took from Clive of the British Motoring School when I was 16.
After looking at the house, mom and I had a pub lunch at the Head of the River, and did a bit of window shopping. It was nice enough to take an hour-long bus tour on an open-top double decker. We had dinner at another pub, the Mitre, before taking the train back.
10:45:00 PM
Friday, September 19, 2003
All's well that ends
I've been informed by the leasing agent that I can bring them a payment of �2200 and pick up the keys for the house next Thursday.
Mom has arrived for the start of her fortnight trip, safe and sound.
Hurricane Izzy, plowing into the mid-Atlantic, doesn't seem to have been as bad as it could have been, but what weather DC's had since I left!
Mom and I are off to Oxford tomorrow to have a look at the outside of the house, go on a walking tour, and perhaps do a bit of shopping.
10:18:00 PM
Monday, September 15, 2003
Amazon, we love you
I've spent some time revising my English and American Amazon wishlists, which were far out of date. I've also removed any duplication between them.
3:51:00 PM
Hack on a mat tatter
Mr. Timothy G, thank you for your order
Ticket Information
You have purchased 2 ticket for:
DISNEY PRESENTS
** THE LION KING **
LYCEUM THEATRE
WELLINGTON ST LONDON WC2
WEDNESDAY EVENING 19:30
24TH SEPTEMBER 2003
Seating Information
ROYAL CIRCLE
SECTION ROYAL, ROW D, SEATS 38 TO 37
10:23:00 AM
Sunday, September 14, 2003
Cha-ching
We've had three days of beautiful late-summer sunshine, and I decided to train into Oxford today to start planning my "new house" shopping. (No, I haven't heard yet.) I hadn't fully realized just what is required when moving into a "furnished" home:
already purchased here: microwave, vcr, frying pan
I'll see what I can get second-hand, but that's still a bit to get initially. Perhaps a month or two from now I'd like to get bedding and curtains for the guest bedroom, a TV (and TV license) and TV stand, a lamp and bookshelf for the living room and perhaps a rug for the living room.
4:24:00 PM
Saturday, September 13, 2003
My sentiments exactly
I found the perfect quote by Stephen Fry (Jeeves & Wooster, Peter's Friends, Gosford Park) which appeared in Monday'sExpress:
'You get annoyed at people for being young and rubbing your face in it. I can get rather testy about that,' he says. 'You say to a young person something about say punk rock, and they go, "Oh that was before my time," and you think, "Well Mendelssohn's Octets were before my time. Does that mean I shouldn't have heard of them, you flaming ignorant little twit"?'
I like this guy. And he's a big Mac fan. And he bats for my team.
2:16:00 PM
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Breakfast of Champions
I've been working at the hospital for seven weeks now. Each night before she goes to bed, my Gran gets out a bowl, a plate, a teacup and saucer, cutlery, a banana, a box of my cereal and the fake sugar I use, so I won't have to rush to get breakfast ready for myself.
I haven't eaten breakfast at home one time since I started work. I don't know why she still does this, as when she gets up the items are still out on the table, unused.
Instead, I always wake up at the very last minute, but still with just enough time to get ready for the 1.5 hour commute. There's a canteen at work and I usually either get some toast or an egg & sausage sandwich. Sometimes I get a scone with butter and strawberry jam. These scones are just massive, about as big as a large muffin in the States. I also have my diet coke, of course.
I didn't think I liked HobNobs (oatmeal cookies--crunchy, not soft) but I tried them at Gran's insistence and they're pretty good. I still like digestive biscuits better.
I also had pizza for the first time in almost five months last week. Domino's Hawaiian.
9:18:00 PM
I'm old
I'm turning 35 later this month. I remember when I was 21 and thought I knew everything. Now I realize I know practically nothing. School started last week for kids here, and there were many 'back to school' articles in the papers & on the news. Several women in the office were talking about seeing their kids off for their first day. Oxford University students are arriving at the end of the month or beginning of October. I don't remember my first day of school but I remember my first day at University: I was 17, and that was half my life ago.
I'm sorry to admit that the only thing I got out of $40K+ and 120 credits at GWU was a piece of paper and increased earning potential. And I got to meet Todd S. I don't remember a thing I was "taught."
Eating in a crowded sandwich shop two days ago, feeling low (rough weekend) after being kicked out of the house even though I was "sick", I was unhappy to discover that a few young yobs a couple tables over had been lobbing spit wads at me for several minutes. Such class, such wit. On the bus home that night, two girls got on a couple stops after mine and one started talking about how much she hates Americans. "They are all dull and arrogant and bossy. I can't stand them."
I miss the cats.
8:57:00 PM
Maybe I could write a book like Bill Bryson
After all, I've been living out of a suitcase for six months now, encountered odd people & customs, and had to laugh about it in the end. This month has been a bear. I know in a few weeks it will all be sorted, but I'd like to get settled in my own place & not have to deal with the commute & the inane conversations. Really, I'm glad I've had a chance to spend time with Gran, but I've reached a point....
I didn't feel like going in to work Wednesday as I had a rough night Tuesday after a particularly rough weekend. I got up at seven to call in & leave messages with people who needed to know, and went back to bed. I was up a few hours later when Gran started stumbling around downstairs. Eating breakfast, I was accosted:
"Aren't you going to wark?" No Gran, I've called in sick. [I might as well have been speaking German, as she has no concept of what "sick leave" is]. "What's wrong wicha?" I've got a headache Gran. [I couldn't very well tell her I was taking a mental health day.]
She was back five minutes later with a pot of tea 3x as strong as usual. After two cups of that, she asked me if I were feeling better and to make her happy I said yes. "I think you should go to work then. Go on, get on witcha." And she kicked me out.
8:44:00 PM
Nope
Since I know you'll ask: I haven't heard yet about the rental application. I do know my supervisor turned in my employment reference today. I'll call the letting agency tomorrow but it's only been three weeks; what do you expect?
8:36:00 PM
Monday, September 08, 2003
Nothing to see here, folks.
Move along.
10:25:00 PM
Monday, September 01, 2003
So shoot me, pt. 2
I have to confess, I've fallen into a habit I swore I would avoid. I used to scoff at those who were so weak & who had no fashion sense.
I have two pairs of work shoes: a brown pair and a black pair. The brown pair of Skechers I've had for some time, and they are marginally uncomfortable. The black pair I bought for my job interview here in June. They are extremely uncomfortable.
I've taken to wearing my trainers both to and from work, and for the two mile trek to and from Headington during the lunch hour. My dress shoes sit in a drawer in my desk when not in use.
How gauche, I know.
4:36:00 PM
Relief
I've just received a call from the person reviewing my application for the house in Oxford town centre. She said it has passed the first part (and, in my mind, most difficult) of its evaluation--whether they would even consider me as an applicant, without my having any UK rental or banking history. Now it's been passed to another person in the office who will check my States-side references, which I'm sure will be in my favour.
However, the last damn piece of furniture isn't due to be delivered until much later than planned, so they're asking me to move in no earlier than the 20th, and no later than the 25th. That's in the middle of Mom's visit but actually it would be nice to be able to stay with her while she's in Banbury, and I'd save that much more cash by not having to pay rent for most of September. That's a good thing, as the deposit required is six weeks', and I'll have to pay out initially for a lamp or two, some bedding, pots & pans & dishes, etc.
4:18:00 PM
Now I just have to get "stuff" to finish furnishing it. Cousin P and her husband P came by Gran's on Tuesday and since they live in a village not far from Oxford and have a ton of stuff in their loft, have offered to off-load it on me. I won't say no.
The Yorkshire countryside pictured in the film was just beautiful, but I couldn't live there.
