Just Another Manic Monday

I wished it were Sunday, cause that's my fun day. My I don't have to run day. Alright, I'll stop singing now.

Yesterday was the big day- moving day! We were up shortly after 6 as usual and Matt got ready and headed out to work. The hotel had moved us up to the 2nd floor the night before (3rd floor in Canadian) so it was my jobs to get all of the bags back down the stairs (England seems to have something against elevators- we rarely see them) and put them in the hotels storage until we were ready to move in. Thump thump thump thump thump, bang bang bang bang bank, deep breath, repeat process.

As soon as I got them downstairs and stored, I realized my appointment with the other teaching agency was at 11. It was already 8:30 so I looked up directions on Journey Planner and seen it was 1 hour 50 minutes to get there. I rushed out the door and onto the bus to the subway. Transferred subway lines and arrived at the train station, where I was supposed to jump on the train for 17 minutes and then catch 1 more bus and go for a walk. I couldn't get on the train with my Oyster Pass- It was too far out of our zone. The ticket cost 22.60 and the train ride wasn't 17 minutes- it was 2 hours. Since I never would have made it on time and still needed to go to the office, pay the rest of the deposit, get the keys and move all the luggage into the new place, I decided it was best to call and reschedule. I explained the situation and asked if it was possible. My appointment is now next Tuesday- and my phone is set to remind me 12 hours in advance. The only thing is if I get this other job, I will have to commute I'm guessing around 3 hours to get to work because they operate in South London and we live in the North. There were no doubts about the house because Matt is working full time at least until Christmas and I can always find more recruitment agencies or just stick with TimePlan if the distance is too much.

Anyways, I went back on the subways and busses to our new area, Willesden Green. I went to the office, paid off the rest of the rent and got the keys to the new place. I walked to our new place and the key didn't work, so I walked back to Estate's office again. They told me not to put the key all the way in, to push it up to the right and jiggle it. I went back to the property to try it, and on the way back got stopped by 3 people on the street who wanted to introduce themselves. One wanted my number but I told him I had a boyfriend. Still couldn't get in. I phoned Estate and they said they would come show me. 2 Women came out of the property (it has 2 rooms in the building), jumped on motorcycles and took off. If those are the neighbors, I like them already. 20 Minutes later, no Estate. A man on a motorcycle showed up and asked if I was moving in. I said yes, are you my neighbor? (just in case the motorcycle girls were visitors). He said he was the landlord and offered to help me get inside. As we got to the door, Estate finally showed up. The landlord waved them off since he was there to help. He opened the door just fine. He taught me to get it open, but still not easily. It takes me time.

The landlord originally wanted us to move in Tuesday, but I had asked if it were possible to get in a day early to avoid the hotel expense. The landlord complied and spent the entire day in our flat setting up a bed and getting a mattress in for us. I got keys copied for the landlord (I had 1 he didn't) and for Matt. Then it was back to the hotel to get the luggage. 2 Huge suitcases on 2 busses was a challenge, but I made it. I went back to the hotel because there were still 2 bags and a backpack. I got back to the hotel at 4 and Matt was supposed to meet me there at 4:30 to help with any bags that were still there (the hotel wanted them out as soon as we could). He got back at 5 and we took the last 2 bags and backpack to the new place.

We went in but couldn't get settled in too well. Since we moved in a day early, the inventory had not yet been done. That was planned for the day after. For the inventory, someone needs to come in to check the condition of the place and take pictures so they know we left the place in the same condition we got it. We unpacked only what we needed, went to the store to pick up a few household items and finally got something to eat, Shwarmas. Then it was back to the hotel to shower and sleep. Tuesday (Today) is the inventory, and someone will eventually call about coming in to clean the oven since our landlord said it would be done and cleaned professionally.

I love our landlord, he's kind and considerate. He let us move in a day early, got us a brand new bed and mattress and set it up himself, guided me through the key thing and let me try many times to make sure I would be able to get in... I'm going to have to give him a call sometime today to ask him how to turn on the heat and how to get the hot water in the sinks working (it works in the shower, just not in the 2 sinks).