Day: 3

More failed attempts to spend money tonight, and I didn't even look at sofas.

Went to buy a microwave. Comet didn't have the one I'd originally decided on, but since they had plenty of other models I chose another, similar, silver microwave. However, it turns out this is a new line, so they don't have any of those either, other than the display model, until Tuesday. Foiled! Argos don't appear to have either the original choice, or the new choice, but they do have a nice shiny one that caught my eye. It costs twice as much because of a feature list as long as my arm. All I really want is to be able to press "go" and for it to hum for a bit, then make a loud "ping" or "peep-peep-peep" which indicates its dubious looking contents have been transformed magically into a perfectly cooked meal. Refrained from buying shiny Argos gadget-filled supa-microwave, but failed to buy anything else.

No contents insurance either. I work for an insurance company which, according to the meeting I had today, wants me to feel proud to work for it. However, it would seem it doesn't feel any obligation towards me - it certainly doesn't want to know me when it comes to contents insurance because I live within half a mile of a river.

Done very little else from my joblist, mostly due to being in a 6 hour meeting today. So that leaves me with:

Joblist

• Phone BT about the landline
• Once (1) is done, get broadband
• Arrange van hire (for Friday)
• Pack
• Buy: Sofa, TV, Microwave, coat stand, dining table, and other stuff.
• Check with Agency about progress on new carpets and decorating
• Find more jobs for the joblist
• Arrange flat warming.

Aren't these things supposed to get shorter as you get closer to your deadlines?

Day: 2

Ok, so day 2 of officially having my own place proved much more expensive than the first.

First up was a trip to that icon of affordable style, IKEA. Managed to find a bed I liked the look of, but because life is never simple, IKEA beds come in continental sizes rather than English ones, so the standard double bed is 4'7 rather than our 4'6. This isn't too much of a problem - except it means normal UK mattresses are slightly too small. IKEA mattress it is then. Their mattress system is slightly confusing, but I've ended up with a fairly (I think) decent pocket-sprung mattress.

Also purchased from IKEA is a bookcase for my living room, a new computer desk, and some cheap'n'basic shelving for the storage cupboard which functions something like the space under the stairs in places that have them. Oh, and a load of odds and ends for the kitchen such as bottle opener (for my visitors of course) and cool looking things like the whatsit and the thingamajig which I'm sure I'll work out what they're for eventually. Considering how much stuff I got (and the fact I therefore had to go see the men who arrange home delivery for people like me, who purchased far more stuff than they could fit into their cars) this came to a remarkably low total cost.

Next up, more sofa shopping. Eventual failure here, still found nothing I really like - mostly due to the fact I don't really know what I want, and partly due to the fact furniture store staff are entirely too pushy and tend to scare me away.

And last off, more electricals. Went to Currys for a microwave, came out with a vacuum instead. Microwave another time then! Still no TV either, not decided what a reasonable spend limit is on that.

So from yesterday’s joblist, I’ve ticked off – buy furniture, chase agency and buy odds and ends. Today I’m adding a couple of new jobs, so maybe I can cross the last one off too – but I think that’s probably unfinished.

Joblist

• Phone BT about the phoneline
• Once (1) is done, sort broadband
• Arrange van hire – the stack of stuff in my sisters room (she’s away, fortunately) is getting far too large to fit in the back of my mum’s Punto.
• Pack! Not everything in the flat is new, so I need to gather together the other stuff
• Buy: Sofa, TV, microwave. Coat stand. Dining table. Other stuff.
• Find more jobs to add to the joblist

Day: 1

The first day of the rest of my life (just like most days in fact, fortunately I've yet to have a day which marks the end of the rest of my life).

Went to the flat this morning to take the keys, and hand over money, rights and probably my soul since I didn't read all the small print very carefully, to the very efficient estate agent. A number of things that were promised to be fixed aren't, so she's getting on to fixing that. With all the furniture out and various wall adornments down, the walls themselves look very grubby. Asked about the prospect of giving them a fresh lick of paint, but I might have to do this myself. Will likely delay actually moving in if I do, since I probably won't get chance to get out the paint and rollers until the weekend.

Spent the rest of the day looking for furniture, still haven't decided on a sofa or bed, and apparently the delivery times at some stores now stretch into February! I might be sitting on the floor for most of my current lease.

Jobs for tomorrow:

• Actually buy furniture rather than just look at it and get a headache.
• Chase Agency about the things they’ve said they’re going to fix, and decorating.
• Buy more odds and ends I’ve realised I’ll need today (coat stand, cutlery tray, some others I’ve forgotten already – doh!)
• Phone BT about the landline.
• Add even more jobs to the job list.

All Set

The flat is mine! Or rather, will be after I hand over a large sum of cash next Monday. In the mean time, I get to hand over an equally large (give or take 50%) sum of money to various other retailers in return for goods to put in the flat. Some of which you might have seen on my "cool stuff I'd like to own" list a few months back. Much of which you won't. There's nothing cool about irons, vacuums and kettles, however they are required for comfortable living. Well, I guess they aren't, but you'd find me considerably less presentable and more grumpy without them. On the plus side, I have managed to save a bit of money while living at home, and therefore can afford nice new stuff for the flat, and not have to make do with grandma's 50 year old floor cleaner, auties old green velvet curtains, and Mums old bedding (all of which have been offered).

I'll be having a flat-warming party.. or maybe two. I'm not sure actuary friends + MX friends will necessarily mix that well, or even all fit in the flat at the same time.

Too Cool for IE

Cos the sticker says so!

Unless you're using IE, which (being rubbish) will render the sticker at some stupid fixed location on the screen.

Moving Out

My new home! Soon, maybe. The wheels are in motion anyhow.