Last weekend we hired a van and moved all of our stuff to the new flat. The move itself was the easy part. We hired a man-and-a-van as they call it here, and the man came at 2 pm like he said and he even helped us load the van, which was not something we paid for but which we accepted happily. Somehow the 6 suitcases and a guitar which we had brought with us to London a year ago had expanded to 6 suitcases, 3 garbage bags, 4 plants, a desk, 2 bookcases, a TV, a PlayStation, and several smaller bags crammed with pictures and other junk. I have no idea how we expanded this much in one year! But we easily fit everything into the van, waved goodbye to the mouse-infested flat (Leo had killed one just that morning), and in less than 15 minutes were at our new place where there was a vacant parking space directly in front for the van. We unloaded everything in minutes and began the excruciating task of finding places for everything. The task is almost made worse when you have too many options of where to put things, as is the case with our new flat.
As we started unpacking, we noticed one BIG problem with the place...it was freezing. We ran the heater almost all day and still the place was icy (not sure why we didn't realize that a bedroom in a basement in winter in London might be very cold). But also, there seemed to be something wrong with the boiler, since it kept turning itself off (even when we told it to stay on!) when it thought the flat had reached the desired temperature, even when that temperature had certainly not been reached and you could see your breath inside. So, while unpacking I had on a hat, scarf, and heavy sweater and looked more like I was on an expedition in the Arctic than in my new, lovely flat with centralized heating in central London.
On Sunday, we spent a fun-filled day at Ikea, spending more money than we'd have liked to on the same items we've bought several times before. And now I'm still trying to find a place for everything and and to put everything in its place. I think once we get the cold issue resolved, and the mold (another issue arising from living in a basement), the place will be fine. At least there are no mice!
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5 comments:
Congrats on getting moved in. Have fun getting the Ikea stuff put together too.
Hope your boiler is up and running. We turned ours off while we were in Paris this past weekend and out flat was 56F in our living room. At least we couldn't see our breath.
Our movers are coming tomorrow. They must have paid £££ to Islington to have the parking reserved in front of our flat. We have stuff all over the place and I think I am going to be shocked when I see how many boxes it will take up. We came over with 10 boxes and some suitcases too and i know we have more going back (not including furniture or even some of the kitchen stuff)
Post photos of the decorated flat when you have the chance.
There is no mice problem because mice like warm places. Why would they bother to go the the place as cold as outside and risk their lives?
Hope you can warm up your flat soon.
With old buildings it is often just a time to dry things up.
I have heard an interview with a curator of your museum. They were talking about Darwin and Wallace.
Olga
We were thinking of visiting London with our little one's (4 &7). Is it expensive to visit? If you even know since you are actually living there!
it'll be cheaper now than any other time as the dollar is quite strong against the pound
L
Hope things have warmed up in your new place! It looks really nice from the photos you posted.
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