House-hunting update
Because my mother has requested it (sorry I didn't return your call, Mum, I'd forgotten my phone at home and didn't get home until 9:30).
Sunday: the lady in Manor House may love cats, but her apartment isn't very cat-friendly. There isn't really any way for an old, non-spry kitty cat to get outside, and neither she nor I could think of anywhere that a litter tray could go without being in the way or unhygienic (she has no balcony). This was too bad, as the room was good, I liked her taste (bohemian) and her, and it would have only been sharing with her.
A flat in Finchley sharing with two Aussie girls, one of whom will be off the plane at some point in the future, may be a possibility. It is above a shop on the High Road in East Finchley, and the only way to get in is round the back -- a rather unattractive dirt lane -- and up winding spiral staircases. No garden, obviously. Again, however, the room is a good size and well-furnished. Also the flat was very bright and friendly as it has a huge skylight in the living room, the kitchen was modernish and not tiny and the girl I met seemed lovely. She will check with her friend who is coming from Australia, and with the landlord, about having a cat.
Yesterday I went straight from my internship to Brixton. I met Nav, who owns the house and shares it with his sisters, who are both trained in the bar, one of whom obtained pupillage with Garden Court Chambers and the other with Tooks, and who are both heavily into human rights; and two other girls, one of whom, whom I met, lives on the first floor and I think is an accountant, if I remember correctly. Nav works in the City, "I'm the evil one in the house! But how else am I to buy a house for my sisters to live in?!" but spends four nights a week with his partner. The others work very long hours and the house is apparently rarely full. It was certainly very tidy, although the common areas were not huge. The kitchen and bathroom were small and other than that there's a dining area with a sofa in it. Nav was very open to the idea of at least trialling with Daisy -- "I can't promise outright to take her, but I'd like a cat around the place," -- but has since emailed me that he has just discovered the newest flatmate is allergic. In the same email though he repeated an invitation to come and meet everyone tomorrow evening after my interview. Allergies seem a somewhat insurmountable obstacle to me, which is too bad, as, other than being in Brixton, the place would be perfect if I could bring Daisy.
After that it was up to Stamford Hill (Victoria line practically end-to-end) to see a place with a married couple. Unfortunately no way that Daisy could go there -- no access to the outside and they have lizard-y type pets which wouldn't bother me at all but I doubt they'd get along with a cat.
So that's it so far. I'll probably be meeting Ky et al of the lovely Hackney house sometime later in the week. I've put an ad on Gumtree, at Justin's suggestion, regarding Daisy and have had threefour very enthusiastic responses from cat-lovers who look after elderly cats as well as a few suggestions to contact my local shelter and a couple of adamant emails telling me not to give her up. Georgie, as it turns out, is of entirely the same opinion -- "a pet is for life" -- especially at Daisy's advanced age, it would unsettle her to be given to a new person, and she may remain unsettled until the end of her life, which would be sad. Daisy, to compound matters, has become suddenly and unwontedly affectionate, as though determined to prove that she really is attached to me, and will not instantly become equally attached to any kind person who fills her food bowl. I wonder if she suspects...
Edit: Another response from Nav -- they definitely can't take Daisy. I don't know if it's worth moving to Brixton without her when all my contacts are in north London, even though it's a good match in terms of the people.
Sunday: the lady in Manor House may love cats, but her apartment isn't very cat-friendly. There isn't really any way for an old, non-spry kitty cat to get outside, and neither she nor I could think of anywhere that a litter tray could go without being in the way or unhygienic (she has no balcony). This was too bad, as the room was good, I liked her taste (bohemian) and her, and it would have only been sharing with her.
A flat in Finchley sharing with two Aussie girls, one of whom will be off the plane at some point in the future, may be a possibility. It is above a shop on the High Road in East Finchley, and the only way to get in is round the back -- a rather unattractive dirt lane -- and up winding spiral staircases. No garden, obviously. Again, however, the room is a good size and well-furnished. Also the flat was very bright and friendly as it has a huge skylight in the living room, the kitchen was modernish and not tiny and the girl I met seemed lovely. She will check with her friend who is coming from Australia, and with the landlord, about having a cat.
Yesterday I went straight from my internship to Brixton. I met Nav, who owns the house and shares it with his sisters, who are both trained in the bar, one of whom obtained pupillage with Garden Court Chambers and the other with Tooks, and who are both heavily into human rights; and two other girls, one of whom, whom I met, lives on the first floor and I think is an accountant, if I remember correctly. Nav works in the City, "I'm the evil one in the house! But how else am I to buy a house for my sisters to live in?!" but spends four nights a week with his partner. The others work very long hours and the house is apparently rarely full. It was certainly very tidy, although the common areas were not huge. The kitchen and bathroom were small and other than that there's a dining area with a sofa in it. Nav was very open to the idea of at least trialling with Daisy -- "I can't promise outright to take her, but I'd like a cat around the place," -- but has since emailed me that he has just discovered the newest flatmate is allergic. In the same email though he repeated an invitation to come and meet everyone tomorrow evening after my interview. Allergies seem a somewhat insurmountable obstacle to me, which is too bad, as, other than being in Brixton, the place would be perfect if I could bring Daisy.
After that it was up to Stamford Hill (Victoria line practically end-to-end) to see a place with a married couple. Unfortunately no way that Daisy could go there -- no access to the outside and they have lizard-y type pets which wouldn't bother me at all but I doubt they'd get along with a cat.
So that's it so far. I'll probably be meeting Ky et al of the lovely Hackney house sometime later in the week. I've put an ad on Gumtree, at Justin's suggestion, regarding Daisy and have had threefour very enthusiastic responses from cat-lovers who look after elderly cats as well as a few suggestions to contact my local shelter and a couple of adamant emails telling me not to give her up. Georgie, as it turns out, is of entirely the same opinion -- "a pet is for life" -- especially at Daisy's advanced age, it would unsettle her to be given to a new person, and she may remain unsettled until the end of her life, which would be sad. Daisy, to compound matters, has become suddenly and unwontedly affectionate, as though determined to prove that she really is attached to me, and will not instantly become equally attached to any kind person who fills her food bowl. I wonder if she suspects...
Edit: Another response from Nav -- they definitely can't take Daisy. I don't know if it's worth moving to Brixton without her when all my contacts are in north London, even though it's a good match in terms of the people.