It has been a few days since I did a proper update
I enjoyed the second visit of my couchsurfing houseguests from Poland, but I didn't make as much time to spend with them as I might have liked, since I was aware of everything that needed to be done by this evening, in preparation for flying out tomorrow morning. Fortunately, they were very self-entertaining (a group of five guests at once is likely to be!), and I told them if they were ok with leaving their luggage in the apartment unlocked I didn't mind if they just left the door unlocked as they come and go. Since nothing vanished, my assessment that it would be a low-risk thing to do was justified. But then 1) it is August in Milan--everyone who can be is out of town 2) my apartment is on the top floor--who is going to walk up all four flights of stairs in this heat just to check to see if the door is open 3) my computer was with me at work, leaving only some food, a small amount of clothing, a couple of sewing projects, and three books available to tempt potential thieves. I'm not certain I'd make the same choice once my stuff arrives. However, by the time it arrives I should have moved to the place I'll be staying "long term", so it will be worth having a spare key to the apartment cut.
Speaking of my stuff, I've *finally* heard from the shipping company. The Melbourne branch this time. My things are on a ship! I know the name of the ship! We have an estimated time of arrival for the ship in the UK (25 September). This means that I won't have any problems getting home from both conferences before my things arrive here (since I'll be back on the 14th). Given that it will take more time to clear customs in the UK and then be sent on to me here, I should also have no difficulties finding a new place to live before the stuff arrives.
The other day I *finally* found an open rental (and realestate) agency. And the guy on duty speaks English! When I explained to him where I wish to live he explained that his company does things on a franchise basis, with each branch being responsible for the rentals closest to their office. His branch isn't *that* far away from where I wish to be, but there is another branch which covers the exact neighbourhood in which I wish to live. (Some of you pointed out in comments not too long back that a 15 minute walk would be noting for one as fit as I. I agree with that statement. However, given that I will be performing experiments and will need to be running back and forth between my apartment and my office at odd hours and frequent intervals for the entire time I live here, I'd much prefer that the walk be under five minutes--cuts down on risk to my safety when walking at odd (late) hours, and takes less time out of the day with that transition, leaving more time/energy for real exercise instead of "commuting".) However, the branch with which I wish to deal is closed this week, and by the time I re-open I'll be in Scotland. I did ask him if I could view the apartments his branch has, and he apologized--he just does the sales, his colleague, who is off this week, does the rentals, so I wouldn't be able to see the apartments till next week. (This conversation took place before I'd heard from the shipping company, so I had no idea if it was urgent that I move this week, or if it would be ok to wait till I returned, but I choose to interpert it as a sign that I should just wait till I got back and trust my charmed life that it would all work out, and, indeed, it looks very much like it is going to. When I mentioned to him my worry that in September I'd been competing with Students looking for apartments for the new school year he pointed out that September is a common month for apartments to come available, and he thinks I'll be fine. I hope he's correct, as that is the plan I'm going with.)
In terms of progress, I've read my way further through the pile of papers I need to read, got the latest draft of a paper I'm co-authoring back to the primary author, and submitted an abstract for the big AGU conference in December. Assuming that it gets accepted, I hope to fly into San Francisco on time for the Boar's Hunt Event the weekend before, and the following weekend head up to Seattle to see my mother on her birthday, and then head to Alaska and stay through New Years (assuming that someone will host a New Years Bardic in Eskalya, as usually happens--that has long been my favourite manner in whcih to sing in the New Year).
Tonight I still need to pack my luggage for my trip. However, since everything I brought with me fit in one checked and one carry-on bag, and I don't think I need it all for this trip, I think that will be easy. In the morning I fly to Scotland, where I will stay with sismith42 during the geology conference, then visit the family of clovis_t in Inverness, then fly to Eindhoven for the textile conference the following week before returning here on the 14th. I don't know how often I'll be able to get on-line during this adventure, so don't be surprised if I'm not posting much over the next couple of weeks.
Speaking of my stuff, I've *finally* heard from the shipping company. The Melbourne branch this time. My things are on a ship! I know the name of the ship! We have an estimated time of arrival for the ship in the UK (25 September). This means that I won't have any problems getting home from both conferences before my things arrive here (since I'll be back on the 14th). Given that it will take more time to clear customs in the UK and then be sent on to me here, I should also have no difficulties finding a new place to live before the stuff arrives.
The other day I *finally* found an open rental (and realestate) agency. And the guy on duty speaks English! When I explained to him where I wish to live he explained that his company does things on a franchise basis, with each branch being responsible for the rentals closest to their office. His branch isn't *that* far away from where I wish to be, but there is another branch which covers the exact neighbourhood in which I wish to live. (Some of you pointed out in comments not too long back that a 15 minute walk would be noting for one as fit as I. I agree with that statement. However, given that I will be performing experiments and will need to be running back and forth between my apartment and my office at odd hours and frequent intervals for the entire time I live here, I'd much prefer that the walk be under five minutes--cuts down on risk to my safety when walking at odd (late) hours, and takes less time out of the day with that transition, leaving more time/energy for real exercise instead of "commuting".) However, the branch with which I wish to deal is closed this week, and by the time I re-open I'll be in Scotland. I did ask him if I could view the apartments his branch has, and he apologized--he just does the sales, his colleague, who is off this week, does the rentals, so I wouldn't be able to see the apartments till next week. (This conversation took place before I'd heard from the shipping company, so I had no idea if it was urgent that I move this week, or if it would be ok to wait till I returned, but I choose to interpert it as a sign that I should just wait till I got back and trust my charmed life that it would all work out, and, indeed, it looks very much like it is going to. When I mentioned to him my worry that in September I'd been competing with Students looking for apartments for the new school year he pointed out that September is a common month for apartments to come available, and he thinks I'll be fine. I hope he's correct, as that is the plan I'm going with.)
In terms of progress, I've read my way further through the pile of papers I need to read, got the latest draft of a paper I'm co-authoring back to the primary author, and submitted an abstract for the big AGU conference in December. Assuming that it gets accepted, I hope to fly into San Francisco on time for the Boar's Hunt Event the weekend before, and the following weekend head up to Seattle to see my mother on her birthday, and then head to Alaska and stay through New Years (assuming that someone will host a New Years Bardic in Eskalya, as usually happens--that has long been my favourite manner in whcih to sing in the New Year).
Tonight I still need to pack my luggage for my trip. However, since everything I brought with me fit in one checked and one carry-on bag, and I don't think I need it all for this trip, I think that will be easy. In the morning I fly to Scotland, where I will stay with sismith42 during the geology conference, then visit the family of clovis_t in Inverness, then fly to Eindhoven for the textile conference the following week before returning here on the 14th. I don't know how often I'll be able to get on-line during this adventure, so don't be surprised if I'm not posting much over the next couple of weeks.