a home..?
I suppose I should be writing about the fantastic weekend trip that I recently took to the Lake District, or my 9-month review that took place yesterday (it went well, hehe), but instead I am posting about my living arrangements next year. But first, a little background on this somewhat convoluted subject...
Way back when last fall, I met a very nice fellow named K. K. and I were planning on living together, and I thought all was going well until I got back from the winter holiday to learn that he had decided not to come back to uni; instead, he would finish his degree through an external program back in London. Okay, so that was a suck. Lost a good friend, no more housemate. Onwards and upwards...
My contract in the halls of residence does not end until late-september. This poses a slight problem in that most contracts start at the end of June, and run 'till next June. I do *not* want to pay double-fees over the summer, so that's a bit tricky. Everything seemed perfect when I learned my friend and labmate Ale was planning on leaving the UK in late september. He lives in a lovely house that is literally a 3 minute walk from work. He would sign the contract for the next year, and then I would move in at the end of September. Sorted, right? I go off to Taiwan for Easter, thinking all is well. When I get back, I learn that Ale's landlord has decided to sell the house... d'oh!!!
A few weeks ago, I'd been looking around for a place with some other Ph.D. students. We found another house that was on the same road as Ale's, slightly expensive rent, but a decent place. So we make a bid... but at the last minute, one of my would-have-been housemates pulls out. At this point, I was starting to get a bit frustrated.
But now we get to the good part. I recently found an ad for a house with a couple undergrads that would start in September. Had a chat with the girls at the dorm's pub (sounds strange to say, doesn't it?) and found we all got on quite well. I had a look at the house this morning, and everything seems set to go! The room's small, but the price is right (for me), the company is good, and the place is being refurbished over the summer. Perhaps best of all-- there will be a piano in the house!!!! :-D
Nothing is for sure until the contract gets signed, but everything is looking very good, and I can't see any potential road blocks at this point. Keep your fingers crossed for me... :)
Way back when last fall, I met a very nice fellow named K. K. and I were planning on living together, and I thought all was going well until I got back from the winter holiday to learn that he had decided not to come back to uni; instead, he would finish his degree through an external program back in London. Okay, so that was a suck. Lost a good friend, no more housemate. Onwards and upwards...
My contract in the halls of residence does not end until late-september. This poses a slight problem in that most contracts start at the end of June, and run 'till next June. I do *not* want to pay double-fees over the summer, so that's a bit tricky. Everything seemed perfect when I learned my friend and labmate Ale was planning on leaving the UK in late september. He lives in a lovely house that is literally a 3 minute walk from work. He would sign the contract for the next year, and then I would move in at the end of September. Sorted, right? I go off to Taiwan for Easter, thinking all is well. When I get back, I learn that Ale's landlord has decided to sell the house... d'oh!!!
A few weeks ago, I'd been looking around for a place with some other Ph.D. students. We found another house that was on the same road as Ale's, slightly expensive rent, but a decent place. So we make a bid... but at the last minute, one of my would-have-been housemates pulls out. At this point, I was starting to get a bit frustrated.
But now we get to the good part. I recently found an ad for a house with a couple undergrads that would start in September. Had a chat with the girls at the dorm's pub (sounds strange to say, doesn't it?) and found we all got on quite well. I had a look at the house this morning, and everything seems set to go! The room's small, but the price is right (for me), the company is good, and the place is being refurbished over the summer. Perhaps best of all-- there will be a piano in the house!!!! :-D
Nothing is for sure until the contract gets signed, but everything is looking very good, and I can't see any potential road blocks at this point. Keep your fingers crossed for me... :)