the big move: part two

After all those packing, the next thing to do, is of course the move.

Initially I wanted to get a removal company to do the work but after asking around, it seems that removals are really expensive and it is better to just do it myself.

So I hired a van. A Citroën Berlingo to be exact.

TOH was really kind to take time off to help me move.

After we picked up the van and some breakfast, we started putting the heavy and big things in the van since I have the extra pair of hands to help.

As optimistic as I was initially, reality sank in - rock bottom, that one trip is not enough for all my shite.

The drive down to Glasgow was nice. Somehow I did note the usual chatty one of us was unusually quiet. I needed the chat. As I was getting tired and bored, and there wasn’t a CD player to blast to keep myself entertained for the drive.

Both of us have mixed feeling within us.

Me: moving to a place I knew hardly anyone, starting my career in a place with strange faces, living in an unfamiliar place, moving away from where I call home - Aberdeen, more importantly: moving away from this wonderful person I've just met.

As happy as TOH was for me, he can't help asking to himself (well, more so to me) why did I have to move? Why Glasgow of all places?

We had a good conversation without a doubt. Which, I am always thankful how good we are with each other speaking about everything.

Anyways, I wasn’t driving as fast as I should. At the start of the journey TOH added a disclaimer that anything broke whilst in transport was not his fault. The speed traps along the way weren’t much encouraging either, not that I was driving anywhere close to the limit. Yes, it’s unusual for me. But it’s a van full of things not a car, and there were a few boxes of glassware and all my alkie paraphernalia, the incriminating evidence: bottles after bottles of wine, white wine, my Sauvignon Blancs.

Almost three hours later, we arrived to our first stop, the letting agent’s office to sign the necessary paperwork and collect the keys.

It was somewhat exciting. Almost like keys to my very own purchased flat. But it wasn’t. Therefore only somewhat exciting.

Anyways, after signing various papers and initialling many pages later, we were off to the flat.

TOH liked the flat and I didn’t realised it was so big. I really am treating myself. We then christen the flat ‘The Mansion’.

Unloading was very fast. We had a short rest before heading up the road whilst there was still daylight.

The next day, I made the same trip down with the final load of my things.



I was glad that it took only two days. Thankfully (or unfortunately, depending on how or who sees it), all of my things except for the bicycle and some of my Rotaract things are left with TOH. (And it is still there for me to sort it…)

awaiting

I’ve been waiting patiently for the day to come. I know we both have.

Week after week, we tell each other, Friday will come before we know it. Friday come and weekend gone, we say the same thing. It’s been a few weeks now and Friday is not far away now.

Finally, in just another few days, we’ll have two whole weeks of being with each other.

It should be good. It will be good. I just have to remember to pack extra warm clothes, since somebody’s flat is freezing cold. >__<

I’m looking forward to the cuddles in front of the fire, admiring the Christmas tree, watching tv, our never-ending chats, walking around the neighbourhood admiring other people’s Christmas decoration, essentially, just spending time together.

Ideally, it would be nice to have a wood fire burning, us cuddling together with a nice throw wrapped around us, and a spectacular view out of the deck to something beautiful and snowy.

How nice… Still Friday is not long now.

You know I always feel that way babes. xx

all.in.a.day's.work

Just got back from my wee outing today. So stuffed.

Didn't really do much.

Came in to work at my usual 8:45am. Switched on the computer. Made meself a nice cup of coffee.

Checked mails.

Did a simple spreadsheet calculation of my Council Tax. Over the weekend Glasgow City Council sent me a revised Council Tax bill. My balance outstanding was higher than the other bill they sent me earlier. And my discount was lower. So had to prepare myself for battle.

Was a wee bit annoyed because they made me wait so long for an assistant to pick up the phone. In the end, it seems that there is an error. Honestly, I really wonder...

Then went out to site for progress site meeting. Then lunch with the contractor. By the time lunch was over, it was already 3:30pm! Lunch was really good. We had two course and so stuffed!!! I had the deep fried brie for starters (which btw, was really YUMMY!!!) and sirloin beef. The portions were huuuuuuge!!!

It was freezing today! The car's thermometer shows that it was -1c out there. I really wonder. There's even ice formed around the stones in the river.

Came back to the office had a wee chat with my Commercial Manager, a little time online and then it is time to go home.

Am just so stuffed. Don't think I will eat anything at home.

Work, I say? What work?!

At this rate I'm going, I really need a good overhaul or detox of the system. And it is only the first day...

shopaholic and baby

This is what kept me up every night for the past two weeks until last week.

The late-nights. The at-least-two-chapters-every-night. The I-will-go-to-bed-after-this-chapter/page.

Becky Brandon (neé Bloomwood) is back as her usual self. Ever since following her first book from a single girl, then her adventures abroad, then married, and then finding out she has a long lost sister, it was only inevitable that there will be a book about having a baby.

And if you have read the Shopaholic series, you will get the usual fast paced, gripping style of Sophie Kinsella. I enjoyed the book.

Apparently there will be a new Sophie Kinsella book out next year, ‘Remember Me’. The synopsis sounds interesting. Okay, it’s the usual chick lit.

Still, I like reading Sophie Kinsella’s books. Bite me!

I won’t be surprised that there will be a ‘Shopaholic and Toddler’ out sometime in the near future…

glutton

You know it is Christmas when your pre-Christmas week diary shows all you do is eat!

Monday - Progress site meeting then lunch
Tuesday - Office Girlie Lunch (need to socialise a bit and bond with the girls)
Wednesday - A colleague’s leaving lunch
Thursday - Office’s Christmas Dinner
Friday - Company’s Christmas Lunch

Wowweee… All I do next week is eat I tell ya!

jakun*

*A derogatory term in Malay for a person who doesn't know something common.

Cannae believe you can find Jakun on Wikipedia. O_o

Anyways, I had this Health and Safety Climate Survey today.

The South West is the pioneer in trying out this survey.

It is quite cool actually. Each session were done with a group of 20 or so people. You sign in because they want to know how many people have taken the compulsory survey.

Then you pick up a small calculator like thingy, a response card actually. Like this:



There were about forty questions. We were required to log in our answer pressing the number according to the number shown on screen. It was like something out of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'. Of course, I can’t help making silly jokes.

The group’s result will show after all the votes are cast in after everyone click in their answer, after each question. A nice and simple colourful chart will be generated.

I was very impressed. In fact, I think everyone was very impressed. And yes, I get excited over little things like this easily.

Anyways, at first I thought these response cards were like a wee souvenir you get after a presentation. Silly me!

postage

Royal Mail has this really cool service. You can print and buy postage online.

It is perfect for someone like me because I hardly am able to go to the post office during the week.

I don’t have much or any problems if I want to send normal mail within the UK. It is just a matter via first class or second class, and I normally have a few of those stamps handy.

And then I just pop it in the ‘outgoing mail’ tray in reception and it gets magically send away.

However, this time it was different. Sort of.

I was trying to get my Christmas cards sent. Does seem a little late, didn’t realised how close Christmas is!

Anyways, I wanted to print four postage on a page and then I realised that my cards don’t meet the minimum dimensions of 105mm by 148mm. What I had was either smaller than the dimensions or one side is smaller than the minimum size.

So I thought, I better call Royal Mail to make sure because I don’t know what are the implications if I don’t meet the minimum size. Checked out the website, and then found some numbers. Yes, there was a list of them.

I try to call the number closes to my needs, but I ended up calling almost every one of them. Most of them make me wait. But the most annoying thing that started my blood bubbling was there were so many options to choose from. But none of them are exactly what I wanted.

I don’t really mind those push button service. As much as I rather not go push button all the way, but that seems to be the norm nowadays. I can take perhaps two and maybe three levels of button option.

But it was different with Royal Mail’s phone service.

First you are greeted the usual, ‘welcome to bladibla… and thank you for calling us. Our calls maybe recorded for training and quality purposes.’ Then, something like this came next ‘do you know you can go online and…’ Yes, I do know but because I cannae find an answer to my question online, that is why I call you… Fine!

After that, there were five options to choose from. And then after pressing a button, you have another five or so options to choose from. Okay… And then another few more. I think there were close to five levels to choose from.

Then we you were told that ‘all our customer service assistants/assistants/or whoever are busy at the moment. If you like, you can go online…’ Great…

So wait wait wait…

Then it the following message will normally precede ‘thank you for waiting. Our customer services/assistants/whoever are still busy at the moment. Do you know that you can go online….’

Yes, I do know. And if the website can answer my question... *£%@$... Blood defo starting boil.

Wait some more, listening to the classical music that was on. It was a rather long wait. I know classical music is supposed to soothe me. But with every minute ticking, my patience ticked away further and my blood continued to boil.

Finally, after some transferring around and more options and more waiting later, I managed to get through to one guy. He was very nice and friendly. I had to be patient and kind because no point pouring my temper when it is not his fault.

In the end, he advised me to go the post office. I was like ‘I buy postage online because I can’t go there’. Nevermind. Still we managed to come up something and I can try sending with two first class stamps or a postcard stamp plus second class stamp combination for me to send card overseas.

Met up with TS and he was so sweet and brought me to the post office, which was luckily still open after 5:30pm! I still don’t really know very well where I am going around in Glasgow. I was so happy. I managed to send my cards sent away.

I wanted to put in a complaint to Royal Mail but as usual procrastination got the better part of me.

The next day, I went online to print postage for a parcel. It was interesting that I can get the Postal Declarations Form printed online as well. How cool is that?!

I’ve used the online postage service numerous times and I think it is a great service. Only you need to know the weight of the item you want to send out. Having a small scales will help but I’m lucky, I just go to the franking machine at reception and ask them to weigh for me.

If post office like the one in Melawati closes as 10pm at night, it will be excellent for people who are working or don’t work near a post office. As much as it would be nice that post office open until late at night, I’m sure it is not necessary the most economical.

Still, thank God for technology!