home

It's great to be home!

The air was cool and crisp at 2 degree celsius. Just how I like it.

And it was a beautiful sunshiny day. Perfect!

Was rushing off the plane (thank God there was an exit at the back of the plane) as quick as I could to the immigration as I wanted to meet up with mom and SA before they fly off to London.

I was greeted with empty immigration desks for other (non-British/EU) passports.

However, I had someone who was probably on his first day.

*smacks forehead*

And as his mentor / buddy is guiding him on processing my entry clearance, the image that repeatedly played in me head is me banging my head onto the desk continuously.

After quite some time the process was completed.

Still... it is just great to be home!

Mom and SA has rearranged and decorated my flat - I needed some time to sink in. Don't get me wrong, it is nice. Just different.

And missing them all. Felt really sad that I didn't get to spend the past week with them.

Anyways, it won't be long until they are back. And then us all including SM will be together for Christmas. How good!

In the meantime, I will first look forward to TOH's arrival on Friday. This is the longest time we've ever been apart!!!

white-ish

It snowed. We had some snow showers over the night.

Not much snow. Just a thin layer.

Still. It is beautiful.

Not sure how long it will last.

beddie

Last night I was busy on the computer, playing 'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego'.

Okay, so that does not really qualify as busy.

Anyways, am just so struggling now. All I can think of is I want my bed...

Many down filled pillows.
Fluffy down filled duvet.
Comfy luxurious bed.





*sigh*

I sooo want my bed!!!

lazy full sink

It's not the most flattering pic one can put on the blog.

But I think TOH's habit is rubbing off me.

There is a thing about Mat Salleh's filling up their sink until you can't fill no more, or the rule of 'if there is nothing left to use, it is time to do the washing'.

However, with all this green hoollaabboo, it is more environmental friendly to put on a full load of washing whether it is a washing machine, dish washer or in this case, the sink.

Unfortunately after a while (about two days), I couldn't stand it and gave it a wash.

I wonder how long can I wait until the sink is totally full before I wash them?

Mind you, I have a large sink.

the mansion

I know this is a much awaited post.

It’s a two bedroom flat with a dining room, living room, kitchen, bathroom with bath tub and a tiny storage room where the boiler resides.

My bedroom

2nd bedroom

Living Room

Dining room

Kitchen

Quite a big flat really. But I still think there is not enough storage. @_@ I’ve too much shite and there are still things in the boxes.

Anyways, I took those pic when I first move in, it is a totally different story now. Will take more pics and upload them.

Just in case anyone's wondering what my big gurl investment hype was all about...





Anyways, I will put up some updated photos of the flat when I get home and also when I have the time... >__<

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…)

insurance

I just purchased (if that is the right word to use) my first home insurance. In fact, it was just the contents insurance that I bought.

Under my tenancy agreement, I’m supposed to have the property insured. I was intending to get one after the flooding incident with my previous flat, anyways. You really never know when or what will happen. Like that Malay proverb malang tidak berbau literally translated as accident/bad things does not smell (LOL!).

After much procrastination, and after getting various quotes, I have finally bought it today.

I feel so grown up!

The process of getting quotes and the thought of getting insured, contents insured is such a grown up process. I just don’t want to grow up!!! Toy ‘R Us jingle comes to mind.

I’m still feeling rather ‘shaky’. Not sure if I bought enough or too much. Not sure if I gave the right information, at least I know I gave to whatever I know of.

There were just so many questions. How much to insure? How much for personal items? High risk items? Accidental damages? Do you want legal coverage? It includes building cover. How old is your property? Is it listed? The types of lock you have. So on and so forth.

Still, I feel good that I have paid it off, altogether. The temptation of putting it on my credit card and collect point which will be converted into spending vouchers is great. But I didn’t put it through the credit card. I’m so proud that I’ve practiced some form of restrained.

And I didn't want to pay interest for any instalment either.

Am feeling rather relieved myself. The other night after putting on the Christmas lights, which looks absolutely stunning by the way, only half of the lights were flashing and the other half stationary.

So I ignored it.

Then the next night, the lights all flickered. So I thought maybe it was a one off thing.

I was then away for the weekend.

When I came back it has half working again. Great.

Then the other night, only half of the tree was lit.

So I thought, it’s about time I go and have a look. Saw that one of the bulbs has burnt. Fine.

Changed the bulb but noticed that the socket was cracked. Then I checked the rest, some of them were cracked. Wonderful.

So took down all the lights. Just to be on the safe side. Thank God I tell ya! Imagine...

Better go now. Got to catch the train for late night shopping!!!

christmas preparations

It is 27 days to Christmas. Woohoo!!!

But I find myself being somewhat rather unorganised here.

Maybe I’m just complacent. I don’t know.

I must have mentioned this before, that there are some dates that are more important to me than others.

My birthday, my other half’s birthday, Valentine’s Day (mug!), anniversaries and Christmas.

And as usual, I still haven’t had my cards, gifts and decoration organised.

I roughly know what I want to be doing. But I haven’t really put them into action.

I think I’ve got enough cards to send out. I think and I hope. Bought a box of cards over the weekend and I have a good collection of leftover cards from the years before.

They are nice cards mind you!

I need to think of what I’m going to send out and within the country.

Royal Mail as usual have their recommended posting date out months ago.

I should really have all my cards and presents (if any) sent out by beginning of December. At least I can assure that my recipients will have enough time to receive and reciprocate, where needed.

I’m very bad at this. People are nice enough to send me things but I always don’t have the time (excuses due to bad time management) to send them back something. *Smacks hand*

Then there is the thing about thinking what to get people.

Should I or should I not get something?

What should I get?

And all those questions.

Yes, I do realise that Christmas (shopping) started in August. Yes! August! I saw them with my very own eyes!!!

It’s getting earlier and earlier.

And I think I heard Christmas songs played two weeks ago! Uh huh.. you heard it right.

Forget about Halloween.

Forget about St. Andrews Day.

Forget about whatever else and focus all your effort on Christmas.

Anyways, getting out of topic as usual…

Oh yes, Christmas starts in August… and yet, I have not got any Christmas thing organised.

At least I know where I’m going to spend it and who I’m going to spend it with. The rest are a rough idea…

Still, since ‘Christmas’ starts so early, you would think that everyone have everything organised?

You’ve guessed wrong.

The last minute buying frenzy will reach up until the very last minute of whatever store closes on the eve of Christmas. People will go and buy their things last minute. And if they can’t get what they want, they get nasty. Ooooh yes, they do.

There are two groups of people. I think there are a group that push aside the notion of anything Christmas until mid November or even December up to Christmas Eve itself. And the other group that is so super organised and have everything organised since the day after Christmas!

I fall somewhere in between.

I must confess that I will think about Christmas and what I would like to do about it. But only action on it at a rather later date.

Again, if you want reasons, I can give you a plenty!

There will be some baking involved this year and I hope to get it done as soon as possible. The Christmas cake needs time to mature.

And since I won’t be in Glasgow for Christmas plus I don’t have a car to transport a live tree, I will just put up the artificial tree that I found in the store cupboard. I hope it will be in good condition. Yeah, I know, I’m such a snob…



Luckily I don’t really have to prepare Christmas meal so it’s not that bad. But it won’t be too bad either since I enjoy cooking.

locked out!

Last night, one of my fears with my wonderful flat materialised.

I have two fears of my flat.

One, the fear of slipping when coming out of the bathtub/shower. Someone commented that maybe the bathtub is a novelty for me. Since we don't have a bathtub back in KL and the last flat only had a shower tray. Not that I haven't used a shower or bathtub before...

The other fear was the fear of being locked out.

Reason being that the main door has a Yale lock, the kind that you close the door and it locks itself.

Compared to any other places I have lived in, you will need a key to lock the doors. But not this one. So what I did was that I put the keys on my beautiful M&S side table and supposed to pick up the keys on my way out.

Somehow that didn't happened yesterday.

And I didn't know until I reached home in the evening.

I reached into my bag and I was like 'oh no, don't tell me it really happened'.

Unfortunately, 'oh yes, it is happening'.

I forgotten to bring my flat keys and I wasn't even rushing yesterday morning! Arrgghhh...

I tried my very best with whatever lock picking skills I had to open the door. Whatever they show you on tv or in the movies is just rubbish.

Honestly, if I can picked my own lock I would be worried too. How safe is the flat then??!

I didn't really know what to do, since it was my first time being locked out. Called almost every single person I know in Glasgow. I was insanely prepared to even fork out money to get a locksmith.

However, getting a locksmith is the most unfeasible thing to do because it was going to cost a bomb. And I found out later that the locksmith will most likely break the lock/door and then we have to replace it. Somehow I had the notion that they will have some master key to open the door. But I may be wrong and may be they have their ways of opening the lock? I can only but wonder.

Anyhows, while waiting for my friends to get back to me, I rang my neighbours door.

Jamal greeted me at the door. And I had to explain the whole situation to him. He was really nice to invite me in. Both Jamal and his wife Nazneen was really kind to make sure I was at home, being fed and comfortable.

After many calls to and from friends and even my boss, in the end the best option was to stay at someone's and call the letting agent in the morning.

The most sensible option was to stay at Jamal and Nazneen's since they just live opposite me.

I'm not very close to the family (they have two very young children) and this time would be the second time I ever visited them.

I was very touched that Jamal said to me that 'they are lucky that I locked out so that I can be visit them/be their guest'. And Nazneen said to me that 'I'm her sister' and that 'their home was my home as well'.

Compared to the amount of things (or what TOH and I call, shite) that I have, this family does not have a lot but they gave whatever they have to me. They gave their time, showed me their hostpitality, generosity and kindness, making sure I was well taken care of.

In this time and age, you really wonder how many nice people are out there. How many of us, actually know our neighbours?

I am so very grateful to them.

The next day, I called the letting agents and went down to collect the spare keys and unlocked my flat, before returning the keys and head off to work.

Looking back at the incident, I can't help but think that there are so many blessings in disguise.

#1: I got to know my neighbours better.
I've been told not to see them only when I have troubles but drop by as often.

#2: There are many people who will help you, where possible.
I don't know many people in Glasgow, besides Jamal and Nazneen, I had three offers of friend and colleagues to come and pick me up, to crash at theirs and sort it out the next day.

#3: I managed to renew my library book.

#4: Go to the bank and bank in my cheques and more importantly get my address changed.

#5: Had a good long hours sleep.
Since the family doesn't really do much at night because they have two very young kids, the best thing to do it go to bed once the children are asleep because as you know with babies, they wake up very early.

As much as everyone know that each person should get at least eight hours of sleep, I haven't been having the luxury of doing so. But not last night.

#6: Found out that there is a SPAR (convenience store) just round the corner from where I live. And found out where bus route 44A goes.

Since I had to go back to the letting agents to return the keys, I found out that there's this bus that goes pass this particular bus stop not far from where I live. On the bus, I found out that there are quite a fair number of shops. So now I know where to go if I need anything, in an emergency.

I'm sure there are a few more things that I can think of but in some ways, I'm glad that it happened. One thing for sure, I know now to be much much more careful and make sure I bring my keys with me.

Speaking to TOH after finding out that I was locked out, he can't believed that I locked myself out since I'm very careful all the time, guess not this time.

Anyways, to those who offered your place for me to stay overnight, I'm very grateful for your offer. Thanks and I know I you will be there to help me whenever I need help. Thanks.

connected

Guess who has a phoneline AAAAAND unlimited broadband again!!!

me! Me! ME!!!

*smiles broadly*

Woohoo!!!

You cannot imagine my joy knowing that I have my broadband reconnected/transferred!

No more being unsocialable.

No more not keeping in touch.

No more 'prohibited internet access'.

No excuse to be online during what supposed to be working hours (I still think exception applies, at times. ;P)

I can talk to TOH for endless hours.

I can vegetate online watching endless hours of movies and tv programmes.

I can do so so much now!!!

I had to call BT four times(!) before a really nice lady arranged for an Engineer to come out to take a look.

It wasn't really BT's fault to be exact.

The main reason is that BT can't see my address on their system. This means that as far as their knowledge there is no BT line in the property or the property has a phone line from a different provider. A few possible addresses appear but there is no point connecting the wrong address, say, my neighbour downstairs and I've to run there whenever I have to answer the call or use broadband.

After a few calls to the Property Manager and then BT again, BT still can't find the address or names of past residence there.

That means that if there is no line then I have to pay £124.99 including VAT to have a line put in.

However, I don't believe that there is no such thing as no phone line. Of course Glasgow being a much bigger city, there is also the possibility of more than one phone provider. Great.

After moving in the property and seeing the phone sockets there I am not satisfied to be fishing out money to get the line installed. It should just be a matter of connecting, no fee.

Finally, BT lady and I decided that she will send the Engineer over. If there is a line I don't have to pay, if there is no line, I have to.

Tall BT Engineer came yesterday afternoon to fix the phoneline. Of which, I had to skived off early. Felt guilty actually.

Anyways, according to Tall BT Engineer, apparently a new phone pole has been installed in the past few years and probably at that point in time the occupant wasn't a BT customer. So when the pole was changed, BT did not rewire the property from the pole.

Now, I have a case to argue if say BT is going to make me pay. Of course I rather not pay but we shall see how.

Tall BT Engineer is a perfect candidate to live in this flat. His head just missed the door frame. Especially since my kitchen cupboards seemed to be build for someone tall, like six foot or whatever. The kitchen top is higher than usual. The cupboards are too high for me.

I need to grow taller. I need a step ladder!

Honestly, I shouldn't complaint. The flat is really nice actually.

randomness monday

Honestly, I spent half the day thinking what I wanted to blog. Until…

I was rather disappointed that I’ve only had fourteen posts for last month. Should have been better but can’t really blame if I don’t get proper internet connection. Blogging during office hours should not is probably not acceptable. But…

Spoke to BT today trying to get my phone line as well as broadband sorted out once and for all. This will be my fourth time calling them in three days. Rather annoying that I had to try to find out whether there was a phone line before this since there is not one on their system.

Had a really nice girl on the phone today and she was very helpful. Was really kind to organise for an Engineer to come and have a look at it. If there is no line, it is going to cost me £124.99 to connect a phone line. Let’s just hope there is one since I can see the phone socket. But if I have to spend it, I will just have to.

The flat is getting into shape. There are still countless boxes everywhere, in almost every room. At least my bedroom is looking much better, just have to clear out one box of toiletries from my bedroom and the other in the hallway. Will work on the boxes in my living room and my computer tonight. Maybe touch a little on boxes for the kitchen that is all about in the dining room. At least I have unpacked my plants yesterday (after six days!). Fed them some food and water. Hope they like their new home since now they are sitting nicely on a window sill with evening sunlight.

Sleepy Baby Gee has tagged me. I need some time to think about it.