Emerging from the boxes
Well, we’re installed in our new house, and just beginning to emerge from the piles of boxes. We’ve put together more Ikea furniture than I care to think about, some of which went together nicely, and some which we had to battle with. Just don’t mention wardrobes to me for a while…
It’s been completely exhausting, stressful, and it seems to have gone on for quite a while. None of it was made any easier by my discovery (a few days before we were due to move) that I have a medical problem I didn’t know about. It’s fairly serious (though not life-threatening, as long as I do something about it promptly), but it might require surgery, and therefore has the potential to scupper various short and long-term plans. So, it’s been a fairly weird couple of weeks.
On the bright side, we have a lovely new house. It will take a little while before we get it exactly the way we like it, but it feels great to actually be able to make changes: something very new for us, because we’ve only rented before. In our old rented place, I had a tiny room for an office, which was very cramped with two computers in, faced a busy road and was rather gloomy. I now have a lovely large room (which doubles as a guest room with a sofa bed in it), and I’m looking out of the window now, while typing this, at little flocks of blue tits and sparrows foraging around in the trees that surround our garden. Better still, there’s enough room for two proper desks and chairs, so Mr. Bsag and I don’t have to fight for ownership of the only chair any more. We’ve also got a lovely little garden and conservatory, both of which are lovely to sit in in the evening and watch the sun go down with a cold beer or glass of wine. In fact, I might just have to go and do just that right now.
If any of you are waiting for an email reply, I’m gradually working through the backlog and will try to reply as soon as I can.
1
It was you who mentioned wardrobes, not we!
Make sure you are treated quickly - pester the life out of the buggers, don't take no for an answer. The bean counters have come up with a new angle; "Of a waiting list" but not "On the waiting list". They let you know that at some point in the future you will be awarded an appointment with the appropriate Consultant: at that point, and not before, you will be deemed to be "On the waiting list". Thus they can keep you waiting for months, then give you an appointment 4 weeks hence, and claim that the waiting list is only "4 weeks". With me, I was told, at the beginning of May, that I had to see the Orthopods , but wasn't given the date till last week, so I will only appear to have been on the waiting list for 3 months, not the actual 6+ between May and October.
So nag, whinge, phone up to see if there have been cancellations etc.
The mother of an acquaintance from South Africa broke her hip last Thursday, she was operated on the next day - some countries know how to run a health service!
by Jonathan Briggs @ 07/08/2006 6:08 pm • Permalink •
2
I wish you a swift and complete recovery from whichever medical condition has befallen you. Hopefully, it will not disrupt plans for long.
by Milan @ 07/08/2006 6:09 pm • Permalink •
3
Excellent! I too will be moving into my first house soon and a trip to Ikea is also on the cards for Mr and Mrs Hobbes. If I need any tips I shall be sure to check here first.
by hobbes @ 07/08/2006 6:09 pm • Permalink •
4
bsag
On the (very) offchance that (a) you require "intervention", that (b) said intervention is required in central London and (c) that Monsieur bsag wishes somewhere to stay to visit you during said interregnum, please let me know. Be happy to put loved ones up if that would help. Yours can teach 7-year-old painting, astrophysics or whatever in return, if you feel the need, though no compulsion, and/or chase 2 year old round flat.
yrs
"blooming man"
by Jolyon @ 07/08/2006 7:08 pm • Permalink •
5
Wishing you the best. Look after yourself and enjoy the new home.
by Chris @ 08/08/2006 12:09 am • Permalink •
6
From my family to yours, congratulations on your new home, and all our best wishes for a full recovery.
Best from New York City, Luke
by Luke Melia @ 08/08/2006 3:08 am • Permalink •
7
I hereby forbid ALL my favourite bloggers from any and all "medical/health situations" you are all much to importrant to my personal life enjoyment. PLease. I also forbid them all attempts to assemble any and all Ikea furniture which i refered to, in my family, as a "divorce moment".
by john(jc.) @ 08/08/2006 4:08 am • Permalink •
8
<ol> <li>Glad you're ensconced. Welcome to the world of The Mortgaged.</li> <li>Hope you get your 'mp' sorted soon</li> <li>Spent the entire weekend emptying the roof of 15+ years of junk/kids' toys/old carpet remnants. Top Tip: Do not put anything 'up there' that you intend to use within a rolling twelve month period. Take it straight to the tip instead.</li> </ol>
by Mr.D. @ 08/08/2006 10:09 am • Permalink •
9
Welcome back, lass, and congrats on the new office, home, etc. Not so much of the congrats with the medical thing; be well.
by Jonathan Sanderson @ 08/08/2006 10:09 am • Permalink •
10
Thanks, everyone. Sorry to be so cloak and dagger about the 'medical condition' but I don't feel particularly comfortable talking about private things like that here. Not the details, anyway
Jonathan Briggs: So far, things seem to have moved on fairly quickly, partly because my GP was very good about it and knew the necessary tricks.
hobbes: Just avoid the wardrobes.
Jolyon: Thanks for the kind offer, but it should be possible to get everything done in Brum.
Mr. D.: Tip 3 is an excellent one. We've got a loft for the first time, and I can already see that things will just accumulate up there and moulder away over many years.
by bsag @ 08/08/2006 4:08 pm • Permalink •
11
Best of luck with the medical stuff. No doubt you'll be fine. Houses, though. Trickier stuff altogether ;>
by jim w @ 10/08/2006 4:08 am • Permalink •
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