Moving into the flat
I’m getting quite familiar with the Great Orme now, having wandered up there four or five times this week - I’m in danger of getting genuine exercise!
Friday night I found the Laundrette after having looked it up on Google Local. I was chatting to dad on the phone and mentioned this magnificent feat of ‘fending for myself’, dad relayed this to mum, who promptly asked ‘why are you using a laundrette and not the washer in the kitchen?’. Yes, after 6 days I finally discovered there is a washer in the holiday cottage! Questions over my powers of observation aside, that was a good thing. I now have clean fabrics and I didn’t have to go to the (apparently expensive) laundrette. :yum
Yesterday I moved into my new flat, which is completely bare. Actually that’s not entirely accurate, there’s a telephone stand screwed into the lounge wall, and Dave (the landlord) gave me a corner TV stand. Oh, and there’s a single wardrobe in the main bedroom. Apart from that though, it’s all walls and floors. I am debating giving the rooms a coat of paint - it’s clearly not been done in the 6 years that the last tenants were living there, and if I’m going to do it, now is the best time. Some of the wallpaper is peeling away and the paint has gone from ‘white’ to ‘icky yellow’ on all the woodwork. Tonight I’m hoping to get my other stuff from Bens and break out the vacuum. I’m also going to have to visit the shops and buy myself a microwave, kettle, plates, cutlery, mugs and anything else I can think of and can fit in the car.
I’m going to have to get used to those single pane windows too. The 4am wake-up calls from the seagulls are a lot harder to ignore, and having no curtains doesn’t help matters either. I never knew the sun rose at such a tiny hour of the day - something i find very inconsiderate.
Saturday night was a work outing in Llandudno, which was good fun! I managed to remain mostly sober, thankfully, arriving back at the cottage at 3am. We went to a club too, and it got me reminiscing. I’m not sure whether it’s the state of dance music today, or whether the DJ was out of date, but I didn’t hear a single ‘new’ track all night. Just remixes of old tunes, and sub-standard remixes at that. In any case I was hit with a dose of nostelgia and so Sunday I went to HMV and bought Gatecrasher Classics, which has a lot of good tunes on it. I also picked up Metallica as it was on sale and it’s the one Metallica album I don’t yet have on CD. I couldn’t pass up the Lord of the Rings trilogy soundtrack either, as it was really cheap. I then bought myself a new mini-system, as I hadn’t got any sound-making equipment. At £18 down from £40 I couldn’t complain. I’m still impressed with the sound it puts out, even without baring in mind it’s cheaper than some albums you can buy.
Comments
skip to comment formJimi consider that if you paint the walls your landlord might boot you out at the next oppotunity and ramp up the rent price. Personally it’s something I’d avoid and save that investment until you have somewhere you actually own.
Oddly enough my collegue Dave was up the ‘Orme’ the other day as he spent an extended weekend in Llandudno.
I used to really like the sound of seagulls in the morning, I hope you grow to like them too.
I hope you get your bits and bobs sorted but be sure to try and enjoy the experience. It may seem like a hassel but it’s a once in a life time thing moving out for the first time and I hope your are filled with eager curiosity and excitement at the prospect of setting yourself up.
lol nice 1 jimy, sorry for the Impromptu party, and that you only managed to collect limited amount of stuff, but at least fed and had a laugh, hainsey dude is down 2moz ! so shall call you if like, no point writing this as no doubt not see this until Monday,
, chris sir ! what you up to nowadays? As ya seem to be the ‘un-contactable one’ hope its groovy. Wales just keeps on getting better, lol. Right its way to late and I gotta kip, adios world
:lol - the Landlord is fine with me painting the place, I can do more or less whatever I like. I’m just thinking that I’d feel a bit happier if the place looked clean and tidy, and a splash of paint in a couple of rooms shouldn’t hit the budget too hard. I’ll see what the parents think at the weekend.
I think I am getting used to the seagulls actually, it’s quite odd that they’re pretty loud and yet mostly I don’t notice them. Mostly.
Oh I’m loving the experience. I bought myself a new kettle and microwave/grill amongst other stuff yesterday. I’ve got a cooker now, and tonight I think the place is getting a good vacuum.
Cheers for the pizza Ben, was a nice evening - I’ll likely see you later tonight.
Sounding good Jimi, I can understand you wanting to spruce the place up a bit, just make sure you get some cheap paint!
Great to hear everything’s going well.
Thanks Joey. Hopefully I’ll be in a position to have people over pretty soon
I forgot to mention - I got back to the flat last night to find that Dave had lugged the cooker up, and also given/lent me a heater for the lounge, and a wardrobe! Top guy.
Sounds great Matt, good to see you posting on your site keeping us up to date.
the club scene’s missed you!)
“I got back to the flat last night to find that Dave had lugged the cooker up”
Just out of interest, did he give you written warning more than 24 hours prior that he was going to be entering your property?
I echo Chris’ thoughts on painting. As it’s rented, I’d be conservative on what you do in there with regards to a) going against the rules (sounds like he’ll let you paint though so that one might be ok) and b) cost to yourself.
Keep enjoying yourself (and keep clubbing
Of course your landlord is happy with you painting the flat Jimi. He’d be happy if you had double glazing installed and new carpets too! Because you’re raising the value of his property.
Personally I’d be wary of any casual relationship in this area. As you know my landlord is a personal friend and business partner but our relationship regarding the house is kept purely professional. Yes that sounds terribly boring and hard nosed but this has to be maintained to protect yourself.
Decorating lettings is a very common mistake. If you feel you wouldn’t bregrudge the time and money should your contract not be renewed then go ahead and do it by all means. If there are areas that need attention then I’d recommend you speak to your landlord and discuss it, you might find in the case of painting he’s actually to willing to cover the costs himself as an investment.
For example the previous tennant in Joeys room at university had requested double glazing and got it. Another girl requested new carpets and got those too. If the landlord sees a longterm benefit then it makes sense to do. Another example is here at work we’ve bought an air-conditioning unit and billed the building owners for it, because the office is too hot and to have the door open is prohibited by their fire regulations. On top of that they have lagged the heating pipes and they are installing a panel to vent our aircon unit outside rather than out the window.
I know you understand what I am saying, and I feel you like your relationship with your landlord at the moment and don’t wish to tread on his toes. Especially given you aren’t really the bolschy type. So in that light I will empathise with you for not following my advice directly.
I guess the point I’m trying to convey here is communication. Your landlord probably wants to do a lot of the things you’d like doing and it may save you a bit of time and money. Don’t forget that you are the customer here.
Good points Chris, as always, thanks
So, eerr in all of this, are you actually saving money to buy plates,a microwave,a kettle, cutlery and mugs and stuff or are you going to buy music all the time? you know what mum’ll be like when we come down and all you’ve gone and bought is, cds and something you can play them on. Bythe way, computers working now.
Thomas - I’ve already bought a microwave, cooker, kettle, bucket, dustpan and brush, plate, dish, mug, knife/fork/spoon set, washing bowl, drainer, water purifier, and various other bits and bobs. I’ve already vacumed all the way through the place and Flashed the entire kitchen.
All I need now is furniture and a fridge/freezer. And a washer. And a wireless router. And a phone line. And curtains.
Glad to see the PC is working again - try not to break it again!
It wasn’t me that broke it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C ya tonight