Hey guys, how is it going? As you can see from the heading for this entry we are not really pleased with our new apartment. When we first looked at it we saw the stunning views, the nicely renovated rooms and the a bit old kitchen (very british) and the bathroom well, we knew the bathroom wasn’t great. Unfortunately we saw the apartment on a nice and sunny day without wind, thought everything was fine and signed the lease.
That’s when the problems started…
First of all there was one window in the living room that should have been repaired anyway and it took the agency ages to get someone up here to have a look and tell us how long it will take. Then they started replacing the window which was when everything went from bad to worse. They couldn’t replace the window as the frame (wooden of course) was so old it was falling apart. And when they tried to take out the window next to it in order to replace it…. They broke it. Well luckily we weren’t living in the apartment by then, but moving in the next weekend. Still they didn’t seem to want to replace it and we still have a lovely yellow tape on our window (see pictures).
After having moved in and having admired the lovely view for a couple of days, it started raining like hell. And that was when the flat from hell sprang to life. Just imaging going into your bathroom by night and seeing water everywhere, because the window is leaking, actually the frame of the window doesn’t close completely (the agency didn’t know either) and that’s where all the water comes through. And don’t think that is all…. Like in every good horror movie there is more and we are sure the flat is haunted…. Kiwihaunted….
One evening, totally unaware of the horrors lying affront of her, Laura went into the bedroom to turn on the light… well, Alex actually thought she broke a leg, judging on the scream and run to the bedroom by what time both of them were flabbergasted by the guest they had sitting on their bed. It was a huge, ghastly, yacky, black, hairy, flying, enormous …… wetter (something like a grasshopper but much more ugly and disgusting). And it did come through our bedroom window frame… how did that happen? Anyways we evacuated and saved the horrible thing (in the end we couldn’t blame it for wanting to get into the warmth), but decided we really need to do something about the windows as also the apartment was always rather chilly.
Next day we called the agency and explained our problems and more problems arouse. They actually came here with the glass guys professionals and checked all the windows and they were told that ALL of them have to be renewed…. They didn’t like that answer, made a huge fuss, saying the owner never had a problem, it cant be that bad and said they would come back with the owner to show him everything… they never did. They actually came back last week with other professionals (who told them the same) and asked us to not call them every day because they were trying everything they could… well we didn’t call them till yesterday eveing (Friday) when a whole week had passed without so much as a whisper from them. Alex was rather nice on the phone telling them, as nothing has been done (not even the window in the living room repaired, which was part of our contract) that we would look for someplace else and move out. Of course they weren’t still in the office as it is Labour weekend (so Monday is free) and everyone took off for the long weekend, so we won’t hear anything from them before Tuesday.
But we already looked at two other apartments yesterday and Friday which were really nice and will keep you updated on our flat from hell issue. Have I mentioned that we paid 200 dollars worth of electricity in 14 days (even considering that electricity in this country is rather expensive, that was a bit too much).
Now having you updated on that here are some more pleasant news: Alex managed to (finally hehe) pass his MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer) and gets more money now. And Laura is working for the Department of Labour at the moment (contract) and will do some marketing certificates around Christmas, before applying for the permanent visa and looking for permanent work.
Hey guys would be nice to get some updates on you people (we haven’t heard a lot of what is going on, on the other side of the world), like who with who, why, when, where, what, work, friends, etc. hehe. Would be great to get some lines!
By the way whoever wants to send us some little note, postcard, Christmas present, chocolate, caviar, jewelry, an Aston martin or something else comparable expensive please direct your post to:
Laura Heep & Alex Dean
6143
