No Longer Homeless!

Ack!  I didn't realize is has been 3 weeks since i last posted.  I guess I have a big update to write about.

Biggest thing is... we found a place to live!  Yay!  We found it about a week after my last post.  In total it took me almost 4 weeks to find a place.  We are living in a little town called Musselburgh and its just southeast of Edinburgh along the coast.  It takes less then ten minutes longer to get anywhere by bus then it did in Portobello so its not too far away.  Our flat is 2 blocks away from the sea (the Firth of Forth - I love that name)
Getting settled into this flat has been an experience though.  Let me explain...
When I first did the walkthrough, I though this place was just old (as many places here are) it gave a bit of a grungy air but it seemed ok.  I jumped at it because 1. we were desperate to find a place,  2. it was one of the cheapest flats I have seen (£650pcm) 3. it is near the sea and 4. there are not one but TWO bathrooms :)  Unfortunately I didn't notice until we moved in and started really looking at things that I realized that the place was FILTHY.  I mean... nasty gross.  Plus the microwave didn't work, 2 windows have broken blinds, the chest of drawers falls apart if you touch it, and lastly but probably most importantly... one bed had a broken frame and was completely unusable while both beds had mattresses that were so old that it felt as if we were sleeping on some kind of torture rack. soo... I got to work cleaning what absolutely had to be cleaned for life to function and I wrote an email of complaint to the letting agency.  The problem was we didn't move in until late Friday afternoon and so we had to wait until Monday before we would get a response.

Come Tuesday - the letting agency sent us cleaners.  I almost cried with joy.  I had to leave while they were still cleaning and they did a much better job on the places I was around for but I trying not to look a gift horse in the mouth.  They saved me HOURS of work and had a amazing vacuum that actually works so the carpets were a different colour when they were done.  I still had to clean some stuff that they missed but I didn't feel so overwhelmed which was wonderful.  I also got rid of a tonne of crap from the kitchen that was broken and/or unusable.  (yes... the people who last lived here were filthy packrats) Unfortunately our trash bin isn't big enough to hold it all and they only come to pick it up once every other week so I have to get rid of it slowly.

Next the place was clean but majorly lacking in furniture and furnishings and such so I made 3 trips to Costco and Ikea and on the last one ordered some cheep furniture which they delivered earlier this week.  Also, today the landlord had two new beds delivered!  Hooray!! No more bruises from sleeping!

Tomorrow we will have lived here two weeks and it actually feels like we actually have a home now....  I still have a couple of things to clean and I would like some curtains but I don't dread being here anymore.  Also... we have to climb three flights of stairs to get to our flat and I'm walking everywhere so I feel like I'm getting in pretty good shape :)

Now my next problem is finding a job... preferably one that I won't hate, and that will not force me to put Erik in daycare (because daycare costs around £6 an hour here !!! and minimum wage is £6.50)
Wish me luck!

Frustration

Many people have been asking me if we have found a place to live yet.  The answer is no.  Trying to find a place to rent in Edinburgh is a nightmare.  Seriously... Blae read in the newspaper that for every flat that goes on the renting market there are 20 people trying to get it.  I think this is an exaggeration, but from my experience there are between 5-10 people competing with you for each flat.   I have been to 8 or 10 viewings.  I have applied for every one that I possibly can, and so far no luck.  The problem for us is that we don't look good on paper.  We can only promise that we will stay for a year, neither of us has any kind on income yet, and Evan is a student.  the one thing that we have going for us is that we are a family, but when we are competing with 10 other people for a flat, the chances of getting it are slim to none.  I find myself going to a viewing hoping that it is an overpriced dump so that nobody else will want it.
The good news... there is a possibly that I am afraid to hope for... There are a minority of property companies that don't select from as many applications they can get, they have a "first come first served" policy.  If we can beat everyone else in putting a deposit down, then we can get a place to live.  I have a viewing for one of these tomorrow, so Evan and I have a plan and I will keep you posted to let you know if it works ;)

At the moment we are living at a place we found on airbnb.  Its a guest room in a family's house.  They have two little girls and are super nice people.  They feed us breakfast, let us use their kitchen, and even gave us a shelf to keep our food.  Needless to say we have been eating a lot better, and Erik loves having kids to play with! I felt much better about our living situation since we came here, and they don't mind if we stay for a while.  Also, the bed is much more comfy!  Our location is in a part of Edinburgh called Portobello and we are very near the sea.  There is a huge long beach which we explored on Sunday.  Its very nice but the wind that comes off the water is very cold.  Despite the cold, there are a lot of people that go there.  Erik loved the beach and Blae put up a video of him on Facebook that you should check out.

Aside from finding a place to live (which fills most of my time) I get to do lots of exploring!  I went to Costco on Monday with made me a little home sick I think.  It was wonderful and I can't wait to get a flat so that I can get Erik a couple of the toys they had there!  I had a hot dog, and although it was the same price in pounds as it is in dollars at home, it was way better.  Wanna know why??? They put steamed onions on it!  Oh my word... so good!

My list (so far) of things that are better here:
-Chocolate is one of the few things that is a lot cheeper here so I have been gorging myself. :D
-They include the tax in the price you see which is so nice! (though tax here is 20%!!!!)
-Packaged food is healthier (if not as tasty)
-There are 2nd hand stores everywhere!
-The bus system is much more extensive and they have free wifi on all the busses
-The road between Costco and Ikea is called "Costkea way"
-You can leave bread out for days and it doesn't go stale
-The ocean

Things that are not as good:
-Everything is so freaking expensive!
-I want a place to live...

Write me and let me know whats going on with you!  I miss you guys!

Exploring the City

Today is Saturday.  I tried to go to a flat viewing this morning, but because I am still figuring out the bus system I got there late and missed it... the worst part is, I'm not sure exactly why the bus didn't go where I thought it would so I can't even say that I learned anything.  I just have to pay better attention I guess.  Hopefully next week goes better!  I have 5 viewings scheduled by the end of Wednesday.  One of them has to work out right?

As a side note, let me explain how getting a place to rent works here:  Most places won't let you rent a property without going to a viewing.  Viewings are scheduled once or twice a week and if you can make it perfect, but if you are working or have class then you are SOL.  Then, if you manage to make it to the viewing and you decide you want the place, you have to apply.  Being from out of the UK this is much more difficult then it should be.  Most places either require you to have a UK guarantor or pay 6 months rent up front, plus all the routine stuff like a credit check and they need to know your favourite flavour of ice cream.  Also, Rent is about 30% more expensive then in Edmonton.  Stupid Canadian dollar....

At least the flat was pretty close to the centre of the city so Erik and I walked around and saw some sights!  We walked the royal mile where some street performers we gathering crowds and we did a little window shopping.  If I leave here without buying any cashmere I will die!  I am in love.  There are beautiful scarves everywhere but I think I saw some cashmere pyjama bottoms and I want them.... so.... bad!  Also, I now have a strong urge to own as much tweed as possible.  Tweed is so cool!  (Just imagine Blaeby in a 3 piece tweed suit!!)  The city is so great to explore!  I hope I get a chance to go to everything!  Sometimes, when you live somewhere, you don't take advantage of all of the awesome things you can do and then its too late.  (For example, I have still never gotten around to going to the Yardbird Suite in Edmonton)

Earlier today, while walking along a cobblestone street, I was unintentionally eavesdropping on a Scottish couple.  I have to say I was a little impressed at how well I have been able to understand people here, I means some people have stronger accents then others and I miss a word here and there but I have done pretty well. Unfortunately, my self-reverie was cut short when I later tried to ask a bus driver if his bus was going where I wanted.  I have NO idea what he said!  I eventually decided that his response was far to complicated to be a yes and that I should try a different bus.  (I later realized that is was also too complicated to be a no... so I have no idea)  Oh well, next bus got me home just fine.

I'm excited to go to church tomorrow, Evan says our ward is really nice!  (For those who don't know I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints)  I'll keep you posted on my quest for a home... Hopefully next time I'll have good news!

Post the First

Yup... Starting a Blog again by popular demand (of one person, thanks Mel)  This time I will keep readers posted of my life since moving to Edinburgh, Scotland from Edmonton, Alberta.

As for the title of my Blog, its my way of saying I have no clue what the crap is going on (In more then one way) because....
1. We don't have a place to live yet
2. We don't have enough money to make it the whole year for Evan's degree unless one (or both) of us works.
3. We have zero plans or clue about what is happening after his masters is done
4.  I have to re-learn how to shop, travel, and keep Blaeby entertained, among other things

If it sounds like I'm complaining its probably because I am, but my attitude is coloured by the fact that I have a really bad cold and I am sitting in a tiny room surrounded by suitcases.  Secretly though, I'm also excited.  I have always loved a challenge and can't wait to get a handle on things here!

My trip here went much better then I expected.  Don't get me wrong, traveling across the ocean with a 20 month old and a nasty cold is unpleasant at best, however... we ended up with an entire row to ourselves on the flight from Edmonton to Iceland (6 hours), on a supposedly full flight, which was awesome!  Plus, Blaeby slept for most of the trip.  I didn't sleep a wink, but I'll take what I can get.

Evan was waiting for us after we got through immigration and it was wonderful to see him again!  Blaeby acted as if he had never left and went to him right away.  Evan was prepared for him to play strange because it was a month since they had last seen each other but Erik was just like "Of course I'll hang out with my dad while you go out of eyesight for a few minutes mom." (If you know Erik, you will know that this is a pretty big deal)

We have done a little exploring and the city is beautiful!  One thing I have been able to determine so far is that I have to re-read Harry Potter.  My word, there is sooo much stuff that Harry Potter is based off of here!

As of now, we are staying at a place that Evan found on Airbnb.  It is pretty small and doesn't have a kitchen, which makes food a little tricky.  On the other hand, the room has it's own entrance and bathroom and is fairly modern and quite nice.  My biggest complaint is the bed is brutal.  You can feel each individual spring digging into your back.  It would be the easiest fix, all you have to do is buy a mattress topper!  But nope...  It leaves me battling metal springs and an incessant cough for sleep. We are looking for a new place though, and hopefully will find one soon!

What happens next? Who knows! Until next time...



PS.  If you wanna chat with me, give me Blae a call on Facebook messenger, but please keep in mind that we are 7 hours ahead over here.  (Thanks!)