Another big move

So I finally made it to Edinburgh! I moved the last week in August and am finally settled. Of course I have been working during the week so haven't had much time. But to move I took a 4 days weekend and we got everything we needed to get done in 2.5 days. Thankfully we had some help packing the van back in Kingswinford and unpacking was easier. 

We spent the Friday night on the sofa cushions (the sofa was much further back in the van) watching tv(which was on the top), and sleeping on air beds. 

Thankfully the Saturday onwards was more comfortable.

I got some amazing house warming gifts from Caroline (I have eaten most of them. Oops!) and a lovely bunch of flowers delivered from a friend in London. My new apartment has an amazing south facing bay window so gets the sun most of the day. 

And this time I have a 2 bedroom place so the spare room is set up as an office (and can be easily converted to a guest bedroom). Well it will be soon. Still a work in progress. (The other side of the room is currently the dumping ground for everything I don't know what to do with yet.) But I am super excited about this after lockdown in a tiny one bedroom flat in London. 

Caroline can round on the Saturday to help but we mostly ended up taking a break and having a giant lunch. But I got mom to try Turkish food so worth it. It has been my mission to get both parents trying new things whenever I can and it turns out both parents love it!

Sunday was a trip to Ikea (why do you always come out with a load of things you didn't know about going it but suddenly can't live without?) and a huge supermarket shop. Followed by putting up the furniture (I love doing flat-pack furniture). I love my new place a lot more than London so, so far, this moving is working out just right. :)

Moving and Father's day

Saturday was the big move day. I have spent the last few weeks buying and attempting to sort out everything I need. Unfortunately my letting agency is the most incompetent I have ever know. So this has not been easy. 

Thankfully Kerry and Craig offered their services in helping me move and brought the van and mini (which fits a surprisingly large enough in it). Though I think even they were surprised. I have had to buy practically everything. 

Rearranging the van.

Stuffing things in everywhere.

 We loaded up 3 vehicles and hit the motorway. I led the way, until we got lost anyway. (I blame dad!) They all moaned how slow I was going too slow at times. But I only have a little car and it does not like going fast up hill with a load. But we got there.
And then had to wait. About 2 hours. Because my letting agency had double booked my check-in and no one knew where my keys where.

Not impressed.

Dad and I went for a walk and ended up watching some escapee horses who were not happy and stopped all the traffic (not that is was going anywhere fast anyway).

Not sure whether to keep running

Caught.

 We also walked down to the river, which isn't far. Though the weather was not great.

River.

 Thankfully they sorted it out eventually. On the evening, after unloading and tiding, we went out for a meal to celebrate and for father's day. (He got all his presents on Friday night.)

Enjoying.

Smiles.

The food was amazing (I happily live near a very nice restaurant) though the portion sizes were huge.  Still I know have food for a few nights! Today Kerry and Craig left early while me, mom and dad did some food shopping and tried to do some other bits. It didn't quite work out as we got the wrong batteries and need some adapters. But we tried. And I drove in my first London traffic jam. Always fun. I'll put some photos up when I actually get proper furniture and it looks nicer.
Start the new job tomorrow. Eeeek! :)

Moving again and Roaches

On Saturday I moved into my new apartment in La Laguna, very near the Institute. On Monday morning, I moved out again in a hotel for a few nights.
Sunday was ok. Rodrigo, who I will be sharing the flat with, flew to Scotland early in the morning and I had the place to myself. I didn't see anything nastier than a little spider.

Then I woke up Monday morning and nearly stepped on a cockroach in the kitchen. I had bare feet. There was a LOT of screaming and jumping about before dropping a very heavy chopping board on it. And then I found a second. The screaming and killing was repeated. At that point I grabbed some things and ran! Really fast!
I can deal with most bugs. But there is just something so gross about cockroaches. And they move really fast. Hate them!!!! I sometimes really hate living alone. You have to deal with everything yourself. I have to meet the landlord (lots more charades I guess) this afternoon.

I have moved to a hotel for a few nights until they exterminate the bugs and I decided whether I can face going back or try to find somewhere new to stay. The hotel is nice, though the shower seems to periodically shoot jets of boiling water. I guess a few minor burns are a small price to pay for sleeping cockroach free. But the hotel also has a spa so I have booked a welcome massage (great discount) and hopefully I can use the pool and sauna. Also my tub in my room has jets!!! I see a night in with wine and a book happening.

But the good news is I finally have everything (paperwork-wise) sorted to work here until Christmas. I still have to do a medical checkup (which is going to be interesting given the language barrier) but I think all the important stuff is done. Including the travel certificate so hopefully I will be able to go observing next week. :)

N.B: I have just meet the landlords and they are going to set off an industrial bug bomb in the apartment. Death to the Cockroaches!!!!!!

home and another move

I had a great time at home, though not long enough. A lot of time was spend chilling out with mom and dad which was brilliant. The weather has not been great (of course!) but that didn't stop us breaking out the Pimms even if we did end up inside instead of in the garden.

Pimms

 I didn't take many photos. Mainly because I was too lazy. Mom managed to get most of the week off work (YAY!!!) so we went to lunch a few times and did some shopping. I also had practical things to do like unpack my boxes and repack. (The flight to Tenerife only allowed me 30 kg and only 5kg in hand luggage which was a serious pain and required a lot of sacrifices.)

I did get some time to play with my new lens as well and moms orchids made great subjects!

The last night we got a Balti in (with a few nice glasses of wine of course). I have seriously missed good Indian food.

Last night feast.

It just wasn't enough time at home. :(

Sunday I flew out to Tenerife. The flight was ok, though everyone was very excited to be going on their holidays. Except me who is still dreaming of a holiday. I got in late-ish last night and thankfully Ismael, my new boss, picked me up from the airport (complete with paper with my new on). :) 

My hotel is very nice (though missing a kettle to make tea - something I intend to rectify later day). It over looks a little square and is close to the centre of town. I haven't had chance to explore yet but I have 2 weeks here so plenty of time. And the weather (in Santa Cruz anyway) is lovely! (Not so much in La Laguna.)

Dawn view from my hotel

park outside the hotel 

Cute!

I have spent today starting the long process of getting things sorted out. There is a ton of paperwork that need to be done before I can actually start work and more importantly get paid! Now to find somewhere to live.

Last week in Blacksburg

The last week has been a bit stressful with the move. Everything had to be sorted, sold, packed, shipped etc within 10 days. Plus sorting a bunch of forms for the next job. Thankfully I sold all of my furniture. Which did mean for the last week I was sleeping and sitting on the floor.

My "sofa"

 And then there was all the cleaning. I spent Wednesday and Thursday (when not working) just cleaning. It was made more bearable with some music and a great bottle of wine!

Bribery to clean

 On my last day at work, the weather was gorgeous and I got some nice last pictures of campus.

Burruss Hall

War Memorial 

VT (and road works)

The campus is definitely the prettiest I have been on. (Minus all the current road works.)
For the past week I have been helping the VT police department with orientation, doing demos of the RAD stuff. I am really going to my police department and my friends there.

Watching the presentation

 The last night was exhausting but I managed to get everything done. And finished off in the morning.

My last BB breakfast

I got a lift to the airport from Nicole and we had a lovely lunch before checking in. (My luggage was exactly at the maximum weight.)

The first part of the trip from Roanoke to Washington Dulles was mostly uneventful though we did have some serious turbulence thanks to thunderstorms. And I managed to be leaving Dulles from a food dead zone it seems. The flight out was delayed. First, they hadn't stowed the luggage. Then the electrics kept crashing through the cabin and then the cockpit. They had some great movies but I ended having to restart and fast forward the avengers film about 5 times as it kept resetting. Then they couldn't detach the outside stairs from the plane. Thats a new one!

I was hoping to catch up with Caroline at Heathrow as we both landed at the same time. But you needed a boarding pass to get to where she was leaving from! :-( 

I am now home, after a lovely English breakfast in the sun (it has, of course, since clouded over), a shower and a nap. The main reason I am updating this is to stay awake! I have to stay awake so I avoid jet lag. Which considering I got no sleep on the plane is not easy! 

But it's good to be home even if it is only for a short time. :)

Floyd jamboree

The past week has been crazy. My travel plans changed when I got the new job contract and I am now leaving the US two weeks earlier than planned. Which means I only have one week left to sort everything out. So crazy stressful. I have managed to sell nearly everything and early Friday morning finally got everything inventoried and the paperwork (excessive amounts of paperwork!!!) sent and shipping sorted. 

My apartment is a mess. (And actually now looks even worse as I have sold even more furniture so there is more on the floor!)

Chaos!!!!!

However the YMCA must love me. They got a ton of stuff and I still have more! It all has to go.

1/4 of the YMCA donations. 

 So Friday, after finally getting the shipping sorted, I took a bit of time off to chill out and watched some of Game of Thrones (playing season 5 catch-up). And on the evening I meet up with Steve. He was teaching in Floyd for a few hours in the evening, so I tagged along. We headed out early and went to get BBQ. We have been hearing about this place and it did not disappoint. It was only a truck stop really but the food was so good.

True south BBQ

With Beans, Sweet potato fries and the required sweet tea!

It was a bit uncomfortable as there were a group of guys standing by the truck near where we were eating, showing off their guns to each other. It was a true complete American experience. :-/

We had a bit of time before Steve's class so we grabbed a glass of wine, true southern style.

In the mason jar.

As Steve had to teach, I amused myself at the Floyd Country Store where they have a Jamboree every Friday night. The first band was gospel. The music was very pretty but I'm not really into religious music or gospel. 

Gospel

It was standing room only which was actually great as I found a stop near an AirCon vent. As it was so hot in there, it might have been the best spot!

Enthralled. 

I chatted the the couple in front of me who were lovely. And when they found a seat, they snagged me one too. :-)

The country is still a store, with the front section selling all sorts of interesting foods and cute signs.

The store

The second band were more to my taste, with some great mountain music. And at this point the dance floor was packed. I am not really sure about the dancing. It was, for amateurs, hopping from one foot to the other, and for the more advanced, doing the same with a few tap shuffle steps throw in. I decided to just photo it and not join in .

Second band.

Dancing

Having a great time.

Fiddle on fire.

Waltzing.

I chatted to lot of people and just lost out for the free cap for the the furthest travel to someone from Norway. :-( But the people were all so lovely and the music was fun. 

It was a good way to spend my last Friday night in the US. (This time next week I will be home!) I am hoping to weather improves before I leave. With the UK in a heat wave, it really doesn't seem fair we are having heavy rain!