1. Filthy worn beige carpeting.
2. Shiny gold faux moire bedspreads that fold over the pillow and drop to the ground.
3. Clay colored nubby fleece blankets that haven't seen a washer in who knows how long.
4. Burgundy and gold flecked industrial chenille on the sofas and chairs.
5. Shallow bathroom counters that are barely 6 inches.
6. A drain in the bathroom that foams up with pipe stink and detergent foam when you run the washing machine.
7. A wall mounted heating unit that doesn't warm up the 2 bedrooms.
8. Living out of suitcases!!!!!!
Tomorrow we go car shopping.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Finding a House
We finally settled on a six month lease for a furnished 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom in the lovely tree lined neighborhood of North Adelaide. It's an older stone house with high ceilings, elaborate moldings and stained glass windows. I'm not one to go for carpeting because of my allergies and difficulty keeping it clean especially with kids, but there is carpeting in the hallway, front bedroom and living area off the kitchen. It's kind of a sky blue, but at least it is nice quality carpeting. We got really lucky the the owners have agreed to furnish the home. The leasing agent told me the owners are hiring a interior decorator to funishe it. COOL!! I'm excited to see what they do. I'm hoping it's just what I would do instead of frumpy victorian.
We don't have a back yard for the girls but we do have a nice walled in brick patio. The down side is that our "car park" is part of this patio, and there is a roll up garage door that you open on the side to pull the car into. Another oddity about the house is that it is right beside a dentist office which offers zoom whitening for $695. Really the neighborhood is a bit of a NORC (naturally occuring retirement community) and there is actually elderly housing on the street beside ours. But sprinkled amongst the dentist office and old age homes are some very pretty homes.
Anyway, I had no idea it would be such a chore to find a furnished home. I did go look at one that a realtor didn't want to show me, because we have children. Of course, I had to play the role of the pushy American, and insist on seeing it in person. The young, unsophisticated leasing agent actually told me she didn't want me wasting her time by seeing it, but I wanted to decide for myself whether or not it was suitable. Actually, It was beautiful and full of character and antiques, but the reason I didn't think it would work is because the furniture and beds looked small and uncomfortable. The whole time I was with her, I told her I loved it and it was perfect for us. Of course I insisted on an application. She was not into this at all. And while I was trying to keep her hostage by trying to fill out the application at the house, a small black insect, smaller than a fly but bigger than a gnat landed on the center of her doughy forhead right between the eyes. It's not a good look, if out of nowhere an insect lands on your face. It kind of gives one the impression that you never wash.
Observations in Australia
In Target we Trust, does not apply in Australia. Actually I should have been tipped off by the black type and different font of the logo followed by a period. Then I went in the store and saw headless mannequins all over the place displaying wretched apparel. I was suspicious but not clued in that this was Not the Target from the states, so I poked around until I found the downstairs for electonics,toiletries,etc. I just needed a few toiletries. I got some Q-Tips, which I was desperate for after traveling 20 hours on a plane. But these of course weren't real Q-tips just have a teeny tiny bit of cotton on the end, so that you might as well poke a twig in your ear.
We don't have a back yard for the girls but we do have a nice walled in brick patio. The down side is that our "car park" is part of this patio, and there is a roll up garage door that you open on the side to pull the car into. Another oddity about the house is that it is right beside a dentist office which offers zoom whitening for $695. Really the neighborhood is a bit of a NORC (naturally occuring retirement community) and there is actually elderly housing on the street beside ours. But sprinkled amongst the dentist office and old age homes are some very pretty homes.
Anyway, I had no idea it would be such a chore to find a furnished home. I did go look at one that a realtor didn't want to show me, because we have children. Of course, I had to play the role of the pushy American, and insist on seeing it in person. The young, unsophisticated leasing agent actually told me she didn't want me wasting her time by seeing it, but I wanted to decide for myself whether or not it was suitable. Actually, It was beautiful and full of character and antiques, but the reason I didn't think it would work is because the furniture and beds looked small and uncomfortable. The whole time I was with her, I told her I loved it and it was perfect for us. Of course I insisted on an application. She was not into this at all. And while I was trying to keep her hostage by trying to fill out the application at the house, a small black insect, smaller than a fly but bigger than a gnat landed on the center of her doughy forhead right between the eyes. It's not a good look, if out of nowhere an insect lands on your face. It kind of gives one the impression that you never wash.
Observations in Australia
In Target we Trust, does not apply in Australia. Actually I should have been tipped off by the black type and different font of the logo followed by a period. Then I went in the store and saw headless mannequins all over the place displaying wretched apparel. I was suspicious but not clued in that this was Not the Target from the states, so I poked around until I found the downstairs for electonics,toiletries,etc. I just needed a few toiletries. I got some Q-Tips, which I was desperate for after traveling 20 hours on a plane. But these of course weren't real Q-tips just have a teeny tiny bit of cotton on the end, so that you might as well poke a twig in your ear.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
First Posting
I can't believe we have been in Adelaide for almost a week. While I have nothing big to report, like place to live, schools for the girls or new friends, I can report on the trials and tribulations of trying to find a house with 2 young girls who are jet lagged and bored out of their gourds.
The Weather
It's been storming and drizzling every day but one since we have been here. The average temp is in the 50's.
The Hotel
Luckily we have an apartment with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Our room is trashed with toys and stuffed animals. We literally packed what amounts to an entire extra large suitcase of kids crap. It's nearly impossible for the house keepers to clean because it is sprawled all over the rooms. While I spend hour upon hour on the computer frantically searching for a furnished home (which barely exists) the girls find more things to unpack and spread around about. Basically they are held hostage by the bad weather and a mother who can't be peeled from the computer. They in turn torture me with fighting and demands of candy and sweets.
Jet Lag
All of my years of sleep training have gone out the window. Every night is musical beds. Ina now REFUSES to sleep with Lola and has taken to sleeping on the couch with her small thin baby blankets. Lola falls alseep every evening in the car while we are house hunting, so we have to put her into bed with out dinner. Because it is IMPOSSIBLE to wake them once they have crashed. Then she wakes up at midnight because she is starving and demands food then has to sleep with Mama. Lola likes to fling her arms all over my head and kick me and lay sideways. It is unbearable, so either I or Albert ends up moving to the empty bed, where Ina joins us because she has had a nightmare. I asked Albert what the nightmare was about last night and he said it was that we made her move to Australia. He was joking. She didn't tell us. Last night I moved to the empty bed, so Lola woke up pissed that I was not sleeping with her and started screaming at the top of her lungs and bossing me around. This particular morning in her fury of kicking and bossing and she started pushing my booby, (because Ina and Lola are endlessly fascinated with my boobs). Of course I told Lola to stop hitting my booby and she said, "No, it's MY booby". I'm sure this is too much information. But it makes me laugh.
This is all I can write for now. I must entertain the girls and get us off to our house inspection appointments. My next posting will be about house hunting and driving in Adelaide. The combination of the 2 brought me to tears last night. But then I skipped dinner to have a soak with a glass of wine and felt much better.
Observations on the Australia
I didn't know "Mightn't" was a word. I have to figure out how to insert it in my daily dialogue.
The Weather
It's been storming and drizzling every day but one since we have been here. The average temp is in the 50's.
The Hotel
Luckily we have an apartment with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Our room is trashed with toys and stuffed animals. We literally packed what amounts to an entire extra large suitcase of kids crap. It's nearly impossible for the house keepers to clean because it is sprawled all over the rooms. While I spend hour upon hour on the computer frantically searching for a furnished home (which barely exists) the girls find more things to unpack and spread around about. Basically they are held hostage by the bad weather and a mother who can't be peeled from the computer. They in turn torture me with fighting and demands of candy and sweets.
Jet Lag
All of my years of sleep training have gone out the window. Every night is musical beds. Ina now REFUSES to sleep with Lola and has taken to sleeping on the couch with her small thin baby blankets. Lola falls alseep every evening in the car while we are house hunting, so we have to put her into bed with out dinner. Because it is IMPOSSIBLE to wake them once they have crashed. Then she wakes up at midnight because she is starving and demands food then has to sleep with Mama. Lola likes to fling her arms all over my head and kick me and lay sideways. It is unbearable, so either I or Albert ends up moving to the empty bed, where Ina joins us because she has had a nightmare. I asked Albert what the nightmare was about last night and he said it was that we made her move to Australia. He was joking. She didn't tell us. Last night I moved to the empty bed, so Lola woke up pissed that I was not sleeping with her and started screaming at the top of her lungs and bossing me around. This particular morning in her fury of kicking and bossing and she started pushing my booby, (because Ina and Lola are endlessly fascinated with my boobs). Of course I told Lola to stop hitting my booby and she said, "No, it's MY booby". I'm sure this is too much information. But it makes me laugh.
This is all I can write for now. I must entertain the girls and get us off to our house inspection appointments. My next posting will be about house hunting and driving in Adelaide. The combination of the 2 brought me to tears last night. But then I skipped dinner to have a soak with a glass of wine and felt much better.
Observations on the Australia
I didn't know "Mightn't" was a word. I have to figure out how to insert it in my daily dialogue.
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