Sunday 24th April

This morning Shane had volunteered us to attend a meeting of a friend of his regarding being a part of whatever pyramid scheme is the fashion these days. I had to flatly refuse as I value my friendships far too much to be loading shoddy goods off on you all.

After this the three of us were required to go on a merry excursion to investigate our possible new abode. However, Shane, the slacker, puts it off until he has to go to work and forces Craig and I to investigate on our own. Keep in mind dear people I've said about 20 words to Craig in my five weeks here so I think both of us were equally resistant to this suggestion but necessity overruled our personal disgruntlement.

What had been sold to us as a 10 minute tube ride, actually became 2 bus trips and a 10 minute walk. However, at least I have some inkling now how the buses work. Much like the tube system overcrowding is the rule.

In the last year or so I've been having a number of dreams, usually varied, however with a recurring setting. For a moment during our journey I believed I'd found it, or a part of it, as the dreamplace is probably as big as a suburb. I'm not so convinced now but for a second there I was a little shaken. In explanation, it was a large roundabout, admittedly the prettiest roundabout I've ever seen in the world (a hill covered with tulips), with 4 or 5 exits, one leading under a bridge, edged by period buildings and a cherry tree.

Anyway, I digress. We reach our destination and stand staring at it for 20 minutes while waiting for the owner to answer his phone. Whatever hope I harboured at this point ran for the hills. For anyone who's familiar with "the projects" in Melbourne, you will understand the kind of building we were looking at. A building high as the sky, long, yet narrow with about 500 windows, crammed with immigrants etc etc. Here they are called "estates". The building was filthy and I was a little scared to say the least.

The apartment itself was rather nice and certainly what we are looking for but I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

On the way home, I gave my seat to a little old lady who whinged loudly for all the bus to hear, how migrants were overtaking the country. I wondered if she'd just stepped from a time machine from 100 years ago.

Anyway, I've no idea if we're going to take this place or not. From what I gather, this is how things work around here. Shane rings his mum with his opinion. In the meantime she, on the sly, rings Craig at work for his opinion and then reports back to either party. All the questions I ask are ignored until I overhear Shane speaking with his mother and explaining in full details to her the answers I require. Yes, frustrating.

I've decided I'm already quite fond of Earls Court and should probably just get my own place when I have the cash.