A different experience...
The apartment is furnished, but one does need the kitchen gear and such, so I got to 3 yard sales today...I brought two of the cloth shopping bags (the most I can carry on the bus) and hoped for the best.
First place - rather sad, the elderly aunt of the folks who were there had been moved from hospital to nursing home and wasn't coming back. A long lifetime's accumulation of stuff, in a definite mess of a studio apartment. Not much could be teased out of it - but I did find a new set of decent-weight silverware, a vegetable steamer insert, some kitchen towels, and two Pyrex baking dishes. And a small vacuum - elderly, but worked, and $15. Paid $25 for all that. I tucked all but the vacuum cleaner in my grocery bag; the husband said he would bring the vacuum cleaner to my place after the sale was over. (And he did - it didn't occur to me not to trust him to do so.)
Second place - one of the moving sales handled by my Good Riddance Girl buddy, today being the last day for it. I picked up a knife block and knives, some more casserole dishes, spatter shield, kitchen utensils, a tablecloth (which may well be my 'door' into my bedroom), a majolica wine cooler, and similar. Lela said to just tuck them in the back of her car, she'd drop them by around 5.30, and just leave the other things too...
(The sales where she thinks I will find things she says she will come pick me up when she heads over to tag things, so I get first pick. What a find!)
Third place - similar but more upbeat version of first story - a fragile elder woman - still sharp mind, but no longer comfortable living alone - was, with a younger friend's assistance, selling things from her condo in preparation for her move to a retirement community on island. Pillows, step-stool, desk lamp, kitchen stuff; she had a fold-out wooden screen and a new looking microwave that I may also get. She moves out Monday, the friend is also her Realtor, who said we would just make arrangements to transfer the stuff to the apartment this week or next weekend some time.
A good day. It was gorgeous here, in the low/mid 70s and sunny, I got a little crispy hiking around in the sun, but had a fun time of it.
Tonight I got an email from the lady who runs the rental organization I've used for my tourist quarters both times, who offers an ocean front cottage, furnished, from end of April on long term lease for $1500/month, if I will check the meter readings at a handful of places as tenants leave. I'd jump on that if I hadn't signed the lease on the Spittal Pond place.
When I set up my Capital G account, I apparently unleashed an ability for 'cooperating firms' to contact me, and as a result I have signed on to be a 'secret shopper' in town. That will be fun.
Lela (Good Riddance Girl) was short one of her staff members today, and I will probably offer to step in in those situations once I'm settled. That would be rather a kick, too.
Next weekend: the Bermuda Trust jumble sale, supposed to be best on island.
And I have been helping some neighbors hunt for their black kitten, who seems to have slipped away. They were hunting in the relative dark last night, as I came home from emailing, and I put my stuff down and went back to help. Buddy apparently is a friendly and lovely creature, the daughter-who-is-away's kitten; he would have gone up to anyone and flopped over to allow his tummy to be rubbed. No luck last night, and when I checked in after returning from my yard sales he still hadn't shown up. Poo.
Hugs all! Write!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Misc photos...
Some photos -
- banana bunches from a garden on my way home from the bus stop;
- parking that I hope is for people who have left together, and will return together, from some trip;
- the Northrock internet antenna/whatever;
- the whole bus system is this blue and pink scheme...
I'm legit - mostly, at least!
A good couple days here -
Thursday - I’m legit!
My work permit came thru Thursday morning, and a couple hours later so did my settlement check, which helps pay for utility deposits and such. Now – two big steps yet to see accomplished: my social insurance number, and a bank account. Both are necessary for me to get paid. Neither could be obtained without the work permit. We got an extension till mid-day Friday to get these two pieces pulled together and still get me paid next week.
Ann (our department administrative secretary) thought she had it arranged so that I could walk the work permit, a copy of the passport and the application in to a particular member of the Social Insurance staff, and walk out with my social insurance number. Ooops – the woman was there, but her two coworkers were out (sick and in a class), she was holding down the fort solo, and NOT so she could deal with my thing right then. “Call back tomorrow morning…”
With work permit in hand, along with my passport and the deposit slip verifying my payment to my new landlady for the apartment (proof of residence – like a utility bill, but also a letter from the landlord, or a copy of the lease – is required to open a bank account, along with some money to put into it) I flipped a coin and headed to the Bank of Bermuda to try and get the bank account going. Forty-five minutes later, with one person in the line having been served, and not sure my deposit slip would do it as proof of residency, I gave up and headed back to make a meeting at the office.
Once through with that I called the Bank of Bermuda to see about setting up an appointment – the next one available is Monday noonish – and Butterfield Bank, which suggested that I be waiting when they open at 9 Friday morning. (The third banking option, Capital G, is actually my preference – they are very competitive, offer a number of services the other banks don’t – but I was told you have to work here at least 6 months before they can provide you an account.)
So guess where I will be Friday morning>? I’ve already cleared it with Christine.
I’m legit as a tenant as well. After work I took the bus over to the apartment across from Spittal Pond to meet my landlady and sign the lease. I also wanted to check whether the dishes and odd bits I’d noticed earlier would stay with the apartment (yes), whether drapes could be accommodated (with effort), whether there was a microwave or if that was my imagination (yes, but not sure if it works)…Mrs. Waldron gave me a key, so I can get into it before I move if I want (tho with the bus schedule that isn’t likely.)
I stopped at the Modern Mart for my short list of groceries (veg, fruit, water) and to celebrate picked up a bottle of wine AND – a first – the one thing I have found with a smaller price in Bermuda than in the US – a package of Pepperidge Farms cookies – GingerMan for choice, I’ve been wanting something crunchy and a little sweet. The $3.39 pre-printed package price ws retagged for $3.19 – this, in a place where the norm would be about $5.50 to $6.
Friday - Yeah!
This morning Ann was able to get the social insurance number verbally - I still have nothing hard-copy, but the number is the critical part.
AND I have a bank account, and it is with Capital G. I'd checked the phone book ad to see what their hours were, saw they opened at 8.30 (in line with their doing more than the other banks, which open at 9), figured I'd stop in before walking over to Butterfield Bank and see what they told me this time. The lovely young woman handling the account opening never said a thing about a 6-month wait (and of course neither did I), got everything rounded together, and got a promise of sorts for the issuance of an account number by noon when getting it next week was the typical timeframe. (That is because they are shifting over to a new computer software system and there is a resultant backlog.)
Capital G doesn't do checking accounts - they have various forms of savings accounts, with debit card access and online bill pay. They refund the ATM usage fees when a client uses the ATM of any other bank, anywhere in the world, immediately expanding their 'network' of ATMs many-fold. They are working out ways to deal with international banking that - hope on, hope ever - may allow linking of the accounts and the ability to transfer money without the redundant fees. The staff so far has been rather elegantly helpful and positive.
Now, they didn't actually call me by noon; I went by during my lunch break and waited for them to wind up whatever needed to happen to get me an account number. They were willing to release it to me so long as no deposit other than the one I opened the account with was going in until next week (no problem there!) I practically boogied up the hill back to the office. Ann copied everything and rushed it to HR and Finance; no one was around (amazing how the offices are ghost-townish on Fridays), but she left both voice mail and email about it with probably half a dozen people, trying to ensure there will be a paycheck for me next Friday.
Ann deserves flowers, or cookies, or something. She has been tenacious about all this.
AND - I got the power and gas accounts set up. I'd been told to expect that would require a visit with the landlady out to their offices located such that I'd need to take a taxi; online it appeared I could at least try to set up the accounts at a joint office downtown. That was indeed the case - sitting at little work stations amid Viking ranges, commercial dryers, vacuum cleaners and fridges were stations for the two related but separate utilities. Same forms, twice. Really helped that I had the name of the last tenant of my apartment - they 'cheated' and pulled up the account that way, and just transferred it over pretty easily.
They were both learning new software systems, too, so the actual inputting of the info took a little while as they worked their way thru the multiple screens, but good spirits, good results.
AND - while it isn't quite set up, I'm close, so close, on getting the wireless internet service set up. Someone in the building has used Northrock before so they are comfortable they provide good wireless service out there; and the little antenna or whatever has gone on the building before with no issues. Mrs. Waldron has to agree to it, but she hadn't realized the one that had been there was no longer there so there wouldnt be multiples - and these things are small. I'll post a photo to give an idea.
So - the best of the 'jumble sales' (aka charity yard sales) is next weekend (not tomorrow) - Bermuda National Trust's fundraiser jumble sale and auction, held at a building at the Botanical Gardens. This is one sale that apparently consistently gets great high end stuff - wealthy folks and well to do ex-pats donate, we lesser beings buy the stuff. Weirdly, the jumble sale is Thursday and Friday. The auction is Saturday, tho we can see what is up for auction on the jumble sale days.
I also have a list of the estate sales for this weekend. Granted, I'm not toting back rugs and drafting tables on the bus, but I'll try to fill in the odds and ends I'll need at least to get started, and maybe there will be something great to be discovered.
Oh - and multiple offers of vehicular assistance from co-workers!
Thursday - I’m legit!
My work permit came thru Thursday morning, and a couple hours later so did my settlement check, which helps pay for utility deposits and such. Now – two big steps yet to see accomplished: my social insurance number, and a bank account. Both are necessary for me to get paid. Neither could be obtained without the work permit. We got an extension till mid-day Friday to get these two pieces pulled together and still get me paid next week.
Ann (our department administrative secretary) thought she had it arranged so that I could walk the work permit, a copy of the passport and the application in to a particular member of the Social Insurance staff, and walk out with my social insurance number. Ooops – the woman was there, but her two coworkers were out (sick and in a class), she was holding down the fort solo, and NOT so she could deal with my thing right then. “Call back tomorrow morning…”
With work permit in hand, along with my passport and the deposit slip verifying my payment to my new landlady for the apartment (proof of residence – like a utility bill, but also a letter from the landlord, or a copy of the lease – is required to open a bank account, along with some money to put into it) I flipped a coin and headed to the Bank of Bermuda to try and get the bank account going. Forty-five minutes later, with one person in the line having been served, and not sure my deposit slip would do it as proof of residency, I gave up and headed back to make a meeting at the office.
Once through with that I called the Bank of Bermuda to see about setting up an appointment – the next one available is Monday noonish – and Butterfield Bank, which suggested that I be waiting when they open at 9 Friday morning. (The third banking option, Capital G, is actually my preference – they are very competitive, offer a number of services the other banks don’t – but I was told you have to work here at least 6 months before they can provide you an account.)
So guess where I will be Friday morning>? I’ve already cleared it with Christine.
I’m legit as a tenant as well. After work I took the bus over to the apartment across from Spittal Pond to meet my landlady and sign the lease. I also wanted to check whether the dishes and odd bits I’d noticed earlier would stay with the apartment (yes), whether drapes could be accommodated (with effort), whether there was a microwave or if that was my imagination (yes, but not sure if it works)…Mrs. Waldron gave me a key, so I can get into it before I move if I want (tho with the bus schedule that isn’t likely.)
I stopped at the Modern Mart for my short list of groceries (veg, fruit, water) and to celebrate picked up a bottle of wine AND – a first – the one thing I have found with a smaller price in Bermuda than in the US – a package of Pepperidge Farms cookies – GingerMan for choice, I’ve been wanting something crunchy and a little sweet. The $3.39 pre-printed package price ws retagged for $3.19 – this, in a place where the norm would be about $5.50 to $6.
Friday - Yeah!
This morning Ann was able to get the social insurance number verbally - I still have nothing hard-copy, but the number is the critical part.
AND I have a bank account, and it is with Capital G. I'd checked the phone book ad to see what their hours were, saw they opened at 8.30 (in line with their doing more than the other banks, which open at 9), figured I'd stop in before walking over to Butterfield Bank and see what they told me this time. The lovely young woman handling the account opening never said a thing about a 6-month wait (and of course neither did I), got everything rounded together, and got a promise of sorts for the issuance of an account number by noon when getting it next week was the typical timeframe. (That is because they are shifting over to a new computer software system and there is a resultant backlog.)
Capital G doesn't do checking accounts - they have various forms of savings accounts, with debit card access and online bill pay. They refund the ATM usage fees when a client uses the ATM of any other bank, anywhere in the world, immediately expanding their 'network' of ATMs many-fold. They are working out ways to deal with international banking that - hope on, hope ever - may allow linking of the accounts and the ability to transfer money without the redundant fees. The staff so far has been rather elegantly helpful and positive.
Now, they didn't actually call me by noon; I went by during my lunch break and waited for them to wind up whatever needed to happen to get me an account number. They were willing to release it to me so long as no deposit other than the one I opened the account with was going in until next week (no problem there!) I practically boogied up the hill back to the office. Ann copied everything and rushed it to HR and Finance; no one was around (amazing how the offices are ghost-townish on Fridays), but she left both voice mail and email about it with probably half a dozen people, trying to ensure there will be a paycheck for me next Friday.
Ann deserves flowers, or cookies, or something. She has been tenacious about all this.
AND - I got the power and gas accounts set up. I'd been told to expect that would require a visit with the landlady out to their offices located such that I'd need to take a taxi; online it appeared I could at least try to set up the accounts at a joint office downtown. That was indeed the case - sitting at little work stations amid Viking ranges, commercial dryers, vacuum cleaners and fridges were stations for the two related but separate utilities. Same forms, twice. Really helped that I had the name of the last tenant of my apartment - they 'cheated' and pulled up the account that way, and just transferred it over pretty easily.
They were both learning new software systems, too, so the actual inputting of the info took a little while as they worked their way thru the multiple screens, but good spirits, good results.
AND - while it isn't quite set up, I'm close, so close, on getting the wireless internet service set up. Someone in the building has used Northrock before so they are comfortable they provide good wireless service out there; and the little antenna or whatever has gone on the building before with no issues. Mrs. Waldron has to agree to it, but she hadn't realized the one that had been there was no longer there so there wouldnt be multiples - and these things are small. I'll post a photo to give an idea.
So - the best of the 'jumble sales' (aka charity yard sales) is next weekend (not tomorrow) - Bermuda National Trust's fundraiser jumble sale and auction, held at a building at the Botanical Gardens. This is one sale that apparently consistently gets great high end stuff - wealthy folks and well to do ex-pats donate, we lesser beings buy the stuff. Weirdly, the jumble sale is Thursday and Friday. The auction is Saturday, tho we can see what is up for auction on the jumble sale days.
I also have a list of the estate sales for this weekend. Granted, I'm not toting back rugs and drafting tables on the bus, but I'll try to fill in the odds and ends I'll need at least to get started, and maybe there will be something great to be discovered.
Oh - and multiple offers of vehicular assistance from co-workers!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Woo hoo!
Mrs. Waldron called at 7.15 this morning - she owns the purple house on South Road, across from Spittal Pond nature reserve, and she was choosing between all the applicants for the lease of the apartment I decided I wanted. Her husband had woken her on his way out the door to tell her she should call me and make my day by telling me I got the apartment. (I will hug that man's neck next I see him, he was right.)
So - I will move over probably March 7, provided the work permit actually comes thru Wednesday, as HR tells me it will, so I can scoot over and set up the bank account and the utility accounts before I move in.
The place is furnished to some degree, so now I get to play with how I will set the place up and what I need to have brought over from home as visitors come - and what I need to get immediately so I can move in. I have already contacted my 'good riddance girl', who handles the moves and estate sales of bunches of ex pats who leave at the end of their contracts. She took me with her Sunday to the residence of an executive's family to look at what they had for sale, and get an idea of what pricing relates to goods/quality. 'Deal', of course, is relative. But she is a terrific resource for all kinds of household effects, and is a rather cool person as well.
And - wonder of wonders - I got working email, even tho it will change before the end of the week to more accurately reflect my name. So now, starting my third week at the office, I can receive and send email in the gov.bm system. (I've kept my personal email account open at the office so coworkers could send to that.)
And a couple of the guys from inspections have offered to help get me moved, and most of them are carpenters and happy to help with minor projects.
And - this IS a small place - turns out that my boss's husband lived in this building (but another unit) for years, and Christine is very familiar with the place, pleased that that is what I ended up with. And ditto the chief plans officer - he lived around the corner for 14 years, and a 'lady friend' lived in one of the units. And one of my co-workers goes by twice a day taking her baby boy to her mom for daycare, and then picking him up, and she offers to rideshare.
So I'm bouncy happy.
Now - back to the guest quarters apartment to work on some reports...some things don't change!
So - I will move over probably March 7, provided the work permit actually comes thru Wednesday, as HR tells me it will, so I can scoot over and set up the bank account and the utility accounts before I move in.
The place is furnished to some degree, so now I get to play with how I will set the place up and what I need to have brought over from home as visitors come - and what I need to get immediately so I can move in. I have already contacted my 'good riddance girl', who handles the moves and estate sales of bunches of ex pats who leave at the end of their contracts. She took me with her Sunday to the residence of an executive's family to look at what they had for sale, and get an idea of what pricing relates to goods/quality. 'Deal', of course, is relative. But she is a terrific resource for all kinds of household effects, and is a rather cool person as well.
And - wonder of wonders - I got working email, even tho it will change before the end of the week to more accurately reflect my name. So now, starting my third week at the office, I can receive and send email in the gov.bm system. (I've kept my personal email account open at the office so coworkers could send to that.)
And a couple of the guys from inspections have offered to help get me moved, and most of them are carpenters and happy to help with minor projects.
And - this IS a small place - turns out that my boss's husband lived in this building (but another unit) for years, and Christine is very familiar with the place, pleased that that is what I ended up with. And ditto the chief plans officer - he lived around the corner for 14 years, and a 'lady friend' lived in one of the units. And one of my co-workers goes by twice a day taking her baby boy to her mom for daycare, and then picking him up, and she offers to rideshare.
So I'm bouncy happy.
Now - back to the guest quarters apartment to work on some reports...some things don't change!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Photos from today of place I may be renting
Have to wait for the lady to decide who she will lease the place to, but here is what the present #1 choice looks like!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Spitt Lots of al Pond park
Since I haven't figured out yet how to sprinkle the photos thru the blog so they match with the words, I am posting these separately. This park and bird sanctuary is directly across the street from the purple house and is a treasure. (Note the view of the house from the park entry area!)
Note - feral chickens, plus a couple lost peacocks, are a feature of this neighborhood and frankly much of the island. The chickens are, at a guess, often fed by visitors to the park - they collect in a large gang very quickly. I was leaving the park and heard this patterpatter, thought I'd perhaps been caught in a rainshower, turned around and realized the sound was that of about 35 chickens' feet tapping against the pavement as they rushed to follow me, ever so hopefully.
Lots of, well, cocky roosters, lots of hens, a few sets of little baby chicks...
The park runs from South Road to the ocean, not that far away; the pond is probably the one pond on the island. A couple of ducks and a heron (at a guess) were evident when I visited; the rock layers are (to me - sorry, I am a bit of a geek about this) interesting.
Enjoy!
Two good ones!
I've seen two places today that I am excited about!
First, a freestanding cottage on a family estate, near Riddell's Bay. It is a small place, but with a recently refitted kitchen and bath; the living room has a fireplace, it comes unfurnished but they have some things they will loan for however long, and the present occupant is willing to sell whatever I might want. (I understand from the Good Riddance Girl, an American woman I had an after-work drink with last night, that the furnishing of a pretty standard, nothing special, bedroom, living room and kitchen - not including appliances and such - would run around $5000. That naturally enhanced my appreciation of furnished places rather significantly!)
The owner and his wife seem sweethearts; they live on one side of the (green) cottage (all but the purple picture are of this cottage), which was the original cottage on the site - he remembers it as the home for his parents and he and his sister for a couple years while the main house was being built. One of their daughters lives on the other side. They have an apartment in the lower part of the house as well, where their other daughter lived until recently. That has been rented to a fellow who does IT work in the city. I have a few photos of it on this post. It isn't available until April 1, which is fine because the Govt hasn't managed to unleash the work permit yet, so I am not 'real' here and still can't do the bank account, utility sign-up thing as yet. The owners leave in the morning for John Hopkins and heart repair work for the wife, and they'd like to have it settled before they go if possible, as they will be away 3 weeks.
I was all for the one I mention above - on Middle Road in Warwick just beyond Southhampton Parish line, liked the place, loved the family, liked the setting, the bus stop is at the Heron Bay Marketplace, then a longish but level walk back into the family compound, the owner has a frame shop in the Marketplace building and offered to provide transport for what shopping I do there, etal - really lovely people. While the distance off the road was a bit, one really strong positive was that the bus service on Middle Road runs from Hamilton until after 9, and starts before 7 in the morning. A negative (beyond the walk) was that everything coming from the west side of the island has to process through ONE roundabout intersection, and backups can mean a commute of an hour and a half for what in other times might be 20- 30 minutes.
But - the second one I am trying to reach the owner about to say if she will accept me I would like to rent the place. I hope I get to her before she gives it to someone else!
And I haven't seen the inside yet.
The outside is purple - in this context, not a bad thing.
But the bus stops just off the driveway to the house, the couple-hundred-feet-away Harrington Hundred grocery store is the Whole Foods of the island without the superhigh prices (i.e., prices all over are high, these are in line with the general prices, but the store has fresh fish, a bakery, organics and is the biggest retailer of local Bermuda veg and fish on the island). The 1 bedroom unit is fully furnished, even to some kitchenwares, has a gas stove, air conditioning/reverse a/c, is a second story unit with wonderful views from the veranda; it was her own place before she moved to a larger, detached home, so she has a soft spot for it, her tenants tend to stay 4 to 9 years (which speaks well for her as well as them), the appliances are new or nearly so. She and I had spoken earlier but she wasn't showing it while they were doing the cosmetic work; today was out because she is a Seventh Day Adventist, so the earliest I can see the interior is Monday.
We have spoken twice today - once before i went over to see it from the outside (and stroll through the across-the-road Spittal Pond park and bird sanctuary, and visit the grocery), and once just after I had seen the place but before the other stops. Since then I havent been able to reach her - probably church - and will keep trying every few minutes. Fingers crossed!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Settling in at the office
Unsettling couple of days…the break-in period is ending, house-hunting is a bit daunting and the weather has been dramatic.
Weather first. We have had a stormy couple of days, with ferocious winds. I’d read about the windy winter storms; they aren’t kidding. Forecast winds were up to 60 knots; I understand some were clocked at 92 knots, hurricane strength, up near the airport. We picked up about an inch and half of rain in the one day – none of it in steady gentle rains. Fortunately the worst spells come, and then go, and if you can find a doorway to hide it and wait it out, great, it won’t take long.
Gales are frequently in the forecast. I’m accustomed to paying rapt attention to reports of gale force winds; they have been part of the forecast 4 of the last 7 days. More gale force winds are expected come late Thursday/Friday, but the weekend is to be decent. Yippee!
A threat of thunder? That was how thunderstorms were announced.
I’d stayed at the office til about 6 night before last, a late-ish conversation with the Director (Trevor Leach), and waiting for spacing between rain bands to scoot down the street to the bus station. My timing was good; minor dampness only. My bus wasn’t in the station – things slow down outside of the main hours, and believe me 6 pm is well after the typical work day has ended – and several of us cowered in the shelters when the high winds and pounding rain returned for another go. I was lucky – I arrived at my bus stop during a lull and scurried up the hill and down into my apartment with no real rainfall as an accompaniment. Lightening – in the distance – yes, far enough away to hear the barest throaty rumble, but lots of blooming light – not that sharp, flash stage. The wind – which I was walking into from the bus stop – made the climb decidedly more aerobic than usual – I was blown off the sidewalk at the bottom, made no progress against some of the gusts.
I’m sure we have nice gentle rains sometimes, when an umbrella is of some use, I just haven’t experienced that here yet – it has been full on, one way or the other!
Sister – I used those rain boots, tucking my pant legs into them. Splash splash!
Yesterday was not as bad. Coming out this morning I noticed palm fronds torn from the trees, some of the coconuts down (glad I didn’t have that experience last night!); furniture overturned, plant pots smashed, etc. Here, all the leaves that had fallen onto the pool had been whipped to the near end of the pool in a tight cluster, nicely cleaning the pool. Power was out around the island, tho not at my place or in the immediate vicinity, but lots of my coworkers were without power a day after the storms. I lost power at some point last night – I’d unplugged most everything but woke when the refrigerator kicked back on.
It was a night to burrow under the covers and flatten oneself.
I took advantage of the clearing to go up to St. George’s after work and see the apartment to share that had been proposed. It is on the second story of a nice, listed historic building, with wonderful harbor views and a little balcony, high ceilings that are clear to the limestone tiles and wooden beams of the original roof, roomy public spaces. The appliances are decidedly dated, the bedroom is unfurnished, there is a cat (scared of newcomers), and I thought the apartment smelled rather dank, not at all uncommon here – in fact much more the rule than not, but it makes my nose go nuts and my eyes water. Also, I think the other occupant – who travels a lot in her job with AIG, and who is a woman of middle age as well – smokes – not from anything apparent about the house but from what E. Michael had to say.
Having a $1200/mth rent, including the water and half the cost of internet service, would be great, at least compared with the $2000-$2500 rents I have been looking at. I can cope with a cat, so long as it stays out of my room, tho I would rather not, and I won’t inflict that on visitors. And I can’t deal with a smoker as a housemate. A shame – I was admiring a large 3-masted sailing ship in the harbor, just outside the window – the Spirit of Bermuda training ship, and St. George is definitely lovely. It is also far, in Bermudian terms, a good 30-45 minutes bus ride away. The ferry is quicker, directly in to Hamilton (tho today was too windy for it to run – it isn’t a safety issue for the boat, but a comfort issue for the passengers – rough waves = seasick passengers.)
Christine ended up in my office a half dozen times today, with case files, requests to do some research, head up a mentoring program, organize the Architectural review Panel reporting…She has a long and rather demanding wish list for me. She is quick as a whip; I do not think she is well liked, but the Director, who came when she did, does support her and seems to admire her – it is the folks who were with the department from long ago and are having difficulty adapting to the new regime, new plan/codes, as well as her very direct approach.
Wednesday – I guess she was holding back last week, because the onslaught continued today. Back on the Four Seasons project, a redo of the Horizons/Coral Beach resorts…
Saw another place tonight – former pool house on an ‘estate’, with decent bedroom and ‘lounge’ (aka living room) space, but a small shower separate twinned on the other side of the hallway by the same space used for a kitchen – this is a seriously small kitchen, folks, and not just dated but old appliances, with the stove in that room, the fridge on a back porch – and I can’t say as I noticed the sink, tho it was assuredly in the kitchen. Safe place, about half way (and both halves being short) between bus and ferry. Not going to make the short list tho.
All for now. Take care, folks, and WRITE! If you don’t want comments posted to the blog, my email addresses are sannsr3609@gmail.com and s_stains3609@yahoo.com.
Weather first. We have had a stormy couple of days, with ferocious winds. I’d read about the windy winter storms; they aren’t kidding. Forecast winds were up to 60 knots; I understand some were clocked at 92 knots, hurricane strength, up near the airport. We picked up about an inch and half of rain in the one day – none of it in steady gentle rains. Fortunately the worst spells come, and then go, and if you can find a doorway to hide it and wait it out, great, it won’t take long.
Gales are frequently in the forecast. I’m accustomed to paying rapt attention to reports of gale force winds; they have been part of the forecast 4 of the last 7 days. More gale force winds are expected come late Thursday/Friday, but the weekend is to be decent. Yippee!
A threat of thunder? That was how thunderstorms were announced.
I’d stayed at the office til about 6 night before last, a late-ish conversation with the Director (Trevor Leach), and waiting for spacing between rain bands to scoot down the street to the bus station. My timing was good; minor dampness only. My bus wasn’t in the station – things slow down outside of the main hours, and believe me 6 pm is well after the typical work day has ended – and several of us cowered in the shelters when the high winds and pounding rain returned for another go. I was lucky – I arrived at my bus stop during a lull and scurried up the hill and down into my apartment with no real rainfall as an accompaniment. Lightening – in the distance – yes, far enough away to hear the barest throaty rumble, but lots of blooming light – not that sharp, flash stage. The wind – which I was walking into from the bus stop – made the climb decidedly more aerobic than usual – I was blown off the sidewalk at the bottom, made no progress against some of the gusts.
I’m sure we have nice gentle rains sometimes, when an umbrella is of some use, I just haven’t experienced that here yet – it has been full on, one way or the other!
Sister – I used those rain boots, tucking my pant legs into them. Splash splash!
Yesterday was not as bad. Coming out this morning I noticed palm fronds torn from the trees, some of the coconuts down (glad I didn’t have that experience last night!); furniture overturned, plant pots smashed, etc. Here, all the leaves that had fallen onto the pool had been whipped to the near end of the pool in a tight cluster, nicely cleaning the pool. Power was out around the island, tho not at my place or in the immediate vicinity, but lots of my coworkers were without power a day after the storms. I lost power at some point last night – I’d unplugged most everything but woke when the refrigerator kicked back on.
It was a night to burrow under the covers and flatten oneself.
I took advantage of the clearing to go up to St. George’s after work and see the apartment to share that had been proposed. It is on the second story of a nice, listed historic building, with wonderful harbor views and a little balcony, high ceilings that are clear to the limestone tiles and wooden beams of the original roof, roomy public spaces. The appliances are decidedly dated, the bedroom is unfurnished, there is a cat (scared of newcomers), and I thought the apartment smelled rather dank, not at all uncommon here – in fact much more the rule than not, but it makes my nose go nuts and my eyes water. Also, I think the other occupant – who travels a lot in her job with AIG, and who is a woman of middle age as well – smokes – not from anything apparent about the house but from what E. Michael had to say.
Having a $1200/mth rent, including the water and half the cost of internet service, would be great, at least compared with the $2000-$2500 rents I have been looking at. I can cope with a cat, so long as it stays out of my room, tho I would rather not, and I won’t inflict that on visitors. And I can’t deal with a smoker as a housemate. A shame – I was admiring a large 3-masted sailing ship in the harbor, just outside the window – the Spirit of Bermuda training ship, and St. George is definitely lovely. It is also far, in Bermudian terms, a good 30-45 minutes bus ride away. The ferry is quicker, directly in to Hamilton (tho today was too windy for it to run – it isn’t a safety issue for the boat, but a comfort issue for the passengers – rough waves = seasick passengers.)
Christine ended up in my office a half dozen times today, with case files, requests to do some research, head up a mentoring program, organize the Architectural review Panel reporting…She has a long and rather demanding wish list for me. She is quick as a whip; I do not think she is well liked, but the Director, who came when she did, does support her and seems to admire her – it is the folks who were with the department from long ago and are having difficulty adapting to the new regime, new plan/codes, as well as her very direct approach.
Wednesday – I guess she was holding back last week, because the onslaught continued today. Back on the Four Seasons project, a redo of the Horizons/Coral Beach resorts…
Saw another place tonight – former pool house on an ‘estate’, with decent bedroom and ‘lounge’ (aka living room) space, but a small shower separate twinned on the other side of the hallway by the same space used for a kitchen – this is a seriously small kitchen, folks, and not just dated but old appliances, with the stove in that room, the fridge on a back porch – and I can’t say as I noticed the sink, tho it was assuredly in the kitchen. Safe place, about half way (and both halves being short) between bus and ferry. Not going to make the short list tho.
All for now. Take care, folks, and WRITE! If you don’t want comments posted to the blog, my email addresses are sannsr3609@gmail.com and s_stains3609@yahoo.com.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Apartments, apartments
Bedroom, view of roofing of building, kitchen, living room, view from veranda AND bedroom - this is pretty.
Some photos of what $2000 - $2500 gets you - the furnished ones are from the government pool, and frankly the only one I'd consider is the pricey harbor-side one, the bottom pictures.
The one I saw today - Winton Hill, on Bailey's Bay, for anyone following on a map - is $2200, beautiful views, large rooms, bus stop a short block away - far enough not to be heard, close enough not to be a problem, and it is on North Shore, with 4 buslines running about 15 minutes apart until as late as they go at night. This is on the way out to St. George's, not far from the airport, and one of the next stops is the ever-famous Swizzle Inn, home of the Rum Swizzle, a lethal and yummy mix of fruit juices and 2 sorts of rum...
The ones near the top are the unfurnished $2200 apartment, which I have to admit I'd love to snap up but for getting it furnished (and there is no ac, but the wind is pretty constant on the west side of the island, which also happens to be the side in the lee, if that is correct, of how the hurricanes hit the island when they -rarely - do.) South Shore was pummeled badly in Fabian, about 8 years ago.
The lower ones are some of the govt units...wish I could figure out how to label these.
Happy Valentine's Day, all!
I see the share in St. George Monday evening. Devonshire got rented. I still really like the apartment Mr. Taylor has but I'm not crazy about the area, and the bus doesn't run on Sunday and about hourly otherwise. Oh - one of the building inspections/plan review guys (they know when new units are coming onto the market of course....sneaky ol' bureaucrats!) tells me of one on an island (I know, it is all on an island, but this is Hinson Island, a little one in Hamilton Harbor, with ferry service, no cars - you can put scooters on some ferries, will have to find out if this is one), about finished now. This is an enclave with money, very safe (that ferry thing). No idea what that would rent for, but the recently widowed, elderly owner lives adjacent...might be cool. So to speak. Probably scarily expensive.
Office and morning coffee shop
This is a big picture day, huh...
don't mind waiting for your coffee), a local surfboard, part of the order area...
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