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.