we're making progress on the moving front. since we'll be in london until mid-may, we've decided to enjoy our last few months ... and move to a new (mice-free) flat in a new neighborhood!
i've already got an appointment with an estate agent to check out short-let flats near london bridge (where my hubby works). i'm hoping all goes well and we can be out of this mouse trap by the first week of march!
we didn't come here with much -- 3 suitcases each -- however, we have accumulated lots of "stuff" in the past 7 months.
time to start sorting and organizing and hopefully packing!
wish us luck!
Monday, February 20
Sunday, February 19
mouse #15
and, yet another one.
we named our first mouse chloe and i realized this morning that we hadn't named* the rest ...
so, how's about: squeekers, gertrude, roger, ralph, teeny, tiny, minnie, peanut, larry, hairy, dorris, davey, julie and fisher.
*i apologize if any of these names have special or personal meaning to you.
we named our first mouse chloe and i realized this morning that we hadn't named* the rest ...
so, how's about: squeekers, gertrude, roger, ralph, teeny, tiny, minnie, peanut, larry, hairy, dorris, davey, julie and fisher.
*i apologize if any of these names have special or personal meaning to you.
Saturday, February 18
Friday, February 17
lucky #13
we've trapped our 13th mouse today.
i still can't deal with seeing them. i called our downstairs neighbor this morning who kindly came up and took care of the little rascal for me.
the council, the landlord and pest control are all involved.
i can't wait to move.
i still can't deal with seeing them. i called our downstairs neighbor this morning who kindly came up and took care of the little rascal for me.
the council, the landlord and pest control are all involved.
i can't wait to move.
Thursday, February 16
cleaning machine
i've become a cleaning machine.
i think it's the thought of all those mice in our building and it's a bit of cabin fever from spending too much time indoors, but i have been cleaning like a maniac.
the bathroom and kitchen were completely sanitized yesterday -- from top to bottom.
i've vacuumed the flat -- twice.
i've dusted all the nooks and crannies.
i've reorganized closets and drawers.
i've opened up windows to let the fresh air in during the day and have tulips in every room to brighten up the joint.
i bought a big bottle of oust deodorizer yesterday and have sprayed it continually in our entrance and hallway. since we're in the top of the building, all sorts of cooking smells -- garlic, onion, and who knows what else -- have invaded our flat.
the air wick plug-in is currently wafting a lavendar & camomile scent in the foyer.
the washing machine is running and the smell of fabric softner is warming the air.
why, oh why, does it still smell of damp, garlic and dead rodent?
i need to get out more.
i think it's the thought of all those mice in our building and it's a bit of cabin fever from spending too much time indoors, but i have been cleaning like a maniac.
the bathroom and kitchen were completely sanitized yesterday -- from top to bottom.
i've vacuumed the flat -- twice.
i've dusted all the nooks and crannies.
i've reorganized closets and drawers.
i've opened up windows to let the fresh air in during the day and have tulips in every room to brighten up the joint.
i bought a big bottle of oust deodorizer yesterday and have sprayed it continually in our entrance and hallway. since we're in the top of the building, all sorts of cooking smells -- garlic, onion, and who knows what else -- have invaded our flat.
the air wick plug-in is currently wafting a lavendar & camomile scent in the foyer.
the washing machine is running and the smell of fabric softner is warming the air.
why, oh why, does it still smell of damp, garlic and dead rodent?
i need to get out more.
Monday, February 13
27 exposures
We've lost our second digital camera. Bum deal.
Our time in London is coming to an end. We are planning on heading back to Austin, TX in May. That leaves about 10 weeks. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't ready to go home. It has been an amazing time, an amazing way to spend our first year of marriage. But, I'm ready to go home.
With that said, we've realized we only have a short time to fit in all that traveling we envisioned doing when we moved here. So, we've kicked our travel plans into full gear.
We hit Brighton -- a cool beach town about an hour south of London by train -- the last weekend in January. We stayed in a cute bed & breakfast, walked the pier and tooks pics on the windy, rocky beach. We explored the shopping centers and enjoyed yummy dinners at funky restaurants. It was a great escape. But, I failed to download our pictures before losing the camera, so you'll just have to take my word for it.
This past week, we flew to the Canary Islands and stayed on the island of Lanzarote. We booked one of those cheesy, 4-day, all inclusive trips through Thomas Cook. I have to admit, it was super easy and super cheap. After a 4-hour direct flight, we landed on a serene island -- covered in black lava rock and white buildings. Our hotel was beautiful -- on the ocean with amazing pools and views. Cute room, too. Our first night there, we relaxed by the pool and ate at the hotel. It was typical all-inclusive food - icky. After that, we only had breakfast at the hotel and found fun restaurants in the port and around the island for lunch and dinner. We rented a car and saw an amazing landscape of black sand, lava rock, vineyards, white villages and a stormy ocean. It was amazing. Our favorite spot was a placed called Jameo de Aguas. It's a volcanic cave with underground lagoons, bar, restaurants and swimming pool. We hit it around midnight on Saturday and explored the cave while these performers entertained the crowd with traditional folk dancing. It was surreal. We woke up on Sunday to a bright, sunny day and enjoyed a few hours in the sun before heading to the airport and landing in cold, wet London.
Somewhere between London and Lanzarote, we lost our digital camera on the plane. I'm sure it was stolen ... super bum deal. So, we bought a disposable camera on the island and giggled everytime we had to wind the silly thing to take a pic. Now, I have to hit the Boots and get it developed to see if we actually got any good pics. Do they still develop film these days?!?
So, now we're looking for a new digital camera. Any recommendations for a good one? We lost a Nikon Coolpix S3 -- and to be honest, it was awful. It took blurry pics and was no fun to use. We'll probably have to wait until we get back to the states (hate to pay for a camera in pounds) ... so it might be disposable cameras for us for a while! Hah! Gotta love the 27 exposures.
Our time in London is coming to an end. We are planning on heading back to Austin, TX in May. That leaves about 10 weeks. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't ready to go home. It has been an amazing time, an amazing way to spend our first year of marriage. But, I'm ready to go home.
With that said, we've realized we only have a short time to fit in all that traveling we envisioned doing when we moved here. So, we've kicked our travel plans into full gear.
We hit Brighton -- a cool beach town about an hour south of London by train -- the last weekend in January. We stayed in a cute bed & breakfast, walked the pier and tooks pics on the windy, rocky beach. We explored the shopping centers and enjoyed yummy dinners at funky restaurants. It was a great escape. But, I failed to download our pictures before losing the camera, so you'll just have to take my word for it.
This past week, we flew to the Canary Islands and stayed on the island of Lanzarote. We booked one of those cheesy, 4-day, all inclusive trips through Thomas Cook. I have to admit, it was super easy and super cheap. After a 4-hour direct flight, we landed on a serene island -- covered in black lava rock and white buildings. Our hotel was beautiful -- on the ocean with amazing pools and views. Cute room, too. Our first night there, we relaxed by the pool and ate at the hotel. It was typical all-inclusive food - icky. After that, we only had breakfast at the hotel and found fun restaurants in the port and around the island for lunch and dinner. We rented a car and saw an amazing landscape of black sand, lava rock, vineyards, white villages and a stormy ocean. It was amazing. Our favorite spot was a placed called Jameo de Aguas. It's a volcanic cave with underground lagoons, bar, restaurants and swimming pool. We hit it around midnight on Saturday and explored the cave while these performers entertained the crowd with traditional folk dancing. It was surreal. We woke up on Sunday to a bright, sunny day and enjoyed a few hours in the sun before heading to the airport and landing in cold, wet London.
Somewhere between London and Lanzarote, we lost our digital camera on the plane. I'm sure it was stolen ... super bum deal. So, we bought a disposable camera on the island and giggled everytime we had to wind the silly thing to take a pic. Now, I have to hit the Boots and get it developed to see if we actually got any good pics. Do they still develop film these days?!?
So, now we're looking for a new digital camera. Any recommendations for a good one? We lost a Nikon Coolpix S3 -- and to be honest, it was awful. It took blurry pics and was no fun to use. We'll probably have to wait until we get back to the states (hate to pay for a camera in pounds) ... so it might be disposable cameras for us for a while! Hah! Gotta love the 27 exposures.
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