Moving boxes are expensive here. I mean EXPENSIVE. The small book size ones are anywhere from $4-$5. There's an online place that will do them cheaper but they want a 100% deposit and you get that back when you return the boxes. What the Hell? Don't know about you but it takes me a LONG DAMN time to unpack everything. In fact, a very long damn time. I say with pride and with shame that there is a box in my bedroom right now that was packed in San Antonio, 2 moves ago. No way I'd betting a deposit back.
So, I'm looking for cheap boxes. I see an ad in yesterday's Bunning's catalog. That's the local Home Depot. Lo and Behold!!! Boxes, many sizes and a fancy, wizz bang tape dispenser. And the boxes are almost cheap! Hot damn! After school drop off I race out to my local, grab a trolley and march in. I decide to not be a guy and cheat and ask where the boxes are from the first employee I see.
And that's where my good luck end abruptly.
The employee gives me the blink hard, and look here little missy look that you can only get from a home improvement store employee. "We don't have 'em" He decides to censer himself and responds. I roll my eyes and point out the flyer. Plain as day, there they are! He grunts, nods that he can read too but then in his best, you damn fool voice, "A large Bunnings would have them, not us"
Ahhh, yes, this is not a LARGE Bunnings. I forget that in Australia, home improvements stores the size of the ones back home are LARGE ones and few and far in between.
My thoughts vacilate between, "Jesus, I'm a dumb ass, I've lived here 3 years and I don't know that?" and "Jesus, you people are dumb asses, why don't you print that those are only available at certain stores?"
Now I have to plan a trek out to the LARGE store. No problem, I have nothing else to do. Except pack. Except pack and find a new house. Except pack, find a new house, get laundry done. Except pack, find a new house, get laundry done and get the kids to school. Excecpt pack, find a new house, get the laundry done, get the kids to school and get Connor to her special class after school in Chatswood. Except...oh to Hell with it. There's way too much to do.
I quit. I may spend the day unpacking the wine.
An American family living in Australia. While we all speak English here, I wouldn't say we all speak the same language.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Guidelines for Renting a House in Sydney
Dear all Home owners trying to rent property in Sydney,
When listing a property for rent please take a moment to consider proper wording for your home listing. This will help make the process of finding renters as smooth as possible.
As you think about the selling features of your property please do not entice families in with your beautiful rooms, your huge kitchen, your built-in backyard cubby house and your sparkling clean in ground pool and then accept a family only to learn they have pets and then tell them they are welcome to rent as long as they give away their animals. It will save you a lot of time if you simply put the words, "No pets" on your listing. The real estate agent who spent the day checking the references of the applying family and drawing up the contracts because in his words, "This is the winner" will thank you. Particularly since he had already emailed the family prior to the home inspection saying that pets were ok. The family, who dragged 3 children to your open house and pried their fingers off the gate to the pool, and waited for 4 days for approval: only to learn they could have their dream home if they give away 2 members of their family, will thank you.
To the Home Owner of the home in question in Hornsby Heights. I know you will find a suitable family soon. There's no way a house as beautiful as yours will be vacant for long. Forgive me for being less than charitable when I wish beyond hope that your new, pet-less family has children that cover your beautiful built-in closets with fairy stickers, fills all the power points with play dough, has bowling practice through your picturesque lounge room window and decides to make the pool the biggest mud pie making facility in NSW.
Signed with Love and Regards,
Future Renters in Sydney
When listing a property for rent please take a moment to consider proper wording for your home listing. This will help make the process of finding renters as smooth as possible.
As you think about the selling features of your property please do not entice families in with your beautiful rooms, your huge kitchen, your built-in backyard cubby house and your sparkling clean in ground pool and then accept a family only to learn they have pets and then tell them they are welcome to rent as long as they give away their animals. It will save you a lot of time if you simply put the words, "No pets" on your listing. The real estate agent who spent the day checking the references of the applying family and drawing up the contracts because in his words, "This is the winner" will thank you. Particularly since he had already emailed the family prior to the home inspection saying that pets were ok. The family, who dragged 3 children to your open house and pried their fingers off the gate to the pool, and waited for 4 days for approval: only to learn they could have their dream home if they give away 2 members of their family, will thank you.
To the Home Owner of the home in question in Hornsby Heights. I know you will find a suitable family soon. There's no way a house as beautiful as yours will be vacant for long. Forgive me for being less than charitable when I wish beyond hope that your new, pet-less family has children that cover your beautiful built-in closets with fairy stickers, fills all the power points with play dough, has bowling practice through your picturesque lounge room window and decides to make the pool the biggest mud pie making facility in NSW.
Signed with Love and Regards,
Future Renters in Sydney
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Oh Dear God
How the HELL do people move in this country? Box size cardboard moving boxes are $4-$5 and mid-size ones are $5-$6 a piece. WHAT??!!! Where is the U-HAUL store when I need it?
I'm going to go buy a few boxes and beg for the rest.
Australia, someday you people are going to realize that you don't have to pay an arm and leg for everything. When that happens the revolution is coming my friend, it's coming!
I'm going to go buy a few boxes and beg for the rest.
Australia, someday you people are going to realize that you don't have to pay an arm and leg for everything. When that happens the revolution is coming my friend, it's coming!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Return of the Blogger
Ok, I'm going to make an effort to blog again. Not because so many of you are pining for my words of wisdom but more in a attempt to try see if I have any.
Unfortunatley we have a new and dominating theme for the blog for the next weeks or even 2 months. Today's magic word kids is MOVING. Blah. The owner of our house has decided to try and cash in on rampant commercialism and is reclaiming the house to sell it. GOOD LUCK BUDDY! That first inspection report showing what is usually referred to as electrical wiring is going to take a few $1000 off that asking price. HA!
No, I'm not bitter. Thank you for asking.
So today the packing has officially done. I did one box. Teddy one after having to re-do it 3 times. Umm, sorry Hon, you can't pack heavy hardbound books in a box that's 2 feet tall. No, YOU pick it up. Oh, you can't....see??? No? Just take the books out and but the rugby ball in. Sigh....Boys are special....
Connor attempted to pack. She got 1 doll about 4 inches long, 1 Littlest Pet Shop diary and and 3 stuffed animals. Apparently she's not too trusting of me and thinks that I'm throwing it out. I wonder where she gets this notion....could be from me threatening to throw out any toys I see left on the living room floor. I least I know she can hear me. She doesn't care what I say, but she hears it.
The house hunting has begun and we've found a place I want but 4000 other people want it so I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Failing miserably but I'm trying. We'll know soon and I have 2 open houses tomorrow and another in the works. So we're not panicking yet. By we I mean Ted. He's fine. "It'll work out" Tencza thinks everything will be fine. I, on the other hand, my myself hyperventilating a lot. I don't like change. An odd thing to say from a woman who has moved enough times to be confused with being military and willingly moved around the world, but there it is.
Well, wish us luck, let me know if you know of a nice house in NW Sydney, within a 20 minute drive of Normanhurst Public School and whatever you do, save me your boxes and newspaper.
Unfortunatley we have a new and dominating theme for the blog for the next weeks or even 2 months. Today's magic word kids is MOVING. Blah. The owner of our house has decided to try and cash in on rampant commercialism and is reclaiming the house to sell it. GOOD LUCK BUDDY! That first inspection report showing what is usually referred to as electrical wiring is going to take a few $1000 off that asking price. HA!
No, I'm not bitter. Thank you for asking.
So today the packing has officially done. I did one box. Teddy one after having to re-do it 3 times. Umm, sorry Hon, you can't pack heavy hardbound books in a box that's 2 feet tall. No, YOU pick it up. Oh, you can't....see??? No? Just take the books out and but the rugby ball in. Sigh....Boys are special....
Connor attempted to pack. She got 1 doll about 4 inches long, 1 Littlest Pet Shop diary and and 3 stuffed animals. Apparently she's not too trusting of me and thinks that I'm throwing it out. I wonder where she gets this notion....could be from me threatening to throw out any toys I see left on the living room floor. I least I know she can hear me. She doesn't care what I say, but she hears it.
The house hunting has begun and we've found a place I want but 4000 other people want it so I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Failing miserably but I'm trying. We'll know soon and I have 2 open houses tomorrow and another in the works. So we're not panicking yet. By we I mean Ted. He's fine. "It'll work out" Tencza thinks everything will be fine. I, on the other hand, my myself hyperventilating a lot. I don't like change. An odd thing to say from a woman who has moved enough times to be confused with being military and willingly moved around the world, but there it is.
Well, wish us luck, let me know if you know of a nice house in NW Sydney, within a 20 minute drive of Normanhurst Public School and whatever you do, save me your boxes and newspaper.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)