Musical weekend, part one

Ready for Eurovision!!!

Since I still haven't started work, there was time for me to do other things this weekend. As you may have guessed from yesterday's post, it was Eurovision time again and those of you who have followed my blog for a few years, know that I LOVE EUROVISION! Fortunately my sister likes it as well, although she didn't have a pen and paper ready to write down all the peculiars of every song. 

Anyway, last Tuesday the whole competition took off in Lisbon, Portugal, because last year's winner (Salvador Sobral) sang the winning song for Portugal last year. Since I live in the UK now and they go through automatically, they wouldn't sing in either of the semi finals, but they were allowed to vote. Unfortunately for us: the first one. Both the Netherlands and Norway were in the second one. 

Neither of my two favourites of the first night went through (Belgium and Armenia), although my least favourite song did: Israel. The second semi final took place on the Thursday and as I said had Norway and the Netherlands in it. This time I had three favourites: the Netherlands (not biased at all me), Montenegro and Moldova. I didn't think Montenegro would get through, but the other two did. Yea!

Than came the night itself. Which once again was filled with strange things happening on the stage. There was a coffin type thing (Ukraine), there was metal as in the type of music (Hungary), Vikings (Denmark), a former winner (Norway), a stage crasher (UK), a young and clean Catweazle (Serbia), a €65,000 dress for an opera singer (Estonia, who sang in Italian) and an updated birdy song (Israel). 

I have remarked upon it in the past and since last year's winner actually sung in their own language (Portuguese), this year a staggering 12 countries sang in their own language, not being English. And Estonia did a song in Italian. It was glorious! Both Italian language songs ended in the top 10 as well and for once France wasn't far behind (13).

Norway (15th), the Netherlands (18th) and the UK (23rd) didn't do so well. And definitely not as well as the top three! The voting changed last year and that has brought a lot of extra suspense into the competition. First we got the jury votes and at the end of that, Austria led the way, followed by Sweden, Israel, Germany and Cyprus. However, the public votes changed everything! 

Sweden was the fourth country to get the points (they went lowest to highest), which meant they were very much out of the running. Austria was the 14th country and went to the top of the board again. It was now between Israel, Germany and Cyprus. The first of those three to get points was Germany and they were just behind Austria. At the end of the scoring, only two countries were left to receive points: Israel and Cyprus. It could go either way, but in the end, Cyprus....

Lost! Israel with the funny noises and the chicken wings and the Japanese nodding cats had won! A good end to a brilliant evening (yes, the song has grown on me). Now I just need to get the cd!

Photo on Sunday 2018-12

Movement in the move

Well, finally some movement. The past few days were spent reading and watching television and doing not much at all. I had hoped my things would have arrived yesterday, but alas: custom clearing took a bit longer. Today however, the news was good: it has cleared customs and this afternoon (around 4pm) my things will be arriving. No, not here as I said before, but in my own garage.

It will be nice to see my things again. Perhaps even take some to my sister to be used. Perhaps start a new mouse (if I can find the appropriate box).

This morning there was also movement in something else. Yesterday I had received an email from my new employer whether I was ready to start. This morning I decided to pay them another visit. If I am to start work, it would be nice to know where I can find things! Like keys and such. However, when I then told them I had never driven a right hand drive coach before... 

Soon I will be back behind the wheel of one of those. Albeit with another name and logo of course!

They found a mini-bus, which at least is bigger than a car and one of them took me out on the road. There was conversation all the while and I managed not to hit any cars, bins or crossing trees. Of course it is not a big proper bus/coach, but at least he never grabbed the seat or even became green. I think that that was a good sign. 

Anyway, I am not starting just yet, but I will do this week. They could have used me tonight he said, but they had already filled the job. There are however other jobs this week that need doing and for which they will most likely need drivers. He also told me that they will soon sign a new contract for long distance public transport. Public transport might not be my favourite, but at least it's long distance, which is always nicer than short distance/town driving. 

So, that's it for today. Good news on two counts. Now just to get that bank account (don't worry, we're on it!)

Week 2

For the past few weeks (3-4) I have slept like a baby. Until I woke at an unholy hour and never could get back to sleep because I was thinking about everything that needed doing. Packing, cat, more packing, cat trouble again, more packing, forms to fill out. If you have ever moved, you know the drill. 

When I first arrived at my sister's last Monday, I was so stuck in that rhythm, that my first morning here I woke up at 5. Yes, I had gone to bed at a silly time as well, but I was tired. It just didn't translate into sleeping long. The bed didn't help either, since it's a single (as opposed to my king size) and hard. But, slowly, I managed to sleep better. Well, longer anyway.

Waiting for the (late) lorry in Norway

So, when I went to bed at midnight last night, I knew I would probably wake up around 8 this morning. Which proved to be true. Mind you, I think it might have something to do with a certain feline pulling down part of the curtains and then scarpering, but all in all, I sleep longer. And have started dreaming as well. About old haunts, old class mates, the job.

I have not started my new job yet, but I will do this week. I am a bit apprehensive about it, having never driven a right hand drive coach before. I guess though that I will get used to it quick enough. I did again with the car!

My days at the moment are filled with other things. Laundry, dishes, cooking. And when I am not doing that: reading. I have read about 6 books since I got here I think. Some that I read before, others that are new. 

Trying to fit my stuff in (there was room to spare)

Today however, another activity will fill my day. Hopefully anyway, depending on customs. Because today is the day my stuff will arrive from Norway. Not at my sister's, we would both go absolutely stark raving mad, but at my own new pad, 12 miles from here. As soon as the stuff has been cleared by customs (could be today, could be tomorrow), I will head over to my new address and oversee the unloading of the lorry. It will be smaller than the lorry that came and picked it up, because the road I will live on is not wide and the lane needed is even less wide than the road!

Photo on Sunday 2018-11

After several weeks without a Photo on Sunday, I have decided now might be a good time to return to it.

Yesterday the weather was quite nice here in NI and all of a sudden we heard the jangle of the ice cream man. We couldn't not get one you know...

Slowing down and speeding up

Back in Norway while still in the middle of packing

The first few days of me being in Northern Ireland were so jam-packed with things to do/sort/collect/buy that it went buy in a flash. I am glad to say though, that it is now slowing down a bit. So, I thought I would give you all a bit of an update about where I stand at the moment. 

On day one we bought a car. Reserved really, my sister had to transfer the money into their account first. It's not a big car, it's not new, but it is perfect for what I want and need it for. Which is drive to work and back and to the shops and back. And if there is an occasional trip to something, it is good as well.

During that afternoon, I bought a phone. My very first smart phone! Years ago I had bought an iPod to listen to music, but I figured out in the end that it could be used for other stuff as well. Apart from phoning people. So, on on my move to NI I decided to get myself an iPhone. Again, it's not new and it has some limitations, but on the whole I like it very much and it does what it's needed for. Ring people. 

As beautiful as ever!

On Tuesday we had to go and collect a certain feline. She was so not happy sitting in that crate for two days, but the minute she was let loose in her new temporary home, she was fine again. Ate like a docker on her first day here and drank so much I was getting worried, but she has settled down beyond all expectations. She is slowly finding out about the neighbours (with children and lots of movement. Oh, and a big barking dog). She crawls on my lap in the evening or sleeps on the dining room chair. She loves looking out the bedroom window. She eats nicely, drinks nicely and goes potty like she always has. Very very pleased.

On Wednesday we went to Ikea. First I had a look at my apartment though (we had to drop something off) and it looks a bit different from the last time we saw it. The plasterboard was up everywhere and we could actually walk on the floors and the rooms were distinguishable. The plasterers were due in yesterday and my new landlord expects the place to be ready in about six weeks. Which would mean I would be in before my birthday, which I would love. 

During our little walk on Friday

Quite a bit of furniture is on its way over to NI, but the place isn't that big and I don't know whether I will enough room for everything, or, on the reverse, what I will need to have enough storage, sitting and sleeping room. But, I will definitely have to buy a sofa, a desk for my computer and a spare bed. Other things may or may not follow. My sister has a coffee table I can have, which actually was mine when I lived in my first ever place in the Netherlands. Full circle!

Thursday saw a return to the bank, which didn't end as favourably as we had hoped for, yet with advice that was very sound. I am now waiting to get my National Insurance number and she promised me that was enough to open an account. Then we got the glasses. An eye-test first where they told me my left eye had improved (as I knew) and the right eye had remained more or less the same. The glasses will be arriving in about two weeks time.

After that it was car insurance time. My sister had paid for the car and we were due to pick it up on Friday, but there is to be no driving without insurance. Here again it proved to be not so easy. Since I have a Norwegian license and not all companies accept a foreign license. Besides that I haven't got the bonus letter from my Norwegian insurer yet, so we were at the highest level of payment due! Ah well, the letter will come and hopefully my new insurance will then be adjusted accordingly. 

My new car: a Renault Twingo

Friday saw the collection of the car. When I test drove it, the one thing really bothering me had been the rear view mirror and I wanted that changed. Which they had done. It's a nice little car as I said and will be perfect for my needs. We filled out paperwork, he handed me my part of the paperwork and off we drove, to the nearest post-office so I could get the car taxed.

During the afternoon we used it to get some groceries: we had thrown some out at my sister's, because of expiry dates (2011 flitted past at one point) and we drove to a small nature area absolutely invested with flying crawlies. 

The only things left to do now are getting the bank account, receiving my things (Tuesday or Wednesday next week) and starting work. I will probably start off with something local and have been told it might be a football trip. Whatever it is though, it will be nice to start working again!

Also during our walk on Friday

That was it for now. More to follow of course if and when they take place...

Glasses

Look closely and you might see my first ever pair of glasses

I mentioned earlier this week that I needed 6 pairs of glasses. Which sounds like an awful lot of pairs to be honest. The thing you have to remember though is that I am a coach driver and need one set (regular, night and sun) just for work, while the other set will be for my car. I can't be doing having them here and forgetting them when I should go there. 

The reason I never got around getting them back in Norway, was the cost. For the amount of money I had to fork out for six pairs with all the trimmings (polarised, night, anti-glare) here in Northern Ireland I would have gotten one, perhaps two basic pairs back in Norway. Easy choice! Fortunately there was a two for one offer on the glasses as well, so that was lucky and even cheaper. 

Something else we tried to do today again was the bank account. This time we were told that I really needed something with an address on it, preferably a utility bill. Unfortunately I don't have any of those, since I live with my sister for the time being. But the lady was helpful and told me my best bet would be to get a letter with my National Insurance number (like a Social Security number) addressed to me at my current address. As soon as I have that, I will be able to open an account. 

We were not finished yet though. Because tomorrow I will be collecting my car, I needed a car insurance as well. Which meant sifting through all the insurance companies and trying to find the best one. Well, in our case, we didn't sift, we just went to one of those brokers that sift for me! And they found me a company that will take me. Not all companies accept people with foreign driver's licenses for some reason, but this one did. The only thing left to do now is get my bonus letter from my Norwegian insurer and perhaps get an even better deal on my insurance. 

We once made a fence, the chest was easy!

Once we got back home, we put together the chest of drawers my sister bought yesterday. It is now filled with my things until I move out. Then it will be moved into my sister's walk-in closet and used by her. 

Despite the bank account not quite coming off again, I am pleased with today's results.

Hemnes and Ektorp

Today was spent driving around a bit. First my sister collected a van to take some of her furniture to my new garage. It was in the way because of me staying here for several weeks. She also wanted a new chest of drawers for herself, which I will be using until moving out again. Which meant that after dropping her stuff off at my garage, we made our way to a certain large furniture and furnishings store.

It was also a good idea for me. Even though I have taken quite a bit of furniture with me, I did leave some behind as well, for which I will need replacements. So, we walked through the store, looking at measurements and prices, picking things that I liked and deciding a bit ahead of time. After all, I won't be moving in for another six-eight weeks yet, although hopefully before my birthday.

I would love a corner sofa, but on my budget and with the size of the room it has to be in, I don't think that will be an option. I did find a couch I liked however. In fact, I owned one of them before and have been lugging the armchair around Europe for the past 6 years!

The next thing I wanted to look at was a guest bed. I am quite partial to metal frames, but then I saw a wooden one that I loved. It is what they call a day-bed and can be turned into a double bed as well. Having found the bed, the next thing was a cupboard. I have a fair amount of stuff (and that is an understatement) and even though some of it will not get unpacked, I will want to display some of it as well. Because the ceilings in my new apartment are sloping, I needed something that wasn't too high. And I think I found it. Actually from the same series as the bed.

It didn't end there though. I also needed a chest of drawers. When I first moved to Norway I did have one, but it got damaged and then after the last move it was stored in a wet dark place and grew mould. After which I threw it out! A new one then. Which again came from the same series as the bed. My sister spotted a lovely rusty brown/red version that I fell in love with, so that went on the list. 

Bought already

In the end there were two cabinets, a bed, a sofa, a chest of drawers and a desk on the list. I bought the chest there and then, but the rest will wait until I have moved in and can see what I really need. Oh, and to see how much money I have to buy the stuff I want/need.

Tomorrow will be another big day. First of all, we will try and get a bank account opened, at a different bank this time. Then it's time for the sight test and then during the afternoon we will have to get car insurance sorted, so we can go and collect the car (a Renault Twingo) on Friday.

She has arrived

This morning we made our way to Dublin again. Over an hour and a half to get there. I had asked on my arrival yesterday where we had to go to collect Miss Oswin and knew sort of. But when I asked, we were supposed to be in another building. So, off we went to the other building.

We asked there and we had arrived at the right building, but she had not arrived yet. Another half hour would do it they said. Half an hour later we made our way to the building again and she had arrived. They gave me back her passport and a form that needed to be stamped by customs. So, we we142n555555 (sorry, that was Miss Oswin wanting to write something) went back to the first building where I had to fill out a short form and then got a stamp. 

Back to building number two and after paying yet more money, we were able to get her out. And we could travel back to Northern Ireland. Which meant sitting in a car with an unhappy cat in the back seat. Only when we were completely silent would she eventually go quiet as well and we did want to say a few words on occasion.

When we got home, we released her from her crate and she immediately started to explore. She has found the food and water bowls, she has found the litter box and she has tried to give everything her scent. It will take a few more days for her to get completely settled, but I think that, by what she's been showing so far, she will be doing fine!

In other news: we tried to open a bank account today for me, but that is proving a bit trickier. We will get it sorted, but it may take a week or so. Hopefully.

Hello!

A selfie with Miss Oswin

After a busy Friday where the movers came and took everything away, a busy Saturday where I had to clean the apartment and cuddle Miss Oswin, a busy Sunday where I had to clean the rest of the apartment and cuddle Miss Oswin again, I woke up early this morning.

Four in the morning to be precise. We needed to be early, because a certain Miss O needed to have her breakfast before going in her crate. She didn't eat that much though, I think she sensed something was not quite right. In fact, she spotted my front door was open and legged it up the stairs! Which meant I had to go and find her, so she could go into her crate.

GET ME OUT!!!!

Once caught and locked in, we loaded the big and small suitcase in the boot of the car, before putting a howling Miss O in the back seat. She was certainly not happy! And it didn't get any better when we arrived at the airport either. I checked in my luggage first and then I had to find the place where Miss Oswin would be met. I had to take her out of the crate, so they could check it for dangerous things and then she went back in (unwillingly), before I left her in the care of the baggage handlers. 

I left at 7.20am in an almost empty plane and from Oslo to Dublin it was again an almost empty plane. Not sure why she couldn't come on the same flights, but it probably has something to do with heated luggage holds. Anyway, I arrived safely and a bit ahead of time in Dublin, where I was met by my sister. 

The last thing I did in Norway was sell my car (finally, on Saturday), the first thing I did in Northern Ireland was buy a car. Or at least, reserve the car to be bought. My sister will kindly pay for it, until I have the money to pay her back. We will most likely go and get it on Thursday. 

Dinner Afghani style on Sunday afternoon

During the afternoon we drove up to a vet where I will be registering Miss O tomorrow, after that we went to a shopping center: a brand new second hand iPhone was bought. We also got supplies for Miss O, like food, cat litter and food bowls (I threw most of mine away during the last few days). I also made an appointment for having a sight test, since I need new glasses. Them being way too expensive in Norway (1 pair there means at least 3 pairs here and I need 6 pairs). 

Tomorrow we will go back to Dublin to collect Miss Oswin, then it's off to the vet to get her registered. We will (time permitting) also be going to my new work place for contracts and such. And if we still have some time left, we will be heading to the bank to open a bank account. 

So far, so good!