well what do you know… if i step outside onto my patio i can hook onto someone’s connection…
i won’t take advantage of it though because depending upon your type of service, you have limits on your internet usage… like cell phones… and pay a premium if you go over. don’t want the poor guy to have a heart attack when he gets his bill. should be ok for the occasional use or im though.
i’ll be glad when i get my home connection set up later this month.
just contacted bt (british telecommunications) and scheduled telephone hookup for apr 26th. can’t get broadband internet w/o landline, and can’t get landline before 26th.
actually broadband is not guaranteed… the line has to be activated before they can test the line to see if broadband is available. lots of hoops.
ok i found this wireless connection and it’s closer to the flat than is the sometimes-working connection at bagel factory in canary wharf. and it’s on the way to work, so maybe i can use this for awhile until i get home connection. trouble is, it’s out in the open in front of some businesses and there’s no sitting area nearby… kind of awkward… but it works so that’s a major plus!
hi all, sorry i haven’t been posting a lot of detail recently but after moving to the new flat, my internet access has been extremely limited. plus i’ve been working until 6:30 each night (normal hours) and my internet time after work is dedicated to home-based stuff (budget, cleaning out emails, etc.)
maybe tomorrow i’ll have time to journal stuff… i’ve also been having to go to the free internet locations after they close because of stuff i’ve been doing throught the week. it’s really cold outside (44F/9C) and windy most of the time.
bt (british telecommunications) offers broadband internet, and since i need an active phone line with them anyway, i may need to contact them when they are open next week.
My first week in the new flat.
I knew I was in for an adventure when I was cleaning up and saw this sign out back:
“Please place your rubbish in the skip in the bin store”
“Rubbish” I knew already. That’s what was in the bag in my hand.
But what the heck was a skip, and why does the flat building sell them in a bin store out back? Seems sketchy to me.
What else do bin stores sell?
4 day holiday for easter!
it’s amazing how quickly the unusual becomes normal… i don’t even notice that i’ve learned how to look the other way first before crossing the street.
still miss my family incredibly though. i worked hard on installing an online photo album and hopefully if it works well enough i’ll be able to train the family on how to update it.
woo hoo found a potential wireless hotspot in flat but it’s very low connection and may not appear again…
it’s also late and i’m very tired so i’ll try it tomorrow evening…
back online. later i’ll fill you in on the details of what exactly happens when one locks the keys in a flat on a crisp, cold saturday morning.
currently catching up on a tidal wave of email & billing statements…
got the flat (apartment) keys. will come back to document what had to take place first.
looking up the best way to get there from here. no, i won’t tell you where ‘there’ is… but i am at a bagel factory
good lord, the process of renting an apartment can make a preacher curse! in the states (texas, at least) if you find an apartment that’s available you can sign up and move in in less than a day.
i’ve been working on this process since a week ago last tuesday. that’s right — nine days ago. it’s like taking out a mortgage!
i have to hurry and get in a flat, the hotel’s going to be unavailable soon and so is the money i’ve allocated for temp housing. the apartment owner wants a month and a half up front plus the agency wants letting fees of course paid up front. all in all this has to work itself out by tomorrow midday (local time, not CST) or i’m up a creek without a paddle.
lunch break… report finished… meet w/user this pm to verify results.
also will start hounding landlord back home to respond (QUICKLY) to a request from my local leasing agent to verify rental history.
woo hoo! survived the first day of school (oops, work) and none of the other kids (oops, colleagues) beat up on me.
have a report due tomorrow. not surprising considering the nature of the business. i got the usual “business-spec-scribbled-on-the-back-of-a-piece-of-paper” thing and did the right thing by turning it into a business/technical spec. and EMAILED it for documentation purposes.
he he that probably was the first part of the test. i’ll finish the report tomorrow morning…
at 230~240v, irons get really HOT here really FAST.
(back @ the hotel) ok i’m ready for tomorrow. 8:30 am…
btw found opwn wifi on street near crossharbour station. very low signal but usable.
next weekend: investigate far E and SE london
travel time from richmond station to canary wharf: 1h30m.
hunted down the asda supermarket that some folks were going on about. funny, it’s a wal-mart!
ah, the decline of western civilisation.
there seems to be some obsession here with cadbury eggs. probably an easter advert thing. i think they’re yummy so i’m glad of it.
richmond area IS quite nice. very comfortable feeling. think the family will like it.
now i have something to compare the new area in the docklands to.
this must be quite like houston — i even almost got lost. hasn’t happened yet this trip…!
ok the barista accidently gave me a triple espresso instead of the double i paid for. whoo hoo i’ll be hopping around after awhile.
no power outlet but that’s ok. i’m just happy to be able to report anything at all…
the street right off the richmond station exit is a very nice shopping district. i’ll wander around the area a bit to get a feel for the area immediately withing walking distance of the tube entrance.