big cat , little cat (that's not my lion BTW)
Sunday, July 23, 2006
How complex can it be to sell a house?
So - my house sale must be as simple as it possibly comes.
I'm looking for a quick sale - have no chain - have left country and am desperate to sell. There's no holdups , no structural problems, no nothing.
My buyers also have no chain, they're first time buyers with money in the bank renting a house down the road.
We've both been ready to do the deal since about mid May - and yet its now nearly the end of July. This week we resorted to phoning the solicitors and the estate agents at least once a day, just trying to find out what the fuck everyone was doing, and what the possible delay could be.
It seemed to eventually turn out that basically both solicitors were just completely lazy and useless and the only reason they haven't exchanged is that they just couldn't be arsed. Frankly I'm unimpressed, but they kinda half me by the balls I guess. To change at this point in time would be pointless and they're now assuring us that they're gonna exchange this week, but by god its been painful. I hate to think how it would have been had either of us had somewhere else in the chain....
Its continues to stupify me how difficult a relatively simple process can be made. I suppose I could bang on here now about how easy it is to do such a deal in Sweden, but that'd just be pointless eh? I guess we should have just spent alot more time alot earlier in the process ringing them every day trying to make it happen, but frankly I'm paying them so why would I want to do their f'ing job for them...it's like "Have you phoned the other solicitor" - "well no" - " well do you think that maybe you should"...god its frustrating. Why they think its going to magically happen without them actualyl doing any work is beyond me....
I think that it would also be far fairer to note that Sarah has done all of this, and showed extreme patience in the process. i think I would have just called everyone a complete fuckwit by this point in time, and alienated any hope of the solicitors every getting off their fat arses to earn their money.
respect to sarah...
bollocks to solicitors....
Anyway - roll on us being given a huge sum of money - we're nearly there....
I'm looking for a quick sale - have no chain - have left country and am desperate to sell. There's no holdups , no structural problems, no nothing.
My buyers also have no chain, they're first time buyers with money in the bank renting a house down the road.
We've both been ready to do the deal since about mid May - and yet its now nearly the end of July. This week we resorted to phoning the solicitors and the estate agents at least once a day, just trying to find out what the fuck everyone was doing, and what the possible delay could be.
It seemed to eventually turn out that basically both solicitors were just completely lazy and useless and the only reason they haven't exchanged is that they just couldn't be arsed. Frankly I'm unimpressed, but they kinda half me by the balls I guess. To change at this point in time would be pointless and they're now assuring us that they're gonna exchange this week, but by god its been painful. I hate to think how it would have been had either of us had somewhere else in the chain....
Its continues to stupify me how difficult a relatively simple process can be made. I suppose I could bang on here now about how easy it is to do such a deal in Sweden, but that'd just be pointless eh? I guess we should have just spent alot more time alot earlier in the process ringing them every day trying to make it happen, but frankly I'm paying them so why would I want to do their f'ing job for them...it's like "Have you phoned the other solicitor" - "well no" - " well do you think that maybe you should"...god its frustrating. Why they think its going to magically happen without them actualyl doing any work is beyond me....
I think that it would also be far fairer to note that Sarah has done all of this, and showed extreme patience in the process. i think I would have just called everyone a complete fuckwit by this point in time, and alienated any hope of the solicitors every getting off their fat arses to earn their money.
respect to sarah...
bollocks to solicitors....
Anyway - roll on us being given a huge sum of money - we're nearly there....
more lakes = more swimming
A brief summary of the week:
Fell off bike (well actually 2 weeks ago now, but I still have the scars and scabs so it feels quite recent). This will teach me about riding a racing bike with smooth tyres on a cycle path made of gravel and loose material.
Went to see Pirates of the caribbean - part 2 - I was rather underwhelmed.
Reading "Inside Windows 2000" - which considering who its written by also reminds me that Microsoft bought sysinternals this week....no word of how much they paid though.
Jumped in several lakes - but again forgot to take my camera so I have no photographic evidence.
Made plans for trip to England next week, and in September
Made plans for a trip to the archipelago in August.
tidied up the computer room and finally cabled and filed everything properly.
Didn't do my tax return - didn't do my non residency in UK form.
Fell off bike (well actually 2 weeks ago now, but I still have the scars and scabs so it feels quite recent). This will teach me about riding a racing bike with smooth tyres on a cycle path made of gravel and loose material.
Went to see Pirates of the caribbean - part 2 - I was rather underwhelmed.
Reading "Inside Windows 2000" - which considering who its written by also reminds me that Microsoft bought sysinternals this week....no word of how much they paid though.
Jumped in several lakes - but again forgot to take my camera so I have no photographic evidence.
Made plans for trip to England next week, and in September
Made plans for a trip to the archipelago in August.
tidied up the computer room and finally cabled and filed everything properly.
Didn't do my tax return - didn't do my non residency in UK form.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Sandhamn
We took the boat to here at the weekend, and sat on the beach all day. Its in the depths of the Stockholm archipeligo. Its called Sandhamn and its a small island about 4km by 1.5 km.
Kings of Leon Rock
So I've been sitting at home all evening playing computers (as I often do at the moment) - well after its dark anyway - cos as a Swede said to me the other day - its summer , you must leave work by 5pm if not earlier every day - and take beer in the sun - its compulsory....they really mean it as well.
some guys were betting me at lunch the other day that I'd stop smiling come winter - or at least come half way through winter as I'm known at work for being a bit too jolly I think. Strange that - especially as I was a bit miserable in June, but then maybe its just that I stand out against the quiet and restrained swedish men somewhat...anyway
so yeah - I'm here and I'm listening to the kings of leon (youth and yound manhood) and frankly its just absolutely f'ing excellent and has had me dancing about the room and acting like a bit of a tit generally....nice!
On Wednesday i went to a party in central stockholm, and got absolutely ratted with a load of people from work. It was a pleasant evening indeed, I spoke alot of very bad swedish, we drunk alot of cocktails and I made a few friends.
It was a classic case of planning to leave at a reasonable hour, getting to the front door and then being confronted by drunken swedes saying "one for the road" - in swedish of course - and 2 hours and a bottle of whiskey later, well you know how it goes....
I can;t really remember how I got home, but I made it all in one piece, so alls well that ends well. It was good to be out and about and being social, although frightening difficult at times doing the whole swedish thing. fortunately of course we can alwasy break into english when anything gets tough, but I've been really trying generally.
Often at lunchtimes now, I have to speak swedish with my colleagues. They find it entertaining (sometimes) and I get some good practice.
Sarah has started a new swedish course this week, but I'm unable to because they're all during the day in the summer months. My next one ought to start in september hopefully.
anyway - beyond that my focus is about being excited with an imminent return to the Uk for toms stag at the the end of the month
so roll on croydon fun.
some guys were betting me at lunch the other day that I'd stop smiling come winter - or at least come half way through winter as I'm known at work for being a bit too jolly I think. Strange that - especially as I was a bit miserable in June, but then maybe its just that I stand out against the quiet and restrained swedish men somewhat...anyway
so yeah - I'm here and I'm listening to the kings of leon (youth and yound manhood) and frankly its just absolutely f'ing excellent and has had me dancing about the room and acting like a bit of a tit generally....nice!
On Wednesday i went to a party in central stockholm, and got absolutely ratted with a load of people from work. It was a pleasant evening indeed, I spoke alot of very bad swedish, we drunk alot of cocktails and I made a few friends.
It was a classic case of planning to leave at a reasonable hour, getting to the front door and then being confronted by drunken swedes saying "one for the road" - in swedish of course - and 2 hours and a bottle of whiskey later, well you know how it goes....
I can;t really remember how I got home, but I made it all in one piece, so alls well that ends well. It was good to be out and about and being social, although frightening difficult at times doing the whole swedish thing. fortunately of course we can alwasy break into english when anything gets tough, but I've been really trying generally.
Often at lunchtimes now, I have to speak swedish with my colleagues. They find it entertaining (sometimes) and I get some good practice.
Sarah has started a new swedish course this week, but I'm unable to because they're all during the day in the summer months. My next one ought to start in september hopefully.
anyway - beyond that my focus is about being excited with an imminent return to the Uk for toms stag at the the end of the month
so roll on croydon fun.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
a quiet evening at home
So i worked a 11 hour day today which was far too long and my head was a bit rotted at the end of the day, from looking at query plan cardinality estimations.
The cat's sitting on my lap and I'm stroking her ears. Life is good in the cat world.
If anyone wants to instance message during the day I can IM at work now, and at home of course, but I'm always online during the day and my IM account is globalgoat@gmail.com
login and say hello....
The cat's sitting on my lap and I'm stroking her ears. Life is good in the cat world.
If anyone wants to instance message during the day I can IM at work now, and at home of course, but I'm always online during the day and my IM account is globalgoat@gmail.com
login and say hello....
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
A slow week
I've been a bit miserable this week. I've missed alot of people in London and wished that I could just go out for a quick beer. Hey Ho - I'm going back on the weekend of 28th July for 4 days, so that'll be good.
Obviously I went back to London on the weekend of 9th June and I had a pretty damn fine time all in all. I rushed around and saw a lot of people. It was totally great to hook up with everyone, even if it was only for a few hours sometimes, but it was a bloody great time.
So there we go.
Thoughts apart from that:
Reading: Debugging Applications for .NET and Windows (well re-reading some of it in truth)
Meaning to also re-read: Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance – its been a while
Meaning to lookup: is there a new Douglas coupland novel out? Its been ages since I read any fiction, its just been tech tech tech for past 3 months
Apart from: Guardian Weekly, and a copy of the “real” guardian I got at central station during the week – G2 heaven – I do miss it.
Thinking: Cycling to work – brilliant
Exercising: see above + swimming in lakes, and more swimming in lakes – nice!! And a few weights at home since my shoulders are feeling almost fixed…..
Working: SQL Performance issues mostly this week, and fixing next door neighbours PCs – well trying to anyway, I always find it hard to say no to request like this, but then you just know what you’re going to find – a mirriad of half installed half removed malware internet downloaded hardware conflicting device crunching driver corrupting application hanging type of crap. If it was mine I’d wipe it clean and start again!!
Drooling over: New Lego Mindstorms NXT , due out in 6 weeks to general release – I need to try this I think. I definately need to build some robots. My neighbour has one of those robotic lawnmowers. I watch it trundle around the garden. In terms of lawnmowings, its utterly inefficient, it takes about 3 hours to cut a tiny 10 sq metres lawn, but its dead good to watch.....(insert your own comment about how sad I am here!)
Obviously I went back to London on the weekend of 9th June and I had a pretty damn fine time all in all. I rushed around and saw a lot of people. It was totally great to hook up with everyone, even if it was only for a few hours sometimes, but it was a bloody great time.
So there we go.
Thoughts apart from that:
Reading: Debugging Applications for .NET and Windows (well re-reading some of it in truth)
Meaning to also re-read: Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance – its been a while
Meaning to lookup: is there a new Douglas coupland novel out? Its been ages since I read any fiction, its just been tech tech tech for past 3 months
Apart from: Guardian Weekly, and a copy of the “real” guardian I got at central station during the week – G2 heaven – I do miss it.
Thinking: Cycling to work – brilliant
Exercising: see above + swimming in lakes, and more swimming in lakes – nice!! And a few weights at home since my shoulders are feeling almost fixed…..
Working: SQL Performance issues mostly this week, and fixing next door neighbours PCs – well trying to anyway, I always find it hard to say no to request like this, but then you just know what you’re going to find – a mirriad of half installed half removed malware internet downloaded hardware conflicting device crunching driver corrupting application hanging type of crap. If it was mine I’d wipe it clean and start again!!
Drooling over: New Lego Mindstorms NXT , due out in 6 weeks to general release – I need to try this I think. I definately need to build some robots. My neighbour has one of those robotic lawnmowers. I watch it trundle around the garden. In terms of lawnmowings, its utterly inefficient, it takes about 3 hours to cut a tiny 10 sq metres lawn, but its dead good to watch.....(insert your own comment about how sad I am here!)
Sunday, June 25, 2006
pictures of the new house
uploaded to flickr at long last - see previous post - I'm sitting on that terrace now, as I write this.
No web access at home
So here we are – it must be about 3 weeks or more since I managed to post something. My lack of internet connection at home is beginning to become tiresome. Here’s the thing, I’ve moved house (check out the pictures on flickr) and its f’ing amazing, but its taking an age for the internet to be enable at the exchange its just like UK really in that regard, there is the ex state run monopoly fixed line provider who has all the infrastructure, and my ISP, who has sold me a lovely deal of 24MB connection with first 3 months free, is being delayed in enabling my connection. Anyway, only about another 2 weeks to wait now hopefully, but its quite frustrating.
OBVIOUSLY, I can use the web at work, but for reasons to long to write here I haven’t – well not for much personal stuff anyway. A simple point would be to say that during the days I’ve been too busy to blog and upload photos etc, and in the evenings I haven’t been in the mood to stay in the office and do personal things.
Both mums were here for a week and Emma is here now, so its not been a good time to geek out at the office, when I ought to be at home socialising. Suffice to say I have much web withdrawal symtoms, so the girls have gone into town today and I’ve been walking round the garden outdoors, trying to find the optimal spot to connect to my neighbours unsecured wireless connection.
This isn’t as bad as it sounds, as he said I was welcome to share it its just that I can’t get a good signal anywhere. So I’m now sitting on his terrace, at his garden table – uploading my flickr and writing this. He’s away in the archipelago anyway, with the rest of Stockholm for midsummer weekend, so I have the place to myself – its just not the most ergonomic of desks!! I may actually go into the office later to use their connection as it might be easier.
There are about 4 other wireless signals in sight of here, but unfortunately all are encrypted…..
OBVIOUSLY, I can use the web at work, but for reasons to long to write here I haven’t – well not for much personal stuff anyway. A simple point would be to say that during the days I’ve been too busy to blog and upload photos etc, and in the evenings I haven’t been in the mood to stay in the office and do personal things.
Both mums were here for a week and Emma is here now, so its not been a good time to geek out at the office, when I ought to be at home socialising. Suffice to say I have much web withdrawal symtoms, so the girls have gone into town today and I’ve been walking round the garden outdoors, trying to find the optimal spot to connect to my neighbours unsecured wireless connection.
This isn’t as bad as it sounds, as he said I was welcome to share it its just that I can’t get a good signal anywhere. So I’m now sitting on his terrace, at his garden table – uploading my flickr and writing this. He’s away in the archipelago anyway, with the rest of Stockholm for midsummer weekend, so I have the place to myself – its just not the most ergonomic of desks!! I may actually go into the office later to use their connection as it might be easier.
There are about 4 other wireless signals in sight of here, but unfortunately all are encrypted…..
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