Saturday, December 01, 2007

Back down South

I moved yesterday. I am still recovering from the trauma of letting Monkey map read. Which probably wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't forgotten to pack the fruit bowl. Halfway down the A1 I remembered, he realised there were no bananas around and promptly went on strike. We got VERY lost, and also encountered rather a lot of roadworks, accidents, accidents in the middle of roadworks, tractors and other interesting road hold ups. I did locate some bananas at the services on the M1, but I am not paying 79p for one tiny measly banana (even for Monkey). Anyway, it meant that a 150 mile journey ended up taking six (?!?!?) hours, and my brainwave of arriving in daylight went completely to pot - yes, we ended up navigating the suburbs of London in the dark, in the Friday night rush hour and in pouring rain. Thank you Monkey. Still the Hemel Hempstead Christmas lights (which we drove round twice) were very pretty...

I also haven't the faintest idea where my camera cable is (probably still in Newark, or possibly in Lincoln, as I have no recollection of packing it), so this will be a pictureless post. We're currently living in temporary accommodation in Windsor, following the fun and excitement of flat hunting. Thank you for all the good wishes from my last post, when I had a cold and Monkey had flu (to whoever asked - yes, Monkey Flu is a LOT worse than Bloke Flu). I recovered pretty quickly but Monkey took forever...

The temporary accommodation is very smart. A bit too smart as I've been having problems with getting myself (and the car) through the various door and gate entry systems. I seem to have managed to get myself in now several times but the car ended up spending half of today parked on the road outside after I got back from the supermarket and got befuddled by which buttons to press. The owner of the flat I'm staying in also has more gadgets than I've used to. So far I've completely failed to work out how the DVD player works, and she has a Sky thingy which I've never encountered before and which is also a bit intimidating. In the end I just plugged in the radio I'd brought with me and put Radio 4 on. And don't get me started on the shower controls. Thank God Monkey doesn't do showers, else we'd be thrown out by now!

Knitting - well, it's a bit difficult without pictures, but one Matilda scarf is finished, another one is part way through. A Kureyon Kozy is halfway too (these are all Christmas presents) and I still have 1.5 children's jumpers to go before Christmas. Eeeek.

Anyway, that's it for now. Hopefully I'll rediscover the camera cable and be able to post some pics sometime!

And remember, if you're going on a long journey DO NOT forget to pack the fruit bowl!

11 comments:

T said...

You are having an adventure and a very wearing one. I hope it all gets easier soon, it's making me tired just reading it, poor you. Chin up!

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing that such a journey with a post-viral Monkey would have been bad enough, but a post-viral Monkey with no banana supply. Shudder.

Thank God for Radio 4 - it can't be ALL bad if you have Radio 4.

Anonymous said...

Well done you. It will get easier, I hope the new job starts well. Radio 4 and Christmas Knitting sounds like the perfect way to relax with familiar things in a new and different environment. Take care.

Linda said...

Lovely to hear your news. Well done for arriving safely with Monkeys directions!!

KnitYoga said...

Oh dear, that journey does sound ss if it was somewhat fraught! Thank goodness for knitting and Radio 4! Now that sounds like bliss! :-)

Kat said...

Glad you arrived eventually but safely! Monkey sounds traumatised! You must find that Camera cable, we want pics of knitting and the new swish flat!

Kat said...

Glad you arrived eventually but safely! Monkey sounds traumatised! You must find that Camera cable, we want pics of knitting and the new swish flat!

Craftydramaqueen said...

Glad you finally got ther in one piece! Hugs xx

Sue H said...

Glad you made it safely despite Monkey sabotaging the journey by going on strike, naughty Monkey. I'd make him sit in the back next time and not get to see the scenery.

Mary Anne said...

I'm glad you made it safely, although it must have been a hair raising drive, especially with Monkey having banana withdrawal. It sounds like quite the high-tech flat; I'm sure I would never figure out the controls for any of the gadgets. Good thing you have your radio. Take care and don't let Monkey touch any of the buttons!

Jamie said...

Happy to hear you arrived safely, even if it took much longer than expected. Hope the new job is going well and that you settle in with the technology. It can be a bit daunting, but I'm sure you'll work it all out soon.