Relocation, Relocation, Relocation

Raine and I are moving back to Blackpool (so we can help my parents). Things are crazy at the moment. We need to be out of our house (in Galgate) by Friday, and we don’t have a place to live in Blackpool yet. We moved most of our stuff out of the house, and into Raine’s mum’s house, yesterday. Gordon’s son has a big van, but we could only use it at the weekend, so we had no choice but to move the stuff out yesterday – it would have been impossible without a van. Of course this means we have to move all our stuff again when we find a place!

We had found the perfect flat, but it went before we could sign up for it. Only I had seen it, so we were going to wait for Raine to see it on Saturday... someone signed up before that second viewing, though. It’s taught us a lesson, but a harsh one – it’ll mean if I see somewhere I think is perfect, while Raine’s at work, I need to commit us to it then and there. While Raine and I have very similar tastes, it’s a big responsibility.

We’ve seen so many places this weekend my head’s spinning. Nothing is quite right, though. Anything that would be good is too expensive, and everything else is either too small, or in a dodgy area. We’re not particularly picky, but it’s such a big change for us we want somewhere we can be happy. We have two places to look at tomorrow which I’m very hopeful about. They’re both near my parents, pretty big, and well within our budget. One of them includes gas and electricity with the rent, and the rent is still cheaper than most places we’ve looked at. It’s also really big, and on the ground floor with a disabled shower – which would be great for my dad (my parents only have a toilet downstairs, so if he couldn’t manage stairs for a while he could come round to our place for a shower!). It sounds perfect, but you can’t help but think with all these boxes ticked there must be something wrong with it! Hopefully I’ll be proven wrong.

My dad’s doing well – I visit him every day, and I’m constantly impressed by how happy he’s keeping. He’s still in the hospital...in fact he’s still in the same bed... but they seem to have stabilised his blood sugar and blood pressure. He’s still not allowed to walk without supervision, but he’s progressing, and his spirits are high. I get a little annoyed, because the hospital seem so short staffed; he hardly gets any physiotherapy time each day (and none at all over the weekend). He’s meant to be seeing someone about his eyes, but that hasn’t happened yet. I guess it’s because of NHS funding... it really gets me down. We know so many people who are using the State – they can’t be bothered to get a job (and they’ve told us as much), and just claim benefits... I just think, if only the NHS could have the money they’re wasting (and the taxes they aren’t contributing). It gets me so angry...it’s enough to turn me right wing;-)

In-between hospital visiting, flat hunting and moving out we really haven’t been doing anything else. Obviously our Belfast trip was cancelled. We went out on Friday night, with friends, but we were so exhausted we were home before midnight. I’ll be so happy when we’re settled somewhere and we can get into a better routine – we’re eating pretty awfully (living off ready meals and takeaways), and I’m so used to cooking it’s really getting to me. I am going to try and cook a meal tonight, ready for Raine when she gets back from work...but it depends on me getting insured on my dad’s car (so I can go to the supermarket), which is turning into a nightmare – the insurance company insist on speaking to my dad...I finally said they could (although he can speak his voice is very croaky), because it really needs sorting, and asked them to call back in two minutes as his hospital number was on the phone I was speaking on. They didn’t call back. Now I’m waiting for them to call back, again...

Of course, amongst all this, I’m trying to keep up with Uni. Thankfully this is my quietest term, but that doesn’t make it all that quiet! I’m trying to keep on top of PhD applications, but to be honest I’ve let a few deadlines go, and if it comes down to it I’ll take a year out and apply for 2010 entry. I prioritise my current study in the time that I have to work. On Friday I found out about a PhD studentship – their person specification practically described my research plan and experience... but it’s in London, and I’d have to live in the South West. As things stand that just wouldn’t be possible. I think I’ll apply, though, and if I did get offered a place, and the funding (unlikely!), then I would re-assess my options at that point.