Moving House

I’ve spent most of this week moving house. As a free spirited minimalist, I am adverse to accumulating large items of furniture, which has meant moving has been relatively easy for me in the past. However, this time there were two of us moving in. If pushing fridges, couches and widescreen TVs up a set of stairs to the second floor wasn’t enough to tip me over the edge, the fact that it was 44 degrees sure was. It was a relentless, hot and sweaty 3 days of packing, unpacking, transporting and cleaning. I never want to see another Budget removal van or the inside of Fort Knox as long as I live!

Being Stranded Without a Phone and Internet Connection

Once I moved in, I thought I would be able to relax. But no. There were keys to return, mail to redirect and phone and internet connections to be reconnected. Thinking it would be a matter of a phone call and a few days wait at most, I contacted Optus to discover it would be a 2 week wait. Take my left leg if you like, but don’t take my internet. After a few days of twiddling my thumbs, walking round the house in circles, trekking to the internet cafe and not being able to contact people short of sending a smoke signal, I’d had enough. I charged into Optus today and bought myself a prepaid wireless connection and a new mobile phone.

Trying to Sleep on a 44 Degree Day Without Air Conditioning

Connecting To a New Internet Plan

Just buy this wireless key and plug it in. So I was told. In reality, I spent the afternoon entering my information to activate my plan, and the computer continually rejecting my name “against their records”. Umm, yes, that is my name, and I have had it since 1976. So I then go to the “easy installation” brochure, to search for a number to call. Alas, there is no number! On the other hand, when I want to query my bill and ask for an email address for their Senior Manager, I am told I must call. For f%@k’s sake!

People Who Think You Are a Snob Just Because You Like Nice Things

I have high standards. When I shop for clothes, I like quality fabrics (I can spot spandex and ployester impostering as more expensive fabrics a mile away). When I shop for groceries, I like to go to a nice supermarket (in particular the ones that sell gourmet produce) or have it delivered straight to my door step. I like living in nice areas, where I can walk to cafes and shops. Does all this make me a snob? I don’t need to justify it to myself, because I know who I am, but just for the record, just because you like nice things, doesn’t mean you are a snob.

Image Sources

http://sacredlotus.typepad.com/.a/6a010535c401e2970b0120a5442595970c-500wi

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3687190826_36af6627d8_m.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeon7/2615071041/