Islington-by-the-Sea: initial thoughts.

Have been here now for >48 hours - by two hours, precisely (the train I was on was late, and arrived about 25 minutes later than expected: that's the result of having a single mainline from the capital). Interesting greetings, interesting place. I'm sure I'll figure it out pretty quickly, tho - things will definitely settle down this week.

My first visit, other than the job interview and a single day induction some time more recently, was to look for housing: a single day, numerous appointments made from gumtree as well as some not made, the first day of summer and thousands of people crawling around the streets. Eight days later it snowed - global warming, but that's another story being told by countless others, so I shalln't go into it here. Typically, the first place that I looked at was beautiful, the others decidedly grotty in comparison. Untypically, the first was still available when I called back later the same day: I was in luck! This was added to by meeting some of the various inhabitants and going for a quick pint or three: Kronenbourgs all round and turns out Arsenal were peoples' favourites, so good so far.

Had some intermittent email and other exchanges over the intervening time, but my thoughts were elsewhere so didn't pay that much attention. Managed to confirm things for coming down this past Wednesday, and proceeded to get very wrecked for a number of days. I think I was allowed. Arrived late, as I've previously indicated, and found that things were actually a little bit different to what I'd anticipated: The owner had had an argument or something with one of the girls, so the tenant was given notice but that hadn't quite expired yet, hence there'd been a bit of a kerfuffle and switching of rooms to accommodate until this girl was gone. I'm sure I will hear more on that story later. Anyhow, the upshot being that the owners weren't even here: they'd vacated their room for me to stay in - and when I say vacated, i mean vacated! Everything stripped bare, right down to removing the internet access point (my biggest concern) and all their books and clothes and any decorations. It's actually kind of hard to say how bare, because I've had a little look around the house and the front room isn't exactly overwhelmed by the bookshelves, if you know what I mean. Well, maybe to expand a little - maybe you don't know what I mean? - the shelves are filled with Home & Life-style magazines, one or two books by soap stars (I think?!) and a weekend guide to France. Nice enough, but not my cup of tea. Oh, what's the background? She was a lawyer until about 2-3 years ago, focussed on business style contract law if I recall correctly; he is an odd-jobs man: was working on a market stall the day I met him and went to the pub, but in general does handyman building and painting/decorating type stuff. He's apparently quite dyslexic, too - but has beautiful handwriting, she says.

So they are elsewhere. Three girls at home, but I didn't get introduced to any of them. The first is the one who had the disagreement, but is moving out, so that's fine, no real need to meet her. Second, I actually met the day I came to visit initially as she'd just been moving in then. Haven't seen her since and didn't really speak to her at that time, but she seemed like a human. Third, is currently in "my" room, is a 23 year old manager of Marks and Spencer (don't tell her about the Israeli's!!) and I don't think she can cook or do anything really, she seems a bit of a "Daddy's girl" and when I met her briefly yesterday it was cos she was having difficulty opening the front door to get in. Turn the key in the lock, dear.

And so to work. Fortunately, quiet day at the office, the consultant on was extremely nice and had previously worked in the same unit in a similar post to that which I am now in (i.e. general dogsbody, no recognition in terms of training, but you get the study budget anyway).