BaboMongchongi

Saint Bean a photo by BaboMike on Flickr.

No, no updates, just a photo to amuse you all.

Who do you think this looks like?

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/6021657530_994449ba4b_t.jpg

Its actually a saint from a cathedral in Antigua, Guatemala.

So. It’s virtually all done. Contracts signed, papers stamped, faxes sent, everything done. Well, almost everything. Now we just have to sit back and wait. Currently we are set to settle on August 12th, meaning that we pay the money and get the keys then. So exciting.

Of course, first a picture to show you.

This is the view we have in the mornings. Snow on that there mountain. Lots of snow. Enough snow I’m told to be able to go cross country skiing. Now there’s something I want to try out one of these days.

Back to house. We’ve got plenty to get on with over the next 3 weeks. Since putting things in storage back in July 2006, we’ve probably forgotten much of what we have. That said, we know some of the big stuff we do, and don’t have. Fridge, yes. Sofa’s, yes. Bed, no. TV, no. etc etc.

So the shopping begins. We also need to get delivery organised for suitable times. Luckily, for me at least, time off isn’t a problem. I’m told that up until a couple of years ago I could have got some bonus “moving house” days off, but that perk has been scrapped. Can’t say I mind, its a pretty good place to work as it is.

Shopping. Last weekend we went bed shopping. So much choice, so many different price points, technologies, colours, firmnesses etc etc etc. We tried a few, found one we liked, then tried a different one for a laugh. Wow, magic. We bought the nice fancy one. Expensive But half price

What else, not much. Work is getting busier, my head is getting fuller. The projects are simultaneously getting clearer and fuzzier at the same time. Normal really.

So much going on. Life is busy, crazy, stressful and fun.

First, a photo. Think of what France means to you and what kind of image could sum up France. I came up with this from the amazing town of Le Puy-en-Velay. What could possibly be more french than a citroen 2CV against the backdrop of an ancient cathedral.

So, a week and no blogging. Bad me. Why?

We bought a house!!! Well, everything is signed and just awaiting us to dot the final i’s and cross the final t’s. Sooooo exciting.

What house. Where? Why? Who? What other questions beginning with W can I dream up?

Lets post the link so you can see yourself.

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-west+hobart-106883469

Its an 1850′s cottage which has been updated and extended a bit, on an internal block. 3 bed, 2 bath, garage, deck, garden and all everything we could want.

Rob, our property hunter found us this place. We both looked and loved it. We then let him loose to do his magic, and magic he did. An amazing deal was negotiated. No idea how he managed it, but even by his standards this is a ripper. So, with any luck, we might be moving in within about 5 weeks, fingers crossed.

Work is getting crazier too. Fun but busier. Exciting.

Fun fun fun,

First up, some pics. 2 pics to cover the last 2 days.

The sun rising in the morning as seen through the trees in Salamanca.

Teapot and its shadow from the Chado tea house.

So, houses. Still things in the works. Our man Rob is working hard and seems to think that things might be happening. Still, not getting the hopes up. If its going to happen it will happen. There are plenty of houses out there.

We did find a most fantastic place today. Chado, the way of tea. A food menu of maybe 8 items, but a tea menu which is maybe 10 or 15 pages long. Huge amazing collection. Food was unbelievable too, amazing japanese inspired menu, stunningly fresh and well prepared. If you come visit, we’ll point you in the right direction.

Tonite? Off to visit friends. Tomorrow? NFI.

Photo photo photo. I admit, I’ve been struggling. Winter means short days, dark early in the evening, so less chances for photos. Still, I realise that that is not an excuse. Bad me. I’ll consider myself chastised.

If you look and squint carefully, you can make out the water and an old style sailing ship. The other lights? Really not sure. It turned out to be a long exposure photo when I wasn’t expecting one. The result just happened to be something I liked, so here it is.

So, over a week since last post. Whats been happening? Lots basically. Lot and lots. Its been bloody cold, its getting wet, its dark and its still Hobart!

We’ve had volcanic ash

and the brilliant sunsets it brings.

Speaking of which, you all have 4 days left to vote for me in a national photo comp. You can vote using your Facebook login, so you don’t even need to register. No excuses. Go Vote! Ideally for the “spectator” photo.

http://myregion.strutta.com/entries?sort=search&order=mike%20rowe

House hunting. Well, we’ve learnt lots about real estate agents. Mostly not good things. They are pushy and manipulative and drive us crazy. Nothing new there. What is new is our new approach to the house hunting. We’ve got our own real estate agent working for us. He’s a buyers agent. Ignore the cheesy website and its My Property Hunter who we are using. Basically they do mountains of research, get to know us and what we are looking for, find places which are suitable and show us around them. Then if we like places, they do all the negotiating and bargaining on our behalf. They (he) knows the rules and how to play the game. This is where we struggle. Ideally he should save us a decent amount of $$$ as well as making sure we actually buy suited to our needs. Pretty exciting stuff. Besides, it takes the emotion out of house hunting and its the emotion that the real estate vendors count on to get the best prices.

So, more house hunting in the form of waiting for suitable properties to be emailed to us – check Susies blog for more on this front. More trivia we can’t win down at the casino, and spicy lamb rice stir fry for dinner. Yum.

Hobart Sunset a photo by BaboMike on Flickr.

A nice relaxed day. Long weekend, havent been in to work since Tuesday, friends visiting. Perfection. Topped off with an amazing sunset. Whats not to like about Hobart?

5 Swans a photo by BaboMike on Flickr.

Another week, another work trip. This time round some succes, some fail. Normal basically.

Last week I did the east coast towns, this time it was west, specifically north west. First stop Deloraine. Usually I believe it’s a maybe 3 hour drive. We had some snow related issues and took more like 7. Oops. Kinda got stuck in the snow. Well, not actually stuck, we did give up before getting really in trouble.

This picky is of some very surprised swans in Shannon Lagoon, just before the town of Miena on the Great Lake. The lake isnt actualy frozen, it’s more of a slush layer getting all bunched up and blown onto shore by the crazy strong wind. The swans at first looked stuck, but hey were intact going slowly through a few inches of the slush.

More pics and trip report to come