Flat hunting

18th October – Melbourne

Well we’ve had a right old time of it today, early start with breakfast and coffee in the hostel, and then straight out into the unknown for a brief introduction to transport.
If you happen upon the right tram in Melbourne, (you wont know it’s the right one you’ll just have to hope and make educated noises until an elderly tram driver yells out the window at you) You will need to pay for your ticket in cash – coins only, not only were we not prepared for this but must have looked like a pair of right dopes waving our debit cards around. After some nifty swapping notes for coins we managed to buy a ticket, and feeling quite proud of ourselves, sat down and then proceeded to miss our stop!
Tram 2 was far more satisfactory and as the tickets were valid for 2 hours we did not have to repeat the ghastly affair.

Aim of the day – just so we’re all clear
find a flat in the St Kilda area o Melbourne
Do not exceed the carefully calculated ( perfectly respectable budget)
Do not except any sub standard properties to avoid further flat hunting
Do not sack of entire plan and go for a swim

With these clear objectives we headed to letting agent number 1, their sign welcomed us and invited us in. No one was there. They were all out on viewings.
Letting agent number 2 advertised to “find your dream home” the letting agent there worked out of a different branch and we therefore needed to call her. We don’t have a phone. At this point we add objective number 5 onto the list

buy cheap BoBo phone.

Phone brought, credit acquired but obviously these things need to be charged so off to the phone box. Haven’t got a lot of change as used it all for the bus journey so scraping together what we do have in order to speak to Jade. Jade is lovely and says we can view the flat on Tuesday night. This seems to be the way in Oz – they give you a window, you turn up, Jade has kindly given me the address, a garbled message about how it is tricky to fine and then tells me the window. 5pm – 5:15 Tuesday night. Better not be late aye? So we set off to find said flat (obviously we are trying to be prepared and focused) when suddenly we spy letting agent number 3 and abandon all thoughts of Jade and 18/1 Acland Street and nip into Biggin and Scott ( it is at this point that we think to add objective number 6

Complete all tasks before becoming distracted.

Biggin and Scott however are actually quite good and in exchange for 50 dollars and a copy of my passport happily they provide the keys to 1/56 Carlisle Street. Happily and with the naivety of a 2 week old rabbit we set out believing that this could be our new home. We were wrong.

It was not good and we have lovingly renamed in “The shit pit”
As my father says it’s always good to have a back up plan – and trust me no one in their right mind is going to rent that hole so we’re all set dad!

Feeling despondent we head for lunch. Yummy
Feeling better we head to Century 21 – may I just say what a refreshing blast of cool air they are – friendly efficient and with 3 stores in as many miles what fun you can have chasing all over town for keys to various flats!

The end result of this, after much more to-ing and throwing is that tomorrow is Sunday and only Centaury 21 are open and we have 3 of there properties to see.
El and I have actually decided where we wish to live but it is over budget and with a lettings agent we do not care for.

If the charming old school flat with fireplace is available we may well seal the deal tomorrow, if not then the over budget mansion gets it! Well not quite, we’ve got 5 on the list for Monday and Tuesday and 3 tomorrow so here’s hoping.

After flat hunting El explored South Yarra whilst I went through the 80 odd listings to check we hadn’t missed a blinder. We had not.

We had a lovely dinner and a few beers in the tiny tiny box room – and as we head for the bunk beds I am reminded of my childhood, me and Simon lying in Valley view no doubt planning our next adventure in the fields or trying to solve the latest string of nonsensical ( and non existent ) crimes in the village with a total population of 25! Funny because very little seems to change really. Only now I have to try and argue my case that we do not need the over budget beautiful wrought iron spiral stair cased mansion, but in fact a small damp lightless room will do fine ( knowing full well that no one ever sticks to their plans exactly – what is life with out a little spontaneity? )

We will see.

Love to you all

Leah and El