This Damp Squat o’ Mine
I’ve grown used to the flat by now. I no longer smell the musty smell of what is very possibly mold. I find the creaking floors funny and the single-paned window that shakes as the wind comes through just a fact of life.
I hadn’t expected it to rain in the bathroom though. There I was, minding my own business, when something began rattling right next to me. I thought bits of the roof were coming down, but instead the noise was caused by water raining down from the light fixture, down the bulb and onto the floor. Scrambling up, I turned off the lights and cursed out loud. There was quite obviously a leak from the upstairs bathroom straight through the floor to our ceiling. I ran up to tell the girl upstairs what was happening and called the landlord.
Now the question is how long I will have to enjoy taking showers in candlelight. I guess they will have to replace the entire ceiling. Where will I shower then?
Much to my surprise, I’m taking all this in stride. Sure, it’s unfortunate that I shouldn’t turn on the lights in my bathroom and the girl upstairs shouldn’t take showers until Monday, but does it really detract from the quality of my life? Not really. Sure, I hope they fix the leak so that the water damage won’t spread further into the structure of the building, and I don’t like the thought of mold in the flat, but life goes on anyway. I really don’t want to be negative about this.
November 26th, 2006 at 14:31
Phew. And I thought I’d managed to keep rather positive about ‘things’ in London. Isn’t it quite frightening how quickly you’ve adjusted your tolerance levels to London standards?
Oh, and when you’re next looking for flats, it’s a good tip trying to get the top one. Least leaks, rats and all.
November 26th, 2006 at 20:31
Look for the top one, check.
I don’t see it as frightening that I’ve adjusted, but more as a matter of pride. I’m pretty sure you’ve adjusted? There are people I know who don’t dare set foot on the South Bank, let alone live here. I’m pretty sure that had I first moved into a flat in North London, I wouldn’t dare move over here. I’d have the same unfounded prejudice. Now, I don’t really see a reason to go live up there. It seems like it’s all uppity and holier-than-thou. I could be wrong though, but that’s the feeling I get.
Golder’s Green seems nice though.
I don’t want to risk my health, don’t get me wrong. I think this whole leak business is serious. What I wanted to say about remaining positive is that I really see how little one actually needs. A bed, a place to cook and wash. The rest is just icing on the cake. Of course, I like the fact that I can study at the school library, and don’t have to do that in the “comfort” of my home.
November 27th, 2006 at 23:47
I’m completely with you on what you just said, don’t get me wrong. I frighten myself at times by just how well adjusted my standard of living is after just 2+ years. But that only happens when I’m comparing everything to how things were in Hki (and Finland in general). Which, though childish and useless, occasionally is tempting. Who doesn’t love a bit of a rant?
I think once I woke up with a little mouse tapdancing on my Marimekko pillow, I thoroughly knew I was in London.
And also, the south will rise again! (Which is why from now on I actually prefer to bring my visitors around south London, now that all the mandatory sights of central and west have been tackled already. Ah the relief. Plus as a SE-Londoner I do now feel kind of dutiful to let them see my side of London, instead of the London identical of the postcards.)
November 28th, 2006 at 16:02
Staying positive is important. At least the leak was in a room designed to get wet, and not in the bedroom or somesuch. Then again, what you said about spreading mold is of course a concern.
Just try to stay alive, ‘k?
November 28th, 2006 at 18:04
You’d think the bathroom was designed to get wet. At least ours doesn’t have wall-to-wall carpeting.
December 2nd, 2006 at 17:10
biggup to sarf london, represetin’ - BRrrrrrrrrAP!