Racing, moving and not sleeping
There are few jobs more dreaded than moving house.
Unless, of course, you're moving house the day after an 18km race, on only a few hours' sleep (because you left packing till the last minute) and when you're finished you have to trot off to work till 2am. On yes, and that's a shift you're in charge of and it's short-staffed.
Welcome to my life. Admittedly, all of this, except the short-staffed work bit, is my own fault.
If I was sensible I would have flagged the race and moved instead. However, I'm very glad I didn't, because the Rimutaka Incline is hands down my favourite race of the year.
After taking advice from readers of this blog last week and talking to my coach, I didn't do a lot in the five days leading up to the incline. Less than I had been, at any rate. And it paid off. For the first time in weeks I started a run with fresh legs.
The weather was close to perfect - sunny and only light winds during the race, which goes through some of the prettiest countryside New Zealand has to offer. The Wellington Marathon clinic put on the usual bus and, just like an Enid Blyton book, we were all in high spirits.
I couldn't have had more fun if I tried. It's events like this that remind me why I do it.
And I needed that memory as I suffered through the slog of moving.
I can no longer see the floor of my new house - it's covered with boxes and receptacles of various descriptions.
At least I had the foresight to make my bed so I can collapse if this seemingly endless shift actually does finish.
However, once I've had some sleep, I might actually get a little excited about my new abode.
Because it is mine. No, don't get carried away, I don't own it. The housing market isn't so bad that sellers are accepting tiddlywinks, which is the only way I could buy a house.
However, it's a one-bedroom. No flatmates. While this means my rent has skyrocketed, after eight years of flatting, I'm already thinking of the many advantages:
- Only my mess to clean up.
- No queuing for the kitchen, bathroom or washing machine.
- No soft porn scenes in communal living rooms.
- No grubby flatmates leaving food to decompose in the fridge.
- No banging doors, whirling electric toothbrushes or various other noisy midnight moments.
- No chance of some unsanctioned person attached to a sanctioned flatmate all but moving in.
Excellent. I just need to find the floor of my apartment again and I’ll be sorted.
» Join Are We There Yet on Facebook.
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
Where are you storing your bike in this broom cupboard?
Congratulations on the race and the new abode. I read your list of the advantages of living alone and was struck with a sudden pang of envy, the likes of which I haven't felt for years! My "flatmates" are three small children, all preschool, and a husband who works pretty long hours. My life IS cleaning up other peoples mess. My afternoon nanny (which is my lifeline to sanity, allowing me to leave the house for a few hours each day) has called in sick so my much anticipated 12km run will not be happening. Instead I have an endless stream of chores to complete until 7pm whereupon, hubby will return from work, the kids will go to bed, and I can finally leave the house... to do the grocery shopping. Oh the excitement. Don't feel too sorry for me though - I wouldn't have it any other way. But I would love some peace and quiet every now and again. So enjoy it while you can Ann!
I am heartily jealous of both your new flatmateless abode and your opportunity to do the Rimutaka Incline Run *sigh* (why do people have to have baby showers when one of my favourite races is on??)
One day I will do the Rimutaka run. For the last three or four years something else has always gotten in the way. Those of my friends who did it assured me the conditions were wonderful.
My flatmates include a husband who is blind to dirt and three moulting cats. I live in hope that the housecleaning fairy will one day wave her wand and transform our old villa into a home fit for visitors to enter. The only good thing about being in hospital was having my mother come to stay. She spent four days cleaning!
I can confirm that living alone is bliss, for exactly the reasons you specified Ann. Congrats on the move. The worst part of it is over, finding the floor is probably not all that urgent.
I moved into my own place when I came back to Wellington about three years ago and have found it great living by myself for the sort of reasons you said.
My weekend race was the light and fun 'Clash of the Corporates' team run around the water front...
I now just live with my partner, which is kind of like living alone, but before he came over here I had our place to myself, I love having him here, but every so often, usually on a sunday with sport on tv and his crap everywhere and I kind of feel like having a calm tidy quiet house to curl up and read a book, I think back to those six months of having total selfish control of my own life. Bliss.
Thought of you thismorning Ann as a cyclist whipped round a corner without indicating as we stepped out to cross the road, nearly taking us out completely (busy london T-intersection with continuous pedestrian traffic, no crossing available just a refuge in the middle so relies on pedestrians looking out for indicating cars and cyclists to know when to cross). My partner (himself a cyclist) jumped back rapidly and called out something about indicating, said cyclist then turned around and tried to spit at him (?! thankfully was too far down the road) before letting out a barrage of abuse, which unfortunately partner retaliated to with language that children walking to school probably didn't need to hear... ah what a lovely start to a monday morning!
(note: I thought of you not in an irresponsible cyclist way, just in a general heated debate of cycling/cars/pedestrians way!)
I feel your pain as I'm about to do something quite similar. My husband and I have today bought our first house, and we move in in two weeks.
That wouldn't be so bad but I have to combine a 40 hour a week job (which is more like 45 but whose isn't?) with Half Ironman training (race is a month away so training really ramping up now) and moving.
It wouldn't be so bad but I barely have enough time to sleep, train, work, train, cook and eat as it is.
No point anyone saying I should get my husband to cook as that would mean I have to do the dishes and I would rather crash on the couch after dinner.
And to make it a little bit harder on ourselves, half of our stuff is with his mum two hours drive away so we have to do a couple of trips on top of my long sessions.
But a place of our own will be bliss (except for the mortgage repayments).
It is your old flat mates I feel sorry for! Who the hell moans about the sound of a tooth brush?!?!?!
Guptill blasts Black Caps to victory in first T20
Quake felt across lower North Island
Hurricanes weather elements to beat Chiefs
One dead after Northland crash
New York apartment sells for NZ$105m
Police car pig painter mystery unsolved
Flights disrupted as severe thunderstorms hit Auckland
Fatal speed-gliding crash near Wanaka
O'Connor attacks Smith's stance
Protester refuses community work
Helicopter companies still owe $5 million
Blackberry jams preserve the past
Residents tell of crime concerns
Lucky you! no more dirty flatmates :D