A Decision

I decided on Wednesday this week to make an offer for the apartment in Utrecht. I had a reservation about an unused shop unit under the apartment. I found out this week that I could go to the local council, and inquire as to the status of the building underneath. They were able to tell me the planning status of the whole property, so I got a good picture of the whole area. So, with my fears alleviated somewhat, I was able to head off to work with my thought process almost completed

I had already talked through the offer process with a friend of mine, so all that remained was to put together an offer letter. That done, all I had to do was sit and wait. At the end of the day, I received confirmation that my offer had been received, and they would contact me when they had consulted with the owner. And still I wait. I thought the process might have moved quicker than this.

However, there is nothing I can do about it. So I will just wait patiently, and see what happens. I’m off to Rome this weekend to see Scotland play their last match of this seasons Six Nations tournament. I was in Rome for the game two years ago, and loved it. Have kilt, will travel!

The Calcutta Cup

Finally! Scotland won a rugby match at the weekend! We beat the English! No tries were scored again, but a confident team performance saw the English well beaten by a score of 15-9. It was a cold damp day in Edinburgh, conditions which always seem to suit the Scottish team. I’ve now been at Murrayfield for three matches against the English, and I’ve seen three victories. In 2000, 2006, and now 2008. And on all three occassions the weather was damp, cold and generally inclement.

Standing for the players to come out, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and suddenly I felt we could win for the first time all week. Flower Of Scotland was sung loudly and proudly, with more passion than I can recall from any other match recently.

The game started in the pouring rain, and I could tell we were looking better than the previous three weeks. This game was won with a strong confident performance. The victory never looked in doubt, and it was so nice to get a win. The English were all depressed, very glum and sad. I think they thought they would just have to turn up to beat us. Great to see them so depressed about the result

And why do I hate the English so? On the morning of the game my friend and I were walking down a street in Edinburgh, all dressed up in kilt and rugby gear. This middle aged guy walks towards us, and snarls in a heavy English accent ‘You guys have absolutely NO chance this afternoon’. ‘Thanks pal’, I responded. Not a hint of banter or humour in his comment, it was all malice. I wish I could have met him again that night

But one Swallow does not make the summer, so whilst it was great to win, Scottish Rugby as been under performing this season. So I think it will be more telling to see what happens next weekend in Rome. Another performance like this next week, and indeed we may have turned the corner. If the team under performs next week, then I think the SRU will be looking for a new coach.

Oh, and on the way back to Amsterdam, I finally bought the headphones at the airport!

2nd Look

I’ve just made an appointment to go back and see the apartment for a second time. I’ve been thinking about it for the last week, and I haven’t been able to talk myself out of it yet. I am normally pretty good at talking myself out of things (I’ve been debating about buying a $200 set of headphones since Xmas, and I still can’t decide on that!). I am convinced that if I thought about it long and hard enough, I could talk myself out of breathing! So I’m going back, and taking a friend of mine with me to give me a second opinion.

I’ve now seen two different mortgage advisors, so I know now what I can and can’t afford, which definetely helps when searching for a new apartment!

Nerves are still there, but they are starting to give way to a small wave of excitement. Still a long way to go, but it feels like I am on the right track. And if things don’t work out with this one, then I am all the more informed for the next one that I see and like.

Its such a big step to be making, and I can imagine it’s up there with getting married as the biggest decision that a person can make. I guess this one would be second to marriage. At least if this doesn’t work out or I change my mind, I can sell it, and walk away. I’m not likely to produce baby apartments to complicate things, so thats good. It just all seems so permanent and grown up. I like this apartment, but what if I wait, I might see one next month that I like even more?

I know thats silly, because if we went through life thinking like that, we’d never do anything. I just have to make the best decision I can with the information I have available at the time . I just hope I make the right one!