Small duck....New Pond

I have completed my migration. I’ve flapped my little wings and flown the nest.

It’s taken me and my partner over half a year to save for it, but finally all that patience has paid off...and you all know how crap I am with that. It wasn’t easy...not one bit. At every turn there seemed to be some kind of bollard....or wall....or blockade that just didn’t want to let us through.

First it was financial matters outside of the housing situation creating little drainage points in our funds, then it was certain people not exactly being very helpful with plans...no need to name, no point...then it was banks.....shiny, smiley Abbey....oh sorry I mean, SANTANDER. Failing to give people certain information, information that could have been very very disastrous in the case of our to-be move. They wouldn’t let us get at our money...how does that make sense? You put away all this dosh, and I’m talking a big amount, and they decide, even when you’ve asked them several times, that when big transfers concerning big amounts of money a being done what things need to be done to ensure smooth running of the process....yeh yeh, everything is fine, just like when your walking up the stairs half asleep and your just about to reach what you think is the top step, and your heart leaps into your throat as it realises you’ve already got there and you really believe you are tumbling down hard. That’s how you made us feel Santander!

We could have lost that flat because of you, thank god for your sake we didn't....

Chris and I both had heated discussions about leaving the money grabbing hoard previously known as Abbey, but ...we came to the conclusion that we couldn’t be bothered. It may sound funny, and stupid, but that, in the end is how you feel. I mean, just think, you’ve been with the one bank since you were six, (well I have J now that’s customer loyalty....where’s my bonus Abbey!) you’ve set up savings accounts, graduate accounts, visa cards, direct debits and standing orders, and then....you’ve got to go through all the paperwork of closing all that down and setting it up with another bank...all over again. Every bill, every payment, transfer.....its takes too much time and effort, and they know that, they bait ya, and reel ya in like a little kipper.

All that seems to have calmed down now, as much as I still don’t trust banks, ever since my auntie explained that banks don’t keep your own personal stash in a little computerised cubby-hole marked especially for you, just like in Harry Potter at Gringotts Bank....(If you don’t know what I mean...ffs people....Google it quickly and get back here pronto), they actually use it in their own little borrowing scheme....I don’t trust anything with my dollar...not even me...always seems t find a way of burning its way through my tanned mitts one way or another.

So Santander....I’ll allow you to keep a eye on it for now...but your treading a fine line buddy.

Moving in to the flat itself was the most exciting ad stressful experience ever. You want everything to go perfect, but you know damn well it won’t, but you account for things like that, but it all moulds in with your expectations. The cascade of box mountains, with all...well as much of your worldly possessions as you can fit into your friends van, with sarcasm that truly makes me feel all womanly , “God! How much crap have you got, Woman!?”

I’ve never been the type for shopping for all the shoes and bags and stuff (although whilst packing, i did manage to find rather a lot yey me!), but that stereotype that women don’t pack lightly...i really did succumb to that well and truly. I would like to say in my defence that I had been saving most of that stuff for over two years for preparation for moving out, and without it we’d have no bookcases, tv, dining table or bed frame so...it must have been some kind of useful ”Crap” eh J

Its only been a week and we haven’t really been able to settle properly yet, as Alton is still very new and unexplored for us. I’ve had a transfer to a different Sainsbury’s in Liphook, near the area we’ve moved to, and Chris has to commute to Farnham to his work, and things have started out quite rocky.

Situations pop up their little heads when you really just want a nice relaxing time, don’t they? Typical.

The hours we both work, don’t exactly match, and we don’t exactly skip to work with sunshine in our step every morning, but I keep saying A job is better than NO JOB....that’s right isn’t it?

It’s only been a week and we already have contemplated leaving your jobs for something new...however that decision is always forgotten by the time we close our eyes for bed, and is re-decided on awakening, at the realisation of not being able to spend the day with one another.

There’s so much yet to do, and sort out and...still being sofa-less is a bit of an annoyance....the evening we can curl up together with soft cushions to support our posteriors, we will finally start feel comfortable.

But still being a a “Duck” I miss my flock...I don’t like flying solo. So to my fellow birds, I pine for you very much. To the ones I’ve known since ducklings, and to those I worked with....you aren’t forgotten. I haven’t disappeared. As I keep telling you, you can’t get rid of me.

I’d like to send a special shout to Val, Sharon, Carol and Cherle for putting up with me at work and keeping me sane (I will be back to munch and boogie with you soon!), to Kieran, for always being there for me (a catch up chat must be arranged!), and especially Chris for loving me(You are my rock baby! Without you, this would never have happened).