So, I'm hired. I'm now officially a working man once again.
I start as web dev for a small design agency in a country village soon.
Due to some legal issues with the original contract I signed through an agent, there's some things for my employers to sort out before I start.
I have three more days to kill and what better place to do it than London ?
It's worked out perfectly, as the budget I set for this working week can now be transferred to exploring London for the next three days, as well as polishing off a few freelance web sites. It's also nicely timed as my next check for last years freelance will go into my account tommorrow. Sweet bliss !
But easy there cowboy, lets not go too far ahead of ourselves, that budget still needs to hold itself up on more than crutches and the urge to splurge needs to be tempered with some harsh realities. A little voice tells me to tighten that budget and save the cash I would have spent on transport. Another little voice says "Oh, c'mon, have a bit of fun, go mad !"
I'll take the middle road.
As much as I'd love to be noshing on some lovely pub grub right at this very moment, a cheap microwave pasta awaits at home, as the Dali Universe maybe tommorrows destination. I've been wanting to visit since I arrived, however the £8.50 entry charge has always steered me away.
A London Walk may possibly be Wednesdays activity, leaving Thursday for something like the Tower of London.
And how about a nice pot of tea and some toast with jam at the Natural cafe tommorrow morning ?
Sounds good.
It also affords me some time to try to figure out a few of the less pleasurable aspects of living in the UK - Tax, accommodation and getting a car.
The latter is something I'm dreading, as it's so easy to go wrong with a second hand car, especially when you don't have a great deal of knowledge about the subject. No doubt I'll go the tried and tested route, with a nippy low end of the market level Polo or Golf (low end of the market back in the mid 90's that is) - finding something decent under £700 will be a challenge, then there's insurance on top of that, which doesn't come cheap.
There's always a catch. Although second hand cars in the UK are vastly cheaper than South Africa, that difference is made up for with insurance and fuel costs, not to mention parking rates.
Accommodation is another sizzling cost. To afford myself the luxury of my own place, close to the area I'm working in, will mean a month of extremely low budget living.
The good side is that I'll be enjoying out a bit of a dream, living and working in the British countryside. As much as I enjoy London, relishing the idea of living and working in the city, I think it would drive me as mad as everyone else who has been here for a few years. I like the slower pace of Town life and London is a only a 90 minute train journey away.
This is what migrating is all about, the initial six month "settling in" time frame that either makes or breaks you. I must admit, I enjoy the challenge and don't intend to get "broken", unless someone else is buying the beers...
