Give me strength

I knew it would be difficult, but not this difficult. The surveyor says, in a nutshell, it's a lemon. Water supply is more than likely contaminated, the septic tank etc. needs to be replaced, various things in the house reflect a lack of attention to detail on the part of the builder, and I'm sick of the whole thing. On Monday last I gave my final ultimatum to the negotiator - a water quality test report (successful, because I'm not going to take on a property with no water supply), and a reduction of ?10k of my offer, to offset about 50 - 75% of what I'll have to pay in the first year, just to get the house up to a livable standard. I only hope it doesn't turn into a money pit. For that reason, I've drawn my line. If they attempt to renegotiate or ask for a different offer, I'll can it. Another house.... bah. Give me strength.
posted by Jeremy Smyth 15:40  |  

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

A home, a home, my kingdom for a home

OK, I'm homeless. And getting one. And living somewhere. Whatever.

It's amazing how being homeless can focus your thoughts. I love my family, I really do, but there are freedoms or lack thereof that living at home gives and takes away, and I couldn't do it for very long. Sorry.

Anyway, my offer was accepted, and my broker has been informed. Solicitors are getting involved, my booking deposit cheque is on the way, and I need to organise a structural surveyor to see the place, and make sure it's not falling apart before I spent my hard-earned quarter of a million. Disgusting when you say it like that. Mind you, I'll probably look back in 20 years and laugh. Hopefully. Hmm. Depressing thoughts.

The bad news is that I won't be able to move in until mid-January, so I'm stuck with my parents until then. Not that that's a problem, they're lovely. But FREEDOM!! Bah.

posted by Jeremy Smyth 12:07  |  

Thursday, November 06, 2003

Alien?

Odd insight time: Imagine you were an intelligent computer, or an alien, or in some way your consciousness was separated from your body and you were allowed look upon humanity as a whole, what would you see when you looked at a person? Try this for size: a mobile bag of water with bits sticking out. That's pretty much what we are. I can think of several ways to explain this, but I'd rather not - some of them are rather gross.

Chemically induced ego-loss has a lot to answer for.

posted by Jeremy Smyth 16:05  |  

Wednesday, November 05, 2003

Virus!

Not the computer type, for a change. I've talked about them no end...

The real old-fashioned kind, the other ones we don't really like... hmmm. Well I'm reading a book at the moment called Darwin's Radio by a science fiction author called Greg Bear, author of one of my favourite books ever, Eon. He's pretty heavy going sci-fi most of the time, but Darwin's Radio is set in the present, and deals with an odd kind of virus, a thing called a bacteriophage. Now, when you think of "virus" in the medical sense, you probably get a knee-jerk reaction, because we've grown up to dislike, fear, and generally try to avoid them, because things like AIDS, the common cold, the 'flu, stomach bugs, etc. are caused by them. However, a bacteriophage is a kind of virus that only attacks bacteria, and historically has been used by people in the caucasus to treat infections of various kinds, e.g. by rubbing an ointment or making a poultice from a solution of the virus, which will get to work attacking any bacteria in the wound. Thought provoking.

So with that in mind, an odd piece of synchronicity happened today... I was having my morning read of Slashdot, and came across this article concerning a medical company's early clinical trials of the application of a virus described here: Patrick Lee's Path to the Reovirus Treatment. That last link is a bit heavy, so you probably don't want to read it. Here is a list of frequently asked questions at the same site, a little easier to follow. But in a nutshell, these guys are working with another kind of virus, a Reovirus, and this one doesn't attack people either. It attacks cancers. Cool! Cancer runs in my family, and it's not a nice way to go, so I'd rather not have to lose anyone else to it. Currently one of my relatives (an aunt) has been diagnosed and given a not-too-pleasant prognosis, and three of my four grandparents and at least one uncle have died of cancer.

Fingers crossed! And perhaps one day they'll find a virus that attacks viruses *sniff* *cough* *cough*

posted by Jeremy Smyth 10:16  |  

Tuesday, November 04, 2003

Home stretch?

Ow, my back hurts.

And the side of my ribcage.

Must be getting old. Either that or the last couple of weeks has been mad, what with climbing up into the attic, dragging stuff around, unpacking, repacking, dismantling, moving boxes, taping boxes, and all within various cramped spaces. Bruises, small cuts, strained muscles, the usual fun and games :)

Well the good news is that I now have all the big-ish stuff moved out from my current abode, and it is all resting snugly in a garage on the other side of the city, courtesy of a guy from work. Rather funny carrying the second vanfull in last night, seeing his eyes boggle as yet another piece of furniture or heavy box was carried past. And the bastard had a chuckle at some of my fitness equipment. "I see THAT hasn't had a lot of use!", he smirked smugly. Hrmph.

The not so good news is that I have to leave my current abode this Saturday coming, which isn't too big a problem, seeing as I have very little stuff left to move, only me and my cute behind. My parents have kindly cleared out a room for me, which is mine until I get moved into wherever my next abode is.

Speaking of which, I put in an offer last week on a nice house outside Dublin. Lots of snarlups. They initially refused, so I upped the offer to the absolute max I can reach, and should have a response by Friday. And my dad doesn't like the build of the place very much - he reckons that some of the finishing work on it was a bit shoddy, and his opinion is that if the finishing work is a little shoddy, which is what you can see, what's the stuff you can't see gonna be like? Hmm. Second thoughts?

So not quite on the home stretch. I don't see myself moved in anywhere new before 2004, which might be a bit of a shame, but hey, best place wins, and time shouldn't be that big a problem. The calendar will stretch.

posted by Jeremy Smyth 11:44  |