I wish I could say we have a home – BUT – I can’t.
Despite the fact that it has become an all consuming quest and obsession for me to find a home, I am unable to find any success.
Over the last 12 months this city of 1.3million people has had an influx of over 45,000 people. The housing supply at all levels is taxed. Great position to be in as a landlord. But we are tenants – or I guess I should rephrase that – we WANT to be tenants.
Last month we did put an application on one home and 2 ½ weeks later we heard back. They are going through a divorce and can’t agree on anything – he said yes and she said no. But they did agree on something - to take it off the market!
So back to the drawing board. And the page remains blank.
I have been calling, e-mailing and visiting the offices of property managers and realtors. I must have contacted well over 80. I can’t even keep track anymore. Their eyes glaze over when I state my request. They have heard it so many times and have no inventory. And from the limited supply that is available I have been turned away from 4 homes because of Dawson.
I have even called realtors who have houses for sale to see if their clients would be interested in renting their home instead. And the answer has always been “NO”.
I have also called interior decorators – I figure if they are decorating a new house their clients must be leaving their old homes. The answers are still “NO”.
I have turned over a lot of stones – to find a big fat nothing.
To make matters worse, we have to be out of our third temporary housing Wednesday April 2nd. So I spent the last week switching gears from looking for permanent housing to look for another short term home. After at least 50 calls and e-mails I finally found a place in Freemantle.
Freemantle is on the Indian Ocean and was a sleepy/sleazy port town until they won the Americas Cup. They had 4 years to spruce it up for the World to see when they hosted the event. It is now a funky tourist Mecca with shops , markets and restaurants. We haven’t spent much time there and I’m not that familiar with it, so this will be a great opportunity to discover someplace new. And will give me another blog topic so I don’t have to whine about housing – or lack of.
Today is the first day of rain we have had since we’ve been here. Apparently Perth has on average 300 days of sunny weather a year. Put together the clear blue sky, incredible crystal blue water and fine light sand and it is a beautiful picture. Dawson is having the time of his life swimming so frequently.
Easter weekend we did a day trip south down the coast and it is awesome for miles. It is like living in a vacation resort.
http://picasaweb.google.com/frederick.linda/20080321MandurahWA
We are finding some great Indian and Thai food restaurants. Once you get over the initial sticker shock (Dorothy!) it’s not too bad. And as everyone is quick to point out, “You don’t have to tip. The price includes the tip.” (Dorothy is not fooled and still thinks it is expensive.)
Actually, despite the challenges we’re encountering we haven’t brought up the name “Dorothy” in ages. So I guess that means we are adjusting. Which is good.
We still think we have won the lottery. We just wish it had included a home.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Names in Perth
There sure are a lot of interesting names in Perth.
For example, a sampling of street names is Inthanoona, Gidegannup, Coomoora, Ullapool, Karawara, Yalambee and Wandarra.
Then there is the Kwinana Highway which leads south to Jandakot, Banjup, Coogee, Yangebup, Coolbellup. Or you can go north to Marangaroo, Wanneroo, Joondalup, Carramar or Mariginiup. Or take a ferry ride over to Rottsnest Island.
I’m used to names like: Smyth Road, Alta Vista Drive, Bank St., Wellington St., 8th Ave., McLeod Trail, Memorial Drive, Kensington Ave, Heights Blvd. and Washington Ave.
Originally I thought the biggest challenge to driving in Perth was to negotiate the left hand side of the road and going through numerous Roundabouts in a clockwise direction. Now that it has basically been mastered, it’s figuring out the names of the streets I’m looking for. (Kinda like chewing gum, walking and talking at the same time.) It will come.
Housing update: there is none. The clock ticks. We just moved to our 3rd (yes THIRD) temporary accommodation in 5 (yes FIVE) weeks. We still do not have a permanent home and there is nothing on the horizon.
We have been turned down at three homes because of our dearly beloved Dawson. There is very little on the market, and what is available I feel like Goldilocks – either too small or too big or…. On a GOOD day one new listing comes up. We did put an application on a home 2 weeks ago. Between the weekend, then a stat holiday (Labour Day), then vacations, then business trips, then sick days, etc. (none of ours) we have not heard back! Don’t get me going!!! “No Worries”.
Other than that, we are all doing great. Little Dawson is up to his old tricks…… he managed to get into the cupboard and opened up a new bag of dog food and helped himself to about 4 days of food. So he will be on a diet again.
Speaking of dog food, a 50 pound bag in Houston costs us about $35. Here in Perth a 30 pound bag was $110 (YES, you read that right, $110)!!! DOROTHY!!! We just burst out laughing when they told us the price. And then we sobered up pretty quickly as we handed over the credit card. So little Dawson just stole about $20 worth of dog food. He’ll be on a diet the rest of the week!
Another update: the Honda CRV is far exceeding our expectations. It is smooth, quiet and handles fantastic in the tight parking spots. We love it. Four thumbs up! (Dawson’s paws don’t count.)
John has been strangely silent on this blog, so I have tasked him with making a journal entry so people won’t have just my skewed perspective. Stay tuned for his entry…
Hopefully soon we will be telling you that we have found a new home on one of the streets with an interesting name. At this point though, I would be happy to tell you we have found a home on ANY street with ANY name.
For example, a sampling of street names is Inthanoona, Gidegannup, Coomoora, Ullapool, Karawara, Yalambee and Wandarra.
Then there is the Kwinana Highway which leads south to Jandakot, Banjup, Coogee, Yangebup, Coolbellup. Or you can go north to Marangaroo, Wanneroo, Joondalup, Carramar or Mariginiup. Or take a ferry ride over to Rottsnest Island.
I’m used to names like: Smyth Road, Alta Vista Drive, Bank St., Wellington St., 8th Ave., McLeod Trail, Memorial Drive, Kensington Ave, Heights Blvd. and Washington Ave.
Originally I thought the biggest challenge to driving in Perth was to negotiate the left hand side of the road and going through numerous Roundabouts in a clockwise direction. Now that it has basically been mastered, it’s figuring out the names of the streets I’m looking for. (Kinda like chewing gum, walking and talking at the same time.) It will come.
Housing update: there is none. The clock ticks. We just moved to our 3rd (yes THIRD) temporary accommodation in 5 (yes FIVE) weeks. We still do not have a permanent home and there is nothing on the horizon.
We have been turned down at three homes because of our dearly beloved Dawson. There is very little on the market, and what is available I feel like Goldilocks – either too small or too big or…. On a GOOD day one new listing comes up. We did put an application on a home 2 weeks ago. Between the weekend, then a stat holiday (Labour Day), then vacations, then business trips, then sick days, etc. (none of ours) we have not heard back! Don’t get me going!!! “No Worries”.
Other than that, we are all doing great. Little Dawson is up to his old tricks…… he managed to get into the cupboard and opened up a new bag of dog food and helped himself to about 4 days of food. So he will be on a diet again.
Speaking of dog food, a 50 pound bag in Houston costs us about $35. Here in Perth a 30 pound bag was $110 (YES, you read that right, $110)!!! DOROTHY!!! We just burst out laughing when they told us the price. And then we sobered up pretty quickly as we handed over the credit card. So little Dawson just stole about $20 worth of dog food. He’ll be on a diet the rest of the week!
Another update: the Honda CRV is far exceeding our expectations. It is smooth, quiet and handles fantastic in the tight parking spots. We love it. Four thumbs up! (Dawson’s paws don’t count.)
John has been strangely silent on this blog, so I have tasked him with making a journal entry so people won’t have just my skewed perspective. Stay tuned for his entry…
Hopefully soon we will be telling you that we have found a new home on one of the streets with an interesting name. At this point though, I would be happy to tell you we have found a home on ANY street with ANY name.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Banner Weekend - Dawson Escapes Quarantine
We just had a Banner Weekend. We picked up our new car and Dawson sprung The Big House!
Sunday we picked up the little guy at exactly 8:00am. I am not sure who was more excited – Dawson or John. He squiggled, squirmed, ran in circles and made funny noises – and that was John!
For 24 hours before we picked him up John just grinned from ear to ear at the mere mention of the word “Dawson”.
Needless to say, there were no tears when we left quarantine. First thing was to go to the Ocean and we took Dawson to the dog beach at Mosman Park. It was amazing – tons of dogs just frolicking on the Indian Ocean, sandy beach, breaking waves, chasing balls and pretty much all having the time of their lives. Not one dog was aggressive or obnoxious; they were just all so busy having fun.
We took him home for a break and then like kids in a candy shop we went to the Swan River for another walk. He swam, chased his Frisbee and had so much fun. I think we totally exhausted the little guy after having such a sedentary life in quarantine for 30 days. (John noticed that his normally rough paws had become soft.)
Despite the Banner Weekend, still no movement on the house front. We move from a 2 bedroom unit to a 1 bedroom unit on Tuesday March 11th. At this point we are happy to have any unit.
It was a long weekend, “Labour Day”, so Monday was a holiday and Dawson got 2 straight days of fussing, walks and swimming. I am sure he is probably stiff and sore and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s thinking the sedentary lifestyle in quarantine was not so bad after all.
http://picasaweb.google.com/frederick.linda/2008MarDawsonGetsOutOfQuaratine
http://picasaweb.google.com/frederick.linda/2008FebNewCRV
Sunday we picked up the little guy at exactly 8:00am. I am not sure who was more excited – Dawson or John. He squiggled, squirmed, ran in circles and made funny noises – and that was John!
For 24 hours before we picked him up John just grinned from ear to ear at the mere mention of the word “Dawson”.
Needless to say, there were no tears when we left quarantine. First thing was to go to the Ocean and we took Dawson to the dog beach at Mosman Park. It was amazing – tons of dogs just frolicking on the Indian Ocean, sandy beach, breaking waves, chasing balls and pretty much all having the time of their lives. Not one dog was aggressive or obnoxious; they were just all so busy having fun.
We took him home for a break and then like kids in a candy shop we went to the Swan River for another walk. He swam, chased his Frisbee and had so much fun. I think we totally exhausted the little guy after having such a sedentary life in quarantine for 30 days. (John noticed that his normally rough paws had become soft.)
Despite the Banner Weekend, still no movement on the house front. We move from a 2 bedroom unit to a 1 bedroom unit on Tuesday March 11th. At this point we are happy to have any unit.
It was a long weekend, “Labour Day”, so Monday was a holiday and Dawson got 2 straight days of fussing, walks and swimming. I am sure he is probably stiff and sore and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s thinking the sedentary lifestyle in quarantine was not so bad after all.
http://picasaweb.google.com/frederick.linda/2008MarDawsonGetsOutOfQuaratine
http://picasaweb.google.com/frederick.linda/2008FebNewCRV
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