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Looking up!

Photo by Andy Dawson ReidExperiencing such a major upheaval to the accustomed flow of life has been a salutary and somewhat sobering experience. Having one’s long term plans disrupted is one thing, but undergoing such a dramatic change in circumstances is quite another.

The last three months have provided a tough lesson. From the position of having two salaries and the rental income from our Buckinghamshire apartment coming in to having to live on a single salary has required a considerable adjustment. That Christmas fell in the middle of the period concerned did not help. Fortunately the impact has been ameliorated somewhat by us having had some savings (for our eventual move to Canada) into which we could eat – by the knowledge that the situation would only be temporary – and by the fact that much of the rental income of late had in any case been disappearing into the black hole of repairs and maintenance for the apartment.

In these tough times, however, the experience has emphasized two facts all too clearly. First – we are extremely fortunate and should be very grateful that our situation will almost certainly allow us to ride out the storm without undue discomfort. Second – for all those who are not lucky enough to have the sort of buffer that circumstances have granted us, it is easy to see just how hard things can get – and how quickly they can do so – should the worst happen and a major source of income be taken away. Our heartfelt sympathies to anyone who finds themselves in this position.

The Kickass Canada Girl started her new job this week. Although this post will not really make full use of her experience and abilities it will certainly tide us over and there are signs that it may also lead reasonably quickly to something more suited – not to mention something closer to home! Were it not for the fact that her induction has – as decreed by Murphy’s Law – coincided with her inheritance of my hideous cold (see previous post!) she would doubtless be feeling pretty chipper right now. (Incidentally – I am delighted to discover that there is also an adage called Muphry’s Law – which states that “If you write anything criticizing editing or proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written”).

After a fair bit of ‘argy-bargy’ it also looks as though we have found a tenant for our apartment (at one point we had two – then none and now one again!). Furthermore he seems willing to pay six months rent up front, which will certainly help to get us back on an even keel financially. As the contracts have yet to been signed and sealed I am still keeping fingers – and much else besides – firmly crossed.

Things do, however, seem at last to be looking up…

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