Tour of an empty flat

It seems that furnished flats are few and far between in the Houston area.  This causes a slight issue for us expats new to town with no furniture of our own.  Its not a major deal as there is a conveniently located Ikea in the vicinity.

This billboard amused me greatly at the time.  Bloody Ikea always up in my grill!

But it does give me the opportunity to show you the flat before I mess it up with my general laziness and untidiness!  Here is a quite video to show you my huge, yet on USA scale its pretty small, flat which I will be calling home over the next few months.

Once I have all my furniture and the flat is tidy maybe I will give you another tour at a later date.  With my minimal approach to furniture it really highlights the sheer size of the rooms!

Central market: a love affair

Supermarket shopping isn't fun. Let's face it, it's one of those chores that just have to do, like taking out the bins. Magically, this changed when your in a new country. It happened when I was on holiday in Germany- never has Lidls been so exciting- and it's happened here too.  Walmart was overwhelming, Randells was efficient but Central Market is awesome!

It was described to me by my realtor as a place where "you could eat your way around the world". I'm not sure if that's strictly true but there is definitely a LOT of choice.

Meat anyone?

The selection of serve yourself coffee beans

Cwaaafffeeee

Part of the beer selction

And the best part of it is there are tonnes of free tasters including coffee, which is definitely needed if you shop on a Sunday afternoon along with the rest of Houston (rooky mistake!).

Since my initial trip there I've been pretty much every other day for something "essential" such as okra or sushi for dinner. And for the next few months I do not see this love affair turning sour!

Mid week mini blog

Just to give you all an update on life state side. Vicky arrived on Sunday and it's been so good having someone here to share some of this with. She had been managing my stress and incompetence at adult life very well-some may call her a god send! Now in new flat officially but no wifi as of yet. Have a bed and futon (for guests...come on over!) and dishes but yet to buy baking equipment (but have a bender for margaritas- got my priorities straight). Work has been intense, lots of meeting. Some of which I know what's going on and others there are so many acronyms that it's like everyone is talking another language!

Tomorrow is 4th of July and I think it might get a little messy! Will give you updates next week. At the weekend we are road tripping to San Antonio to go to the Alamo and other American tourist treats, watch this space!

Sweat update

It hit over 40C I was informed yesterday. I was running about Houston searching out furniture for my new place and ended up having quite a heated discussion with my bank on the phone when my debit card was rejected at Ikea (all is well people so no nee to worry, Ikea just doesn't like debit cards!).  So whilst sat in the car as I was not driving the air con was struggling to cool the car and at one point sweat was dripping off my eyelids. Outside was slightly cooler than the car but I would go with sweaty eyelids as this weeks sweat update. Bring on July!

Office policies for one?

The last fews day have been so exhausting I have not had much time to reflect on and account the actual experience.

As you can gather from my last post, I started work on Wednesday.  I popped on my best (only) suit and drove in early in the morning. Rush hour traffic is something to behold here. But I'm accompanied in the traffic by over enthusiastic radio DJs and a cheesy pop music with a splattering of country, oh I can't wait to get an aux cable! Upon reaching work and managing to park (more about my incompetence at parking later).

I started a day that most consisted of admin and health and safety briefings. For someone who hasn't had a real job in a long time, it was exhausting. With regards to the work and other related thibg, there is little I'm allowed to say due to contracts and confidentiality so I'll leave out all the boring geology details from the blog (I bet most of you are glad about that!).

There is one thing I think I'm allowed to mention is that I have an office to myself. That's right...no sharing! This is very strange to me as I have never at work or at university been in an office to myself. And it's an odd experience. There is no one to talk to, no noise (well that's not strictly true as I leave the door open), and lots of space! Still don't really know what to make of having an office to myself but I think it could be good, better not get to used to it as I know I'll be returning to G44 before I know it!

Don't dream it...see it!

Since I was introduced to the Rocky Horror Picture show by a friend in my early teens I have always enjoyed watching the film, singing the songs and doing the time wrap.  But I had never seen it in the cinema nor the theatre. I have always wanted to but never had the chance, until now. It seems that one of the local art cinemas plays it every 2 weeks over the summer, how amazing that the cult following is so large in Houston that they show it that often!

The red lips were a MUST for Rocky.  Sadly, I didnt dress up...*hangs my head in shame*

I managed to persuade a few friends to come along to the showing with me. Two of these people had no idea of what they were in for but I thought hey could cope with the oddness that would ensue, luckily I was right. There was a shadow cast (who mime to the film and act out what is going on) and there was a huge amount of audience participaaaaaaaation! 

It was so much fun that I might even try and go back another time this summer.

Arguing with Sean

Who is Sean, I hear you all ask.  Well Sean is the irish male voice on my tomtom app and we don't really get on! I've never driven with a sat nav before and I can't say I'm enjoying the experience thus far. 

Initially I had a few teething problems with actually getting the app to actually work but I think that is more my inaptuded with my new iPhone than anything else. Now I've got him running and there has been mixed success. I don't like driving at the best of times let alone in a forgien car on the other side of the road in heavy relentless traffic where the majority of the drivers don't indicate and/or are on their phones. It's so bloody dangerous.

Anyway, back to mine and Sean's adventures on the road. So he has a tendency to want me to go on the large ring roads and interstates which for those who have not been to the USA are large motorway style roads which are often much larger (went on one yesterday with 7 lines in either direction). Up until yesterday I have been resisting this as they scare the bejesus out of me. So everytime we head towards one I start screaming at Sean in the car asking him what he thinks he is doing (but in more colourful language). Obviously I get no reply. Once we are on the larger roads he is not help with lane choices as the next instruction is slow to be given which has lead to quick and quite scary changes between lanes. It's a real adrenaline ride that's for sure.

The frustrations don't just head in one direction, am sure if Sean were human and could feel emotion he would be exastabated by my sheer lack of distance awareness! I do not know how far 400yards are and to be honest it would not help if it were in metres. I just have a mental blank at distances. This has lead to me turning way before my alloted direction from Sean. This causes him to furiously recalculate and me to keep asking him where we are going, again in quite colourful language!

Although our relationship is improving we have a long way to go until it is harmonious!