One of the flats is empty. The owner lives in Dubai, but doesn’t answer his post. Or pay the service charge.

Amazingly, out of 23 flats, only about 5 aren’t owner-occupied.

Also the roof needs fixing.

When I gaze at the bathroom floor, the tiles shimmer as if floating on acid.

My flat is not perfect. Things that are wrong with it:

• The bathroom sink taps — the cold tap is difficult to turn off, the hot tap won’t turn on in the first place and just drips. Probably just the washers need replacing. Would be really easy to fix if I had the tools, knowledge of how to use them, and indeed knew which tools to use in the first place.

• The front door doesn’t close unless you lift it up as you close it. Cause is a missing screw in the hinge. The wood it should screw into has sort of disintegrated. Possibly the door frame needs replacing. But I’ve got used to lifting the door as I shut it now.

• The bathroom lock doesn’t work (the two bits don’t line up). But the door closes shut and the hinges seem fine.

• Two of the rooms have blinds. I would like them to have curtains instead. But I have worked out how to operate blinds now, so it’s not urgent.

• There is no shower. The plan was, build up some savings, then have a shower put in. Now I’m wondering: Shower uses less water than a bath → shower heats less water than a bath → shower uses less gas than a bath → shower is cheaper to run than a bath; but I have no idea how the lower running costs compare to the cost of having a shower installed.

• The continuing lack of bedroom furniture is what I will probably sort out next.

Washing machine has turned up, been installed, is gurgling away to itself happily :-)

Indesit phoned to promise my washing machine will be delivered on Friday. At least they can’t bugger up my social life this time if they’re wrong.

Have received my council tax bill. It came in two separate envelopes. Yay for public sector efficiency!

Have also received a second letter from Telewest, telling me an engineer will be round to install broadband on 25th May at 1am-2am. Yay for private sector efficiency!

It was claimed this afternoon that my washing machine was due to be delivered this afternoon. No, it’s not here.

Naturally I was out for some of the afternoon, before I knew of this. In theory they should have stuck a card through the door if they called while I was out.

If they claim to be delivering it tomorrow, I won’t let it compromise my evening plans.

My washing machine was supposed to turn up between 12noon and 7pm. It hasn’t.

Originally it was supposed to turn up on Friday, but Indesit phoned on Thursday to say that the delivery date I’d been given by Littlewoods was bollocks.

( A bus not arriving ) at Ally Pally. This was the afternoon after the morning before after the night before.

It arrived a minute later.

( The tombstone of Edmund Halley ) ( was taken to Greenwich when his tomb was restored )

( Teahouse )

( Not Goldie Looking Chain )

( The local cat ) keeps miaowing plaintively and demands to view whatever changes I have made to my flat recently. Her tail is bushy; apart from that she looks quite tigerish.

She won’t stay still to have her photo taken.

As I type this, she has just climbed into an empty box.

( The only poster I have put up ) on my bedroom door. It was the first thing that made my flat feel like a home.

( The River Wandle still has ducks )

( A local road sign ) giving directions to the M25. Take the fourth exit for Morden tube.

I intend to buy furniture.

• 2 double beds
• wardrobe
• a sofa or two
• a table or maybe a desk
• some chairs

If anyone wants to be my lodger and has furniture they’d want to bring with them, please tell me before I acquire anything.

I am bored of waiting for my washing machine to arrive.

The nice man from Telewest has just left.

Waiting for people from Indesit…

• Fridge+freezer being delivered tomorrow between 7-10am.
• Washing machine now not being delivered until Monday between 12noon-7pm. I am actually narked by this.
• Will (finally) phone Telewest tomorrow, order phone line + broadband.
• Will then (finally) phone removal companies and arrange moving my stuff for Saturday (or Monday morning).

Took me ages to work out how to shut the front door. You have to lift it up as you close it.

I now own a flat :-)

I am moving on or soon after Tuesday. Somehow.

• Can anyone recommend a good removal company?

• Or, if I hired a van, would anyone want to drive a van for me? This would make moving day Saturday week, probably.

• Could anyone give me lots of cardboard boxes? Or lend me any type of large box?

Thanks.