alexist

We have seen 3 flats this morning.

Flat 2 (Russell Lane, N20). New build. MUCH too small: the master bedroom would have just fit a double bed and nightstand. Immediate no. (AND they'd carpeted the bathrooms!!)

Flat 3 (Nether Street, N3). Lovely first floor conversion flat 5 minutes from West Finchley station. Slightly steep flight of stairs, but the flat was fantastic. Enormous front room (entire front of house)--the current tenants had 2 sofas, a chair, and a dining room table for 6 [could seat 8]! Plus bookcases and things. We could have a great party in there :) 2nd bedroom good sized, being used as an office. Bathroom OK. Kitchen fairly new and in good shape, nice big size. Solid plate hob :( Dishwasher and washing machine (it's a very good one, a Miele, but we're going to ask if we can bring ours since we've got a combo washer/dryer unit). Master bedroom in a slightly odd place, off the kitchen, but again huge with a big bay window looking out onto the back garden. It had nice wood floors all through, might need a lick of paint. Comes furnished; we'll negotiate on that. We liked the sofas, but we want to bring a bed (we can fit a superking in the master bed, no probs!)

Flat 4 (Regents Park Road, N3). This one was a real shame. It was absolutely enormous, huge rooms, MASSIVE balcony, garage rights, secure block with lift and porter. Unfortunately, the decor was stuck in the '70s. Pink wallpaper, horrible fitted wardrobes in the bedroom, ugly carpet. I would have bought it in a heartbeat, but I wouldn't rent it. When it comes to rentals, you've got to live with the owner's taste.

As you might guess, we really liked #3. We've asked the agent to make sure Zoe is OK, and if she is, we're taking it. It's not in quite as good shape as the one we saw yesterday, but it's huge and light and just really nice. (Though the 2nd bathroom would have been nice, keep Zoe's litter tray tucked away!)

Here's the link:
http://new.jacstrattons.com/lettings/rental_property_en.asp?id=8917
(Although most estate agents would call the 2nd bedroom a double... you just wouldn't fit much else in there if you put a double bed in. Jac Strattons seem to be relatively honest about bedroom sizes.)
ETA: Oops, taken off!
http://web.mac.com/alexis_treeby/Images/new_flat/1.jpg
(and repeat for 2.jpg - 6.jpg)

I got my new appointment letter from Barnet Hospital.
Simply asking for a change from home to hospital meant going back to the queue, it seems, because I shall now be seen 4 September: the day I am 21 weeks. This means I shall receive antenatal care for less than HALF my pregnancy.

And people rush to defend the NHS... (I hate this. Whenever you bitch about the NHS, people act as if it's the NHS or the horrible American system with lots of uninsured people [even if it's not an American doing the complaining]. Have people not noticed that the rest of Europe manages without the state running the ENTIRE health service? The French do many things wrong, but dangit, I wouldn't mind their health care...)

The cat has been approved. Just need to sort out getting a deposit to the agency so they take it off the market. :)

ETA: Neil has got a holding deposit to the agency (don't you love online banking?! And he did it from Brighton, too!). Yay! Just need to negotiate some minor details with the landlord next week. Flat was available 1 Sept, we gave 15 Sept as a moving date...