Chitty Chitty Bang BAND!!!

I've some big news for all you out there in radioland. I'm getting my own flat!
Yes, that's right, I'm moving out. I had been thinking of finding my own place on and off for the past couple of months, but I was having way too much fun getting drunk and messing about with the boys in hung hom to really persue the idea. For the past few weeks or so Steph has been checking out flats on Lamma, and I decided to join her to see what they were like for myself one day, and now......well........we're practically neighbours.

Going with my usual impulsive self I put a deposite on the first flat, that I checked out with Kit Ming. Initially, after my hasty decision I thought that maybe it was just a tad too impulsive, and that I really didn't think it through whether I'd be able to afford living on my own at all, but I soon rejected Doubt. My reason for wanting to move has nothing to do with being unhappy in my current situation with Rob, Rod and Gabe. On the contrary I've never been happier with my flat mates, because all of us are jsut so entirely easy going, rarely take much seriously, and we all seem to share the same sort of modern-morbid sense of humour..... plus we all listen to kick ass music, which never hurts, unless it's ridiculously loud. My wanting to go solo is a direct of the city life, and how entirely distracting everything can be, especially considering that my first foremost passion is for the arts; it's hard to persue such a craft as oil painting when living with three others, and having little personal space. So, this past Sunday I went out to Lamma again to pay the remainder of my deposite, and to check out the precise dimensions of the flat.

The flat itself is exactly what I was looking for, which is another reason why I was so quick to jump all over it, for it's a studio flat. Studio flat, however, sounds altogether too upscale, newyork for my liking. It carries the title of 'studio' simply because there's no bedroom at all, just a small kitchen, similar sized wasroom, and one large room. In total I have 350 sq ft of roof over my head, as well as a balcony, and a rooftop measuring the same as the flat below. I am extremely happy to have my own place, and I suspect that it can only get better when I actually make the move. The first of April is the big day, when it's legally all mine, but my new landlady said that I can move in anytime during the last couple of weeks of the month, providing I pay the first month's rent and and property agency fee ahead of time. I'm going to have to borrow some cash from one of my flatmates until I get paid within the first few days of April, because even though I'm budgeting like never before, there's nothing actually inside the flat, so I've been playing the role of the domestic dude for the past week. I've done quite well for myself so far. Today I bought an electric stovetop, a cutting board and some cutlery, onto of what I already have at home, which is a wardrobe, large wooden shelving unit, some cookware and a small oven. I'll probably have to wait another month before I can afford to buy a bed, so April may be a tad uncomfortable, but I don't think I'll mind too much. Last month I spent a lot on money on art supplies like primer, a crap load of oil paints, a pallet, brushes and paint thinner, so I'll be able to get right to work as soon as I make the move.

In other good news the old folks will be here soon! I think they get in on the 26th, which is great because it'll be just in time for Pop's to help me move everything. I've a whack load of stuff that's really going to be a pain in the ass to move, because of the hour long journey from Hung Hom to Lamma. So, the more help I have, the better....especially with the fridge, that's going to suck. I don't even know if I'm allowed to bring it on the ferry, though I suspect I'll be able to as long as I pay the friendly ferry staff the appropriate amount of moo-la.
Oh yeah! ontop of my dad's helping hand, I can put Steph's bf from Australia to work, seeing as he gets here in.........one week! Holy Shit, I didn't really realize 'til just now how soon he's going to be here in; it'll be nice to finally meet Josh, though from all of Steph's photograph's and accompaning stories I feel like we already have.

Lastly, I want to recommend the novel, 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Matainence' by Robert Pirsig. Never before, have I read a a story such as his, where I simply cannot imagine anyone not falling in love with his words. Pirsig takes you into a world where philosophy is more tangeble than anything else, and you cannot help but dwell on his words even hours after reading. Perhaps I'm being a a tad over zealous. Find the time to pick it up, and let me know what you think.

Cheers.
I miss you all.
Brendan