First Day in UK!

Today has been a really long day to say the least!  I landed into London Heathrow around 7am this morning local time.  From there I went through customs very easily and collected my 4 checked bags.  I aimlessly wondered for my van driver and then I saw my name on a card!  I found him and he took my overflowing cart of suitcases away from me and I had some relief!  We hopped into his van and headed south for Farnborough.  The drive only took about 30 minutes which was great.  I called the service apartment place so they could bring me my keys.  They were a little late so I was sitting outside the place like a long lost puppy with my 6 bags waiting for them to give me my keys.  I finally got in and much to my surprise there was a LIFT!  Thank goodness because I'm on the top (5th) floor.  That would of been a lot of suitcase lugging.  It still took me a while to get those bags all up here even with the lift -- and to think I have to leave again in 30 days, BOO!

As I walked into the place I was amazed at how nice and LARGE it was.  Everyone tells me that places are smaller in europe -- well not my service apartment!  I feel like I'm getting the royal treatment!  Well I unpacked a  few things and took a shower from my long flight.  Not nearly enough time passed when it was already time for Jane my homesearch lady took me around Guildford.  She is a super sweet lady and took me out for ''tea'' and coffee and lunch!

I ended up seeing about 8 flats in Guildford today.  3 of them I really liked - 2 of these are pretty close to the station.  I cannot believe how small some of these places were -- I mean I can handle small -- but some of them were just like you walk into the bedroom and you're on your bed practically.  One of the letting agents heard that I was actually going to be working in Aldershot and he suggested this brilliant place to Jane.  Jane told me about it and I said sure we should check it out -- plus I would get a chance to see where I'm actually going to be working.  We debated if we should go and see it since I wasn't particularily keen on living in Aldershot - but we gave it a go.  Upon arrival we knew that it was an old horse stable turned into a brand new flat.  This place was just marvelous!  All brand new everything and spiral staircase to bedroom and bath. The kitchen is amazing with all new appliances.  There is also a patio!  This is definently my top one -- now I just need to decide where I want to live!

Jane took me back to my temp apartment in Farn and I kind of realized I didn't have any food.  I remember driving past this mall area - so I walked up there about 1.5 miles.  I knew for sure there was a supermarket there -- wrong!  So being as hungry as I was in the dark and no food that I brought with me (no SPACE in my bags) I ended up eating at McDonalds.  I know -- the last place I should be eating at for my first dinner in UK is McDonalds.  So sad really....  I now know where the supermarket is - and I will go there tomorrow after opening my bank account.  This just so happens to e 1.5 miles in the complete opposite direction - NICE!

British words heard ALOT today:  Bloody Hell (Jane had road rage), Brillant & Marvelous (Got these after every flat I looked at)

Here is a pic of my bedroom in my super cool place