Our New Place *Written July 7*

We went and saw an apartment in Lismore on Saturday and found out yesterday that we got it! We are so excited, especially after everything you have to go through and submit just to apply for an apartment. We showed up for a 10:30 viewing at about twenty after, and there was already another couple there waiting (they were male, as we’ve quickly discovered Lismore has the second highest gay population in Australia and I don’t know who’s first). By the time the realtor arrived just on time there was another three groups of people waiting to look at the place.

A swarm of people followed him into the apartment and you couldn’t help but laugh at what a group we looked like. The house has two bedrooms and isn’t furnished, there’s a tiny stove and an oven that our cookie sheets won’t fit into. There isn’t a fridge or a place for a fridge, but that’s pretty standard for Australian rentals. There are little sets of drawers in each of the closets and a nice big balcony facing east that I can use to dry clothes. In the bathroom there’s a fairly clean shower and toilet with a tiny sink for washing up at. The bathroom also has a huge sink for laundry next to hook-ups for a washer. I think I saw a little washer at the Salvation Army that looked fairly nice for around $50 that would be so nice to have as I think I’d spend more than that at a Laundromat.

The carpet didn’t look very clean so I’ll need to look into getting it cleaned soon and then getting a vacuum. Most of the walls are exposed brick which I’m a little nervous about as Rosalin is just starting to get braver with standing and she’ll be walking before I know it. I’m really excited to make the place look and feel more like a home. We decided to go with an unfurnished place because a furnished place was going to cost about $230/wk while unfurnished is costing us $190/wk so we figure with the money we’ll save we can afford a couple cheap things that we can try and sell before we go or even donate to ward members or the Salvation Army.

We are a little ways from the University, probably a 10 minute drive but we are really close to a big shopping centre. I am literally a five minute walk to a big mall, and kitty corner to the back of a McDonalds. I’m pretty excited about location as a lot of the places were in pretty scary neighbourhoods. We get to move in on Friday, so I’ll upload some pictures once we’re in. Love to all.