Stress

If money is the root of all evil, then I think stress is the cause of all problems. Some people handle stress very well, others not so. I like to think of myself as somewhere in between. But if stress causes others to behave, let's say out of the ordinary, and in turn have a bad effect on me, then I can't handle it at all. When this happens, I become moody, angry, depressed, all the negative feelings you can think of. I would wish these people to contain it within themselves and not have a spilling effect on others but I guess it's easier said than done. I, msyelf, am guilty of that sometimes. So now after the rant, I feel better. I will not let the demon rear it's head. I will carry on as usual and think of all the good things that are lying ahead. It will be better for me, better for people around me.

Pooped

I'm so tired I should just go straight to bed. But I badly want to do some creative work so I'm delaying my bedtime. Been packing the whole afternoon and lifting heavy stuff. My back aches and my hayfever is back with a vengeance. The new tablets don't work for me anymore. Oh well, I've just finished my last one. Gotta go buy another type. Sigh! Can't wait for Saturday to come when we will go to Val's for a BBQ. Must spend more time with Syl and fam before they leave here for good next month.

No house yet

The house I had said was perfect for us was gone before we could make an offer. Well, at least we saw it. Afraid that it will be let before we even view it, I made an appointment to see it today. Arranged for friends to pick the girls from school and Adrian and I rushed there after dropping Lavigne off. I was prepared to put in an offer if I really like the house. From the pictures and description given, I like it very much. However, it didn't give me the 'wow factor' when I saw it. It was alright, train station is just at the end of the street which is perfect, it comes fully furnished and this is good for us because we don't have much furniture, there's a utility room, downstairs toilet and nice garden, one big room and another good-size room. The bonus is a room in the basement. So why didn't it move me? It was a little dated, the fridge is extremely small and ancient, the upstairs wall along the corridor was plastered with corkboards (?) and it just didn't feel right, if you know what I mean. I don't think Adrian likes the house very much. He certainly wasn't interested in the basement which he says was dirty and cold (no heating). But I like it for it could be my workroom. On our way back, we thought long and hard if we should make an offer. I really like the location because it's so near the station and plus it's furnished. But when I rang to ask for a second viewing, I was told it had been let out. Yesterday I rang to ask about the interest on the house and the man told me I'll be the first to see. But apparently someone had seen it on Monday. Strangely though, I didn't feel that disappointed. I guess it's just not the one for us. I think I'll be more gutted if it was let before I saw it because I really like the house very much just based on the pictures and description. Adrian felt very relieved. Hahaha!

We saw another property which has (again) very steep and small steps up the stairs and awkward landing. No good for children, very dangerous. So we totally ruled that out. There's another property which is near the station and we'll be viewing it this Friday. I wonder if it will be let again before that. *Touch wood*!

This evening, I went to Ikea myself for a preview sale. It was supposed to be Lavigne's nursery Induction Evening but Adrian said no point going since we'll be moving away. We've been wanting to get Louisa a bed and I was lucky to buy the type we want (with drawers underneath) for half the usual price. There's also a special offer on a chest of drawers only for today from 6pm-1opm. I took the last 2 pieces. Woohoo! I was so proud of myself I managed to squeeze everything into my very petite car. An even more petite me asked for help to load the heavier boxes into the car. I folded the chairs and even took out the front passenger seat headrest. Thank God everything fit in there. Now, we can rent an unfurnished house without worries!

Hello World!

Just in case you're wondering, I am still very much alive. Didn't realise I'd not blogged for a week. I'd been spending hours sitting here searching for houses to rent, calling up estate agents to make appointments for viewings, calling up schools to fix dates for visits, more packing, attended Louisa's school sports day, viewed houses (disappointing) and managed a fruit-picking trip with Val and fam.

Adrian and I didn't go to WGC last Friday because the school we wanted to visit rang to change it to this Friday. So I had to rearrange the house viewings to last Saturday and this coming Friday. The house which I had said was close to the train station was snapped up before my appointment. The same happened with a few other properties.

In the end, we only managed to view 2 properties on Saturday. There were supposed to be 5 but one we couldn't see because the landlord was out and the agent didn't manage to get the keys (I only found out when I reached the house and see no one there then rang the agent). Another one was the house is in a state and hence not ready for viewing. The rest were let out just before we were about to view. To be honest, this time when we went, I didn't feel I like the town as much as before. The sought-after West Side is nice but not many properties up for let and if any, get snapped up really quickly. Furthermore, we were told that most of the houses are ex-council houses and leasehold. So if eventually we want to buy a house there, it's not that ideal. We don't want to rent a place there and then buy something at another town all because of the girls. I don't think they like changing schools frequently. Which is why we're now considering St Albans. I know, we seem to be changing our minds all the time but things happen and we learn new stuff along the way. St Albans, though slightly more expensive than WGC, offers many properties for letting. I have shortlisted 12 and there's one which is perfect for us. I wanted so much to view the property tomorrow and if all's OK, put in a deposit to secure the property. But it's quite a distance away from where we live and the only day we can make it is Friday. There are many good schools in this city which is of great importance to us. The train ride for Adrian will be just under 20 minutes. His only concern is if we will be able to afford to buy a house there.

Sorry, no pictures, too lazy to upload. Going to watch a HK drama with Adrian instead. Ciao!

House hunting

I've started viewing houses for rental today. Sad to say, with our requirement for a property within walking distance to the train station narrows down our choices. Also sad to say, we can't get much for our money near our area. It will definitely be a case of downsizing. Even though the house we now live in has only 2 bedrooms, one of it is huge. Furthermore, there are 2 receptions. So I think I'd been spoilt. In my opinion, it's better to do the first viewing without the kids. They like to fiddle with everything and hide inside built-in wardrobes. I have to ask them not to do this and that while viewing at the same time which is quite disruptive.

The first property I viewed this morning is a mid-terraced, 2 bedded house. The lounge is tiny and the strange thing is the bathroom is right at the back after the kitchen. Going up the stairs is pretty scary for the steps are very narrow. There is no bathroom upstairs, just an en-suite for the master room. Location wise, it's not a nice place. However, it comes fully furnished.

Second and third properties were supposed to be viewed after lunch, with just Lavigne. I rang the estate agent up this morning wanting to change the meeting place to the property itself rather than the office. Guess what? The lady forgot to book us for the viewings. Her colleague then told me she doubt the landlords will want to wait for us till August but later rang me to say I could view the houses afterall at an inconvenient time of 5pm when I have to cook, which means I have to bring both girls along as well.

I have never seen a more disinterested estate agent as the lady who brought us to the houses. She didn't speak at all. I had to do all the talking. I asked a question, she gave a short answer and that was it. I guess she must have earned enough commission. The houses are rather new and modern, both very close to the train station but it's a stop before ours which means the travelling time for Adrian will be longer. Also, the rentals are a bit steep.

So now, we are seriously considering moving to Welwyn Garden City afterall. There, we can get a 3 bedroom house for much less than what we have to pay for a 2-bedder in my area. The difference is quite considerable - at least £200. Train journey into London is also shorter. Louisa had been reluctant to leave her school but I've managed to convince her today, after buying her a new pair of school shoes. Oh I didn't bribe her. She'd been complaining her shoes are too tight for sometime. I merely picked the right time to talk to her.

Adrian and I will be visiting some schools in that town this coming Friday while the girls are at school and we'll squeeze some time in to view a few houses too. There's one which is very close to the train station. Hope it doesn't get snapped up before we view it.

PA

A couple of people have asked me what does a Patent Attorney do. So I've decided to create this entry.

Job description
A patent attorney deals with obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights on behalf of inventors or organisations. Patents are granted by the government and give inventors the right to prevent the commercial use of inventions by other parties for a limited period. Most patent attorneys work either in private firms of patent attorneys or in large manufacturing organisations across many branches of industry.

Patent attorneys (also known as patent agents) assess whether inventions are really new and innovative and therefore eligible to be patented. They draft and carry through applications to secure patents and act to enforce inventors' rights if patents are infringed.

Typical work activities
The nature of the work depends on whether the attorney is advising private clients or is employed by a large organisation to protect their products but, broadly speaking, activities include:

- discussing inventions and processes with inventors or manufacturers and ascertaining whether they are likely to succeed in being granted patents;
- studying and analysing scientific or technical documents, including previously published patent documents, to assess in what ways an invention is new and innovative;
- advising on chances of success and likely legal costs;
- writing detailed descriptions of inventions in precise legal terms (patent drafts), which will form the basis for patents to be granted by patent offices in various parts of the world;
- suggesting modifications or extensions to the definition of the invention to make a claim for monopoly as broad as possible;
- prosecuting patent applications by corresponding with The UK Intellectual Property Office and the European Patent Office (EPO), often presenting complicated technical arguments;
- preparing responses to reports from patent examiners;
- ensuring application and renewal deadlines are observed;
- working with solicitors and barristers to defend or enforce UK patents;
- conducting litigation in proceedings at the EPO or in the Patents County Court;
- providing updates on the application process;
- advising overseas agents on applications for foreign patent applications;
- advising on the infringement and enforcement of patent rights;
- mounting challenges to perceived infringements;
- advising on whether business activities will infringe someone else's patent rights;
- dealing with patent licence negotiations;
- dealing with assignments of patent when a patent is sold or transferred;
- keeping up to date with legal developments in the intellectual property field;
- advising on other intellectual property rights, e.g. designs or trade marks;
- tutoring and mentoring trainee patent agents;
- in private practice, contributing to the overall running of the firm.

(taken from http://www.prospects.ac.uk/)

Goodbye Hatfield, hello London

Adrian's got the Patent job and we're over the moon! This whole week, we've been feeling so jittery. He went for the interview on Tuesday and was good enough to go for another one yesterday. So everytime after each interview, we'd wait nervously for the call, hoping for a positive answer. Today, I couldn't function properly, felt so tensed to the point I was almost sick. I mean, it's a very good job. Most importantly, it's the one he really wants. I only heaved a big sigh of relief after he rang me just before I was about to leave home to pick up the girls from school. That was after giving a scream of delight. So yes, he's going for this job instead of the lecturer post. Paywise, he's not going to lose much because they are offering him more than we'd expected. Another icing on the cake! I'm so glad this gamble paid off. He had been asked to go for an interview with Coventry University but it falls on Thursday, which is the same day as the London one. By giving that up before knowing if he'd be recruited by the Patent company was a risk he took. Thank God all went well.

Now that we're over the elation stage, it's time to seriously think about where we should live and for Adrian to finish writing his thesis. We may just stay near the area while he commutes to work so that the girls' routine won't be disrupted. But we're not entirely sure yet because this area is very expensive. Yay! Time for a celebratory dinner!

Chit Chat

Another sunny day and after sending Lavigne to school, I decided to wash and clean the car. Halfway through hoovering the inside, the sky turned cloudy and I thought, 'Argh!'. My dad always says never to wash the car if it's going to rain because it'll be dirty again. So I just cleaned the interior. Since the vacuum cleaner's out, I hoovered the house too. Now as I'm typing away, the grey clouds' gone and the sun's out. Sigh!

Been feeling really nervous the whole day. Fingers crossed. Hope to have good news. Down with a cold. No wonder I felt so tired yesterday and went to bed at an unthinkable 8pm.

Ok, time for school run. (That's the reason why I can't wash my car now)

What's wrong with that man?!

The sun is out, the sky is blue. Perfect weather for gardening! Was going to change when I looked out of my room overlooking the garden and saw that the fence I put up is ripped out. I remember two days ago, the 'man-in-question' was cutting weeds in the gardens and surroundings of the houses. I haven't had the chance to go in there due to the rain. When I saw what had happened earlier, I was totally p****d! What's the matter with him? I don't think I'd done anything to offend him. The only thing I can think of is probably 'fighting' over parking space outside the house. There are 3 lots for the 3 houses. My Chinese neighbour has no car. We have one. That family? 5! You think only Singaporeans are kiasu? That gardener's wife places a cone at the lot outside their house when she goes out.

I pay rent. I have use to the garden. It took a lot of effort for me to put that fence up. It's been there for so long. Why did he do it? Trying to build up his muscles? I had recently spruced the place up a bit and was going to do more today. Just wanted to enjoy my last summer in this garden before we move. Now, he's done it again! I am feeling so ANNOYED, FURIOUS and INCENSED!

Picture was taken 2 years ago. The stone pathway was removed by him don't know when.

More rain

I certainly hope the rest of the summer is not going to be like that. Rain. Rain. Rain. I'd wanted to do some gardening with Louisa yesterday while Lavigne was at school but it rained. Let's not even talk about today because parts of England will be flooded due to heavy rain and my area is not spared from the downpour. It makes school runs difficult. I tend to drive if it rains. No good when the price is not coming down for fuel. I can't dry my clothes in the garden, something which I'd gotten used to when it was sunny 2 weeks ago. Worse, it's miserable to be stuck in the house, day in day out.

I've been hooked to flickr. Lots of inspiration, ideas and whatnots there. Now, if I need to get some sewing inspiration, I go here. Want to know what people do with their Ikea purchases, check this out. When I was deciding which camera to buy recently, I went to search for pools under the camera model. There, I see the pictures taken using those cameras. Very cool!

Finally

We saw Mister Maker made this on Cbeebies sometime back. The materials had been bought and were sitting on the shelf. Today, the girls finally made one each. I did all the tearing of the tissue paper while they did the sticking. Very easy to make and fun too!