While on holiday in Vancouver, we got notice from our landlord that she’s selling the apartment and we were given our 60 day notice. Since getting back, I’ve contacted a real estate agent to find apartments for rent in the building we’re currently in.
I met with the agent yesterday and we looked at about five apartments (the joys of living in a relatively new condo), checking out the different views as we went up and down the building. One was a penthouse suite but it was smaller than our place and the laminate on the cupboards was hideous. It looked like leopard print. The view was great though.
One of the apartments I was keen on and it was available immediately. I talked about it with Glen in the evening and we made a plan on what to do next. Our landlord had said we could move out whenever as long as we gave 30 days’ notice, however, it was looking like we needed to move out much sooner.
In fact, we need to be in a new apartment by Thursday 24 April. (Our next payment for the current apartment is due on 28 April and we’d rather not have to pay another month’s rent and possibly lose out on apartments available now.)
So today I got in touch with our landlord and asked if we could move out before 28 April. I tried to sell it saying that if we were gone then prospective buyers could look at the apartment without having to bother us. (Real estate agents are supposed to give us 24 hours’ notice if they want to show the place.) I also told her that we’re going on holiday in May and June so we don’t have much time. Thankfully, she came back saying it was absolutely fine and we could be gone by 28 April, if it worked out.
I called the real estate agent and she laughed when I said we wanted to move in either tomorrow (Good Friday) or Saturday, really any time as quickly as we could, as long as it was before Wednesday. She said she’d see what she could go and rang off.
It was all going too smoothly of course.
A while later she rang to say that the property was no longer available. Sounds like some jiggery-pokery was going on with the realtors who were managing the property. However, our realtor said she’d send over another set of apartments for us to look at. There’s one on there, in our building, that we like so we’ve requested a viewing as soon as possible. With any luck it’ll be the one. (It’s also on a much higher floor which has its pluses and minuses.)
In other news…
Last night we went for dinner with Tim and Vaughan to a Persian restaurant called Sheherzade. The food was really good and it’s probably one of the nicer meals we’ve had in Toronto. I had a chicken dish cooked in lemon and spices, while the boys had a mix of other things. We also had Persian desserts, including a rosewater ice-cream. Mmmm…good food. Check it out.
It was also great to spend time with Tim and Vaughan, catching up on our travels. They’d just been to Orlando and done a few of the theme parks. Sounds a bit hellish but also a lot of fun.
Glen came to meet me at a travel vaccination clinic after work as I’d read and been told that we need Yellow Fever vaccinations (and proof of such) for travel to the Galapagos Islands. However, when we got there and asked about it, because we’re coming from a country that does not have Yellow Fever and we’re not going to any Yellow Fever countries, we don’t need it. I hope they’re right as I don’t want to be hassled at customs.
We also got some injections for other vaccinations. Glen didn’t look too pleased at having the injections and once they were done, I joked that I’d get him a lollipop. The doctor then offered us a couple that they have stored in a jar on top of the fridge. He said lollipops were good as they give you a sugar hit after the injections. Either way, we laughed and took one each.
I’m amazed at how thin the needle is, yet the liquid that’s pushed into the muscle hurts so much.
There are still other things I’ve got to organise before our trip, which is only three weeks away. Luckily none of it is too onerous and just requires a bit of shopping and planning. We’re planning on going on a five-day cruise when we get there but aren’t booking it until we arrive as it’s cheaper. I hope we’re able to get something. It’s a bit scary not having everything planned. I haven’t even booked the accommodation for our first night yet. Still, it might be a fun (albeit) stressful adventure to leave everything unbooked and race against the clock to find a hotel room when we arrive. I’m such Glen will just LOVE that.
Travels with Dan 
What do you say, eh?