Today began with another search for places to live - though for a while it didnt seem particularly fruitful a search today.
There were no new listings added last night or today, which meant that all the places of interest in there I had already rung up about. Nevertheless, I was looking forward to seeing a place considerably cheaper than where I looked yesterday, though considerably further away.
I'm not as keen on that place after having seen it than I was before I went out there. Its half an hour's drive from ANU during the middle of the day with hardly any traffic, almost all on the freeways that will indeed be slower during peak hours. That means much much longer of a trip to the airport should I need to go out there.... buses didnt seem particularly convenient to that house either.
Feeling a little down after that (and also because it was 33 degrees) I decided to visit Goodberrys, which refreshed me as always. On the off chance, I called into a real estate agent's shopfront to see what they had around, and was able to spot a not too bad looking property just around the corner from the Belconnen centre, which I then went to inspect. Its a little cheaper than the first place I looked at, though it doesn't have a fridge or washing machine, which could be why. It does have carpet, which to me is rather important, having two burrows in Japan earlier this year with old lino floors...
And no funny smells, which the first place had. I am rather taken by this place at the moment, not in any way related to it being rather close to Goodberrys, (oh, and ten minutes from ANU), but possibly I'm hot and tired and want to find a place to park and not have to worry about the time expiring. Still, it isn't a bad little unit up there, a sufficient little burrow for the year.

Back to ANU to do some wombatting and check my email, but the library had closed - they are on short hours because its not actually term time. No problem, I thought, and headed for the nearest computer lab... do discover that my student card no longer opens doors for me! Apparently the computer system knows that I'm supposed to be in Japan this year and refuses to allow me entry to the uni buildings...
So right now I'm sitting up the front of a deserted Manning Clark theatre, walking around every five minutes or so to trigger the motion detectors and stop the room from plunging into darkness.
I wonder what I will do tomorrow...

And so the search for a new burrow begins.

I came back to Canberra yesterday, making it a little over a year since I left. Things have hardly changed, though there is a new Goodberrys in Dickson, I see, and the Moose is open.
There are a couple of new photos up, nothing too exciting but it's a start. Many an hour this morning was spent tracking down possible burrows on the excellent real estate websites here, though many places seem to have only one or two times a week that properties can be viewed. I guess they still have people living in them...
I did get to see one place today, by virtue of it being vacant (as, it seemed was the old fellow next door feeding the magpies). Quite a nice place, probably about ten minutes from ANU and mere metres from a bus stop. I must find out exactly where that bus goes to, before deciding whether that is convenient or not. The only thing is the rent is a little on the high side of what I would have preferred, but we'll see what else is available. The owner of that place (it's a private rent, no estate agent) is going away for a few days, so that gives me some time to explore other places and see whether or not this really is too expensive, or whether it is a good deal. It felt spacious enough, but I guess most places will feel very spacious when there is not a skerrick of furniture in the place...

I'll keep you updated. Now, to forage for some food...