Quirks presents...

8:35am: The promised post on Who Dares Sings
( Cut nominally for spoilers but in practice for length )

2:43pm: Bad timing?
This is the promised Next Post. It throws far, far too much into doubt for me to be at all comfortable typing it.

The family unit, in their infinite wisdom, are strongly in favour of me moving to a furnished flat, almost to the point of insistence. Perhaps in a reactionary manner, I am wanting an unfurnished flat to prove them wrong, but also because I cannot see the lower rent being cancelled out in furniture costs (or even if it is, the utility of my own furniture - in my own preferred contemporary chrome-and-glass style - rather exceeds the cost gap, although of course ceteris paribus cannot be applied for a comparison between the furnished and unfurnished in almost all cases!).

Meanwhile they are also arguing, and with more of a point, that I would be 'crazy' to move quickly. However, one potential flat was snapped up (granted, the furnished one, which made me happy), another's been reduced (and will surely go soon after that), and then what? Rental costs are rocketing as demand is increased by the return to the rental market of those who should never have been homeowners in the first place, and this is happening with increasing speed. I've already been told (by Chris - see posts passim - and by the enviable Lyndsay) that I should be leaving a six-week gap between finding somewhere and term.

But then there are definite expenses. I pay £25 per week in upkeep here - my living costs in Southampton would exceed £100 per week. Every week I spend at the Fortress is another £75 or more gained. Is Southampton life really, honestly worth that? This is forcing me to meet uncomfortable questions of utility.

I've spoken to EM, she thinks I should leave it as late as possible to go back, and said she was very bored in the city last summer. This is possibly reassuring.

As for the holiday, that looks less likely by the minute, frankly. If Mum gets her way, flat-hunting will be happening when I was planning to be away. If she doesn't, I'll already have pencilled in a significant expenditure. This Is Not Looking Good. But do not dare rule it out.