On May my girl friend came over first, as she was the driving force, the one already having a job. The Institute was paying her hotel bills for the first two weeks, giving us time to look for a flat. Apartment prices in Ireland are ridiculous high. Prices for a small two bedroom apartment start at 800,- EUR per month and you better but an extra 200 quid on top of that if you want a decent one. After visiting a few object in the sub 700 Euro mark, we focused our search on single bedroom apartments in the sub, to around, 800 Euro zone. After a few frustrating days we went off to visit a really nice flat, which was in fact to small. But the landlord told us that he knows somebody who just finished an apartment block, which could be exactly what we are looking for. (I know somebody who knows somebody who has – the Irish way. A friend of mine, who often made business over here told us about it.) Within a few minutes we where off, picking up the key, and viewing the object. A really nice, brand new apartment, between 50 to 60 square meters, for 700,- Euro cold. A bargain, where to sign? (At this point, I should take some time to explain to my continental friends, that in Ireland, like in the States, rented apartments are usually fully furnished.) Well, it wasn’t finished yet, but almost. He told us it would be finished by July and that we could rent a cheap room in some house of his, which he rents out to students during the year. Which would have been fine, as I had to finish some projects back home anyway and couldn’t come before August. It sounded brilliant.

So it did. July passed by and it still wasn’t ready. The landlord told us the ESB (Irish OKA) didn’t show up to install electricity.

A decision had to be made, and we decided to drive over on bank holiday, as planed. That means we have to store all the stuff we brought over from Austria, somewhere in this tiny room.

(With the backseats removed the Land Rover has a storage capacity of three and a half square meters.) That was last week. If we are lucky, we might be able to move in, in two weeks.

But there is another problem. I currently don’t have Internet access. Over here in Ireland, broadband is dead cheap. For a wireless, (so you don’t need a phone line, which most likely would be another problem – in terms of time) flat rate, access you pay around 25,- Euro a month. (That is flat rate!) I will most likely go to Irish Breadband. Great, but I don’t live in the new flat now, I currently stay in this little room in Bishopstown. Ripwave doesn’t work here, neither does the offer from Nova Networks. Breeze would work, but that includes the installation of an antenna and a 12 month contract (bounded to the location). By the way, from ordering to installation usually takes 10 to 15 days. Bugger.

Not having Internet access makes things particularly difficult right now. I have to check my e-mails for news from the recruitment agencies and browse the web for opportunities. The way to the Internet café became quite a routine lately. Beside that, I think I’ve become addicted to the Internet over the last years, I was virtually always online. At work, at home and tainks to my Motorla A925 3G smart phone, every between as well.

- Till I get some decent access again, will I feed this blog with content I wrote offline.