500th Post

This is my 500th post that I upload to my blog! Yay me! I somehow made it this far! I started this blog back in August 2009. My life was so different then! I can’t even start to count all the major changes that happened in my life since then, but I can easily sum it up and same that I’m in such a happier place now.

To be honest, I was postponing this post. I wanted it to occur with the final agreement on our house purchase. I wanted to happily announce that everything went smoothly and even slightly complain a bit about having to start packing now. I had it all in my head already. I can be a bit of an attention seeker that way and whine when I get the chance. I’m writing a blog if you haven’t noticed.

However, things didn't work out exactly like that. The bank that was supposed to provide us with a mortgage estimated the value of property less than the asking price. We knew that the asking price was a bit high but we had decided to accept it, even if it might harm the investment value of the property. In a couple of years and with the improvements of the property we had in mind, we would definitely catch up. The bank didn't see it that way though. They refused to give us more money than their estimate. So, since we can’t cover the difference we’re most likely losing the place. At the moment the estate agents, who appear to be extremely surprised at the low bank estimation, are trying to negotiate with the seller and the bank. But to be honest, I can’t see the vendor agreeing to that price, since the estate agents made him believe that he could make so much money from the property.

I’m feeling a bit disappointed to be honest. It’s not going to be the end though. We’ll start viewing more properties soon and I believe we’ll find what we’re looking for. We learnt a lot during the last couple of months with all this. The property market can be vicious, but so can we.  

Interior decoration porn

One of the best things about buying your own house is the fact that you can do (almost) anything you want with it. You're not restrained from the temporariness of living in someone else's property. Spending a little bit of extra money on it is not a 'waste', but an 'investment'. So, from buying new curtains to replacing the flooring, tearing down walls or replacing the fireplaces is something to consider.

Putting your own 'stamp' on the house is something expected, especially from a gay couple with some sense of taste. Cough cough. OK, I lack this specific gay gene. For everyone that knows me, I admit it: JJ has far better ideas than I do in these things. I'm more of the practical type of person, when he has the 'eye' for things. I'm the engineer while he's the artist (very generally stated). But still, I appreciate sometimes nice things when I see them. And since we talked about it, we agreed on following the same general decoration ideas. While waiting to see what's going to happen with the house we have in mind, we've been visiting furniture stores, window shopping and we've been buying decoration magazines.

Here's a list of ideas I've gathered online. In each picture there is something I like.

    

Because it's always nice to know (zombie bite)

Created by Oatmeal

British Heart Foundation Charity Run

Woohoo! I did it! 

I successfully finished my 10 kilometers charity race on Saturday! The whole experience was amazing. During this type of events, the atmosphere is quite enthusiastic. People rightfully feel pride in taking part. There's loud music playing and cheers all around. There are also lots of supporters, families, dogs etc running around! We were also very happy to hear that BHF managed to raise the money they were hoping for.

The silly before picture with the 'Heart' mascot!

Very close to the finish line...

 The 'after' photo with my medal and the water in hand

Hyde Park is so beautiful. There are animals all around. There's the Serpentine, the Italian gardens, the monuments... lot's of things to keep your mind occupied and keep on running. The weather was perfect for a run as well. It was cloudy, but not too cold. Unfortunately I missed the water station and struggled a bit at the end. I was so thirsty. 

At the end I managed a very respectable time(for my standards)! I was faster by 3 whole minutes from my previous personal best and finished the race in 1 hour and 6 minutes! I'm getting closer to doing 10k in an hour! :-)

How to ruin someone's day

Conversation about my upcoming race tomorrow:

Him (my manager and experienced marathon runner): Don’t have pasta tonight

Me: What?

Him: Just don’t have pasta tonight! I know people that the day before a race had an overload of pasta and were feeling very bloated and uncomfortable during their run. No pasta party for you!

Me: Don’t tell me that! I was really looking forward to having spaghetti meatballs tonight (JJ's making them special).

Him: Remember what I've told you. At least don’t have a second serving!

Me: I’ll try (Booooo) L