The apartment continues to take good shape. The desktop computer made the move successfully. I can use my phone line to dial into my company network so at least I have some semblance of internet connection. I finally have cable TV after the store accidentially gave me the wrong cable box (for another cable provider). Robin came over and helped install the rack for the bathroom. Move of the content of boxes have been put away (now I have 4 boxes and 2 large messy tables left). And I made a stain on one of the couch cushions (not that kind you potty mind people ;), but I bought it to the cleaners and they told me that it would be no problem to remove. To prevent that from happening again, I am putting couch covers on both couches, and replacing his pillows with darker pillows.

Finally, I need to get permissions to drill holes into the wall to put up curtains, and I have deicded that I will move the dining room table slightly farther away from the wall and then place a chandlier over the table.

I am getting used to living in one large room. I will end up liking this place a lot. I’ll take pictures once I am done.

Well moving into my new place is going just as well as I can expect. I got a phone yesterday so that was good news. I am getting mail at my new flat so that is also some good news. Had some discussions surrounding my stay here in Sweden on assignment, so for how long I will get to join the new apartment will be decided shortly.

Decided against going to Denmark this week. Too much to do and not enough time. But for the moment…I am focusing on my salad…

THe moving went *mostly* well on Friday. The movers did manage to damage my desk, but it still works. However, I will have them pay something for the damage so that I can get a new one. They don’t make these desks in sweden, but we will have to figure something out.

When they moved me, they also moved 9 boxes of alcohol. It was all of the alcohol that I had been buying in duty free in Oslo and tax-free in Denmark during my travels over the last 3 months.

Got a parking ticket 🙁 since I parked illegally on Friday night, but not much to do about that.

I spent a good portion of saturday unpacking things. At the same time I have also been doing an inventory which is needed for home insurance. The only I have not inventoried is clothes and food. I have a plan to slowly but surely inventory all books, CDs, and DVDs, and hope to have that done by Friday. But the most valuable stuff is nearly complete.

Had a huge party night on Friday, spent a part of the day recovering on Saturday…today I will take Robin to Ikea and I will do some food shopping as well. More unpacking too. I hope to be finished by Tuesday of this week.

This week is busy at work as well. All weeks at work have been busy lately, but that is another post.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I promise next weekend to take some pictures of my flat and of the part of stockholm which i now live! 🙂

Finally, here is a map of Östermalm

It might truly be my last update for awhile since I have no internet, phone, or cable yet at my new apartment. An overview for those who care…

New Apartment – Laywers on all sides want changes to the lease. I blurted out “I just want the keys”. I got the keys. A bonus point…the rest to be worked out tomorrow. The landlord expects first month’s rent and a deposit of a month. Have to figure that one out.

Movers – Nice and Friendly. Have to be here to supervise. Would watch TV and eat bon bons at the same time, but both are packed away. They are behind schedule.

Cleaner – No chance until Monday. And will set me back 750 kronor an hour. I told them they have 5 hours and no more.

But the new place is okay enough I suppose. I will need a major shopping trip to Ikea.

So on Monday I go Migrationsverket, which is the Migration Office for Sweden. I got there at 10.25 in the morning when I took my queue number and I was number 99. They had just been open for 1 hour and 30 minutes and were just serving number 50. The queue I was standing in was for “applications already processed and those who just need a stamp in their passports.” So you figure that this line would be quick. WRONG. When it was 12.40, they were just serving #90. And I had to get to my apartment viewings beginning at 12.45, so I had to abandon my number. The problem was that in my line, people who could read neither Swedish or English were telling their refugee life stories and wasting time. Grrr.

So I decided today to take my papers and get my work and residence permit at the Swedish embassy in Denmark. 10 minutes, including a 3 minute wait.

Is it just me or is something really wrong?

For the love of god, someone please tell me why i have bought 1200 kronor in alcohol. The 15000 kronor worth in my apartment just must not be enough….