This weekend has been spent househunting in Bristol. We're wanting to move at the beginning of September, so need to find something sooner rather than later. jam_warrior spent most of last week on the phone to agencies and landlords, booking appointments and generally stressing over the whole thing. On Friday we had 9 houses to view Saturday, and by Saturday morning half of them had cancelled for one reason or another. Still, from 11.00am to 4.00pm we drove round the horror that is Saturday traffic Bristol, looking for houses in strange unfamiliar places.

The first two were okay, #3 was meh, and #4 was stunning but small. All the rest we saw after that were decidedly mediocre, so we had decided to go for #4, which is a privately rented flat next door to the landlord (who seemed a decent bloke) in a lovely area of the city next to Victoria Park. An ideal distance from the centre; close enough for convenience, far enough to be a bit quieter. And the flat is lovely! Really homely and modern and clean and comfy-looking. It even has a dishwasher! It is small, a lot smaller than the 2-bed house we're in at the moment, and a lot of stuff will have to go into storage. But this is only a temporary let until we find out the nice parts of the city, and look to buying a house! :)

When we've secured a deposit and decided on a moving date, I'll let you all know the new address.

Despite the horrible traffic, scary roundabouts and much swearing at bastards in Ford Focuses, I have decided I like Bristol. It's bigger than Cardiff, and more spread out. There also appears to be more in the way of museums, art, sculpture and green areas. You're never far from a park to flop on in the sun. Still, I will miss Clwb Ifor Bach. I will miss Welsh rugby, and I will miss Roath Park with it's hundreds of photogenic ducks. I'm definitely going to miss having a view of Welsh hills from my bedroom window. But needs must, and change is good. Ah, I'm feeling all sentimental now! I know I've only lived here for five years but it's been a very significant five years, and I'm definitely going to be sad to leave. Sad to leave, but excited to move on. All the more excited if I can actually get a decent job secured before I move!