a place to call home

This weekend my fiance signed the rental agreement on our new flat in England. It's an odd feeling, knowing I have a home to go to in a country that isn't even mine yet. But the flat is another large step in getting me there, as I have to show on the Visa application that I have suitable accommodation, among other things.

And there can be no arguing it is suitable for the two of us. It's all awkward angles and odd slopes and strange corners, nothing where you expect it to be. Which is somehow ridiculously appropriate. It is so oddly laid out, in fact, that the photos my guy sent me just confused me, so he built me a little model of it online so I could see the weird and wonderful shapes we are going to attempt to furnish. Don't even ask about the windows. They are beautiful, absolute features in our high-ceilinged flat, lovely architectural details that give us unimpeded panoramic views of brick walls and parking lots. These windows make the space. They are also triangle. Including the one nine feet up in the bedroom with other flats looking down into it. I foresee this being a problem. At least for shy folk like us.

A quick search of the internet, of course, was all that was needed to instantly find several solutions to this window fashion dilemma! Every one of them hideously impractical and prohibitively expensive. The great Google has finally let me down. Luckily, we are a resourceful pair and came up with our own fix. Short of drawing you people a diagram, though, I doubt I can accurately explain our genius in the fabric arts. Lets just say it involves a lot of puckering and gathering, wire, and dangly bits that will need to be artistically chopped off. You get the general sense from that, right?

So, one decorating obstacle hurdled from across the ocean and feeling quite proud of myself. Not that this Goldbergian contraption of window fashion has actually been built yet. It's more of a ...concept. But I am sure my guy will be able to actually execute it, no problem. And if he gets confused, I'll build him a little model of it online so he can see the weird and wonderful shapes he is going to attempt to construct. No problem.

Uh oh.

You feel that? That was a "famous last words" moment right there.

Sigh.