Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:12:26 +0000
First steps in South America Index What's in Mat's handbag?
Sometimes it seems like everyone in the world is doing me favours that I'll never be able to repay, and that's certainly been the case over the last few weeks. So I wanted to say thanks to a couple of people.
First and foremost, my flatmate Volker, who has done everything from wallpapering my room to cooking me sensible meals as my diet gradually degenerated into the depths of instant noodle purgatory. I'd be a gibbering wreck without his intervention.
And Maren, who's moving into my apartment as I move out. Apart from not insisting that I repaint the entire apartment like I'm supposed to, which alone saved me from inevitable catastrophe, she also provided all kinds of support, from posting ads for my Sofa around the university (and having the idea in the first place!) to driving me and my broken down piles of furniture and obscure broken electronics to the tip for disposal. My next best alternative was trying to pack that stuff onto my bicycle.
Happy birthday Sabrina, and thanks for the chance to leave Oldenburg properly: celebrating.
Thanks also to Patrick, for helping me navigate the twin complexities of eBay and the German language. Both of my old Macintosh SEs were saved from WEEE humiliation and instead consigned to the tender mercies of DHL, entirely thanks to his intervention. The god of antique computers will smile on Patrick.
To all those at ChipVision, especially those who were willing to take my books from me, thanks for the help! And to those who find themselves using the phrase "global variable" over the next year or so, what can I do but offer my heartfelt apologies...
To my parents, of course, thanks for providing a home for those one or two little trinkets that I just couldn't bear to part with. And for God's sake, don't try to actually lift those packing crates; you'll break your backs.
...and a cast of thousands, of course (even the surprisingly helpful and friendly people at the Abfallannahmestelle). Thanks all, and auf Wiedersehen!