The new owners of my apartment building have decided to kick everyone out, renovate the building, and turn it into luxury short-stay apartments. (Which makes financial sense, but sucks for me.) I have to move out by mid-July, but I'm trying to leave as soon as possible. My lease actually expired in March, and the incredibly incompetent previous building manager never produced a new one, despite my repeated nagging. And the new owners have already turned off the internet, so I am simply fed up with this place.

Flat hunting in London is an absolute pain. You have to check the new listings posted in the early morning, then ditch work and view the places that afternoon and evening and decide immediately. It has also reminded me of how much I can't afford. All I really want is my own bathroom and kitchen, with laundry machines somewhere in the building, a landline or cable with which to set up internet access, in a neighborhood where I won't get spit on or have garbage thrown at me. If I'm lucky, I'll find one for less than $1600 per month.

Moving, however, should be simple. This will be my fourth move in the past 13 months, and I only have about 7 boxes of stuff. (And people wonder why I'm reluctant to give out my address.)

Back in the lab, I've seen some small differences under a few conditions, and need to figure out what to do next.