Unexpected expenses

27 January 1977 Thursday

Today we called several agencies and other listed flats (in the Times, Evening Standard, and London Weekly. After lunch we went via Tube to Haymarket Street to Derek Collins agency, where we had to fill out a card and be interviewed for our needs. We got a few leads. Then we went to Hampstead to Geo. Knight Agency and go several more.

After determining that almost any place will require a large deposit (talked to Bob Haller to verify this) I called my brother Reaves in S.C. to ask for a short-term loan. Will have to call back Friday once we figure out how to do the transfer.

The weather today was still wet, and colder than before.

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27 January 2022 Thursday

I continue to be amazed at the differences in how easy it is to handle overseas transactions today versus 45 years ago. Of course, it shouldn't be surprising, there wasn't really an internet (the proto-internet doesn't count). As much as I shake my head at how unprepared they were for this trip, I am looking at it with a lens of enhanced communications and for me now, a lifetime of experience about how to handle things like booking an overseas apartment and preparing for cultural differences.

Still--why would you not assume that apartment/flat rental would require a deposit?