Who is Farhan Lalji?

The last two weeks have been chaotic.  And for some – namely the Mrs – that’s probably an understatement.

After putting our flat on the market in June, getting an offer we accepted in July/beginning of August, and waiting what seemed a lifetime for a report from the council and the mortgage lender on our flat, we finally had everything ready to exchange the flat and complete the sale.  And then the buyer told us she wanted us out in four days or we were going to lose the sale.  With our stuff mostly in boxes we decided to do the impossible, and move out of the home we have stayed in for five years in four days!

Luck has been on our side, we found a short term flat – although we’re paying through the nose for 10 days in a very nice flat.  And just yesterday, we signed an 11 month lease on a flat in West Hampstead.

For the past 7 years I’ve secretly – okay not so secretly – pined to live in the Swiss cottage, Finchley Road, West Hampstead area of London.  It’s a really nice neighborhood, where a number of our friends are living.  We’re “roll out of bed and into the tube station” close to the transport links, and there’s a bunch of nice restaurants and pubs in the area.

After spending 7 years south of the river split between an ex-council property with kids banging on doors and running away (or doing worse) and in a basement studio with dodgy plumbing, I’m ecstatic to be in a neighborhood with families and sane people.  Not to mention to have a toilet that won’t catch fire – don’t ask!

I’m hoping the family and friends who’ve visited the old place will come again, its 2 bedrooms so you’ll have your space still.  And the family and friends who haven’t visited yet the door’s open. We’re home.

Random guy hanging out with Jesus

Originally uploaded by farhanlalji

London is full of guys with bull horns and loud speakers telling you to embrace Jesus or be condemned to a life of hell… or whatever.

So I was amused and impressed to see this random gent hanging out in his fluorescent jacket carrying a small sign that read Jesus.

That’s enough to make people think. He made me think and blog post… job done.

So we’ve been informed that we only have 5 days to get out of our flat.  We’ve sold the flat and thought we had some time between exchange and completion.  But as we’ve found out recently selling your flat can be painful.  It starts off taking forever and then, all of a sudden, it speeds up to an extreme speed and you’re left wondering, “what the heck happened?”.

So we were looking for a flat to rent - I say were because we’ve given up and decided to take a short term let - and we went through the traditional channels, frantic phone calls to estate agents, property websites, and community managed sites with ads from people.  One of these ads was on london.craigslist.com.  It was for a two bedroom in central part of town.  So I emailed them and asked for details about the flat.  This is the entire email chain, because I can’t do it justice otherwise.  I’ve replaced full names and any contact details.

Farhan  wrote:
Hi there, I’m interested in seeing the flat you posted on craigslist.

Please call me on (Mobilenumber from the UK)

Thanks,

Farhan

—– Original Message —-
From: david (the guy with the flat)
To: Farhan
Sent: Saturday, October 6, 2007 1:03:59 PM
Subject: Re: flat

Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I am Rev David Lastname,the owner of the house you are making enquiry of.Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in the Ottawa Canada and presently my house is still available for rent for 1000 Euro  including the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it is furnised.Moreso Now, i went for a Crusade in the West Africa and i will like you to get in touch with my wife in the state for more discussion as She is with the keys and the document to the house.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute mentenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money the main problem but want you to keep it tidy allthe time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i came for a check up.i do that oncein a while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.

Email my wife serah, on (email address) and she will attends to you better.

Thanks and you are welcome

Regards

Farhan wrote:
Hi Serah,

I emailed David about the house for rent.  I was wondering where the house was?  And when it is available?

Thanks,

Farhan

—– Original Message —-
From: serah Lastname (wife of guy with flat)
To: Farhan
Sent: Sunday, October 7, 2007 12:03:46 AM
Subject: Re: flat

Dear,

Thanks for the email and also Yes,my husband in respect of Rev Madeline owned the house and also it is situated at Carril,33 Girona Entre Corsega in BARCELONA and also want you to know that it was due to my husband transfer
that makes us to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a resposible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own.So for now,Am here in the State,Miami our new house and also with the keys of the house,we try to look for an agent that we can give this document before we left but could not see and we are as well as dont wnt
our house to be used any how in our present that is why we toook it along to us here and as you know that,my husband over in the West africa for a mission of God,so i hope you will promise us to take very good care of the house.So get back to me on how you could take care of our  house or perhaps experience you have in rentiong home.Hope you are okay
with the price of 1000 Euro with hydro,heat laundry facilities,air condition and so on.
i look forward to hearing from you ASAP so that i can forward you an application to fill out and discuss on how to get the house for rent,also are you ready to rent it now or when?

Thanks,
Await your reply

—– Original message —-
From: Farhan
To: serah Lastname (wife of guy with the flat)
Sent: Sunday, October 7, 2007 2:08:46 AM
Subject: Re: flat
Hi Serah,

my apologies I thought the flat was in London.  Best,

Farhan

I met Tony Wheeler, who with his wife Maureen founded Lonely Planet - at an entrepreneurship gala held by London Business School a few months ago.  The guy was a lot of fun.  He was humble, honest and engaging.  He spoke about how his wife was the business minded one of the two of them.  And of how he was really passionate about traveling. In fact the couple didn’t really plan on building an international business, they were just enjoying travelling during a gap year after Tony had finished his MBA.

So I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Lonely Planet had been acquired by BBC’s worldwide commercial arm. Surprised in a good way in that it’s a great success story for an Alum.  And I hope it means that Tony and Maureen will continue on with their adventures.

It really couldn’t have happened to a nice guy.  Not to mention its a great success story for London Business School!  And we can use a few more of these!