FROM SITUATION TO SITE- how we managed to convince EPRA to let three crazy art students into their buliding.

Installment 3: Anna, Steve and Grant the triangle of mis communication

I was feeling pretty proud of myself, holding a 4 page official looking document with my name plastered all over it- we had a contract and I was ready to sign. First, though I thought I'd better send it to Grant to check that it clarified facility access blah that he mentioned to Clarissa. He didn' t answer so i left a long winded message on his voicemail and sent an email, my determination had become an obssesive compulsive disorder and no one was spared.

I heard back from Grant (email, not phone) , it is fine as long as Clarissa says its fine. I signed the document, rang EPRA to get fax number. Steve wasn't in, but spoke to his manager. 'I'm sending through the licence to occupy document can you look at it today' 'we will need the original too' 'I'll put it in the post now'. I send it all off, i felt apprehensive, could this be it. It was Thursday afternoon still no word from EPRA. I call Friday.

Steve tells me that I need proof of the insurance policy. We have a long coversation, I try to explain that we are covered as long as the project has been approved and it had and that by signing the document I am confirming that. "no we need confirmation from the actual insurance company, we need a certificate of currency' I tried my best to explain that as a university things like insurance and liabiltity don't get over looked, of course the university has a current insurance policy' 'We can't assume anything'. I'm feeling frustrated, 'I'll see what I can do.'

Friday afternoon Grant receives another long winded and slightly urgent voicemail. I recieve an email later on, Anna, I will arrange for a certificate to be sent to you on Monday which should address this issue. Thankyou Grant, we really appreciate this.

I recieved the certificate on Monday, from Wendy on behalf of Grant, I rang her to see if it was possible to get our names put on it and the address of the property, I wanted all bases covered before I sent it to EPRA, knowing that this was our final chance. She said she'd see what she could do. Finally we recieved the long awaited document, the certificate of currency, everything was in place. I forwarded it to Steve. I finally let myself think that they were going to say yes. I imagined ringing Laura and Claire to break the news. I got excited.

The insurance policy appears to have a different date on the bottom of the signed section to that of the time the 'Special Comments' section has been completed. We will need to see the form completed by the insurance company,authorised and resent to EPRA.

I couldn't believe it, I was angray, frustrated, frantic. I copied and pasted everything Steve said to me over two emails and sent it to Grant. Can you please call him to explain. No answer. I ranted and raved at how ludicrous what he was asking was. My only hope was if Grant and Steve could talk, cut me right out of this horrible triangle of confusion and mis communication, I was getting swallowed by bureacracy and they really did speak another language there.

Finally I spoke to Steve. The final confrontation. I started getting angry and attacking him and EPRA and threatening to write a letter to the director stating how disappointed I was with the company and saying that he was insincere and dishonest and then.... I started crying. I tried to cover it up which resulted in disjointed sentences and one second pauses between words can....you....please...call...Grant. I explained the triangle situation, he agreed.

The next day I recieved a call from Steve, I spoke to Grant and it's all signed off. Once the director signs it you can come in to pay the bond and pick up the key. I couldn't believe it. I was exhausted, but smiled to myself.

thanks Steve.