"It's got to be the worst decision you've had to make, you usually come down to just picking out one little thing about the person and decide or not decide on that."

These words I have heard from a few people when I was looking for a place to live and feeling as though I was going through a complete interview process to show I'm a normal person to live with. Walking into these flats and houses and thinking to yourself, what can I do or say to impress them? Then leave you're thinking what did I say or do that made them think that I wasn't good enough. Paranoia sets in and you usually need to get a cigarette and beer down you. You continue this over a week or two long period doing this interview process and it can be quite a stressful environment filled with mixed emotions, bubbly fake smiles and complete lack of control to tell somewhat or any truth to people. 'Just being yourself' does not work!

Corinne, has decided to move out with her boyfriend at the beginning of August. Now I'm quite happy with this decision of hers. It's not because she is a yank, but mainly because her boyfriend stay over 5 out of the 7 days of the week living out of her pocket and soaking up the atmosphere in the flat. Well this is what I was told by Dee when I took over his room. Corinne is a great lass, quite bubbly and talkative, she is studying her MBA and she has just landed herself a first job. But to say also that her mother and father pay her way in London and she is a bit of a student bum and sits around all day at home and when Ash (her boyfriend is there) they consume an enormous amount of takeaway and produce volumes of rubbish. But also to say, I get along with most people and as soon as I arrive I stamped my imprint into the communal area by changing the furniture around, cleaning out the shed full of rubbish and getting the landlord motivated to do things.

In short Corinne is leaving and last night myself and Emily (the other housemate) were interviewing.

Originally the discussion was to have another girl in the house, one because they are clean and two because, well it's another girl, and I'd rather that. Last night we saw 3 girls and 3 guys. A complete analytical comparison was formed later that night and it somehow ended with me getting fed up about it all and just saying how it is.

Contestant number 1 - MARIA - Colleague of one of Emily's friends. Polish. 33 . Occupational Therapist.

Pro's -

Polish, I didn't want another Aussie - and she speaks very good english.
Single (nothing against the whole relationship theory, but I'd rather the person being single after Corinne's escapades)
Has furniture she can move in
Would love to help make the flat a home
Smart, interesting and able to hold a conversation

Con's
Age difference - I don't mind to much
Occupational Therapist - I don't mind but Emily is one as well and doesn't want to talk 'shop' when she gets home
Recently split up in a four year relationship - emotional instability, may not wish to socialise
Could be a quiet, homely person (we were looking for someone outgoing like us)

Contestant number 2 - JANE - English, 22, Speak and Lingo Therapist

Pro's
Outgoing and easy to talk to
Would like to help make a home
Has friends in the area (ie. nobody dossing on the floor)

Con's
Has a boyfriend
He lives close by
Maybe too young as it's her first job in London

Contestant number 3 - TOBY - Kiwi, 27, Town planner

Toby got a big no straight up from me - Emily said he was pretty laid back. I agreed and went on to say I think he was a little too laid back for my liking.

Contestant number 4 - JAMES - Aussie (Melbourne), 26, Computer programmer

I didn't mind this guy after a while, but Emily gave him a No because of some gut reaction. So I went with the woman's intuition.

Contestant number 5 - ROWAN - Welsh, 25, Chippie (Carpenter)

Pro's
Welsh
Quiet but easy going and soon warmed up
Single

Con's
Might keep to himself
Male
Works contract and could move out in 3 months time

Contestant number 6 - Kelly - English, 24, Account Manager for Lastminute.com

Pro's
Works for Lastminute.com (mates rates)
Enjoys a good laugh and quite bubbly and wants to help do up the flat
Ladette and probably will get along with neighbours easily
Single

Con's
Maybe too talkative and could become annoying
Might be too much of a ladette

You may have guessed who you would have picked. But those pro's and con's are short and when we discussed things we went into much detail about how they answered some of our questions and then all we could do was assume a guess or come up with a reason. There wasn't someone who I thought 'Yes, perfect' which didn't help. When it hit midnight and I realised I've been discussing these people and getting stressed about it, especially when Emily couldn't decide on anyone that she like.

"Right for fuck sake, this is driving me nuts! Em... you know what I'm not thinking about this anymore, knowing we have 3 more people this weekend coming to look. I'm going to say Maria, because she had furniture she could put in here and she had a bread maker!" I said

"But...." Emily replies.

"La La La La..." I said walking out the door with fingers in my ears, up the stairs and into my bed.... and sleep.

Yet we have 3 people (maybe more) this weekend to look at the room and we will probably be going through the same process. Living with people can form the best of future relationship, memorable times which you relive throughout life, food you have never eaten before, a humbling effect on ones self and to see people in there most primal of states. House sharing has been such an experience for me, and I have grown to love it. Coming home from work and knowing that one of the housemates are home, or a friendly neighbour, you both relax and wind down. There are no rules to each others life's - both independent of each other, but both earthed to the one location. So when you do decide to look around for a stranger to move into your house to share your thoughts, laugh, watching boring TV, help out with the cleaning, get things done, get really drunk with and hopefully meet up some day in the future again.

Remember that the hard decisions in life usually come down to a very simple solution.

A bread maker.