Weekly Update - 18 April 2015 - 22 April 2015 ........Walking round like a crazy!

Well what a busy week.

My day starts, every day from Monday to Friday the same. Andy goes to work I get up.  I work from 8.30-2.30 ish applying for jobs!  It is totally soul destroying.  I mean, I know I am fantastic but I have to show everyone else that I am!  I now have eight applications in.  I am only applying for those posts I feel that I would like to do; I am not going to be looking for any old job.  One application this week ended up being 24, yes 24 pages long.  I mean, for goodness sakes.  Then when I mailed it they would not even acknowledge safe receipt of the bloody email - I mean how long does it take to hit the reply to email button.  

So apart from applying for work what else have I done this week. 

Monday was ......... interesting lol.  It was like a scene from Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie. I tell you, you couldn't make it up, it always happens to me.  It is a long and very funny story, as they always are, and I am happy to tell you individually.  However, it ended up with Andy sending messages on my phone whilst I got dressed. All I will say is it ended up with the cowboy hat on my bedroom door lol ;)  

I met up with Karena on Thursday night.  Karena and I go back too many years to mention.  Ironically, it turns out that she is now working in the City and behind the office block that I used to work in when I first left school.  I mean, of all the office blocks in the City.  We met up and went for something to eat and a drink ........................ or three.  It was so lovely.  We just picked up our friendship where we left it off; as simple as that.  

I left Karena to catch her train. I did not envy her that journey home.  The years I did that.  But not for me, I walked home.  I am still walking around with such a stupid bloody smile on my face.  I still cannot believe I am living in London.

I spent Friday, after applying for jobs, cleaning windows and washing nets. Poor Andy!  I did warn him before that I am a typical Virgo!  But the flat is looking rather lovely and above all else certainly feels like home.

Friday night I met up with Ian who used to go to the Meet Up group in Stoke. We had a lovely time.  Chatting and drinking, in my case, far too much wine. Ian passes through London quite a bit so next time we are going to the bar at the Shard.  I have told him he can get the first round in as he earns far more than I ever will; which let's face it isn't hard at the moment due to the fact that I am earning absolutely nothing.

After three rather large glasses of Pinot Grigrio I made my way home and decided that I couldn't be bothered to cook.  I called to the takeaway next door.  The couple who run it are so lovely. Every time I go out they give me a wave and a smile.  They are from Turkey and have loads of relatively healthy ish vegetarian food on their menu.  I slept well Friday night!

So today is Saturday another sunny day.  I walked down to the shopping centre at Elephant and Castle and did a bit of shopping.  Actually, I bought myself some new shoes!  Purple flats.  We have a discounted Clark's shoe shop in the shopping centre, that is not a good thing!

Come home read my book, did some washing.  The one thing I do not like about living in London, and to be honest this is the only thing I have found at the moment, is everything has to go in the tumble dryer, where I am used to hanging washing out!  But hey, I will get used to it.  Eventually, dragged my sorry carcass out of the flat and got a bus up to the Strand and walked to Leicester Square.  It was so lovely sitting outside Costa Coffee in Leicester Square drinking my coffee and reading my book.  There was so much going on, including the very noisy football supporters in the pub next door.  But the sun was shining so who cares.  The main purpose of my trip was to go to the cinema.  I went to see the Second Best Marigold Hotel.  Oh how I want to retire there; that film is so me.  There are so many wonderful lines in that that I can totally relate too.

When I left the cinema it was around 6.45 so I thought, I don't want to go home yet.  So I walked down to Trafalgar Square and sat there for a while, just people watching.  It reminded me of when my brother and I used to come up to London in our school holidays with my Nan.  I had to smile when I saw the children climbing and sitting on the lions at the bottom of Nelson's Column as I can distinctly remember doing this as a child.  Now, I don't think I would ever get up there without the help of scaffolding.

I walked down to the river, over the bridge to the South Bank.  I stood on the bridge with that crazy smile (again) just looking and smiling.  I was looking at the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.  Now I know many of you reading this have never been to London or only have been here once or twice.  I know I am so, so fortunate to be seeing the 'sights' every day.  It was a lovely evening so I decided to walk home.  So I walked along the river just soaking up the sights, atmosphere and sunshine.

I guess that it reminds me of being in Bangkok.  Sunglasses on, iPod in and just walking and walking.  So today I have walked just over six miles. I have increased the number of steps I want to be walking every day on my Fitbit and are hitting that target or even going over it, virtually every day.  Apart from good exercise, it also saves me money!

Another good reason to walk too is Dish of the Day.  Do you remember girls, when I first went travelling to Australia and Hong Kong I bought you the Dish of the Day? Well London is like an all you can eat 24 buffet! Its a smorgasbord of delicious delights. I mean, really!  And beardy men are two a penny lol. There is always so much going on and so much to look at lol!  All needs are catered for: you have the various countries, Italian is my favourite at the moment, Asian, Indian, South American.  I mean, if you wanted too you could have a different nationality every day of the week.  City life is full of little gems every time I leave the flat.

My new shoes are coming along a treat and were a very good investment.  I never leave the flat without them, or my iPod, sunglasses, bag on shoulder and Oyster Card.  I have to also say that everyone has been really lovely.  I mean, I know what us Southerners can be like, but I am spreading my sparkle wherever I go and everyone I have met have been lovely.  I have a new GP, he will never replace my dear GP and friend in Stoke, but he managed to get a normal blood pressure reading which is remarkable but also proof that this move has been good.  I love wandering down to the market at Elephant and Castle.  It reminds me of C wing at Werrington; you can smell the cannabis but can never see who is smoking it.  The African women sit by their stalls selling vegetables that look illegal whilst watching an old TV with a black and white programme on it  I guess it is Nigerian's answer to Corrie.  

I have made contact with the local Buddhist Centre which is a 20 minute walk away and have been attending meetings on a Monday night.  The first week I went I decided I was going to sit on the floor, crossed legged then if I was uncomfortable I would sit on a chair after the break.  There was no break!  I sat there for 90 minutes doing all sorts of yoga poses in the end, whilst wobbling on this bloody cushion.  All I could think was this is just like a scene from Bridget Jones.  Its a good job I had leggings on.  When I went this week Andy asked if I sat on the floor again, I replied that if I had done in the jeans I was wearing he would be coming to collect me from St. Thomas' (the hospital).

I am also getting very good, well I think I am lol, on the Xbox.  We have a bit TV in the lounge and Andy likes gaming.  I mean, me gaming lol.  However, over the months of visiting and since moving in we have slowly and painfully in my case, worked our way through the game lol.  We play Batman Lego for 7 year olds!  He is Batman (of course) I am the sidekick Robin and I am very good at beating people up!  It is so funny.  He really is very patient with me bless him but it is fun.  I guess that is what I have missed - fun!  It is nice to have someone to speak too as well as spending time on my own.  It is a good balance.  I did say to him last night that I should during the day not be looking for jobs but skilling up on the Xbox then I can whip is ass ........... nah that is no going to happen I don't even know how to switch it on.

So it is now Wednesday again.  I went on a Meet Up last night.  It was a walk from ironically from where I used to work in London - Temple; up to Russell Square.  It was OK a good walk.  One good thing about living in Central London is the transport, it is ace.  All I had to do after the drink after the walk, was to walk across the road and get on a bus that stopped right outside the flat!

Well I better stop typing this and watching the men go by from my prime window seat.  I have my first interview tomorrow, so back to the revision.  I am not stressing about it.  I want the job it would be absolutely great for so many reasons, but I will let the Universe decide if this is the position for me; it hasn't let me down yet.

OK a couple of photos - The first is the Lloyd's building and the next is my first attempt of cooking Thai food.  All the ingredients I was able to buy by just walking up the road!

Sneaky coffee after being to the local library.  It is good to be reading again!

Enjoy the sunshine.

Much love x

Friday Meet Up, Brixton and sunny days!

Well what a fantastic response to my first posting and thank you to all of you who took the time to reply or to keep in touch with me.  I must say at this point, the whole point of this blog is for me to keep a record of my time in London; my thoughts, experiences and anything else I want to throw in the pot.However, you too have to do your bit.  If, you just decide to read my blog to be bloody nosy, without any intention of keeping in touch with me then I will restrict your access.  Now you may think I am being mean, but let's roll the tape back a bit shall we.

When I moved into Rose Cottage I was so happy.  It was far away from Stoke but near enough if I needed it.  I know you all have your own families, friends, work etc but I guess naively I thought that maybe, just maybe, now and then one or two of you would have called over one night for dinner, or pop in for a cuppa.  It never happened.  Like I say, I know we are all busy, busy people but I never saw a soul and when Andy moved to London last April, it bought it home to me how alone I was.  I have no family (well my Aunt who lives in Kent).  People invited me to go and see them and I know many of you would just expect me to call over.  But that was the problem; going into any part of the City was a problem for me; I was continually looking over my shoulder - sad but true.  Even my little Meet Up group I attended then had someone who I believe join who worked with JF (Jelly Fish) so I did not feel comfortable attending those events.  I don't mind being on my own, I mean I get on a plane and go around the world on my own lol; but feeling that you cannot go out, that is another thing.  So that is one of the main reasons I am here.  I go to Bangkok and I come alive; I am on my own but I get things done.  In fact, when I returned to Bangkok this year I met people again there where there were people in Stoke I hadn't seen within that year.  Hopefully, London will treat me the same way and it will let me be alive.  So please keep in touch. Don't let me be the one who has to ring or mail first all the time.  Communication is a two way street. Drop me an email tell me about what you have been up too - this blog has to be a two-way thing or it is not going to work.

OK rant over, but you know me I would rather be honest.  So yesterday I went to Brixton on the bus ........... how exciting was that.  OMG Brixton is amazing.  It is so full of life, culture, food and amazing people.   The sun was shining and the music was playing.  There were loads of markets stalls selling the most colourful and interesting stuff imaginable.  Karen's bargain of the day: a bowl, yes bowl, of fennel for a pound lol.  I did ask the very southern guy if he would split the bowl for half fennel half parsnips and he said he couldn't which is fine I said don't worry I will cook with them.  Then he threw a couple of parsnips in the bag anyway and said 'There you go darling' lol.  It is just so nice being 'home'.

I got back to the flat around five and did nothing all evening, caught up on some TV.  The flat is beginning to feel like home now.  Both Andy and I have been 'ill' since we moved.  He has put it down to 'Freshers Flu' and I think he is right.  But hey ho just get on with it.  I forgot to mention that on Friday night I went to my first Meet Up in London.  It was just off Trafalgar Square and it was a Reiki share.  I thought it was just what I needed.  It certainly was.  It really was a peaceful and relaxing evening.  Afterwards, a few were going for a coffee but to be perfectly honest I was exhausted (it has been a long, long week both physically and emotionally).  So I walked along the Strand, as I did many, many years ago when I first left school and worked in London.  The city comes alive at night in a different way.  I really must stop walking around with a stupid smile on my face lol. But I still really cannot believe that this is now my home.  Andy told me to put an app on my phone called City Mapper and it gives you routes on how to get places.  It is great.  So it told me where and what bus I needed, how long it was until the next one come along and how much it cost.  How cool is that?  

I walked up to Somerset House and caught the bus.  Over Waterloo Bridge and I could see the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.  It is so ironic as when I used to work in London, this was my backdrop every day and here, cough, a few years, cough, later, cough, it is once again the backdrop to my life.  I really have gone round in a huge circle.  I have joined a couple of Meet Up groups since arriving and will endeavour to tap into them as much as I can.

I have spent this morning (Sunday) surfing for jobs and there are half a dozen I like the look of - but I know something will come along. Job application filling in tomorrow then I am off to the Buddhist Centre tomorrow evening.  So it is all, slowly coming together, but I have had a word with myself and told myself that I have to give it time and that I can't do everything at once; it still is early days.  But I really could do with wining the lottery lol.

Be happy!

New Adventures .......... Honey, I'm home!

Week One - Wetley Rocks to London

Well here it is, by popular demand a blog of my time in London.  So where shall I start?  I guess the big move ........

Well Good Friday arrived and it took us only an hour to load up the van, in the torrential rain, that should have been an omen.  All we had to do was put my mattress in last, on the top of all my other worldly goods.  I tell you, the Thais have the right thing; just take with you through life what you can carry and nothing else.  Then we tried to lock the said van and the bloody thing would not lock.  So there are all my memories, valuables and life in a van that will not lock.  Now those of you who know Wetley Rocks will know that it is probably going to be safe, however that is not the  point is it.  So what did we do? We decided to go, there and then to London a day earlier.  

Firstly we had to put the mattress in the van.  Now Andy, love him, can not be described as lofty and I am rather stumpy to say the least.  So there we are, out side, in the rain, with a king size mattress trying to lift it into the bloody van that still is not locking.  At one point I had the bloody thing balanced on my head.  Then it happened ....... I dropped it.  Not only did I drop it but I dropped it into a muddy puddle ................... of course I did.  So needless to say the mattress is still in Wetley Rocks waiting to be disposed of.  The council wanted to charge me £35 to get rid of the damn thing.  Any of you who think it expensive down south take note.  It cost me £17.50 here to get rid of this mattress and I now have a brand new mattress that I am slowly getting used too.

So we were off; a day earlier.  I put my iPod on and sobbed and sobbed.  It was my own faulty.  I made a playlist of songs that mean something to me and hit the shuffle button and that was it.  Andy (Thelma) drove like his life depended on it; and I (Louise) sobbed and sobbed.  By the time we got to Uttoxeter I had a word with myself and was ok.  So there we were, bombing down the M1, me clutching my beautiful lamp and Andy driving like a true trucker.

We made good time and the final 10 miles took over an hour .................. welcome to London! But it did not matter, I was on my way. Stephen (Fry) the SatNav took as into London a very stupid way, I was so disappointed with him, he is normally very good.  However, we went over Westminster Bridge, pass Big Ben and then we were soon at the flat.

It was still raining and Andy had rung/texted a few of his friends to see if they could come and help us move too many boxes and still too much stuff, up the three, yes three, flights of stairs to the flat. Do you know, it never ceases to amaze me how kind people can be.  Three of his friends, plus one of their friends, turned up to help.  People who I have never ever met before, but by the time we had moved in, I felt like I had known them forever.  I was just so thankful for their kindness.

So the best part of the Easter weekend was consumed by Andy and I playing Jenga.  As many of you know, over the past four years I have gone from a four bedroom detached house, to a two bedroom cottage and now to either, depending who I am talking too, a two bedroom penthouse apartment or a two bedroom third floor flat ............... you can decide.  And still I have too much stuff and too much alcohol!

The boxes we emptied, the furniture we moved around you wouldn't believe it.  We were both dreading sorting out the kitchen.  We both like to cook but I mean do we really need 40 knives, ten frying pans, two microwaves, two kettles etc.  But we sorted it out, as we always do, we both compromised and I am please to say that we now have such a beautiful flat. Some of his friends have been round since and it filled my heart with joy when I heard them say that it was so lovely and homely now.  My room is my room and Andy's room is his room.  But the rest we share and rub along and it feels good, it feels real good.

Sunday we went out to lunch (a late one) to the Vauxhall Gardens which is a wonderful place:  http://www.teahousetheatre.co.uk so me and I would love to work there, well actually I would like to own it.  Whilst we were munching away a guy come up to me, asking if he could have the spare chair.  When I looked up to say sure, it was Roy from Corrie lol.  So funny.  After lunch, Andy went his way and I went mine.  We have both said that we will do things together but we need to have our own lives too.

It was a beautiful afternoon and I walked from Vauxhall Bridge along the Thames to London Bridge.  I could not stop smiling and I am not ashamed to admit it, I had to pinch myself several times (and have done since) to think that this is now my home.  Once at London Bridge I popped into the chapel at Guy's Hospital.  Some of you may know that this place is very dear to my heart.  My dear old Dad passed away at Guy's hospital (and this now my local hospital - crazy) and I used to sit for hours in the chapel when he was poorly.  So I went again to light a candle for him: one from me and one from my Auntie Pat (his sister).  Then I walked home.

So what else is new.  City life is COMPLETELY different.   I did not realise how homesick I must have been.  Every guy sounds like my Dad lol.  I have been called darling so many times and not a duck in sight.  I got so excited when I went to the take away next door as there was rock and chips on the menu.  I have not seen rock on the menu in a chip shop for 24 years lol (Rock is a catfish type of fish, quite strong in taste but really lovely).  I asked the guy if he had gravy and peas and guess what?  Nope!  Welcome home.  Anyway I had a chat with him and his wife and every time I walk by now he waves ....... see spreading my sparkle :)  Everyone is really chatty and I just love the diversity of it all.  I can walk across the road and go through about ten different countries just by walking the path: Bolivian food, Chinese, Italian, American, Tesco lol it is crazy.  I am sitting at the table typing this and my view is of the Shard.  I will never get tired at looking at that magnificent building. 

Today I have registered with a Doctor's surgery, that was so far removed from the very white, mainly middle class surgery at Baddeley Green.  I am now in a multi cultural practice in Central London lol.  I have half registered with a Dentist and Lynette the receptionist there was a scream.  I stood chatting to her for ages. I went to Borough Market to get some delicious mushroom pate and ended up talking to a guy called Liam (he was selling bags and I forgot to take mine) about the decline of the third sector.  He told me to keep shining my light lol.  Dad, if you can hear me, that little light I have over my head is shining bright at the moment.  I am meeting them all :)

So there will be pictures, when I have figured out how to transfer them from my iPhone to my laptop, so apologies for that.  So what are my observations about City living?  Well in no particular order, here we are:

• Being a vegetarian is really not a problem at all.  Everywhere carters for a vegetarian.  The little take away downstairs has over ten vegetarian dishes. I cannot tell you what a refreshing change this makes when you ask/order vegetarian and no one looks at you as if you have just dropped in from outer space!
• Everyone walks around with two bags of shopping.  There are no more nipping to the supermarket; I don't have car.  You see people carrying just two bags of shopping at time.  Also, some of the smaller supermarkets only have very small car parks - there is no point.  Not everyone drives in the City.
• You can walk half a mile and hear 25 different languages; see food for sale that you have no idea what it is or what the hell you would do with it lol.
• You walk everywhere.  So I now have a snazzy pair of black trainers.  I could have done with one of the lads at Werrington to advice me in the trainer shop; I didn't have a clue.  When I was at WR my FitBit was set to 5000 steps a day.  It is now 16:00 and it reads 10223 already!  Walking and coupled with coming up three flights of stairs means I better loose some bloody weight.  I mean I can only carry two bags of food at a time lol.
• Work will get in the way of having a good time!  Even more so here!
• I still have too much 'stuff'!  I mean, what the hell do we buy it all for.  So think next time before you go and buy something ........ do you really, really want/need it?
• The 48 stairs to and from the flat will, eventually, become my friends!
• A plane goes over the flat every 30 seconds.  Why and where is everyone going? So many people up in the air at anyone time - crazy!
• Living in London as as far remove from living in WR as you could ever get.  I have spoken to more people in a week here, than I ever saw/spoke to when I was living on my own at WR in a year!  I am being serious.  So many interesting people.
• No one has called me duck - I'm back to being called darling :)
• You can get around ten different varieties of tofu - I mean tofu!  I have seen more papayas here than I have ever seen lol even in Bangkok.
• I have a local Buddhist centre about a 15 minute walk.  It is lovely there and I will certainly be using it.
• I will need my neck put in a brace before long.  It is swerving left to right all the bloody time.  Far, far, far too many gorgeous men to look and smile at .................. and quite a few smile back ;)
• The city never sleeps.  There are police/ambulance sirens going off all the time.  Buses come every 2 minutes (bit like the gorgeous men lol).  The traffic is relentless and I just love it.  The city is alive; it makes me feel alive.
• You see bikes stored on balconies.

I feel free.  I have not once looked over my shoulder and I cannot tell you how great that alone feels.

So this is the first posting.  I will post regularly. Sorry there are no pictures yet, I will figure it out.  I still have to smile and pinch myself to believe that me, yes me, are living in Central London.  But I have learnt that I need to be around people.  The City fuels me and gives me life and that is something that apart from when I am travelling, I have been lacking.  So essential for going out in London:

Good trainers/walking shoes
A bag for shopping/stuff
iPod - everyone is listening to something 
Phone - everyone is looking at one
Sunglasses (got to look cool lol)
Oyster Card

So tonight is my first Meet Up. So I will probably get the bus there (you see more) and get the tube back.  It is to meet others and to receive some Reiki healing ........ I feel like I could do with some.

OK my friends.  Well I hope you like this first post of what will be many. However, it is still nice to hear from people.  I do miss my chats with many of you, so please, please call me sometime - I can always call you back.

So let's go and spread some sparkle ..............................

Much love.

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