Waterloo Sunsets

Second week down! 

Time is truly flying in London. Already i'm getting the hang of this commute, and beginning to see different places in London.

I decided to go to a running club this week, and picked the Nike shop in Covent Garden. I had hoped it would be a fairly sedate affair, but instead it was how iimagine a zombie apocalypse would be played out; ducking and diving commuters and tourists in a frenzied attempt not to lose sight of the Nike pacer, especially as I didn't know which bridges we were looking out for! 

We saw some lovely sights though, including the Savoy hotel and the really cool Milennium bridge:

I walked back over it a day or two later so I could really take it in, the architecture is really nice. 

This week I also went on a sunny stroll along the Southbank. It's a real liquorice allsorts type place; fancy wine bars next to chicken shops and a skatepark/graffiti area; all set against the backdrop of an art space. Very cool though, it feels quite European:

In other exciting news, i'm officially London now, as I got me one of these:

This is the key to getting anywhere in "the City". Its basically a plastic travelcard that you just have to tap on buses and tubes. I don't know how it *actually* works, but i like to think it's special magic. Special London magic! 

Last weekend I had a lovely surprise too, as my old friend Claire came to visit me in Kingston. It's only a walk away from where I am, so I strolled down and we enjoyed a great day of gossiping and shopping in equal measure. She even treated me to a birthday lunch, in an awesome fifties diner where I had the closest thing to a SpongeBob Squarepants Krabby Patty you'll ever see! 

Isn't it amazing?! So delicious. I hope I get to go back there one day! 

It was a good haul for me; I spent the gift card I got when I left my old job on a flamingo print dress. Then I carried on the theme by buying some work pumps with flamingos too! 

I definitely feel a summer theme coming on. 

As i've been home alone for a bit, on Easter Friday I decided to go and be among people for a while. I'm staying with friends temporarily, so need to start scouting out areas for me to live in. I decided to check out Clapham. It was recommended to me a few times and was fairly close.

Finding places to live in London is harder than it sounds! You need to factor in location, proximity to work (ie how long will your commute be) and then what method of transport you want to use for work (car, bike, bus, feet, tube, train etc). Then how close to a station/stop you will be, before finally looking at things in the vicinity and then room, housemates etc. not forgetting budget! Essentially, good bloody luck. I figure you write down what you want, then cross these out and write what you NEED, and then prioritise from there. If you can get half you are probably doing alright.

Anyway, so i had a little stroll around. I actually quite liked it, although the Common (patch of grass) which gets raved about in Clapham, is basically just that. A patch of grass. However, with not many people having gardens, or any greenery whatsoever, in London, it is quite a big deal. 

Coming from somewhere where parks are fairly bog standard, I can't believe this  is so fantastic; however I definitely need green spaces and fresh air wherever I go, so Clapham is definitely an option. It also scored bonus points for having a Waitrose, a place which sold veggie sandwiches, and a shop full of fruit-printed dresses. 

Watch this space for more Locationwatch reports over the coming weeks as I also have Wimbledon, Putney, Islington and Ealing in my sights. 

:) 

London, calling

Today marks the end of my first working week in London. 

Hooray, I made it! 

On the first day I walked across Waterloo bridge to work and my goodness, the view of London from the river is really something. All the places I thought were so spread out when you visit by tube are actually all just next to each other, hanging out. 

This was one of the pics I got on my first day: 

I've been lucky to have mostly sunny days too, although it has been quite blowy at times. 

The first week at the new job has been very daunting, to say the least. So much to read, learn and be inducted on, and there is a big culture difference between new and old workplaces. But London itself is more than making up for that. 

Apart from a first day "what have I done?!" which almost gave me a panic attack crossing back over the aforementioned bridge, the rest of the time I have just been walking and looking around.

I feel like such a tourist, but i've never really explored London before, so i want to make the most of it now. I've indulged a little and bought an item of food each day this week; from falafel to wraps to a burger and a frozen custard dessert:

 

From a place called Shake Shack in the main piazza of Covent Garden (and it was worth every penny!) 

So far I have seen lots and lots of touristy bits, even just in the first 4 days, including: 

- Big Ben (probably my favourite because it's so shiny!)

- Houses of Parliament

- Downing Street

- The Cenotaph

- Nelson's Column

- The famous "fourth plinth" (currently home to a giant blue cockerel!)

- The Savoy Hotel

- The London Eye

And hopefully i'll see many more as the weeks go by. 

I've also learnt a few things from my first week as a London fresher, these are:

No-one else talks on the bus

Every single street is crowded ALL THE TIME

Everywhere seems to sell food (and lots of veggie choices too, hooray)

If you want to use transport you need an oyster card

Walking is usually quicker, most of the time.

I still feel very "new" here and I want to make the most of it, before It turns me into a people-and-life hating commuter; so I will be getting snap-happy over the next few weeks and trying to check out as much as i can. 

Wish me luck! 

Xx

Pack it up, pack it in

Let me begin! 

Just kidding. 

After a lovely break away in the Alps for some snowboarding fun times, I had to come back and face reality. Reality has involved packing my room up, saying goodbye to everyone (cue lots of meals out) and one final boozy night in Reading. 

I was very lucky to have a fab leaving do at work, and will miss them all a lot. I was given a "leaving London" kit from them; complete with hand gel, bubble bath and emergency wine :D

I then had to do the final house clear. Unfortunately this was the morning after the boozy leaving party the night before. The mothership was on hand for packing assistance and transport across to the new pad.

Before leaving I did take a couple of photos of my (now not mine!) room: 

Poor barren room! 

We then had a hangover-busting time moving all of my belongings out of the car and up the stairs into my new pad, lovingly loaned on a temporary basis by some very lovely friends of mine.

After a long evening, i managed to end up with this: 

Ta-da! 

Next stop is the First Day at the job, and first day being Tiny Fish in the Big Pond. Wish me luck!