Life in London

Over the weekend, it dawned on me that I was actually going to be living and working in London! I moved into my new flat in Manor House on Saturday after helping Hilary heave her stuff into a storage van, as she's moving in August and house-sitting til then. Of course I only had my backpack, so it was a good excuse to call Clare and take the short hop on the bus to go and visit her and collect the stuff I'd left with her, then go shopping for a few home comforts- duvet cover, sheets, mirror. We were so happy, we've never lived closer apart from Salmond Hall and Harbour Tce. Just 10min bus to the library or cinema, a further 10min walk to Clare's. We are on the Picadilly Line, which means being able to go to central London easily.

It's been a high school dream of ours to go and work and live in a European city when we were 'grown up'. Don't know about the growing up bit, but we did have a squeal when we both twigged it was for real!

I am adjusting to London life and I think, even starting to look more like a Londoner. Things I have learnt:

1. Pashminas are popular for good reason here. The weather is changeable, pashminas are easily stowed and you can wear them in different ways.
2. How to use a gas oven and stovetop. I am scared of the ones you have to ignite manually, luckily the one at home is Char-friendly.
3. Fruit and vege from the Turkish grocer actually smells and tastes more like fruit and vege than what you buy from the supermarket.
4. Always, always carry an umbrella.
5. Wear layers. The Tube is hot.
6. Woolworths here is not a supermarket. It is more like Kmart/Walmart.
7. How to use a London A-Z

I am really enjoying the area where I live, which is on a main street. Just minutes from a choice of one big supermarket and two little ones, lots of fruit and vege shops, and a shopping centre with a HomeBase (like Mitre 10), First Fitness Gym, steps away from Pizza Hut and kebab shops, and my favourite the China City NOODLE BAR. Clare and I tested them on Saturday. I don't know yet if they do Combination Gravy Ho Fun but after a month of Italian and French food, they are my heroes!!!

The neighbourhood is almost as friendly as NZ. I was buying some adhesive hooks from HomeBase and the lady went into a long chat about her 18 year old's birthday party the last night. And the first time I came to the flat, I twisted my ankle and fell on a cobblestone in front of the bus door, a man helped me up and wanted to help me safely off the bus too!

Very lucky to have cool flatmates, too. Alix is from Paris, she has the most amazing collection of DVDs, and the same taste as me. Olga from Latvia, eager to learn cook and has an imposing collection of cookbooks including How to be a Domestic Goddess. They are both laid-back and lovely girls, so definitely next time Clare you can stay for spag bol (they asked after you and why you weren't staying for dinner, I felt silly)!

Going to try organise my change of address and also find a GP to register with today, and pick up some Asian groceries from Piccadilly Circus. Friday, have my training day in Ilford and hopefully from 13th July I am work ready!