I landed in London on Dec 27, at 3:30pm to a gloomy sun setting and the dreads of Heathrow Airport. BUT!! Heathrow was fine, walked a mile I am sure to get to immigration, zipped through, got my bag after about 30 mins of waiting and flew through customs, which was so small, nothing like Australia. Photo - Vic and Police Officer Chris.
Then off I went to find Tracey and Megan ... to Paddington Station I travelled. My first tube ride was very packed, but I met some lovely people who told me the right tube to change over to and what line I should be on. Great, then I walked out of Paddington turned to the left looking for my hotel. Pack on my back walking along, asking people ... am I going the right way to West Kensington Rd ... sorry love, dunno, was most of the answers I got. Got the the Hilton Hotel and thought I better ask, lucky I did, I had just walked 10 mins in the wrong direction. BUGGER. But, I walked back up and found our hotel. Met up with Tracey and Megan and went to dinner, Italian - very nice after a long flight. Then bed by 9pm. Photo - Big Ben and Red Phone Box.The next couple of days were spent sightseeing around London, went to Harrods and had tea and scones, saw Big Ben, Natural History Museum, National Protrait Gallery, Buckingham Palace, St James Park, Constitution Hill, Trafalgar Square, London Eye (yet to go on), Visited the River Thames (such a strong current), 10 Downing Street - PM's House, Tower of London (so a must, but give yourself a day - I was there for 4 hours), Tower of London Bridge, seen Parliament House and the outside of West Minster Abbey. Now the thing that I didn't realise and what people who have never been here as well, is that, all of these places are within 10 minutes walk of eachother and it really quite convenient to look around.
Somewhere on one of these days I went to Camden and went to the markets there. Which are really quite interesting, sardines in a tin have more room. At this place you see the type of people that the movies show of londoners, the people in full black clothing with piercings everywhere, spiked hair which is half their height agian. But still an interesting place, here I picked up my Paddington Bear Coat and my train driver hat, which is what you will see me dressed in, in most of my photos.
Also inbetween this time I was out looking at flats to stay, some were so small that if you tried to park a Mini Minor in them you would scratch the paint. Others were just dank and depressing. So I didn't have a place to live when we were to leave the hotel, so Tracey and Megan let me doss (Brittish term for sleeping on the couch) at their place until I found a place.
January 3 I started work at Overton Grange at school in Sutton.
Which meant that from Tracey and Megan's house it was a 2hour commute from the time I walked out the door. Really need to find a place and fast! 2 days later I went to a house in Clapham Junction where 2 Kiwis Girls and 1 Greek Guy live and they had a small room for rent. It was what I wanted and in an area that was a good easy commute to work - 20 mins in fact! Wahhoooo! Though had to wait a week for it, so I had one more week of 5 am mornings and then I moved. Photo - Entrance to St James's Park.
During this week I went and caught up with Simon from Rovers in Townsville on the monday, where he introduced me to his sister and a few of their friends. Where once again I was confused of for being a man, so Townsville Rovers your memory lives on. Then went to dinner with these guys on Thursday night - Indian at Victoria Station, very nice.
Which brings us to last weekend, where I had taught for a full week, and it was time to move Saturday we spent doing our washing again, as Tracey and Megans machine was still not repaired. And then went to go to the Russian New Years Festival in Trafalgar Square, but it was super busy and wasn't what we expected. So instead we caught the bus to Regent Street and went shopping, I picked up some more trousers etc for work, but I don't fit them any more. So will have to go back there this weekend. Then on the Sunday I moved into Clapham Junction.
Have spent a week there so far, have had some lovely chats with the people I am living with and its nice to have a bed. Picked up a bargin for my sheets, duvet cover (doona) and towels £28. Cool. Haven't done much during the nights this week, been busy at school with reports and such. Tonight I am going for drinks tonight and then off to Oxford for the tourist thing again. Should be great, well I have written a novel, but its a couple of weeks worth, so it is worth it for memories for me at least. Sunday well sunday I will go with the flow. Photo - White Tower in London Tower.
During this week I went and caught up with Simon from Rovers in Townsville on the monday, where he introduced me to his sister and a few of their friends. Where once again I was confused of for being a man, so Townsville Rovers your memory lives on. Then went to dinner with these guys on Thursday night - Indian at Victoria Station, very nice.
Which brings us to last weekend, where I had taught for a full week, and it was time to move Saturday we spent doing our washing again, as Tracey and Megans machine was still not repaired. And then went to go to the Russian New Years Festival in Trafalgar Square, but it was super busy and wasn't what we expected. So instead we caught the bus to Regent Street and went shopping, I picked up some more trousers etc for work, but I don't fit them any more. So will have to go back there this weekend. Then on the Sunday I moved into Clapham Junction.
Have spent a week there so far, have had some lovely chats with the people I am living with and its nice to have a bed. Picked up a bargin for my sheets, duvet cover (doona) and towels £28. Cool. Haven't done much during the nights this week, been busy at school with reports and such. Tonight I am going for drinks tonight and then off to Oxford for the tourist thing again. Should be great, well I have written a novel, but its a couple of weeks worth, so it is worth it for memories for me at least. Sunday well sunday I will go with the flow. Photo - White Tower in London Tower.
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