Month Two in London or I want my mum and accidental gay bars…

Is it a bad sign that after two months in London I don’t recognise Australian accents anymore? Admittedly on the day I couldn’t hear out of one my ears and I’m sticking to that as my excuse!

Some days I feel like I have settled in completely and am living my routine little life and other days I still feel like tourist in the big city. I get frustrated at not knowing where places are and their relative distance and I think I’m developing an unhealthy relationship with streetmap.co.uk and Google map.

Not as many exiting things have happened this month or I’m getting more used to being here. Last weekend I went to Westminster Abbey for the first time. Impressive grave markers included, Churchill, Dylan Thomas, D.H. Laurence, Darwin and the unknown warrior. I thought it was a weird place to visit as a tourist as they seem to have made little effort for the throngs of tourists that go through (I do realise it’s still a working church). I’ve been to Oxford Street quite a few times shopping and it’s enough to stretch your love of other humans. Marylebone High Street has some nice shops and a good café run by Kiwi’s that serves vegemite toast if you’re so inclined. I’ve actually been doing quite a bit of internet shopping as most of the time it’s just easier to shop that way.

I’ve been to Camden markets and Spittalfield markets. Spittalfield definitely wins out of those 2. Especially the fantastic vegetarian, goats cheese pie.

I’ve had my first run in with the National Health System. I needed to see a doctor (nothing dire, just a blocked ear but made me desperately want for some the sympathy only mum can provide) and don’t have an NI number yet which means you can’t visit a government doctor (private doctors hear cost the earth). Many, many phone calls later I end up going to a walk-in clinic in Soho, who couldn’t help but recommended a private clinic near by that specialises in ears. I had an hour to kill so stopped off for a coffee. I now know that Soho has a significant gay population and coffee shop I was in doubles as a gay bar! Long story short, I got my ear sorted and even was treated by an Australian, from Brisbane.

Next round of trips is Sweden in May and Greece in June. P&T will be here for a week in June which will be fantastic – I can’t wait to see them.

I miss you all so very much. I caught up with Isaac last night and went to see Liam O’Neill’s band play which bought back so many memories of home and many a party memory was shared. Everyone should visit Europe in 2007 I think.

Today I went to my first Ashtanga class since being in London on the basis that I should be a little in practice before I go on a week long yoga retreat! Alison, Darren, Kempy & I went to a fantastic gastro pub tonight called ‘The House” which served the most delicious Sheppherd’s pie I have ever eaten and then went to a pub and played pool – all in all a great evening.