Month Twelve in London or The Year I Wore A Coat Almost Every Day

This post is late as usual and my 1 year anniversary come and went over a week ago. The 12 months has gone by both at lightening speed and snails pace. This post will probably be a mishmash of stories because that's how i feel about moving here. There are been some really great parts and some pretty ordinary ones.

So here are 12 things I've learned:

1. It's not as hard as I though it was going to be. For me, when I had made the decision to move it felt like it was a huge irreversible decision but it's not - if you really hate it you get on a plane and go elsewhere or go home. That being said, I've obviously blocked those incredibly stressful weeks looking for a place to live.

2. Life doesn't change as much as you think it will - i might think differently about this when I get there but right now, even when big changes are going on (people getting married, moving away) it doesn't feel like it will be that different.

3. I don't know if i could do it knowing i couldn't go home - a lot of people i've met tell me I'm brave to have packed up and come over solo but I could only do it knowing i can go home. I don't know how people can move knowing they can't ever go home.

4. I've changed. Overall not a lot, but significantly in other respects (my mouth still works faster than my brain). I'm so much more relaxed - being here with no ties is like having an extended adolescence. For me, there are few people I owe my time to here. And I can sleep places, and use bathrooms that I never thought possible! The most shining example of this (and I'm told there are people who still don't believe this story) is when red wine was spilt on my laptop and I didn't loose it...not even a little.

5. There is so much more to see here - one of the places i've been dying to go to and haven't done yet is Germany - I'm good at planning week long trips but need to do more weekends in Europe. Even with all the countries I went to last year there are so many more I want to go to. I'm also starting to think Canada is definitely on the cards and that I will do six months in South America on my (eventual) way home.

6. People visiting you here is awesome. Seeing P&T, C&H, J&K, J&G (while they were here) and G was brilliant

7. I'm a better traveller than I thought I would be. I haven't previously been known as a good traveller - too many years of forced camping as a child - and I do like my creature comforts. I have stayed in placed and used bathrooms I never thought I would. A and I drove circles around the same French town 12 times looking for our hotel and I didn't lose my temper.

8. I hate shopping (both grocery and all other kinds) in London. Grocery shopping is always a pain here and every week I end up drudging down our street with heavy bags every week. I never thought I would miss shopping centres or Brisbane mall but I do. Apart from Oxford Street or shopping centres over an hour away on the train there a few centres of shops grouped together. Oxford Street is a nightmare no resident should have to endure. So I've embraced internet shopping in a big way.

9. Visa's are always a pain.

10. I love train travel and hate plane travel. Travelling to and from Scotland on the train is some of the best travelling i have ever done.

11. I don't make friends easily. 12 months in and I don't think i have any English friends.

12. I don't miss Brisbane. I miss my family, friends, my favourite restaurants but I don't miss Brisbane itself. I don't care what anyone says - the weather here is great. The only time I'm sweaty is at the gym.

So there you have it. The first 12 months are done. Visa pending, bring on the next 12.