Lib no longer in London

This will be the last post for Lib in London - at least for a while.

After 4 months I still haven't heard about the visa so a couple of weeks ago I went back to London, packed up my stuff and moved back to Australia.

We'll see what happens from here. I'd love to go back in about 12 months but it will depend on where and what sort of job I get.

Lib in Brisbane

Lib not in London

So I've been in Australia exactly 2 months tomorrow and I'm still waiting on my visa. Frustrating doesn't really cover it - I'm stuck in this weird limbo of it being nice to be home and seeing everyone to feeling like I'm missing out on my life in London. I've missed the start of summer, I'm missing friends leave who've helped me get through my first year, I have 1 flatmate I've never met and it will soon be 2.

I could handle the waiting if I knew the outcome was assured, but to wait all this time when there's every chance the visa won't come through seems like some sort of bizarre torture.
I feel like I'm waiting for my year 12 results - everyday I check the letterbox hoping for a big envelope and everyday I'm a little crushed when it's not there.

I really didn't realise how much I've started to love my life there until I couldn't live it anymore. All the things that I've found hard, such as not having close friends there, have become almost part of my life there and it's changed me more than I thought. I'm more independent in the sense that I'll just go an do it myself if I can't find anyone to go with me and I am far more relaxed (I think everyone I know will attest to this!).

Life here feels much the same but has changed enormously in other respects. The wedding I came home for was the first marriage of my closest girlfriends from school. Two friends have moved to Melbourne which helped cement it as my Plan B city if London doesn't work out. I looked into Ireland but the visa there is almost harder to get and more expensive! Without sounding too cliched you never really do get to come back to things the way they were before anyway, which actually makes it easier for me to head back over. Everyone else is out living their lives so I'm not going to sit out wishing things didn't change or that someone would come to London with me.

Unfortunately, I'm stuck waiting for postman like I did 10 years ago to decide what I'm going to do with my life.

Sweden (Again...) 20th March - 24th March

I'm not sure why I never got around to posting this blog - I'm sure I was going to write something profound instead of my usual went here, did this. This was the last trip I did before I came home.


One of the really nice things about returning to Sweden this Easter is it felt like a tradition was being started as this was the first trip I took when I arrived in London.

The weather was at least different from my last few visits in that it didn't rain all the time.

The was the temperature when I got there...



And this was the temperature two days later when we decided to go to Copenhagen for the day (my first time outside the airport!)



C & I in Copenhagen in the snow.


Copenhagen in the snow


C


Outside the castle

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.

Month Eleven in London

I'm behind as usual in my monthly update and any other writing seems to have fallen by the wayside.

Having returned to London after all the fun of the Scotland trip it was pretty much back to the grind.

I finished up my job contract with a firm but managed to secure another one with the same firm but in a different department until I go home at the end of March.

I've been loving my new job and it's a really good step in the right direction career wise.

I've started back at the gym and am doing yoga again which is great. The gym is only down the road from home and the yoga school is halfway between work and home so I really have no excuses!

From all the stories i had heard from people about the winter hear, when the days started to get very short and the sun was set by 4.30 I was all ready to bunker down for a few months. It's been nothing like that! The days are getting longer very quickly and although it did rain alot in January it certainly makes you appreciate when the sun comes out!

It's not long until I go home for my visit now but visa pending I'm definitely coming back!

Month Ten in London

What a lovely month this was. The visit to Scotland was so much fun – I had an absolute ball. New Year’s at George’s Square was good fun and seeing The View definitely a highlight. They few days after New Year’s were pretty quiet, especially New Year’s day when nothing open in Glasgow and we had a unforgettable meal at TGI Fridays (I don’t recommend it).

The JW and I headed off on our road trip to the coast. The first day we went north to Stirling and stopped off briefly to have a look around the town. We then headed down to Edinburgh for the night. The next morning we were up bright and early and off to Kinross, then Perth and then St Andrew’s. It snowed the whole day and JW did a magnificent job driving in the snow at night. St Andrew’s is very beautiful and I recommend a visit if you get a chance – even if the wind is blowing a gale. We then headed back to Edinburgh for dinner with C, K & K at First Coast (the same place I went every night I was there with G). There had been some miscommunication and H really wanted to try haggis and had thought that First Coast served it. There was a Sizzling Scotsman next however and they very kindly agreed to serve us haggis even though we weren’t eating in there restaurant. We all had a taste and I have to say it’s delicious. Up early again the next morning for a quick trip to Lake Lochloman before heading back to Glasgow.

A great night at R’s with some steak pie and then a night K will never forget due to the dulcet tones of J & I snoring our heads off. Breakfast at R’s café the next morning and then onto the train – so hard to say goodbye to J – he’d been here for just long enough for me to forget he was going home. Back to London and back to work although I did book my tickets home this week which is a bright spot on London’s very rainy landscape.

Scotland 23rd December - 5th January

I’ve been in Scotland a week now and am having a great time with J&K. I got the train up from London and have decided train travel is for me – especially as I had first class tickets. They have power points on board so I plugged the laptop in and kept myself amused.

I stayed with J&K at J’s Dad’s place for a couple of days and celebrated Christmas. On Christmas eve it was up to the very busy local at which I got to play pool for a few hours with the local boys which was fantastic.

Christmas morning was a glorious day – no snow unfortunately but a beautiful sunny day and a lovely frost. Kilmore’s (the village which we stayed in) is very pretty but very small.

Christmas Day

We went out for lunch to a local pub for a lovely Christmas lunch (delicious goat’s cheese, apple and bacon salad).

J&I at Christmas Lunch

Everyone got very merry on Christmas night and it was a very late night and another huge meal with 9 of us on Boxing Day.

It was then into Glasgow where J,K & I stayed in a flat and hung out for a couple of days. We went for a great pizza at a Belgium Beer café and then to see L’s band play a gig at King Tuts. The bands, Odean Beat Club (odeonbeatclub.com/) and Popup (http://www.myspace.com/popuptheband ) were both awesome and the venue was awesome. I had an absolutely awesome time with K’s friends showing us a great time and including us in everything.

On Friday the Swedish and Australian kids arrived and we all went out for dinner and drinks. It was great to see everyone particularly C&K.

Saturday was J&J’s wedding and I went along to the reception and it was a fantastic night with Céilidh dancing (even I got up and danced – admittedly there were instructions). It was so much fun and great to see everyone.

The kids at the wedding reception

J,J & K at the wedding

C&I at the wedding

J&I at the wedding

J&K at the wedding

The boys at the wedding

J having a good time at the wedding

R, L & I at the wedding

L&I at the wedding

Today was a quieter day after a huge week and in preparation for New Years Eve tomorrow when we’ll be at George’s Square for the Hogmanay celebration.

Month Nine in London

How the months are flying! Christmas has well and truly come to London and brought the cold weather with it. It’s lovely and crisp at the moment after weeks of drizzly rain with lovely sunshine (for all the 5 hours it lasts!). The main streets in most of the Boroughs are decorated and the trees are all strung with lights.

I had a lovely birthday with calls from everyone at home. We went out for an amazing dinner at an Argentine steak house. It was absolutely incredible – one of the best steaks I’ve ever had.

I’ve been to a couple of amazing concerts in the last few weeks – Powderfinger, Stereophonics and Kings of Leon.

Powderfinger was at Hammersmith Apollo and it was just the most amazing venue. We had front row seats and it’s the most electric gig I’ve ever been to – it felt like every Aussie in London was there! When they played “My Happiness” a chorus was sung by the crowd and everyone was on their feet.

Powderfinger

Stereophonics was amazing as well and my first visit to Wembley. Kings of Leon was incredible and it was so cool that J was able to go with me – we rang D in Melbourne when the best songs were on – just the thing he needed to hear on his way to work!

AH, D and I went along to the Aussie orphans Christmas that A and the girls organised. 60 Aussies in a room eating and drinking! A did a great job as Santa and one of the guys at our table was very taken with the miniature tool set that was his gift from Santa.

J&K have been here for the last week and it was fantastic to have them here. J always lived on the South side of the river so knows a very different London from me, so it was great to go around with him reliving his memories of being here and then being able to show him the parts I know.

We shopped and ate our way around London including a visits to Providors, New Culture (our local, brilliant, Chinese), Ottolengi, Hope and Anchor, House, The North Star, Brick Lane for a curry, Revolution bar in Richmond, great tapas in Tickenham and the requisite greasy spoon. We walked Oxford Street, New Bond Street, the Thames from the Tate down to Westminster and Big Ben and then up along the Strand to St Pauls.

Richmond

Revolution bar Richmond

View from the Tate across to St Pauls

Another week of work and then it’s off to Scotland to have Christmas with J&K.

Month Eight in London

I completely forgot about the monthly report for October so I’m a bit behind. October was a good month although the Winter is coming on very quickly. It was nice to actually have a proper season change with the leaves changing colour and the lovely Autumn crispness in the air.

I had one of my best trips which was to see Hakan and Cas. Just the perfect weekend away.

I am so looking forward to seeing J&K when they visit in December and then catching up with everyone in Scotland.

Before you know it I’ll be back in OZ in April!

Stereophonics 15th November

I went to my first big concert in London to see Stereophonics at Wembley Arena. A very kindly came with me and it was amazing.

Kelly Jones was absolutely incredible and Wembley Arena a great venue.

Walking like cowboys - Horse riding in Wales 2nd – 4th November

A, D, S and I headed to Wales on a Friday night to go horse riding. We boarded the bus with the rest of the group of 16 who we quickly found out consisted of 15 Aussie and 1 Kiwi – and half of the Aussie were from Brisbane!

I sat in traffic for the first time since leaving home as we headed out on the M4 towards Wales. We eventually made it to our destination for pizza and beers. The accommodation was “cosy” with 8 of us sharing bunk beds in the same room.

The property where we stayed

Saturday morning was up to an enormous breakfast as our host is an ex chef and then onto off to saddle up for our horse riding adventure.

The horseriding crew.

My horse Woody and I had a tumultuous relationship from the start. When we got started and where in the paddock, Woody decided he wanted to roll in mud with me still on his back. Some quick thinking on Aussie S’s part got me off the back of the horse in time. I also managed to loose both my stirrups while galloping and Woody decided a fence was no obstacle to get to some water. That being said it was still an excellent day and we had some gorgeous weather.

Woody & I right before he rolled

Woody & I again

The countryside we rode through

This is my favourite photo, courtesy of D

Back to the accommodation tired and sore for some of the best pumpkin soup I’ve ever eaten with freshly made bread rolls.

Then it was onto a massive bonfire and fireworks with a BBQ which was so lovely, especially to be outdoors in the country at night. After a few drinks a late night trip to the hot tub to ease the very sore muscles sounded like an excellent idea.

Sunday was a late start and another enormous breakfast then onto the bus for the long trip back to London.

A getting close to the dogs on the property

Thankfully the muscles weren’t as bad as I thought they were going to be on Monday but there may have been some groaning involved getting up from chairs.

I heart Sweden 26th - 28th October

Last weekend was spent in Sweden to see C&H and to celebrate C's Birthday. It's one of the best weekends I've had since moving to London and a big thank you to C&H for having me stay.

Arrived late on Friday night and went for a quick drink but was too tired to enjoy it and we ended up heading home. Up at a reasonable hour on Saturday and off to the markets in Lund as I mentioned to C once or twice (or twenty times) that I was very keen for one of her world famous breakfasts - it was every bit as good as I remember!

C, H and H's brother T and I then went off to visit the citadel at Landskroner, the link is to the google earth map of it which looks pretty cool.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&t=k&q=Sweden&ie=UTF8&ll=55.872927,12.823019&spn=0.008583,0.019956&z=16&om=1

C&I at the Citadel

Then into Landskroner for a an excellent lunch at one of the local cafe's - cesar salad swedish style (no cesar dressing but delicious all the same) and a very wicked piece of chocolate mouse cake which is worth going back to Landskroner for!

Back to C&H's for some champagne and then more brilliant cooking by C of Moose with red wine, mushrooms and bacon. Absolutely supurb and the moose was so tasty everyone's plates were scraped absolutely clean! Some red wine to follow up and an excellent night had by all.

On Sunday it was off to the park for a BBQ, the day was absolutely freezing but it was still great fun. I can't remember the last time I've been near an open, outdoor fire (proved by the burn I have on my thumb, lesson: don't touch hot things).

It was all over far too briefly and then back on the plane to London.

Month Seven in London

September has been about getting back into a routine after possibly the most indulgent few months of my life.

Although I must admit after a few months of indulgence a little structure in the day can go along way.

It's the most amazing feeling being able to take every travel opportunity when they arise but it's certainly a hard bump coming back to the reality of working, especially in the fast approaching Winter in London. I am loving all the visitors so please keep finding excuses to come to Europe. If anyone decides to live in Europe that would be even better.

There were a few highlights this month with C and H coming over for a visit. We went to Providors as usual and it's always so good - just like a cafe at home. I'm looking forward to taking J&K there when they're over in December.

I keep going to write that the next few months should be quiet but it's just not the case! I'm off to Sweden to see C&H for C's birthday at the end of the month and then a horse riding weekend in Wales with A and D. There will be fireworks at that one as well as it's Guy Fawkes weekend.

A few weeks after that J&K arrive in town and I can't wait to see them. My itinerary for them so far is mainly based around eating and drinking but they should be used to that! Then off to Scotland for Christmas which I'm really looking forward to but a bit nostalgic at the same time as it's been a very long time since I missed a Christmas at home.

My daily life is just sort of bumbling along 9 to 5 and still doesn't feel like I'm that far away - it's mainly starting to feel like I've been very slack and haven't seen anyone in ages. I'm even coping well with sharehouse living (although if you told me I had to do it forever you might get a different response). There are quite a few things that have stopped mattering to me quite a bit as well - I never thought I wouldn't be cooking but I hardly do it know - it really just falls into the too hard basket.

I keep having great aspirations about making sure I actually see London and England while I'm here but I am doing a fairly ordinary job of it so far. I haven't actually been outside London in England yet which is a bit shameful. I've been meaning to go to the Portrait Gallery and St Pauls for about a month now but other fun things on the weekends just keep getting in the way!

I've even started to get caught up in the World Cup and clapped and groaned through the match on Saturday in a pub dominated by England supporters - although I have to say they were quite good sports afterwards and only went on about it a bit. I can't believe that New Zealand is out - the Kiwi's at work are devastated.

There was a spare ticket last night to see Pete Murray and it's the first time I've really been surrounded by a large group of Aussie's and it was actually quite nice. I come into contact with very few Australian's here and going to She Bu to see Pete Murray felt about as Australian as it comes. Still not a huge fan of his music but it was a good show all the same and I can now say I've been the Shepherd's Bush Empire along with most of Australia.

Month Six in London

I can’t believe it’s been six months already! The six month mark has been one of ups and downs and my first thoughts of going home. I’m definitely staying but I haven’t even really thought about it until this month. I don’t think I’ll end up in France unless I can find a company to send me there.

I have a new job which is working out better than I thought and may present some opportunities to move more into the areas I’m interested in. The girl I’ve taken over from went to QUT and did the same degree, went to a similar school and is going home after 6 years in London – a bit surreal.

Am basically getting ready to bunker down for the Winter apart from a potential trip to Russia, horse riding in Wales and seeing J from Christmas. I’m actually hoping to do some things in London and England over the next few months.

Everything is going well but visitors from home are welcome anytime!

Dublin 7th – 9th September

Seeing T in Dublin was fantastic and we had a great time hanging out together. I’ve let the team down though and forgot to get a compass photo – I’ll have to back to get one.

Dublin was nice but I guess a little lost on me because the weekend was mainly about catching up with T. There is a rather unforgettable spilt mango smoothie incident.

T and I in the park in Dublin

Trinity College - Outside the library where The Book of Kells is kept

From wiki:
The Book of Kells (Dublin, Trinity College Library, MS A. I. (58), less widely known as the Book of Columba) is an ornately illustrated manuscript, produced by Celtic monks around AD 800 in the style known as Insular art. It is one of the more lavishly illuminated manuscripts to survive from the Middle Ages and has been described as the zenith of Western calligraphy and illumination. It contains the four gospels of the Bible in Latin, along with prefatory and explanatory matter decorated with numerous colourful illustrations and illuminations. Today it is on permanent display at the Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland.

Italy (Turin, Genoa, Cinque Terre) 23rd – 27th August

The weather in London was pretty miserable last week and it was starting to feel like summer was over already. Escaping for the long weekend to the Italian coast with a forecast of mid –thirties and clear skies was a great chance to revel in some end of summer sun.

A and I flew into Turin on Thursday night and then spent the morning wandering around the city – the Lonely Planet had said not to bother but it turned out to be a really pretty city with a great vibe. I had what my possibly be the best pastry of my life. I’m not normally a big fan of Nutella (I don’t like hazelnuts) but when it’s in a pastry still warm from an Italian bakery it’s superb.

Hanging out in Turin

Live snails - 6 Euro / Kg

It was then onto Genoa which turned out to be a dirty port city with not much to look at. Back on the train to Vernazza where we were basing ourselves for our stay at the Cinque Terre.

The view from our room in Vernazza

Our first day in the Cinque Terre and we were off walking from Vernazza to Corneglia. It was an overcast day but still very warm, especially when we started climbing up and down the hills. We couldn't wait to get to Corneglia and go for a swim. We ended up following the signs down a very dodgy, abandoned train tunnel that promised a beach at the end. There definitely was a beach at the end, one full of very nude Italians. We decided to keep walking to the next town, mainly because to get back up to Corneglia there are 285 steps.

Looking back to Vernazza

Looking forward to Corneglia

The abandoned train tunnel

We had been walking for a few hours by this stage and were past due for lunch. I had been taking it fairly slow and steady on the walk until A mentioned the 'P' word and I think I may have broken the record for the shortest time walked between Corneglia and Manarola. The P word being pasta...

The lunch at Manarola is a meal with no buts. This may be because I was starving but the ciabatta was the best bread I ate the whole trip and the pasta with a local crayfish that I can't remember the name of but it was absolutely delicious!

Carb-ed up and tired it was back to Vernazza for a nap and then dinner.

I learned a valuable lesson at dinner. When you order antipasto what looks like cheese may actually be salted prosciutto fat...I have never tasted anything quite like it nor have I ever had anything that disgusting.

The next day (A's birthday) we were up early to do the walk between Vernazza and Monterroso (T and family - oh the irony). It was the most beautiful day and we saw hardly anyone else on the trail arriving in Monterroso about 9am for a fantastic swim in the most perfect water. We hung around Monterosso for most of the day and then it was back to Vernazza for another nap. Then it was out to dinner for A's birthday watching a spectacular sunset.

Looking back at Vernazza


Monterosso



The view from the restaurant at A's birthday dinner


Our last day in the Cinque Terre and we just had the easy 20 minute walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore to have completed the entire walk between the town. The best laid plans failed us spectacularly. We left early so we could do the walk early and then swim the morning away before getting on the train to go to Pisa to catch our plane home. Only snag was when we got to Riomaggiore there is nowhere to store your luggage, so it was back on the train to La Spezia to store our bags and then a 45 minute wait to get the train back to Riomaggiore. Our morning was quickly being wasted. We then end up on a train that doesn't take us back to Riomaggiore but all the way back to Monterroso the first of the Cinquerre Terre towns. We eventually get back to Manarolla and do the walk to Riomaggiore in record time and then went for our last swim in at another beautiful beach. Then back to London and time to start my new job.

The compass in Italy