Karla, Edinburgh born in 1985.
Raised in New Zealand until age five, and then began my life in Australia,
Brisbane for five years, and Sydney for another 13 and a bit.
After quite a period of procrastination this little monster has finally moved herself to the UK.
The flight was long, and the goodbyes gut wrenching. The times spent with my nearest and dearest during my last few weeks in Sydney were amongst my most cherished of all the years we've had together. Everything they did and said was all the more appreciated.
Nadia caught the same flight as me to London but continued on to Amsterdam. Unfortunately we were not seated together until the second leg of the journey from Kuala Lumpur, so for the first eight hours I busied myself making glitter glue embellished butterfly jewelery thanks to Grant <3.
I don't have much of a plan. Plans in my experience tend to lead to disappointment when things go awry, so I'm winging it.
I just know that somehow London is where I'm supposed to be. Or perhaps it is more precise to say that I do not belong in Australia but will try my luck in a country I've long admired. I do hope London learns to love me as much as I already love it.
Currently staying with my Grandparents in Chorleywood, 40 minutes or so from central London.
Will start looking for work towards the end of end of July/Early August, at which point I'll also look for a place closer to the city centre.
I must admit, my little crush on London looks to be developing into a full blow love affair. There is charm around every corner and flower baskets attached to each of the street lamps. I just meander around with a stupid grin on my face all day.
I am utterly enamoured here with what most people consider ordinary. Telephone boxes, the red of the post boxes and post vans, the tube, double decker buses and Pimm's & lemonade.
And as distasteful as it may be to say this, I simply adore the fact that all manner of alcohol is available readily in supermarket isles. The local corner store stocks Bollinger & Veuve casually next to the cigarettes. Australia, why are you so far behind?
Walking into Trafalgar Square, eyes scanning across the court between the lions and the National Gallery, it dawned on me that I was actually on the other side of the world, alone, and in a country I can now call my home. It sent a shiver down my spine.
I had visited the National Gallery previously as a child, so it's interesting to see how appreciation for art grows as the years pass. I used to sit and sulk in the corner, wondering why it took my parents so long to look at a picture on a wall.
One of the exhibits was 'Take One Picture', an exhibit featuring work by primary school children - inspired by Renoir's ‘The Umbrellas’. I thought this was a rather interesting initiative.
The Tate Modern is next on my agenda.
I have eaten at The Poetry Cafe in Betterton Street.
A treat of a vegetarian cafe that has shelves upon shelves of works for perusal at your leisure. They have various poets giving readings most nights; the Tuesday I went happened to be their 'poetry unplugged' night which allows budding artists to perform at their will, with the audience providing feedback. It was fantastic to be privy to the broad range of topics covered.
The food in its own right was enough to tempt me back, so I look forward to the next installment.
Southwark Playhouse stages larger well-known productions, but also boasts a season of 'secrets' - experimental theatre performed in its bar. Midday lunchtime for £5 you can watch the performance and they throw in a free sandwich. The performance I saw was hard to describe and devoid of a plot as far as I could tell, but involed live snakes and a tiger, as well as break dancing. Definitely different.
I managed to see Sasha before she left to explore the rest of Europe. Not long enough for my liking, but fingers crossed she is back within the next 6 months. So glad I was afforded the opportunity to see her at all :)
Caught up with little Jacqui at Elk Bar in Fulham. £2.75 Mojitos all night. Bliss :)
It's nice to know that no matter how long it's been since you last saw someone some things remain the same and you pick up where you left off with no time lost.
She is looking amazing also I might add. Seems very upbeat and is positively glowing, so I can only hope that London has the same effect on me after a year and a half.
The main shopping precinct here is on Oxford Street, so I already feel quite at home, and think of Michael as I trot along.
The streets are kept ever so clean, and the architecture of the buildings along the street is incredible. Everything has been so well maintained/restored.
Have also done a little vintage shopping in the East End of the city.
Looking forward to checking out the Portobello markets amongst others.
I'm in the process of drafting my travel itinerary; at this stage Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Amsterdam and Rome are on my hit list. Now to find the most cost effective way of doing this whilst avoiding hostels at all costs…
That is all for now, bed time for me. It’s past 2.30am here and
xxx
