Gordon's Wine Bar and Ronnie Scott's

Ronnie Scott’s

This jazz club first opened the doors to its basement venue in Gerrard Street in 1959, under the management of musicians Pete King and Ronnie Scott, but is now located at 47 Frith Street, Soho..
Brecon Jazz Festival named Ronnie Scott’s as one of twelve operations who have made important contributions to Jazz music in the UK, and it finished up third when votes were cast.

We visited on a Monday night to enjoy their Acoustic Jazz Longue and were warmly gereeted and escorted to our seats. The venue is cool and intimate, and this was a fantastic evenining featuring Renato D'Aiello on tenor sax, with guests. This man produced such a soulful sound , and the rhythm section were phenomenal.

Drinks are not cheap, 30 quid for 4 vodka sodas, but service was speedy and not intrusive in the slightest. Unfortunately I found the food to be under-prepared and over-salted. Though it wasn't a hindrance to me enjoying the evening, as music is the reason for being there and not the food.

The seating is very tight with little room to maneuver; but given the type of performacne we were at I felt it added to the overall resplendence of the evening. It provided a rare opportunity to be up-close and personal with the performers, and I was so mesmerised by the dulcet tones surrounding me that my thoughts were not in any way consumed by who was next to me.

Provided you eat somewhere else beforehand I could recommend whole-heartedly for Jazz lovers on my experience alone; having had a look at what their other performances offer it seems they cater for all jazz tastes.







Gordon’s Wine Bar, Charring Cross

Diana first introduced me to this trendy Wine Bar, and I took another friend there on Sunday night. Such a gem. A stone’s throw from Embankment and Charring Cross tube stations, and the most perfect setting in which to hide from the cold outside.

Make your way down a set of steep stairs to enter a dark cellar lit by candle light and be whisked away into a world of extensive wine lists and with contrasting atmospheres – subdued during the day; then brimming with people in the evening. Somehow though it remains intimate always.

A word of warning - the ceilings are very low so be mindful of where your head is if you're standing up after a few glasses !

When first eating there I ordered lamb meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, while Diana had Salmon and helped herself to the array of fresh salads on offer. On the second trip my partner and I shared a board of cheese and cold meats. All options were generous and full of flavour.

Forward the smile :D

So I had a real ‘wow’ moment a few weeks ago.

I met this guy by a trick of fate on the tube .

It was at a point where I had all this pent up anger and was feeling pretty defeated.

I was still dealing with the after affects of my attack and the police investigation, as well as the death of my Grandparents.

I picked up a card that was left on a seat as the design caught my eye. The guy who had originally handed the card out happened to be standing opposite me, and we started talking as he noticed me examining it.

He has launched a project called ‘forward the smile’; and the card related to that.

I got home and did a little research to find out what the project was all about, and emailed him to show my support for it.

I have always known that a smile from someone, whether I know them or not, has the potential to make my day.

I had a little game I played on the tube in Winter (because everyone looked so dull), just smiling at strangers to see who would smile back; and each day trying to beat yesterday’s score.

So it was refreshing to see that he had launched a project based on the same sentiment.

After continuing to speak to him over the following few weeks, I now have a more comprehensive understanding of why he started this in the first place.

This guy had had so many blows – one after the other. But instead of being defeated, he made a decision one day to give someone what he didn’t have – a smile.

Aside from his day job in marketing, he is a magician and musician. He takes his magic, a pack of cards and his guitar with him everywhere – to cafes, on the tube, to parks, in the street; absolutely anywhere and will engage with strangers. Performing magic acts or singing a song all with the aim of making them

smile so they can forward it on to someone else.

I was honoured to spend some time with him helping him to launch the second phase of his project which aims to encourage others to share their stories, and in between doing pop up performances for people. It was so much fun to be a part of, and I’m proud of myself for overcoming my fears and singing for someone other than family for the first time in years.

He introduced me to his friend Luc who builds sand sculptures. We watched him build a couch out of sand on the Thames and then sit on and play the Guitar. It was a lovely to way to while away the hours on a Sunday afternoon.

It is so incredible to me that at the exact moment I was feeling let down by society I meet a guy (I think it’s important particularly that he is a straight male, because that was the group I was directing so much anger at) that is so selfless he has devoted his spare time to making someone smile that he will likely never see again.

It is a huge comfort to know that people like him exist.

The timing was impeccable.

He has given me back my zest for life and helped me realise what my passions are.

He will probably never realise how much of an impact he is having on me, and it’s hard to explain; but I feel like I have been given a completely new lease on life, and all I want to do is use this to bring out the spark in other people.

I am walking around with a constant smile on my face and probably look like a loon.

I’ve always been full of ideas, but seeing what he has done has given me the courage to actually implement then, so I hope to launch something of my own very soon.

Creatively I feel more productive than I have in a while. I have opened myself up a lot more to new experiences which means I am meeting all sorts of new people.

I performed at an open mic poetry night last week which was very well received. Watching me do this also gave a friend of mine the courage to entertain at his first stand-up event.

So for me personally, I am already seeing that the encouragement Angelo has given me is having a knock-on effect.

Beyond my personal friendships, I have been putting a lot more thought into my interactions with people in general.

You never know what pain someone is carrying around with them, and something as simple as a smile has the potential to lift their spirits so profoundly.

For more on Angelo’s project, see http://www.facebook.com/#!/forwardthesmile

Mama & Papa Satch visit the Northern Hemisphere ^_^

The work/life balance is all wrong for me at the moment.
Was quite fed up with Monday – Friday consisting only of work and sleep, so have added in 1-2 hrs of gym each day, alternated with the volunteer work I continue to do for a youth suicide prevention hotline; and on alternate weekends I also continue to assist at a women & children’s refuge centre. I am leaving the names of the charities out of this post in the interest of their privacy, but feel free to ask if you’d like more information.

I wake up at 5am each day, so that I can make yoga and meditation part of each morning, and before leaving the house for work I put aside a few minutes to write down all the things I was thankful for yesterday. I feel I am surrounded by a lot of negativity in London… I honestly feel like I have never had to fight so hard to stay positive in any other place. I don’t know if it’s just the recession, or whether London has always been like this; but at face value there just seems to be a general lack of joy unless there is drinking involved.

I guess if I was the type of Australian who spent every weekend in the Walkabout/Redback/Church surrounded by other Australians I wouldn’t feel that way, but that was never my style.

I have learnt to dig beneath the surface and to question what’s in front of me, and I have been rewarded by meeting people that are so incredible words don’t do them justice. I will do individual blog posts on a couple of these people very shortly. At the very heart of London there is so much creativity and passion, and that’s what keeps me here.

I have had the most delightful few weeks with my parents visiting from Australia, and the weather stayed lovely throughout.

They arrived on a Sunday morning, and we enjoyed an informal lunch together with our extended family.

Monday and Tuesday I was at work, but it was so nice knowing at the end of the day I had them to come home to. On Wednesday Mum, Dad and I ventured to Southbank for a stroll and a spot of lunch, before catching a train to Richmond to spend some time with good friend of my Mum’s; they have known each other since their high school days. We had a lovely afternoon in her garden sipping wine and tea amongst nibbles of cake and lots of storytelling.

That evening we met with Meryem and Paulo for dinner at Boho Mexica. I love Mexican food but am often left feeling underwhelmed, but that wasn’t the case with this find. None of us had eaten there before. The restaurant is very inviting. Walls decorated with Latino posters and split into a left and right wing with a bar in the middle. It’s popular for happy hour Mojitos but that is not its main focus. They have made a determined effort to set themselves aside from all of the burrito bars that have popped up of the last few years, with a menu full of more traditional and hearty Mexican food. We were sat in a very sweet corner table in the right wing which had lots of character. Three of us were on a couch with an open window at our backs which was so welcome given the warmth of the evening.



On Thursday I took Mum & Dad to Brighton and we were blessed with another day of glorious blue skies and plenty of sun on our shoulders. We strolled across the pebbled beach and perused the various boutiques before stopping for lunch. We then made our way along the pier. It was so nice to be able to just run around like a big kid with my parents, and the look of pure glee on Mum’s face as she would aim straight for me in her dodgem car is something I’ll remember for a while yet. We stumbled upon some lovely little alley ways full of weird and wonderful wares on our way back to the train station, and lots of street art that took my fancy.

Friday marked my Mum’s Birthday, so opening presents was the first order of the day, and our tradition of a pre-breakfast Hors d'oeuvre of chocolates and tea was upheld for another year. I had booked myself, Mum & Dad into High tea at The Soho Hotel. We sat down to look over the menu and take in the beautiful interior of the Parlour room that had been set aside for us; and our kind waitress brought out a sweet plate of white and milk chocolate and fresh berries, with Happy Birthday written in chocolate on one side, and a candle in the middle. It was a lovely gesture and the combination of fine chocolate and berries was divine. Champagne was served next along with a selection of finger sandwiches - Smoked salmon, Cucumber, Ham and mustard, Cheddar cheese and chutney. Once we had finished with those we moved onto Quince, apple and rosemary scones served with clotted cream and preserves. Then onto sweet treats of Chocolate and blackberry torte, Ginger and rhubarb cake, Plum and pistachio praline tarte, Palmier and Hazelnut brittle.

On Saturday evening I took Mum and Dad to see Billy Elliot at the Victoria palace theatre. We had dinner prior at a pub nearby. Wow, I was so taken with this musical. I’ve seen my fair share but would not hesitate to say this is far and away the best I have seen. Pure theatrical brilliance, and full of much more humour than I remember from the movie, but equally as moving. I was weeping one minute and in fits of laughter the next, and at the end walked away with such a feeling of hope. Scott McKenzie was cast as Billy in the performance we saw and was an absolute joy to watch. It’s hard to believe someone so young can be so gifted, but I could not take my eyes off him, particularly during his pirouettes.

On Sunday I headed to Venice with Mum & Dad which was like a dream from start to finish. Cars are prohibited in Venice, so instead of lining up for a cab on our arrival into Italy, we hopped straight onto a waiting boat. It took about an hour for us to reach San Marco, and seeing the sunset across the city as we were ferried along was magical. Our hotel was about a 5 minute walk from where we were dropped off. As the only way to maneuver around the city is on water or foot you are placed at the perfect vantage point to be in continual awe of the beauty of this 1,500 year old city. Las Serenissima (which translates into English as “The most serence one”, is brimming with art, fine shopping, palaces and exquisitely fresh food. Piazza San Marco is the perect place to relax while taking in sky and water lines in the company of live pianists and violinists. Stop for a Bellini at Harry’s bar, wander the bridges and alleyways and visit the basilicas. Finish off with a gondola ride and a plate of fresh prosciutto topped with strawberries and balsamic vinegar.

Mum and Dad had several days in Florence following this, while I reluctantly headed back to work. But my head was still filled with the fairytale that Venice has you believe in, and I will always cherish the memories we created there.

When mum and Dad returned we had a family gathering at my Aunty Pat’s house. All of Dad’s side of the family was there so it was great to see everyone. Embarrassing to learn that I am one shortest, even amongst cousins that are several years younger. Eeep.

I then travelled with them to an English town called Colerne where we had rented the cute-as-pie “Sticky Cottage”, which dates back to 1825 but had been beautifully renovated whilst still keeping some of its traditional charm. This. We spent a week there exploring the surrounding towns Bath, Lacock, Castle Combe and Stonehenge.

We headed back to London on Thursday night, stopping on the way to visit friends of my parents in Wokingham. They spoilt us with a meal that never seemed to end and were such amazing hosts and friends to us all evening.

Back to work for me on the Friday, but then dinner and pub drinks with most of the family that evening.

On Saturday we had lunch with my Dad’s brother Sven and his family which was lovely. It was a really nice way to spend the last day with my parents. After lunch we drove to the airport and said a sad goodbye, as my parents made their way to Hong Kong before returning home to Sydney. Still, it is much nicer to be sad that I’m saying goodbye than glad it’s over.

So that’s where I’ve been at recently.

Last week I performed at an Open-Mic poetry night at The Poetry Café in Covent Garden. The performance was very well received so I will definitely try to make it to a few more there or at other venues.

This week I’m looking forward to visiting Ronnie Scott’s to see some live Jazz, and a friend of mine will be entertaining at his first stand-up comedy show which should be fun.

Summer daze

The last couple of months have been nothing if not surreal.

Within two months of Nanna Mary passing away, the love of her life and my grandfather also passed away. He gave up the fight when he lost her. Shortly before this I was involved in a brutal attack, of which I am still feeling the after-effects, and I am also settling in at my new job.

People ask me, “what do you think of London?”, and my answer changes daily. Although any of the turbulence I’ve suffered here could have been felt back home; I’ve found it can be difficult to not let it impact my outlook on this city as whole, and my experience of it.

Needless to say I am counting down the days until my parents arrive in September. I just wish I could afford the time off to head to Italy with them as well.

I will find out shortly whether my current contract is extended, and if so for how long; then I can start planning some new adventures.

I have managed to keep myself busy and surrounded by friends which has helped immensely during any down time, so here is a snap shot of some of the more enjoyable moments.

Afternoon tea at Sketch – Parlour room.

If you know me at all, you know I love afternoon tea; and there is something so quintessentially English about indulging in it. Working my way through sandwiches, moving on to scones (with lashings of lovely clotted cream) and then licking the remnants of cake off my fork. All of this washed down with tea, glorious tea.

I have eaten in the Parlour twice now, and hope to eat at the Lecture Room, Library and Gallery shortly. For the purpose of this review I’ll discuss my most recent visit.

After ‘hopscotching’ our way through the entrance, and a 20 minute wait, our host escorted us to a corner table. The table was dimly lit by a tall light, and as I sunk into a large antique velvet chair I took some time to peruse the menu, which had been wedge between the pages of a dusty hardback book.

After umm-ing and ahh-ing over the delightful selections we settled on the traditional afternoon tea for £27 each (a champagne option with Pommery Brut Royal is available for £35 per person).

Simple sandwiches of smoked salmon, cucumber, egg & mayonnaise and ham & mustard were pleasant, and while is isn’t general practice for second helpings to be offered, our host kindly brought some more out for us when we asked. It is worth asking I believe, as I would think the cost per head is less justifiable otherwise.

The two fruit scones each (with clotted cream of course!) were beautiful, and to accompany there was a homemade raspberry jam.

Sweets on offer included a vanilla custard éclair (with violet icing), a madeleine, a chocolate ganache (with chocolate mousse), a fruit tartlet, a pineapple stick and a gingerbread cake. If I were to fault anything, it would be the pineapple stick which seemed almost an afterthought, as I couldn’t see how a stick of fruit was appropriate amongst the other offerings, and the gingerbread cake was very heavy on the palate compared to the other offerings. Being the chocoholic I am, the chocolate ganache was my favourite, alongside the fruit tartlet whose pasty was buttery, light and almost shortbread like in the mouth.

I think the portions were a little bit too small given the price, but the room (not to mention the bathrooms) itself is decadently stylish, if not a little kooky, which combined with the other guests made for a lovely ambience.

B@1 Spitalfields

This has become my go-to happy hour spot. The cocktail menu is ever-evolving, and 5pm – 7pm Monday to Saturday the menu is buy one, get one free. Monday-Wednesday there is also ‘Bartender's Choice’ where two cocktails are on special at £5 each all night.

Service is a little slow, but the substance of the cocktails more than makes up for it, and the staff are very friendly. If they’re particularly busy or are training new staff, they will often bring the cocktails to you so you don’t have to wait at the bar for them to be made. This is something of a rarity, particularly during rush hour.

I am yet to work through the entire list, but thus far my favourites have been Strawberry Shortcake, Irish Disco Biscuit and Twisted Mojito.

Taken from http://www.beatone.co.uk/

Irish Disco Biscuit - Ideal for those who have a sweet tooth, the peppermint and Baileys blended with Oreo cookies and ice cream is the ultimate guilty pleasure and perfect after-dinner drink. (The diet can start tomorrow)

Strawberry Shortcake - Strawberries and Cream in a glass, with extra nuts! This is a sweet mix of strawberry and Amaretto, you should skip dinner and go straight to dessert.

Twisted Mojito - Slightly sweeter than its Cuban counterpart, this drink is given its own accent with vanilla vodka and ginger ale to boost the minty citrus base.

London fields

Located in the eastern borough of Hackney this has proven a lovely spot to while away any sunshine-filled afternoons London is afforded. It is a huge space, and attracts an eclectic mix of park-goers, from hipsters to families with young children, loved-up couples and large group gatherings. BBQ-ing was allowed throughout the fields until recently, and is now confined to a particular quadrant but it doesn’t feel any more crowded. Ice cream truck by the entrance and alcohol allowed (unlike quite a few parks in Australia). There are even people wondering around selling cocktails and bulbs (lol!), albeit at inflated prices.

Fabric

I’ve been twice so far and am not completely sold. Something seemed lacking though I can’t quite put my finger on what. Perhaps I wasn’t inebriated enough. Also, I have only been on Friday nights where drum and bass is predominant, so I will have to see how it changes on a Saturday night. On the first visit there was no queue, on the second we lined up for about 40 minutes.

This venue is modeled in the basement of a former Victorian meat market, and split into three large club rooms playing a mix of drum n bass, break beat, hip hop, dance and house. At a capacity of around 3,000 the venue still remains tasteful and stylish, with décor incorporating marble bars, leather couches, stone walls, and even beds to recline on, with the moonlit stair ways also doubling as sitting areas.

The sound system is unrivalled by any club I’ve visited so far, you can feel the bass pulsing through you and being absorbed by the walls around you. I can’t fault the crowd either; lots of fun and easy to be around. The drinks are surprisingly cheap, though there is not a great deal of choice. Free water with ice was only available on the ground level; with the others demanding you pay for bottled water which I thought was cheeky.

You don't make friends with Salad in London

It occurred to me over a lunch date a couple of weeks back, that despite this being my 13th month here, I have only encountered one palatable salad.

The Talbot in Islington treated me to a delightful Waldorf salad, my taste buds savouring the rarity of such a dish until well after the last morsel was swallowed.

In England, salad tends to translate to 'plate of lettuce drenched in salad cream'.

I think this can be explained by the UK's general inability to grow it's on fresh fruits and vegetables.

This doesn't explain my most awful salad experience to date though.

At The Light Bar in Shoreditch, I ordered a rocket, tomato and haloumi salad. What I got instead more closely resembled my mortal enemy the ceaser salad and actually contained 13 sardines (yes, I counted them).

After some fuss they agreed to bring out the salad I'd ordered. However they actully brought out the same salad, minus the anchovies; haloumi added. Anchovies have a nasty way of infiltrating the senses when you're someone who does not appreciate them.

Vomit.

Luckily I had wonderful company and a kopparberg mixed fruit cider to soften the blow.

I now resolve to attempt no further salad consumption until I return home or land in the Mediterranean; whichever comes first.

Fresh Australian fruit juices and our vast array of fresh produce are both something my body craves and misses often.

London Pride 2011

Pride London celebrations culminated this year with the parade held on Saturday the 2^{nd of} July. Coinciding with New York legalising gay marriage, I felt the event had far less of a political message this year. Less of a cry for equal rights, and more of what I feel was a cultural celebration. It made for a lovely prelude to the hosting of 2012’s World Pride.

Leading this year’s march was Deputy Mayor Richard Barnes and former Mayor Ken Livingstone, with London Mayor Boris Johnson notably absent. What was ever-present was the mass corporate representation throughout the event; in particular supermarket chain Tesco, which I think marks a definite shift in the mind-set of Londoners. It wasn’t too long ago that big chains would have run a mile, yet this year saw Tesco’s ‘Out at Tesco’ brigade of employees take up a remarkably large portion of the parade.

The Original Bucks Fizz, X-Factor contestant Rachel Adedeji and a female folk rock group from Brighton named Grey Matter were amongst those that treated us musically in Trafalgar Square. Amongst others adding to the main stage line up were Ben Cohen (former England Rugby star), Stavros Flately (finalists from Britain’s Got Talent) and the Dame Edna Experience.

What I adored about the event was the sense of unity brought about when so many individuals from various walks of life come together with the sole purpose of creating a community of unison. Kath Gillespie Sells, who is an activist for the disabled, was at the front of the procession in a white Corvette; and then followed drag queens walking alongside bodybuilders and soldiers, with a camp salute being given to a group of Christian protesters.

I have been an avid supporter of parades of this nature for many years, predominantly at home in Sydney. However, this year quite overwhelmingly I walked away with a real sense of admiration for those marching on, heads held high in a society that by and large still considers them a minority, and criticises those they simply cannot fathom. Their sense of self is truly something to be applauded, and something I aspire to. A group that particularly struck me, and that I drew a lot of inspiration from are lesbian group Luleki Sizwe. Flying a South African banner, they aim to raise funds for the creation of safe places to house lesbians who fear for their lives after suffering what is known as 'corrective rape'.

After the parade the fruits and queer-friendly spilled out over the streets of Soho, the weather staying fine for a beautiful outdoors party, and clubs opening their doors.

While I agree there is still a lot of work to be done, society has made leaps and bounds in recent years. The first march of this kind in the UK was in 1972; when approximately 2,000 protestors took to the London pavements on the first July Saturday as part of the first official ‘Gay Pride Rally’. Several name changes later and the event as we know it has become a London institution with crowds of over one million.

These marches tell a very different story to each participant, but the resounding message of pride is something that is heard by all.

Soho Secret Tea Room

This is a really sweet idea, badly executed. I wanted to love this visit.

The tea room is tucked above a secret stairway in The Coach and Horses pub in Soho. After navigating our way through an intimidatingly dark and windy set of stairs, Bridget and I found ourselves in a room decorated in twee vintage fashion, with beautiful jazz audio streaming from a gramophone in the corner. Although having been told a booking was not necessary, our hostess advised all tables were full.

Two large glasses of wine at a nearby establishment later, and I received a call to tell us a table for two was now ready.

Our hostess greeted us presented in what would be thought typical 40s style; a full skirted pink polka dotted dress, dark hair rolled tightly at the back; and a bold red lip to compliment full but impeccably groomed eyebrows, and an otherwise pale face. Beautiful, however she seemed distracted as she hurried us to a corner table; and we waited around 10 minutes for our menus.

Looking around the room I could see that overall the décor was lovely – beautifully mismatched vintage crockery adorning the surrounding tables, to compliment white or checked tablecloths and beautiful flower arrangements. It was then that our table seemed lacking. No vase of flowers and in fact no table cloth. Still, I was in good company and after perusing the menu to select treats, this was soon forgotten.

After having selected a pot of rosebud tea each, and a selection of cupcakes, we were disappointed to learn that none of our sweet treat choices were currently available. We instead ordered a plain vanilla cupcake each, as well as a slice each of carrot and lemon cake to share.

Now, pouring tea is usually a relatively simple task. However as one of the rosebuds in the tea pot got caught in the spout during pouring, poor Bridget received a scalded thigh. The next dampener to the experience were very dry nature of both the cupcakes and the lemon cake. The beautifully moist carrot cake partially rectifying this.

Bridget and I then both experienced bouts of food poising in the following 24 hours.

Now, if this were Sydney where places of this nature are fewer and farther between; I could see myself giving the venue a second chance. Provided I had a booked table of course to ensure the venue had adequate time a prepare. However, this is London and there are as many tea venues as there are frowning faces in the winter, so I’ll give this place a wide birth.

A new chapter unfolds

So, it has been over 5 months since I’ve written which wasn’t the plan. Probably best not to indulge in a play-by-play of all the events between New Year’s Eve and now, so I’ll press on with a synopsis of more recent adventures.

Time is flying by very quickly, and I’m not where I thought I would be at this point. On the other hand, the universe has thrown me some surprises along the way that have forced my hand in realising what a precious gift life is. For someone that came over here with no plan at all, I’ve done well all things considered. Excluding one or two, anyone I knew from Sydney that moved to London; has moved back.

My work contract finished at the start of April, and so I wait anxiously as the next chapter unfolds. I am finding it difficult to move forwards career-wise. I don’t wish to continue in the field I have most experience in as it no longer carries with it a sense of accomplishment or a particular challenge, and instead leaves me emotionally wilted and generally unsatisfied. However, the fields I would love to explore are not willing to take a chance on me in this economic climate. Despite my many transferable skills, I am lacking the particular niche industry experience that potential employers desire (and will find in other candidates given the multitude of people looking for work). That being said, I am looking for work at a difficult time of year. Although the economy is slowly picking up, this is the tail end of the financial year and many companies are restructuring; a lot of offices also shut down in light of the multitude of public holidays that recently emerged. I believe things will pick up towards the end of May. If not, I have some thinking to do. Definitely wish I had moved to the UK during a more fiscally-friendly time. C'est la vie.

If it becomes apparent that there is no way of moving forward in a job that both thrills me, and affords me a reasonable life style, there are two other plans I can implement.

Plan B would see me accepting a job that mirrors my most recent experience. Sure, this idea is less than appealing, however I would be paid well, in stable employment and could study other areas alongside this; with the intention of moving into my preferred field over the next couple of years when the market has settled (or I am back in Australia).

Plan C would see me cut my losses and move back to Australia. This would see me earning far more than in the UK, and in a shorter time span; enabling me to more comfortably move back to the UK around this time next year, and funding some incredible European and American travel adventures.

I received some distressing news recently; told that my Nanna Mary’s health had rapidly declined, and then shortly afterwards being told she had passed away. I miss her in a way that I’ve never experienced before, and in a way that you can you never prepare yourself for. All I know if that when you miss someone in this way, you disappear yourself. Feeling the onslaught of want, and of longing, I got the urge to reach out, and attempted to grasp her; or at the very least, try to remember what it was like to have embraced her in the first place. At that very moment the hurt had infiltrated my blood, and rushed from my hands to the rest of my body; making me ache in places I never knew existed. The most difficult part for me, of course, is being so damn far away; left feeling all alone in this because no one around me mirrors my grief. I miss my family too much right now.

Our bond was unique. I felt connected to her, and could relate to her; in a way not possible with the rest of my family. It is the kind of unconditional love you expect from a parent, without any of parenthood’s practicalities getting in the way. After all they are not ‘responsible’ for you in the same way a parent is; so their love is less filtered. Of all my family members, I would say I take after her the most. Her genuine care for, and interest in those around her will never cease to be remembered, and her optimism is something I will try to channel more each and every day. I am able to take comfort in the knowledge that she passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by friends and family; and that she is no longer in pain.

Upsets aside, it has definitely not been all doom and gloom for me. I have met some incredible people here (none of them English, hah!). People who continually inspire me, make me giggle, serve me pancakes in bed, drive me around on the back of their motorcycle, meander the markets with me on a Sunday or are always up for a cider/cocktail or two and painting the town magenta. These wonderful creatures combined with the glorious twenty to twenty-five degree weather England has experienced lately make for a well-spirited Karla.

As unbound as I am these days, this has been the perfect opportunity for me to soul search and give back a little. I’ve been helping at a women and children’s refuge centre in East London, and in the next few weeks hope to commence training as a volunteer with a youth suicide prevention hotline. These are both charities I feel passionate about involving myself with; and while I may not be able to make a huge difference, I appreciate that help in any capacity has the ability to enrich the life of someone else. I’d feel more fulfilled if I didn’t need an income to get by and could volunteer my days away.

As I write this I am lucky enough to have just returned from some time away at Amamchara, which hosted a detox and yoga retreat. My spacious private room was nestled amongst a picturesque 76 acres of woodlands and lakes, and while I shared a bathroom with another guest, friends/partners staying together have the option of a private room with en suite. All rooms have incredibly luxurious king size beds, and the property also boasts a large indoor pool. Idyllic Somerset is a county in South West England, and made for a stunning backdrop as I embarked on a juice fast, followed by a raw food diet. This was combined with 4 hours of yoga per day, and talks by various teachers; all activities focused around helping to revitalise and reprogram one’s body and mind. On the last day of my stay they held classes dedicated to incorporating the raw food lifestyle into daily life. I learnt how to make meals, and even recreate some favourite comfort foods to make the transition into everyday life easier. The most important elements I’ve retained are inner peace and elevated energy levels. I have shed unnecessary guilt, and the concerns placed on me by others; and I am left feeling content in the working order of life and of living. I hope as the days continue I become able to fully relinquish this sense of urgency and control that I’ve clung to for so long.

This is going to sound a little disjointed now, because this entry was written in several sittings. I have just accepted a contract position with a large telecommunications company. This fits in with Plan B I guess. I don’t love the idea of the job itself; but it is paying well, is an easy commute, and is guaranteed work for the next few months. Time will tell whether I continue on in this role beyond the initial contract and study more exhilarating things alongside it; or whether I am look to accept a position elsewhere.

While I did have plans to move to central London in the next month or so, as it turns out, I will have this place to myself for three months from the middle of June; in which case it seems rather silly to be paying rent elsewhere. This presents a great opportunity for me to continue saving, and I will aim to move out early September instead.

I am going to turn this into a weekly or bi-monthly blog, with an emphasis on shorter, yet more detailed updates. Documenting my observations on, and interactions with; the people around me, restaurants and cafes I visit, the streetscapes that surround me and activities I’m involved in. I think this would help give more of a feel to the culture and everyday life. Leaving too long between updates leaves a lot of room for forgetting delightful titbits of information, and encourages me to ramble.