On Wednesday morning I arrived here in London and used my new UK passport at Heathrow airport. The woman didn't even say a word to me, just waved me on. I love the lack of 'customs' here! hee hee. I got back to west hampstead with my 125 pounds weight in luggage, yes, that's right, two heavy bags weighing 50 lbs a piece and my carry-on weighing 25. There was no way that I was going to take the tube with all that so I took a taxi. The driver kept complaining about the rainy weather (I didn't say too much because I figure its like that all the time!).
I was quite tired when I got back to the flat so I had a quick snooze before heading out in the pouring rain to go check out some neighbourhoods that we could live in. I was thinking victoria and tower hill, but they ended up being tourist stops more than anything. I walked around the outside of buckingham palace. its just gorgeous! I wish I had my camera with me (it wasn't recharged after my night out the week before). I was thankful that the streets are favourable to tourists because almost every street here (at least in the popular parts) has signs painted on the pavement - look left or look right. I believe that has saved me quite a bit already!
I met up with Syd at 6:30 and we checked out this great little flat that he wanted to show me. It's quite small, but the layout is really unique. Here is the link but I don't know how long it will be active. We may put a rental offer on this place tomorrow. Syd then took me out to an awesome little italian restaurant in the neighbourhood where I had walnut/blue cheese ravioli. yum!
Today I tried to contact more lettings agencies to set up appointments for tomorrow. It is a little discouraging though because a lot of sites show listings, and when you call them up they are no longer available! Especially here in West Hampstead because the properties are rented so quickly - Its a hot area! I will keep at it, but we may go with the one above because we like it and its available October 1.
I've been in the UK for 2 days and already a new umbrella that I bought is broken! It's so windy and rainy, its no wonder the 'brolleys' here are expensive and well-made.
Its my fault for buying a cheap brolley in the first place, but now I know. I also tried to buy a few groceries on my way home from running errands (like getting my cellphone unlocked) that I realized I need a rain parka with a hood here! You can't use an umbrella and carry groceries. durr. Anyways, I took a pic of myself looking like a soggy dog when I returned to the flat.Here's some things I have observed lately...
1. Many things break down here. Like when I called a lettings agency the entire phone system was down so I had to call the agent's mobile. Also, when I was at a local sainsbury's I noticed they use very outdated tills (looking through paper listing for food codes, and even some codes were WRITTEN down on scrap paper...I had to wait for my cashier to find a code from 3 other cashiers for lettuce before I could get served...it was very odd), not to mention that the debit machine was also down! ;o)
2. I speak with 'relaxed english' - whatever that means! Someone told me that yesterday and figured that I was either from Canada or Australia. I wonder what he meant? Hopefully its not bad! But at least he didn't think I was American, so that's definitely good.
3. The tubes (a.k.a. subways) are packed like sardine cans during rush hour. I learned yesterday what it feels like to be a sardine at 6 pm and it became super hot very quickly. Just a taste of what I have to get used to!
4. I will need to start wearing my contacts in the UK more frequently OR get over my pet peeve of water droplets on the lenses of my glasses!
I noticed this cereal box has a great name. check it out!
Cheerio for now!
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