Home sweet home

My new home is great but it doesn't have internet so I haven't been able to post and as I am at an internet cafe right now I won't be able to put any pics up. We are going to get internet, just haven't yet. Anyway, I love my place and I will show you what it looks like when I can. I do have roomies, an Australlan male and a German girl. They are both really really nice and I think we will all get along really well. Across the street from me is a HUGE park where I have seen people running and playing football. The tube is about a ten minute walk and there tons of shops and pubs surrounding us. I have spent the last few days trying to get settled and I am just waiting for Laura and Stinky to get here so I can go off and see the sights. I can't wait for their visits! It has been a lonely transition but so much better now that I have moved. Yesterday I went and listened to a classical concert at St Martins in the Fields and then had tea afterwards. It was such a lovely way to spend the afternoon and I can see wanting to do that often. I went with Jesse, an American I met on the airplane and new to moving to London too. My first official friend in London. This weekend Stinky will be here who has oddly enough never been to London, so I can't wait to show him all the things I love.

By the way, my new place is pretty big and has plenty of room for visitors...;-)

Yippee

I got the place and I get to move out of this hell hole today! I am so excited. I have to pay six months rent up front which might be a bt tricky but who cares-that means I won't have to worry about rent for six months. I may be off line for a bit as I am not sure if the place will have internet but I will post again as soon as I can.

Yay!!!

A Mexican from Mexico

Yesterday I went to Covent Garden which I really enjoyed. Again, very touristy but it was manageable. While I was there I saw this man singing opera in the plaza...



In case you can't read what it says, the shirt reads, "I'm a show boy". Oh man, I am still giggling. I think I laughed for about 10 minutes when I saw him and his shirt. I didn't even ask him to pose for this picture.

Saturday all I did was apartment hunt and I think I may have found one. We'll see, I'll find out in about 3 hours. It is a lovely place right across the street from a huge park in a really safe neighborhood, about a ten minute walk from the tube. The only problem is that the agency they are renting it through is having issues that I don't have a job or a UK bank account. So, we'll see. One of the flat mates is going to call them today to see what he can work out. It would be really nice because we all would be moving in at the same time so I feel like it would be a fresh start and a place I could call my own. Not someone's apartment that they are letting me rent a room in.

And yesterday, like I mentioned, I went to Covent Garden and Leicester Square. It is nice that there are so many places where you can just walk and take in the sights. Being alone I am trying to save the real touristy stuff for when Brian and Laura come to visit so I can talk to someone about what we are seeing. I also went and watched my first football match in an English pub. It was a little scary going into a pub at 4:00 in the afternoon filled with men but it actually worked out okay cause I met Carlos, a Mexican from Mexico. I had told people I was really going to miss Mexicans and here he was. He has promised to show me good Mexican food in the city. Can't wait! I also had my first traditional English breakfast, vegi style. Pretty tasty! (by the way, I watched Chelsea beat Manchester City, 3 nill and then some very exciting cricket where one of the teams had to forfeit because they tampered with the ball. It was very controversal.)

I am sure I will post in another few hours as I am sure you are all DYING with anticipation to find out if I got the apartment or not. Keep your fingers crossed...

I found the camera thingy!

It was hiding in my suitcase. Here are some pictures I have taken so far...



This is St Martin in the Fields. Not a very pretty church inside but outide it is quite impressive. They have concerts at lunch time and on Wednesday they are having tea and Mozart at twighlight which I think I will go to. Why not, right?




This is the National Gallery where I spent a couple of hours. One of my favorite paintings of all time is there and alot of impressionism which I also really enjoy. Admission is free so it is a perfect thing for me to do except next time I am getting the audio tour as I know nothing about art.




This is people feeding pigions at Trafalgar Square, even though there are signs everywhere asking you not to. I don't really understand the desire to have a bunch of dirty birds hovering all over you and touching you. If it was a bunch of rats would you feed them bread crumbs and let them climb all over you? I think not. And lets face it, pigions are rats with wings. (sorry bert)




The first time I came to London I walked out of a tube station and this was the first thing I saw. It took my breath away and I still love going there, just to look at it.




And today I went to Piccadilly Circus and walked up and down Regent Street. It was pouring down rain but I didn't care. If memory serves me right this is where Adrienne and I had tea and saw Steve Martin. I didn't see anyone famous but it was delightful all the same.

Safe and Sound

I would post a picture but I can't seem to find my connector thingy so just words will have to suffice. I was originally going to post this blog with the title of "what a fucking day" but seeing as how that day is over I won't. My flight here was actually enjoyable-or as much as a 10 hour flight can be. There was over 50 movies for me to choose from and my vegetarian meal had cheese in it and I got to move into an emergancy row seat (my previous seat was surrounded by babies) and free booze! I arrived in London at 12:30 but didn't get to my accomendations until 4:00. For the most part lugging around two huge suitcases and a carry on was not that big of a hassle. It was a bit scary getting on and off the escualtor and I did have to DRAG my suitcases up three flights of stairs but it could have been much much worse. I am staying at a flat type rental place and it is somewhat lacking. If nothing else it encourages me to leave as soon as I wake up and not come home until it is dark. Today I went to the National Gallery where I saw some of my favorite artwork (admission is free) and walked about seeing West Minster Abby and Parliment. I also looked at two apartments, one I really liked and one not so much. It is fun getting to know the city and the tube but the bus system remains a mystery to me and I will wait until I am more settled to figure it out properly. Here are some notes about London...

Thousand Island dressing makes anything taste delicous

Being an American in Britain is not all that embarressing

Being alone I now understand why people spend all day at a pub-it is the only place where you most likely will meet someone harmless who wants to talk to you AND buy you a pint

The tube is expensive

I look younger than 18 as I have already been carded (unheard of where the legal drinking age is 18. How old do they think I am???)

London is expensive but you can get by reasonable cheaply if you are willing to eat pre-made sandwiches and visit the grocery store every day.

The men here are not as ugly as I thought they would be.

There is so much more I know but it will all have to come later, with pictures. Where is that damn thing anyway???

Knitting!

First off, I want to say a big big thanks to everyone who came to my party on Saturday and to the people who chipped in for my new digital camera that made today's post possible. I am so excited about my camera! Especially since I recently lost my other camera and really had no way to take pictures. Now my boring blog entries will hopefully be a little more exciting with illustrations. Thank you so much!

Here are some knitting projects I have worked on over the summer and are now complete...



This is a cable knit scary that took a while but I love. I am a little disappointed because the sides curl in a little bit but otherwise it is perfect.



These are hand warmers that came from a pattern from Ginny (she also gave me the yarn!) They are really easy to make and next time I think I will put a rib at the top.



And here is woofer wearing the hat I just finished. It took a little over a skein but it will keep my head nice and warm.

Next time I post I will be in London. I can't believe I am leaving tomorrow. I kind of feel like throwing up just thinking about it!