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Welcome to my first entry of my very own blog...now i know 8 weeks is a long time to wait before starting but you all know me and technology...a grudging a reluctant relationship generally.
I will attempt to cover the highlights of my first 2 months without boring you to death.
Departing on my first real trip alone was a daunting prospect and after a teary farewell to my family at the airport I discovered a half full flight to Singapore. Upon arrival to Singapore heard the dreaded announcement 'any passengers continuing on flight blah blah please contact ground staff...' fortunately no biggie and a transfer to a different flight was easily procured. The flight from Changi to London was aboard a shiny new A380...also half full.
Arrival at Heathrow was fairly easy and spending a few hours in the Yotel (with rooms kinda like a cross between a ships cabin and a Japanese capsule hotel) proved a wise investment. After successfully navigating the tube (despite nearly killing someone with a runaway suitcase) i arrived at the hotel which was to be homebase for the first week. The room was small but adequate and the hotel had a great location on the northern side of Kensington Park Gardens and walking distance to Notting Hill.
My first full day in London was spent walking through Kensington Park Gardens and Hyde Park and included a visit to the V&A museum. This fantastic museum contains objects from around the world spanning thousands of years and including scuplture, painting, domestic objects and photography. I particulary enjoyed the Fashion and Textiles gallery, including an exhibition of the designs of recent graduates of Central Saint Martens (the school that has graduates including Stella McCartney and the sadly deceased Alexander McQueen).
Over the next week i walked...a lot... and visited The National Gallery, and National Portrait Gallery, The Tate Modern and Tate Britain, saw Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, the Thames waterfront including Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.
I have also experienced my first West End Show...the Lion King...which was incredible, Visited markets at Portobello Road and Brick Lane, and discovered some fantastic vintage threads.
Spent a day at Southend-on-Sea, which is a seaside 'resort'...where the english used to go to get some sea air. It is a cross between St Kilda and Reno. By that i mean on the coast with a pier and amusement park, but run down casinos and a certain air of shabbiness and tackiness.
Been living in Chelsmford (which is about a half hour from London by train). It seems like a nice 'town' of 130 000 people, but Essex is a bit like Rockingham...without the coastal charm. Been sharing a house with a Canadian couple, have been getting on really well with them.
The weather has been cold, but not unbearable, i think 4 years in Katanning has prepared me for the weather, and now that summer time has kicked in the evenings are lovely and long.
The kids here are no worse than back home...but...touch wood...i haven't yet experienced a london school. I have discovered that i am really not cut out for primary school teaching.
Well I think that about covers it, off to Cardiff on Friday...
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