Settled into a home and routine, feels comfy

Hi everyone!!

Well a few things have happened since I last posted, so here they are, with pics:

New flat!!

Thats right, I'm not at the hostel any more! After St Patricks Day I was fed up with noise and living above a bar and hostel life and living out of a bag. So on Tuesday I searched for a flat on the net, found the perfect one, and organised to visit it. On Wednesday I paid my deposit and on Friday I moved in. I absolutely love it! Its huge (5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, small sitting room, huge kitchen and dining room, 3 storeys) and there are about 11 flatties coming and going during the day. I haven't met most of them as they have been on holiday over the long weekend, but those I have met are really nice.

And we have a paved garden out the back! I can practice my poi out there on nice days, cook up a storm in the kitchen and sleep in my lovely warm light airy room.

I am sharing with two other girls, but the room is big enough that it doesn't bother me in the least. We have out own cupboards and shelves, so there's no problem with storage. And the house is big enough that there's plenty of room to spread out. AND we are right next to a lovely little park, so I really am spoilt!

And the best is yet to come: it's only 83 pounds a week all inclusive, and that includes internet and a twice weekly cleaner so I don't have to do any cleaning for apart from my own dishes!! YAY!!

So the next thing I have to mention is...

SNOW

I have seen snow before, at Turoa and in the desert road. But I have not seen falling snowflakes at sea level. It really is a whole different experience when you're walking down the street, and suddenly snowflakes start floating down from the sky and getting stuck to your coat and in your hair. I felt like a kid, cracking up laughing, looking at all the little clumps of fluffy snow floating down like blossom petals. It made everything look really quiet and lovely.

It has snowed on and off for the last few days, so it must be really really cold up north in Scotland. With the freezing north winds it's felt like -2 degrees outside, so we've been wrapping up warm. To put this into perspective, it has only snowed over Easter weekend 12 times since records started. Last time was 40 years ago or something. And the clocks go forward next weekend, signaling the start of British 'Summer' time. Hahahaha!

Nicola's in town!!

I am soooo happy to see Nics again, she's in London for a couple of weeks between finishing her work contract and starting her Europe trip just before ANZAC day (yes, she's doing Gallipoli, which should be amazing). So she helped me move to my new place on Friday and we went out for lunch and coffee today. No matter where we go or what we do we always end up having a huge laugh and a great chat, and today was no exception. We had a lovely lunch at one of the best Thai restaurants in London, not bad price too (50 pounds for 2 starters, 2 mains, 2 glasses of wine and a 10% service charge since it was a bank holiday). The food was amazing, so it was well worth it. Neither of us have a head for alcohol any more, so that one glass of wine each went straight to out heads and we couldn't stop giggling :) I made a fool of myself talking waaaay too loud in a coffee shop, and we got hot drinks while it snowed briefly outside. Hot chocolate in the snow is awesome!

So we're probably going to see a movie later in the week - the Orphanage, looks really scary!

So at the moment I'm pretty happy

I've been a bit lonely lately, but being able to have lunch with friends, see a movie and have a laugh makes all the difference. I am doing lunch with some friends from APACS tomorrow, so thats something else to enjoy!

Work has its good days and not so good days, but I'm planning to keep at it with my current clients until the end of July. I'm thinking of having 12 days off in May to do my tour of the UK, but what I'm really looking forward to is August, starting with a 3 week holiday in France - especially the Dordogne region, wines, rivers, castles and the heat of a Continental summer. Sound romantic? It will be (but thats another story, more info to follow...)

But that's still 18 weeks away (yes, I'm counting down) and there's plenty of saving and work to be done before then.


A few things to note before I stop typing:
- Congrats to Mum and Ray, married on the 29th Feb
- Congrats to Danielle and Bubsy on the new addition to the family, very cute!!
- Congrats Nae on the new job, you are such a clever little pixie!
- Tracy B, hope your holiday was good and you didn't have too much work waiting for you when you got back! Hows Sammie??

My love and hugs to everyone else too, drop me a line and let me know how you all are, I love getting updates :)

à la prochaine (until next time)
Linden

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