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Published: March 22nd 2008
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The view from the front window Hey finally ..............Well 3 weeks since we left NZ. Eight days in Thailand was great - very hot 35 degrees I would guess. We have two full days in Bangkok and enjoyed a couple of day trips. I had an amazing massage in Bangkok for $12. That girl had my limbs in places I didn't think they would go to. I felt like I would snap at times.We then flew to Phuket and hang out a Kamala Beach also did another couple of day tours . The food at Kamala Dreams was fantastic the thought of the chicken satay makes my mouth water. The view from our room was great and we enjoyed the peace and quiet. Of course our stress levels went up, when we arrived at Phuket Airport to catch our flight back to Bangkok to find we were two hours late 18.40pm has got nothing to do with 8pm. One can laugh now but it gave me insight on how the participants of the Amazing Race feel. Ok so the impact of that was we went on standby and at the very last they found us seats. It also meant we got the very worse seats on the plane for our flights form Bangkok to London and were sitting apart. A small price to pay when we had feared we would have to rebook and pay again.
Ok so we arrived in London 6.30am to a bumpy landing and lots of ohhhs and ahhhs from the passengers. Thankfully I had slept about 6 hours on the flight. I congratulated the burly english gibstipper for his great neigbourly seat ethic ie. he did not take over my seat despite his size and was very good when I woke him for my toilets breaks. Dave Tonys friend was there to pick up - this was fantastic and not always the norm in London. The weather was cold, grey adn stormy. Dave took us directly to his home that is being fuly renovated in Southgate - builders mud and dust. He suggested we camp there however he had not prepared any corner that held any appeal. No furniture - not cleaned . Tony said no way . Tony had only slept 2 hours on the flight so was a bit numb. Ok so Dace took as to his flat in Kennington - very small - not much prepared there either ie no bed. We slept on the floor the first night after we had cleared and vacummed the space. We stayed awake all day so we would get acclimatised to UK time however didn't sleep too well as floor was a bit hard. Dave is a great cook so prepared a fab meal . Next two nights we slept on the sofa- that was not good as Dave snores loudly and is up and down throughout the night. We expressed interest in returning to the building site. DAVE bought us a cheap dowble bed and by Thursday night we were sleeping in Southgate. Of course we had cleaned two rooms and the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. We brought the fidge in from outiside . Tony spent half a day cleaning that - after a week we have purchased a microwave and have set ourselves up. The builers arrive at about 8am. The trapse in and out. The fantastic thing is we don't have to pay rent and we are very near the tube station. Dave has such a big heart is so welcoming of us being here it is so much more preferable to me than a perfect house and feeling unwelcome.
The first weekend here we stayed with our Nelson friends - it was like coming home to have all the comforts fo TV, computer etc. They live in Teddington = about two hours train and underground ride.I felt recharged after the weekend with them. They even let me cook dinner. I had just about forgotten how!
Over the past two weeks we have been "setting up the foundations" - joining doctors practices, dentist surgeries, libraries, connecting with our agencies, familiarising ourselves with the underground etc etc. Tony was a bit surprised we did not have work by now. I came with no expectations so have felt quite calm in the main. The occasional fleeting thought of "what the hell am I doing here" only fleeting though!
I have been going to the computer most days this week and on gumtree saw a nannying job in Southgate on Tuesday. I phoned and left a message. When she called back we found I lived "just around the corner" so I walked around at 8pm and was interviewed. Money not that great - but enought to pay for basics and no transport costs. I was very honest and was confident she would call me . She said she had one more interview on Wednesday evening. However I did nto here. Dave thought I was too honest and needed to up my competitive attributes. Anyway on Wednesday late afternoon we landed up in London wondering around Trafalgar Square - St Martins in the Field , drinking in the atmosphere, when we saw cheap tickets going for The Lion King . I decided to treat us. Wow what a fantastic show. Thats why we are here!!! I felt quite tearful at the start of the show thinking "I am actually in London at a theatre" it had been a long time coming, planning preparing etc etc.
Yesterday (Good Friday) we travelled back to Teddington. Our friends have gone to Prague for the weekend. We are enjoying their apartment once again. Hence my time on the travel blog today. Guess what we walked up to Teddington and explored the shops. I am in my element charity shops galore . Every suburb (highSt) has about 6 of them. It actually snowed when we were out today. I was really excited.
Guess what this morning the women phoned about the nannying job. I start Tuesday . I will be looking after 3 girls 4.6 and 11 years. Taking them to school and kindy etc . Monday to Thursday 8.15am to 6.45pm. Yeh I can buy the groceries . I had just said I would like to walk to work . I have read the book Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, a lot so the stuff I did not think applied to me but the bit I was holding onto was "All my needs are taken care of as I follow my Higher Path". Hey got to wrap up and go out in the cold again. Take care ..................xo
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olive
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Hi Guys. Whew you seem to have covered a lot of bases already in London. Yes Anita I had my wages go into the bank. Helped me not spend it plus i could use the eftpos card on line when booking travel etc. Thailand looked lovely as always. Gret to see the photos of you both there enjoying yourselves after all that planning. We have been having awesome weather and have deen lulled into afantasy that it will continue forever but I think that bubble will be burst soon. Keep enjoying those experiences and Anita at least you can give the kids back at the end of the week. Take care adventurers x Olive