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Published: November 15th 2005
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London is pretty much AWESOME! I have been having a great time here- things are working out really well and it has all been decidedly easy. I have not updated my blog much because I have not been taking that many pictures. I feel much more self conscious here seeing as I am not just a tourist and it is hard enough looking normal with my A-Z in one hand without adorning the other with my digi-cam!
Though while doing the London thing and traveling to work on the tube in the morning, I was highly amused by the advertisement that was opposite me on the wall of the tube (which was probably very un-London of me). The advertisement for the new "I want to be a Hilton Show" suggesting that slim Chihuahua's were chic, and plump ones were not.
Being the former owner of a somewhat podgy, but extremely endearing Chihuahua I was incensed. Yes, I know it is embarrassing, I owned a Chihuahua and yes, even worse it was before they were fashionable (though apparently poor little Merlin never would have been without extensive pilates and a change from his typical Atkins’ style dog-diet). But having lived
with the apparently 'Chic' anorexic Chihuahua version, who was all of the things that give Chihuahua's a bad reputation- snappy, yappy and hyperactive- I can only presume that it comes down to bag design. Apparently Versace do not make ergonomically designed back packs to comfortably carry your portly Chihuahua while avoiding back strain.
So I did what was so un-London it was unthinkable and I went back with my camera and took a picture (mostly for mum, could I get any less London right now!). I guess I really can’t hide that I am a NZ tourist in London for too long.
I have brought the camera with me to work today as well so I think I will tootle down Regent Street and get some pictures of the truly beautiful Christmas lights that are everywhere. I was very determinedly not getting Christmassy seeing as I am not looking forward to a year away from my immediate family. However even with my determined non-christmas attitude I still find the lights rather gorgeous.
Errol and I parted ways. He was good company, though I did find it a bit stressful, what with all this bird flu etc… I
was worried I might wake up one day to find him on the floor of his cage. But he obligingly stayed around, occasionally eating enough to last till he was returned to his rightful owners.
I got a temping job working for a Hotel Company called ‘Wyndham International’ being a PA for one person (Roy). To be honest I do nothing except answer the phone, which is usually Roy, and then I read him his emails. I am looking after the office while the real PA is away, and she is due back at the end of this week from her holiday in Hawaii. However the position was a god send because I was able to concentrate on getting a job, and Roy pretty much let me have any time off to go to interviews that I wanted (and I still got paid!) And I get to work in Mayfair over looking the Ritz which is all rather posh!
So I went for a few of positions through agencies, and websites. I went to one and got a little bit of the “so your qualified but have no experience, I’ll bet you think you are so awesome don’t
you?” attitude that I got in New Zealand… but obviously that is a world wide phenomenon. I then went for an interview on Friday with a subsidiary of NHS -one of the names of the interviewers sounded familiar, so I busted out old google and found out that yes indeed, the interviewer went to Waikato and did the same degree as I did. That was certainly not what I expected when I came to London!
The day before on my way to the interview with anti-degree-PR-firm I had left an hour early and been there about half an hour early. So I decided that 45 minutes would be ample time seeing as it was closer to Mayfair… so I jumped on the tube and then I got another call for a job interview on Monday for a job that I really liked the look of (at this point I was feeling pretty much on fire) so I rushed out of Waterloo tube station (it looked closest) only to have NO idea where I was. In fact the street that the map said Waterloo station was on bore no relation to where I was. Turns out that the station is
Caitlin and I at 'the peoples palace'
We went ice-skating and watched fire works for Guy Fawkes. huge and has several exits which aren’t just on other sides of the road. So this little English lady took pity on my touristy composure of desperately clutching my A-Z whilst looking frantic, and sorted me out. But said that it was quite a walk, and I only had 15 minutes. So I ended up hailing a cab (yes, one of those little black ones) and getting him to drive me.
I went to my interview, with two fabulous New Zealander’s and got out and walked 2 minutes down the street and got a call from my recruitment agent (another fabulous New Zealander) who had just missed a call from the two at the job, but wanted to talk to me first. So I said it was great but I have this interview on Monday as well… and so then she talked to them and they wanted to offer me the job, so she came back to me and offered me more money.
I still took the weekend to think over it, but I took the job and it sounds like it is going to be great. It is a PA/Communications Assistant -so will start to give me
Alexandra Palace
'The people's palace' complete with Pub and skating rink. some experience related to my degree. YAY!
After all that excitement I decided it was time to do some serious celebrating and Rebecca and George came over to my flat. We had some drinks and then decided to trundle down to Piccadilly circus and try and go clubbing- we were somewhat thwarted by the cover charges that come into force (and what a mighty force they are) after 11pm and we couldn’t really afford to go into any. But we did check out all the pretty Christmas lights- and run into the problem of no toilets- and do the NZ thing and find a nice discrete area only to be interrupted mid, um, escapade by a rather unsympathetic cop on her arm- it was hilarious the next morning anyway!
The next day we went to watch the rugby in a pub in Soho. It was rather a mission to get there, through miscommunication Rebecca and I missed approximately two thirds of the game, but did arrive in time to see the end and cram in a couple of beers in this quaint pub, by which time sword dancers arrived downstairs. In a pub with rooms the size of my old sitting room and as many people as could possibly fit I decided not to risk sticking around for the sword. That and the soccer had started and the tone was quickly getting, well much like it would be if there was a big rugby game on in New Zealand!
Hardly recovered from the weekend in time to face work again on Monday morning. I am in serious need of an early night, but last night Nip/Tuck was on so I had to stay up and watch that. It’s great, I love that programme!
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Henny
non-member comment
inspiring :-)
Hello there I read your blog and I had so much fun reading it as I plan to move to london in July to get a BA in media studies :-) So just wanted to say good luck and have fun :) Greetings from Iceland :)