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Published: October 1st 2006
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We cannot believe we have already been living in London for about 6 weeks now and the time has certainly flown by. Whilst we are no longer on 'holidays' so to speak, it still feels like we are on an adventure - just with a day job!
After the Yorkshire trip we started our search for somewhere to live in London so that we could be settled in by the start of school term at the beginning of September. Before we left Australia Rachel had searched the net to look at places we could live, and we hoped to get a great little place in a trendy area of central London. However, it quickly became apparent that the London rental market (at this peak time of year anyway) is only interested in 12 month ('long let') leases. We could only get into the areas we wanted if we were willing to pay 'short let' prices ie. a decent place for £250 per week long let, was £450 a week short let! Extortion, but demand outweighs supply. We then downscaled to studios but these were basically rooms in large houses, and in many case were smaller than the hotel room we
Our London Pad
Its small but we like it - which is good considering this was our best option were staying in whilst looking. Anyway, luck was on our side when we stumbled on a company which specialised in short let apartments, mainly aimed at the corporate sector, about 250m south of Tower Bridge in central London. They are on the site of an old brewery, converted from old buildings and warehouses into apartments, which are really nice. Not only the nicest we had seen but were also at 'normal' prices. Whilst we didn't really have much of a choice where we ended up living, we have actually landed in a really great area with loads of great restaurants, pubs, and many of Londons' tourist attractions right on our doorstep.
You can check out where we live at the following link
SunlightResidential Of course the other major reason for being in London was to work and earn some money so we could fund the next part of our adventure - 12 months in Africa. Rachel had registered with quite a few teaching agencies before we left Australia, who all said that there was plenty of 'supply' work in London. I did the rounds of the Finance agencies and they too said no problem - with my experience
Our London Pad
Its small but we like it - which is good considering this was our best option I would get loads of work, although the definate finish date I had may mean I might have to be a little flexible on rates. What did come as a shock was the amount of money you can earn here and I can see why people come here to work and never leave. The London job market in Finance is strong, and the contract rates are crazy.
I quite quickly saw a contract job as a consultant on a project for the BBC, but after interviews, my end of December deadline was a problem (won't be so honest and upfront next time). With the BBC job gone and a few weeks now passed I was starting to get nervous. There was loads of work, but at my level they were all 6 months + which of course was no good. I got a call one friday for a role I was over qualified for, which I subsequently got offered the same day and would start on Monday. It wasn't a great role and the money was a bit dissappointing (more than I had initially expected to earn before we arrived in the country - but less than they said
Tower Bridge
A stunning bridge just minutes from our place I could earn) but it would see me right up till the end of the year and I was happy to get working again. However, I started and finished that job on the Monday (yes 1 day) as when I got home I found out that something had changed at the BBC and they wanted me to start asap (oh and by the way it was now at a higher rate of pay). So in a bit of a moral dilemma, I jacked in the other job first thing on Tuesday morning and started at the BBC in the afternoon. The BBC is a far better job and money, so I couldn't say no. Towards the end of the second week of school Rachel got a block at a school in East London, which is very challenging, but despite her long days she is enjoying the experience, albeit exhausted physically and mentally at the end of the week. London schools certainly seem to be challenging and I know I certainly couldn't do it.
Other than the house and job hunting we have really enjoyed our time in London and have tried to get out and about. We've done the
touristy things as you would expect and have enjoyed every one of them. Went to the Notting Hill Carnival with Rachel's mum and sister (Joy and Vanessa) at the end of August which was a great experience although the sheer number of people made it a bit scary at times. Other festivals (of which there seems to be nearly one every week in summer) were the Spanish Festival in Regent St, and the Thames Festival just near home. Explored the 'Southbank' area with Rachel's other sister Bec. Did the tour of Buckingham Palace for the first time and loved it,and of all the castles and palaces we saw in Europe it is just as special - probably more so for the fact that it's still a working palace and not just some museum like building. Did a tour of the Shakespear Globe Theatre, only a short walk from home, which is an exact replica of the original theatre from centuries ago. We have loads of things really close to us and have enjoyed walking along the Thames on the weekends (and visiting the many waterfront pubs!). We love the local 'Borough Market', a fresh produce market on a Friday and
Saturday, with fantastic foods on offer. We have visited the nearby parks and tried out many of the local pubs and restaurants (as a result of the latter Rachel decided it was time to join the local gym!!).
We have also had a couple of weekends out of London - we went to Southend (on the Essex coast) and celebrated Bec's birthday with Rachel's family, and spent a weekend down in Sussex with my Dad's family for my Uncle Bill's 60th birthday - a great bash in the local village hall. Fortuntely for us the weather has remained good and the UK has just had the warmest September for 380 years, so fingers crossed that it stays OK until we leave, although some snow would be a bit of a novelty!!!
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Derna
non-member comment
Enjoying your entries
Hi to you both, Glad to hear you are both well and enjoying yourselves. I'm very much enjoying your entries. All the family look really well too. Send our regards. Your little love shack looks very romantic :) Look forward to the next entry. All my love Derna.