I should tell you what's been happening

I got a haircut!!! Finally. Most money I've ever spent on a haircut, and best money ever spent on a haircut. A whopping £42, 4 inches of damaged hair, and a fantastic hairdresser later, I walked out of the salon with ringlets I haven't seen since I was 8.

These aren't great photos, but I had my hair tied in a bun this evening. I'll try to take a proper one this weekend, when my camera comes out at the party at MY NEW FLAT. YEEEEEAH. These were taken on my new Macbook Air from work, and the curls have all settled but it sits above my shoulders when curlier.

I found somewhere on the weekend, with two choice peoples plus some. It's in Whitechapel, which is awesome since it has a massive Sainsbury's, a great art gallery, a cinema across the road and a pub on the corner. (The Blind Beggar, apparently it's notorious says James,) and within walking distance to Brickland and Shoreditch and the few friends I have in London already. :D Whitchapel has a huge Bangladeshi community, and the biggest mosque in London is down the road, and there are lots of shops selling saris, and Arabic writing everywhere, which makes me very nostalgic for travels which seem a looooong time ago now. 

My new place has a balcony and a barbeque, a huge lounge, great bathroom and kitchen, is fully furnished so I don't need to worry about anything, and couchsurfers every month! (Y'all should come and stay.) My new flatmates are lovely, social, friendly etc, a German lass and an English lad. I will miss Jenny and James though! They have been wonderful, amazingly helpful and have spoilt me rotten.

AAAAAND, I booked flights to Greece with Nana in June! Yeaaaaaah!! Though then I found out that I'm such a noddy and had booked the wrong dates so might need to do some quick sorting out. But I can't wait! Such fun! White sands, good food, a sun that isn't grey! Nana G, some site seeing, history and art.... mmmmmmm. (And a blog that becomes more interesting again, I promise.)

Hey, does anyone know the easiest/cheapest/quickest way to transfer money from NZ to the UK?

And on a very proud note, Nana G climbed the mountain with my mum, dad and brother last week! Well done family. I'm glad I wasn't in the country. LOL.

Doesn't the weather look glorious? Jealous much...

Bed time I think. Night everyone! Or good morning NZ! Actually might be afternoon by now.... 

Go Wanda.

GRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAARGH

hI gUyS MY mINd IS EXPLODING WITH HOUSE HUNTING.

But I am getting a long a-waited haircut on Monday, super excited! I’ve had about three inches of straggly strange length split ends since leaving Nepal (I think the heat and dryness just killed the lot of it!)

Aaaanyway, I’m viewing lots of places this weekend, fingers crossed I find something perfect! The ones I’ve viewed have been great house, great people, bad location, or too expensive, or great location, bad place, blah blah blah and on it goes.

On Monday we had a day off of work and went ice skating at Somerset House (see here for footage :D) I got there early and got to wander around The Courtauld Gallery and got to see Cezanne’s Card Players, and a huge collection of impressionist, pos-impressionist and 18th century works! Sooooo pretty. These were my favourites.

  

Hope y’all enjoying the summer sun! I miss feijoas, having a tan, being able to wear t-shirts, tamarillos, the beach! I like London, but I love Wellington. I can’t wait to get properly settled here and learn to love London too.

Turning into a London Commuter..

Argh! The tube is madness! And apparently there’s a terror alert. Yay.

So I’ve just finished my first week at work – which is enjoyable, and a great place to work, and I got the low-down on what they actually do today, so that was nice, and interesting! I’m Office Manager at MetaBroadcast. Next week we’re going ice skating on Monday!

I’ve started the flat hunt, which is overwhelming but I think I just need to get stuck in. I went and saw an awesome flat last week which had over 30 people walking through having a look – no idea how the tenants will choose someone. I’ve decided i want to live within walking distance to work, (so, within 45 minutes walking) and possibly might look at a bicycle. I want to live with lots of social people so I can make more UK friends. I don’t think this is unattainable! Hopefully.

It was warmer today and reminded me of NZ a lot. Actually the music being played all day at work was really nostalgic, almost unbearably so at some points. It’s weird how music and smells can evoke such strong memories.

So my new year’s resolution is to go to a new country every month. I think I’m going to have to count this first month as the UK, unless I make it to Paris at the end of the month, but with flathunting I don’t know if it’ll happen! But these destinations are on my list for the year:

Croatia, Greece (with Nana in June!), Paris, Lisbon, Bucharest, Hungary, Berlin, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Edinburgh, Beirut!

Not a bad list. Just got to save lots of money now!

Happy New Year, Hello 2011!

It seems strange to think this is going to be my first year in a new country, new friends, new job, new home. I had a wonderful last year, finishing university, gaining work experience at the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Transport, finishing looking after Callum (who is so grown up, I can’t imagine how big he’ll be next time I see him!) ((Hi Callum, John and Mandy!)) Living in Wellington was amazing, as are my friends and family, and setting off travelling was the scariest thing I’ve done yet!

I had a great night New Year’s Eve in Shoreditch and ended up spending the whole weekend with her friends. (Beth was a bit poorly and didn’t make it out haha.) In the lunchtime we walked down Brick Lane which was still heaving, and completely surreal with clubbers still lining up, looking a little worse for wear, and the street and buildings shaking from the bass. Now I need to find someone to go clubbing with!

I start work on Tuesday, and realised that I’ve kinda mucked around a bit over the past month. Ah well! I’m looking forward to work, and have started flat hunting.

My New Year’s Resolution is to visit one country a month this year! Wooo! So many opportunities from London! Maybe my blog posts will get more interesting again.