Farewell My Fair London

I can hardly believe I am writing this (bleary eyed, tearful… and from the trusty squeaky airbed that sort of deflated in the middle of the night) but it’s my very last day in London. This city has been so many things to me, it knocked the stuffing out of my 18-year-old-attitude-problem-self, it taught me how to use an escalator, how to walk at constant breakneck speed, how to cross the concourse of Victoria station at rush hour. I have seen the world from the city, met some fantastic people, gotten married, passed my driver’s licence (no mean feat in this city), cheered my husband on as he passed his degree and finally, had our Australian dream realised. There is a part of me that will always consider myself a Londoner to the core. This city is incredible and I am certain I will look back at these last 8 years and think, WOW. It’s now time for a new adventure. Sydney, here we come!

I’ll be taking a wee break from blogging while the craziness commences. I am spending a few days in Malaysia to break up the journey and hopefully get some much needed rest (on the luxury of an actual bed) before we head to Sydney next week. So the next time I blog, it will be from my new home. Thanks so much for all your words of encouragement over the past few months, it has continually kept a smile on my face. And I am convinced it is you guys who are responsible for my unusual, but welcome, zen like state.

The burbs revisited!

I am currently writing this from the discomfort of an air bed, which along with a few pieces of cutlery and crockery, are the only items of furniture left in our house. I’m feeling a little fragile with bruised knees, broken nails and an alarmingly sore throat after yesterday’s packing-the-shipping-crate fun and games. But despite all this, it was super cool to see our belongings begin their journey to Sydney. I’ll be spending the next couple of days cleaning the house and generally freaking out (in a good way). I thought for my last London post that we could take another walk down memory lane to the neighbourhood that has been my home for the past 5 years. If I could do it all again, I would still never live anywhere else in London.

P.S – apologies for my absence in blogland of late but it’s all been a little bit hectic… and it’s only bound to get worse. I promise to catch up on all your news soon!

All images via Wishful Thinking

End of an Era

It’s my last day of work today and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t just a tad emotional (ok, maybe a bit more than a tad). I have made some wonderful friends that I will miss for many years to come. I was fortunate enough to nab a job in Conservation Architecture and working in the UK, it doesn’t get any better than that. As with every job, I have had endless ups and downs but over the past year or so, the ups have far outweighed the downs. I’ll clock out and wave goodbye with a very heavy heart at the end of today.

I’ll leave you with some of my favourite site pictures at Hampton Court. I was lucky enough to help out on a site survey for every Friday for 6 months last year. These ancient roofs hold some of my favourite memories.

The City Revisited

I’m feeling a little fragile (again) this morning after yet another leaving party so please forgive my lack of words this morning. I am conscious of the fact that it sounds like I am a major lush but it’s less than 2 weeks (eeeeeeeeekkkkk!!!!) until we jet off to Australia and my very last week of work so celebrations are in full force. I never thought I would say this but thankfully social gatherings are now winding down and we are going to spend the weekend moseying about London just taking in the surroundings for the last time. Starting with one of my favourite places in London, The City.

London Cans Festival Revisited

After yesterday’s post, I am still on a bit of a colour kick! So I consulted my archives to find some seriously colourful London shots. Given the endless grey days and long winters, finding colour in London is no easy feat, unless you head to the famous graffiti tunnel near Waterloo station. I am not sure what it looks like now (I imagine it has all been needlessly tagged over) but we were fortunate enough to visit it a few days after the grand unveiling of the Cans Festival in 2008 – where famous graffiti artists all over the world were given free reign by the local authority to strut their stuff. 

All images via Wishful Thinking