This coming Monday, Peter and I will have been in London for exactly one year. Lucky for us, Monday is a bank holiday (English for public holiday) so we will be able to enjoy it even more!
So far we are planning to see a play showing at the Old Vic near Waterloo station called The Philadelphia Story. It has has some good reviews and stars Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Ehle (Lizzie out of Pride and Prejudice). We saw another one of Kevin Spacey's films earlier this year and enjoyed it, so we're hoping it will be a fun evening out.
Besides that, if the weather is good, we might head ouside during the day. But we have the whole long weekend to enjoy it :)
Next weekend (2-3rd September) we will be moving (oh the joy!) to our new place. More details will follow...
Friday, August 26, 2005
Thursday, August 25, 2005
What's your number?
Hi everyone.
My Australian SIM card has gone missing. I don't think it is stolen, it is just lost. The trouble is, it has all the contact numbers for my family and friends. I always save numbers to the SIM card so when I change mobile phones I don't lose the data. Unfortunately this has backfired on me, especially since I haven't saved many of the numbers elsewhere.
So if you would like to send me your contact numbers so I have them (this time they are being put in a safer place), please email pvasey 'at' tpg.com.au with the details.
My Australian SIM card has gone missing. I don't think it is stolen, it is just lost. The trouble is, it has all the contact numbers for my family and friends. I always save numbers to the SIM card so when I change mobile phones I don't lose the data. Unfortunately this has backfired on me, especially since I haven't saved many of the numbers elsewhere.
So if you would like to send me your contact numbers so I have them (this time they are being put in a safer place), please email pvasey 'at' tpg.com.au with the details.
Monday, August 22, 2005
On the move
Natalie and I received good news on Friday afternoon when a real estate agent told us that our offer for a 2 bedroom flat near Ealing had been accepted. I had only put the offer in Friday morning following a viewing Thursday night.
The place is very nice and is close to the tube station we need so that I can go to Ruislip to catch the mainline trains out to High Wycombe when my work moves at the end of next month. It will also give Natalie easy access to central London.
And so while the agent does all the checks to make sure we are worthy tenants, Natalie and I have the task of planning our move. First stop for Natalie has been to collect boxes to carry the things we have collected this past 12 months. We have books and food and other items which need transporting, along with our clothes.
It looks like our move will be about two weeks away as the place will probably not be ready until then.
The place is very nice and is close to the tube station we need so that I can go to Ruislip to catch the mainline trains out to High Wycombe when my work moves at the end of next month. It will also give Natalie easy access to central London.
And so while the agent does all the checks to make sure we are worthy tenants, Natalie and I have the task of planning our move. First stop for Natalie has been to collect boxes to carry the things we have collected this past 12 months. We have books and food and other items which need transporting, along with our clothes.
It looks like our move will be about two weeks away as the place will probably not be ready until then.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Wedding Anniversary
Well, we celebrated our first wedding anniversary on Sunday, 14th August. Happily, we didn't look at any properties, but spent the day relaxing. It was a nice repose from the regular activities.
We ended the evening with a lovely meal out in a small restaurant in Islington, just a bit north of where we live. It was a three-course special treat: and if I could cook steak as well as they can, there would be no need to go out for dinner! But alas, I cannot (...yet!).
Below are a couple of photos from the evening.
We ended the evening with a lovely meal out in a small restaurant in Islington, just a bit north of where we live. It was a three-course special treat: and if I could cook steak as well as they can, there would be no need to go out for dinner! But alas, I cannot (...yet!).
Below are a couple of photos from the evening.
Back to square one... almost
Well, today was a bit sad. We missed out on a property that we were hoping to get because of some mis-management by the landlord and the real estate agent. It was very disappointing.
So we're back at square one... almost. We now have an area to look around in, and we know what we would like in a flat - plus we know now what our money will get us. So that is a bit better than square one. Still, it is frustrating not to have it all sorted out yet. It looks like this weekend, at least, will be spent looking around again.
In other news, I am enjoying my work and getting to know my colleagues. I have also joined the local gym and am hoping to pick up my fitness again over the next few months without having to brave the cold (and wet) weather coming up.
We'll keep you posted re the new digs.
So we're back at square one... almost. We now have an area to look around in, and we know what we would like in a flat - plus we know now what our money will get us. So that is a bit better than square one. Still, it is frustrating not to have it all sorted out yet. It looks like this weekend, at least, will be spent looking around again.
In other news, I am enjoying my work and getting to know my colleagues. I have also joined the local gym and am hoping to pick up my fitness again over the next few months without having to brave the cold (and wet) weather coming up.
We'll keep you posted re the new digs.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
New London digs for Natalie and Peter
It has been a crazy time for Natalie and I over the last week or so. Really, ever since we arrived back in London we have been looking, searching, researching where we should move to when our stay at Goodenough ends in a few weeks.
I am pleased to say that this search appears to be drawing to a close. For a start, we have truly settled on a particular area of London. It is called Ealing and is located in the Western suburbs of London.
Ealing is very suburban and not like central London at all. It seems that many Australians and Kiwis call it home. I think I know why. It does seem more Australian in terms of it character than any other part of London I have seen.
I have also already spotted the Ealing Cricket Club which is always welcoming new playing and social members - or so the sign says. So that definitely be a port of call once we are settled in. One of the places we looked at during our search last weekend was actually across the road from the cricket club and its home ground. However, it didn't suit our needs.
Organising a rental property over here through Real Estate agents is quite different than in Australia. This is mainly because the process is styled heavily after that of actually purchasing a property. The price that you see in an advertisement is not a hard and fast price by any means. Anyone who generally accepts the advertised price could be classed as a bit of a sucker. So then you go into negotiations with a landlord, with the real estate negotiator in between. It's not a whole lot of fun as natalie and I are finding out. However, we are hopeful that within the next 24 hours or so we will have secured a rental property.
So hopefully we will be able to bring you some good news in the coming days.
I am pleased to say that this search appears to be drawing to a close. For a start, we have truly settled on a particular area of London. It is called Ealing and is located in the Western suburbs of London.
Ealing is very suburban and not like central London at all. It seems that many Australians and Kiwis call it home. I think I know why. It does seem more Australian in terms of it character than any other part of London I have seen.
I have also already spotted the Ealing Cricket Club which is always welcoming new playing and social members - or so the sign says. So that definitely be a port of call once we are settled in. One of the places we looked at during our search last weekend was actually across the road from the cricket club and its home ground. However, it didn't suit our needs.
Organising a rental property over here through Real Estate agents is quite different than in Australia. This is mainly because the process is styled heavily after that of actually purchasing a property. The price that you see in an advertisement is not a hard and fast price by any means. Anyone who generally accepts the advertised price could be classed as a bit of a sucker. So then you go into negotiations with a landlord, with the real estate negotiator in between. It's not a whole lot of fun as natalie and I are finding out. However, we are hopeful that within the next 24 hours or so we will have secured a rental property.
So hopefully we will be able to bring you some good news in the coming days.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Fascinating Ashes Series
The Ashes Series has come alive over the last couple of days.
Thanks to an injury to Glenn McGrath, England has been able to bat with a little more confidence. And their bowlers have taken advantage of the good totals England have scored.
But the second test is not over yet. The English are getting cocky.
But the BIG question is: will my fourth day tickets for the fifth test be worth anything?
Thanks to an injury to Glenn McGrath, England has been able to bat with a little more confidence. And their bowlers have taken advantage of the good totals England have scored.
But the second test is not over yet. The English are getting cocky.
But the BIG question is: will my fourth day tickets for the fifth test be worth anything?
Looking for New Digs
Today Natalie and I have been looking at apartments for us to move into late this month or early next month.
It has been good. We have found some nice places within our budget though none have been quite right, for various reasons. But we still have four weeks to find something.
On our way home we came through Tavistock Square. We didn't go out of our way, it was on our way home. It was kind of eerie to walk through it. This is on top of us travelling on the tube all the way to Russell Square on Thursday - the first day that station has been open since July 7. It didn't bother me that we were travelling on the tube through the centre of town, even though it was only four weeks and one hour since the bombings.
Life here in London has returned to normal. There has been a reduction in the patronage of the tube and of those visiting the centre of town to see theatre shows and visit restaurants. But life has moved on for most Londoners.
It has been good. We have found some nice places within our budget though none have been quite right, for various reasons. But we still have four weeks to find something.
On our way home we came through Tavistock Square. We didn't go out of our way, it was on our way home. It was kind of eerie to walk through it. This is on top of us travelling on the tube all the way to Russell Square on Thursday - the first day that station has been open since July 7. It didn't bother me that we were travelling on the tube through the centre of town, even though it was only four weeks and one hour since the bombings.
Life here in London has returned to normal. There has been a reduction in the patronage of the tube and of those visiting the centre of town to see theatre shows and visit restaurants. But life has moved on for most Londoners.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Back in London
After approximately 24 hours flying with Austrian Airlines, Natalie and I have made it back to our flat in London.
We are both tired but have managed to sort a few things out today. One of the first tasks has been to start in earnest our search for a new place to live. We have one month left in our current residence.
With regards to the flights, the trip was uneventful - as you like it to be. Despite it being my birthday when we took off from Sydney (and that I lost count of the number of people checking our passports) no one wished me a happy birthday. Not disappointed, but surprised.
The most interesting part of our trip was the delay in taking off from Vienna flughafen due to the Air Traffic Control computer system crashing. Planes were being sent out one at a time for safety which slowed everything dramatically.
Austrian Airlines are a good airline. We have experienced some mistakes made by them and they certainly don't rate up with Emirates or Singapore and Thai Airways. But Austrian are a match for United.
We are both tired but have managed to sort a few things out today. One of the first tasks has been to start in earnest our search for a new place to live. We have one month left in our current residence.
With regards to the flights, the trip was uneventful - as you like it to be. Despite it being my birthday when we took off from Sydney (and that I lost count of the number of people checking our passports) no one wished me a happy birthday. Not disappointed, but surprised.
The most interesting part of our trip was the delay in taking off from Vienna flughafen due to the Air Traffic Control computer system crashing. Planes were being sent out one at a time for safety which slowed everything dramatically.
Austrian Airlines are a good airline. We have experienced some mistakes made by them and they certainly don't rate up with Emirates or Singapore and Thai Airways. But Austrian are a match for United.
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