I think I got out of the wrong side of the bed today and then to make matters worse, accidently put on my cranky pants..perfect start to another day of house hunting wouldn't you think? and so after seeing a handful of places, some lovely and some you couldn't pay me to live in, I quickly got over it....
I had stupidly got my hopes up on a particular place for which the viewing appointment fell through at the last minute...so, unfortunately for my dear Andrew, I was left with a bad case of the irrits wanting nothing to do with being a responsible and mature house hunting adult but only to find a cafe somewhere and forget my sorrows over some sort of pudding...a chocolate one, with ice cream, and maybe hot custard?
But, alas, pudding would have to wait, afterall it would not be able to offer me a roof over my head (although I am entertained at the thought of how it might try), and so I pushed aside my tanty and continued on the search...and despite the blisters on my heels from walking from one place to the next, I was so happy that we did because we ended up finding the most adorable little place..
"Recognition House" an old english mansion that's been renovated and turned into a bunch of separate apartments...the one we looked at is referred to as the "West Wing" and is a split level apartment with a bedroom, bathroom, open plan kitchen and living area downstairs and then at the top of a cute little spiral staircase, a loft bedroom and ensuite...all with high ceilings and cute little church shaped windows that overlook the ivy (or something like it) covered walls of the opposite wing and a lovely pebblestone courtyard and garden...it's tiny, but bright and airy and just what we need!
However (don't you just love howevers?)...it's more than what we are hoping to pay and it's not as close to the station as we hoped...hmmm. Anyway, we've decided to go away and think about it and so here I am feeling all overwhelmed and pouty and again.Why exactly? I'm not sure? but I am
Now...Give me pudding!?
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
House Hunting
We've been hunting for a house today.
We've been in two minds about whether we want to live closer in towards the city or on the outskirts a bit, like where we currently are, in a quieter more countryside kind of neighbourhood. Anyway, at the moment we've chosen a starting point of Windsor. Yes. As in Windsor Castle. FLIP. How many rooms does one Queen need? that place is HUGE and it's only her "weekend residence" BLIMEY!
Annnyway....after a short drive filled with delightful arguments on how crappy my map reading is and why it is that men cannot stop and ask for directions, we eventually found ourselves in....Eton? Huh? Hang on. Damn you "Where is" can you EVER get directions right?
SO, after another short drive filled with wrong turns, reversing the wrong way up one way streets, doing loops on a number of roundabouts and cursing at the lack of street signs throughout England we found ourselves in.....Windsor. Woohoo! Ok, well almost, actually we found ourselves in the carpark of some strange little takeaway in the middle of nowhere but the real estate lady who was meant to meet us about 30min prior, whilst we were visiting Eton, came and found us and lead us in the right direction! (insert sigh of relief here)
Now before you all wonder why it is that we are looking at houses in Windsor when we have the city of London just up the road, well there are a couple of reasons...
Firstly... London itself is very expensive, sure there are some places around the city we have the budget for but our money will go a little further in Windsor, you know, maybe even a whole extra half square metre of living space! or a better example might be that we're looking at places on the same street as the Queen of England's holiday house!
Secondly, it's a closer commute for Andrew to get to his office than if we were to be in the city yet still only a half hour commute for me (on a train) should I get a job in London.
And thirdly, Windsor is basically just a cool place! It's one of the most popular places to visit in all of England and it's easy to understand why. I mean the Queen likes to hang out there! but in short, cause I've only seen a little bit of it so far, it's got a station (this is a bonus), a great shopping mall area with all the stuff we need, and it's good shopping, not just your typical Ezza Fezza, it's safe (there are royal guard people all over the place), everyone we spoke to who either lives there or is familiar with the area raves about it, there's lots of cobblestone paths, old historical buildings, green open spaces, a local cafe owner thought that we were Australian TV soap stars (points for her), there is a flipping medieval castle at the end of the street AND Legoland! Yes. Legoland! Awwwwesome.
So. Thats a very basic outline of Windsor. We've only looked at a couple of places there at this stage (one of which is a renovated apartment INSIDE a convent...like with all the hallways and arch shaped doorways and old church style windows and gardens and courtyards. It's beautiful!) but we've got more places to see on Saturday...Will let you know how we go. In the meantime, please say prayers for us that we find the right place, that we end up right where we're meant to be, whether it be in Windsor or elsewhere...why thank you!
xxx
We've been in two minds about whether we want to live closer in towards the city or on the outskirts a bit, like where we currently are, in a quieter more countryside kind of neighbourhood. Anyway, at the moment we've chosen a starting point of Windsor. Yes. As in Windsor Castle. FLIP. How many rooms does one Queen need? that place is HUGE and it's only her "weekend residence" BLIMEY!
Annnyway....after a short drive filled with delightful arguments on how crappy my map reading is and why it is that men cannot stop and ask for directions, we eventually found ourselves in....Eton? Huh? Hang on. Damn you "Where is" can you EVER get directions right?
SO, after another short drive filled with wrong turns, reversing the wrong way up one way streets, doing loops on a number of roundabouts and cursing at the lack of street signs throughout England we found ourselves in.....Windsor. Woohoo! Ok, well almost, actually we found ourselves in the carpark of some strange little takeaway in the middle of nowhere but the real estate lady who was meant to meet us about 30min prior, whilst we were visiting Eton, came and found us and lead us in the right direction! (insert sigh of relief here)
Now before you all wonder why it is that we are looking at houses in Windsor when we have the city of London just up the road, well there are a couple of reasons...
Firstly... London itself is very expensive, sure there are some places around the city we have the budget for but our money will go a little further in Windsor, you know, maybe even a whole extra half square metre of living space! or a better example might be that we're looking at places on the same street as the Queen of England's holiday house!
Secondly, it's a closer commute for Andrew to get to his office than if we were to be in the city yet still only a half hour commute for me (on a train) should I get a job in London.
And thirdly, Windsor is basically just a cool place! It's one of the most popular places to visit in all of England and it's easy to understand why. I mean the Queen likes to hang out there! but in short, cause I've only seen a little bit of it so far, it's got a station (this is a bonus), a great shopping mall area with all the stuff we need, and it's good shopping, not just your typical Ezza Fezza, it's safe (there are royal guard people all over the place), everyone we spoke to who either lives there or is familiar with the area raves about it, there's lots of cobblestone paths, old historical buildings, green open spaces, a local cafe owner thought that we were Australian TV soap stars (points for her), there is a flipping medieval castle at the end of the street AND Legoland! Yes. Legoland! Awwwwesome.
So. Thats a very basic outline of Windsor. We've only looked at a couple of places there at this stage (one of which is a renovated apartment INSIDE a convent...like with all the hallways and arch shaped doorways and old church style windows and gardens and courtyards. It's beautiful!) but we've got more places to see on Saturday...Will let you know how we go. In the meantime, please say prayers for us that we find the right place, that we end up right where we're meant to be, whether it be in Windsor or elsewhere...why thank you!
xxx
The Castle. Rollsy? Do you think our budget will stretch this far?
Hmmm. No? oh okay :(
maybe this far?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
A bit of sightseeing...
So once we arrived we had a few days to look around before Andrew had to start work. If we were here on holidays, a few days in London would need to be jam packed in order to see everything, but we've got a while, so basically we went out with no plans and just took the first few days as they unfolded.
Here are some photos of us and our first, of what I'm sure will be many, aimless wanders through one of the most incredible cities in the world. I think I'm going to like it here!
(If you're on facebook you've probably already seen these photos)
Here are some photos of us and our first, of what I'm sure will be many, aimless wanders through one of the most incredible cities in the world. I think I'm going to like it here!
(If you're on facebook you've probably already seen these photos)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
An afternoon in the cafe down the street.....
"She's not from around here" I can feel them thinking, they aren't unfriendly as such but they do look at me strangely. It's cold today (again) and I'm dressed in layer upon layer of mismatched clothes, topped off with an old hoodie, no makeup and bed hair, and, I'm alone, it's just me, my ipod and my latte...oh and a camera, a big imposing one, thats got to be a giveaway...and so I sit and write and listen and watch...
I'm surrounded by people coming and going, catching up with friends, colleagues, family and I picture myself in one of those movie scenes, you know the ones where the main character sits and stares into space and time for them almost stands still while everyone around them rushes past in fast forward, the hour hand on the clock spins by almost out of control until eventually the cafe cleaner puts the last of the chairs up on a table and interrupts the daydreaming "Excuse me, we're closing now mam" and time comes to a halt, so I grab my coat, pull my beanie over my head, fumble through my pockets to find some coins to pay for my numerous hot beverages and out I go into the dark, the cold, the bell ringing on the frosted door as it closes behind me...
BUT until then, I will sit, I will write, listen and watch and most likely (for those of you who know me well) I will count...how many chairs, how many tables, how many big red lamp shades hanging from the ceiling, how many woolen beanies and on how many brunettes (32,14,3, 5 and 1 by the way).
I will wonder, I will daydream...I will order another latte.
It's raining outside.
A lady comes in from the cold, she's dressed elegantly in a red woolen coat, white scarf and gloves, she smiles as she orders her latte and finds a seat in the corner of the cafe..soon she is greeted with the warmest of hugs from a younger woman, who seems to be her daughter...and they sit and they chat, they laugh and tell stories accompanied with exaggerated hand gestures and facial expressions...
Work colleagues sit opposite one another, with pen and paper they take notes on what appears to be a very serious conversation...in suit and tie he tries to contain his frustration while she with pursed lips quite obviously displays hers...
It's snowing.
Two friends catch up on gossip, shocked reactions and raised eyebrows shared between them as each tries to out do the other with their scandolous stories..
and my favourite...the dissheveled old lady, also on her own who trips and giggles to herself as she walks through the door..getting tangled in her scarf that drags on the floor she approaches the waiter, orders a tea and points to a delicate little treat on the cake stand...as she walks toward her table she peers into her handbag looking for a coin to give to charity, in this case a glass bowl on the counter hoping to save some rainforest somewhere...She takes a seat and drinks from her oversized cup and she too stares into space...at one moment her space meets mine and she catches my eye and smiles, her rosy cheeks full of cake, and I wonder if she's from out of town too.
Then...there's me and my ipod and Joni Mitchell...I sit and I write, I listen and I watch and I smile.
Did I mention it was snowing?
I'm surrounded by people coming and going, catching up with friends, colleagues, family and I picture myself in one of those movie scenes, you know the ones where the main character sits and stares into space and time for them almost stands still while everyone around them rushes past in fast forward, the hour hand on the clock spins by almost out of control until eventually the cafe cleaner puts the last of the chairs up on a table and interrupts the daydreaming "Excuse me, we're closing now mam" and time comes to a halt, so I grab my coat, pull my beanie over my head, fumble through my pockets to find some coins to pay for my numerous hot beverages and out I go into the dark, the cold, the bell ringing on the frosted door as it closes behind me...
BUT until then, I will sit, I will write, listen and watch and most likely (for those of you who know me well) I will count...how many chairs, how many tables, how many big red lamp shades hanging from the ceiling, how many woolen beanies and on how many brunettes (32,14,3, 5 and 1 by the way).
I will wonder, I will daydream...I will order another latte.
It's raining outside.
A lady comes in from the cold, she's dressed elegantly in a red woolen coat, white scarf and gloves, she smiles as she orders her latte and finds a seat in the corner of the cafe..soon she is greeted with the warmest of hugs from a younger woman, who seems to be her daughter...and they sit and they chat, they laugh and tell stories accompanied with exaggerated hand gestures and facial expressions...
Work colleagues sit opposite one another, with pen and paper they take notes on what appears to be a very serious conversation...in suit and tie he tries to contain his frustration while she with pursed lips quite obviously displays hers...
It's snowing.
Two friends catch up on gossip, shocked reactions and raised eyebrows shared between them as each tries to out do the other with their scandolous stories..
and my favourite...the dissheveled old lady, also on her own who trips and giggles to herself as she walks through the door..getting tangled in her scarf that drags on the floor she approaches the waiter, orders a tea and points to a delicate little treat on the cake stand...as she walks toward her table she peers into her handbag looking for a coin to give to charity, in this case a glass bowl on the counter hoping to save some rainforest somewhere...She takes a seat and drinks from her oversized cup and she too stares into space...at one moment her space meets mine and she catches my eye and smiles, her rosy cheeks full of cake, and I wonder if she's from out of town too.
Then...there's me and my ipod and Joni Mitchell...I sit and I write, I listen and I watch and I smile.
Did I mention it was snowing?
From time to time....
From time to time I might put some of my pointless "ramblings" on here too. I figure I'm going to have alot of "me" time this year which is always an opportunity for daydreaming and ridiculous thought patterns to be written on paper and in turn typed up and thrown into cyberspace...take them or leave them, I don't mind :)
xxx
xxx
Monday, February 22, 2010
Snow for breakfast
So this morning I woke up feeling kinda sad....after a few days of exploring the city and outskirts of London with my Andrew (which I will fill you in on later), he leaves me today to start work, and yes all the sympathy goes to him here. I'm not complaining about the fact that I'm currently a lady of leisure while he goes to win bread or however you say it, but it's my first day on my own and to be honest a little daunting, an opportunity to go exploring the amazing stationery shops that Andrew's not so keen on YES, but daunting nonetheless...Anyway I got up with him to have breakfast before he left and when we sat down we looked outside and there they were...the cutest little snow flakes one ever did see and THIS made me smile, actually it made me jump around with glee like a 4 year old and so another morning of snow, likely a total pain in the behind for everyone in England (sorry England) but a worthy cause of a spirit lift for me...anyway, it didn't snow for long but it certainly started my Monday off on a much nicer note than I expected. (Thanks God wink wink)Saturday, February 20, 2010
The story begins...
So here we are in London Town, well at the moment, just outside of London, northwest, in a little town called Gerrards Cross (there's a little map below), a bit of an "exclusive" suburb apparently, very quaint, very english, well what I've always imagined "english" would be anyway...lots of narrow little streets and laneways lined with townhouses and garden hedges. It's pretty. I like it. The main street has a few little shops and cafes and there is a train station right nearby which makes it super easy to get into the city, about a 20min ride.
We are currently staying in a hotel attached to the local pub, we'll be here for a couple of weeks until we find a house and so far the stay has been lovely...it's a quirky place, adorable actually, picture a set from a BBC soapie and there we are! The staff have been doing their best to make us feel "at home" and are so friendly and welcoming...We've been eating in the bar here most days where I find comfort in the fact that I'm starting to recognise the locals who come in on their way home from work, out of the cold for a pint of ale and plate of sausage and mash each evening...and so little bit by little bit we begin to settle in..
View Larger Map
We are currently staying in a hotel attached to the local pub, we'll be here for a couple of weeks until we find a house and so far the stay has been lovely...it's a quirky place, adorable actually, picture a set from a BBC soapie and there we are! The staff have been doing their best to make us feel "at home" and are so friendly and welcoming...We've been eating in the bar here most days where I find comfort in the fact that I'm starting to recognise the locals who come in on their way home from work, out of the cold for a pint of ale and plate of sausage and mash each evening...and so little bit by little bit we begin to settle in..
View Larger Map
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