Welcome to Leytonstone

I moved to Leytonstone East London 4 weeks ago today and I'm getting to know the area, mostly by bus. Joe's a walker though so today we took a stroll around the neighborhood behind my house and the High Road that I live on.

Like a lot of London, it's a mix of beautiful old buildings and junky fried chicken chains.

Southeast meets East

Joe deigned to cross the river and come up to East London to see the new flat today.




We relaxed on my rooftop patio eating donuts and we took a walk around the area.










I made him read Where the Wild Things Are, which he'd never read. You can tell he has an MA in Creative Writing as he studies it intently.

Italian English

Pete makes sauce now (thank you very much). Here's the first dish of macaroni he made. I'm so proud.


And yes it's good!

When stereotypes are true

Here's me trying to get home from grocery shopping recently. It wasn't even overcast when I left my house (without an umbrella of course).

The trolley was drenched and I also was carrying two bags. Waiting for the bus. Ah, London.

First Guest!

Sarah moved back to London this week and completely surprised me in doing so. She showed up outside my work on Thursday, as I was texting her in Scotland! It's great to have her back, and she was over last night - my first official guest.

Goodbye to Lewisham

I've lived in Lewisham since I moved to London and it's been a great home. I love South East London (despite what everyone "north of the river" has to say about it). I officially checked out of my apartment today and took my last trip on the 321 bus and the DLR. It was pretty sad! Even though I really like my new place and area, and my boyfriend isn't so bad either.

Farewell.

6x in 2 years

I moved on Saturday. My mom rightly pointed out the other day that I have now moved six times in just over two years.

You may recall my very first blog post in which I reference the four bags I brought with me to London. Four. Where did the rest of this stuff come from?

Not to mention the two garbage bags of clothes that Pete and I brought to the charity shop immediately before the movers arrived ...

Pre-move Chinese food

I'm moving!
Moving to East London, (way) closer to the bf and the church I've been going to. Can't wait! I got my keys last Saturday and I'm moving in next Saturday. I'll be living on a main road, two flights above a Chinese restaurant. I am so classy. Pete and I had lunch there on Saturday so that I could start to have warm feelings about this place I will soon smell like.


(Actually the apartment doesn't seem to smell like Chinese food, which is a relief).

More pictures to come once I'm in.

London Friday

After work Friday, we walked around Covent Garden a bit and had a great dinner. Pete was hungry and wanted a dinner that was, in his words, "Grrrr." (We had huge burgers at GBK).

It was a nice summer night and we walked over to Trafalgar Square to check out who was on the Fourth Plinth. The Fourth Plinth is an empty platform in the Square and is currently being used for this "living art" project. Over 3 months, 2400 people will each have an hour up there to do whatever they want!

So we saw this old guy who was up there. Basically he seemed to have this bag of shirts. He'd put a shirt on, walk around the Plinth once, then take it off and put another one on. I think the shirts were from different countries. Or something.


Also in Trafalgar Square they were setting up for a live demonstration show thing on Saturday of free running. I had never heard of it, which shocked Pete. (Click the link for more info, it's very cool).

Anyway it was nice to walk around and sit on the steps on this lovely summer evening.

Zia

My brother and his wife are having a baby! Here's my mom putting a picture of the ultrasound on her fridge. Aw.

Zia is "aunt" in Italian. I want to be called Zia Mindy.