Textick

Originally Written 27th of November, 2007

Guess what? Yesterday was exactly two years since James and I left Australia, and today is exactly three years since James and I first met. Where oh where oh where has the time gone?? I’m feeling contemplative, and so I thought I’d…I don’t know…recap the last two years of my life. I guess I want to do it for myself, to see what I’ve achieved over the past couple of years, and I thought maybe you’d like to see it as well. This kind of arises from me being quite freaked out that two years have passed since James and I first left Perth for Singapore (26th of November 2005). Plus, I thought it’d be fun!

So! Since 26th of November, 2006, we have travelled to:

Singapore
Vietnam
Laos
Thailand
Malaysia
Switzerland (Zurich, Luzerne)
Liechtenstein
Germany (Munich, Berlin, Stuttgart, Leipzig)
England (London, Newcastle, York, Rye, New Forest, Hastings, Battle)
Scotland (Glasgow)
Republic of Ireland (Dublin, Cork)
Czech Republic (Prague)
Latvia (Riga)
France (Paris)
Belgium (Brussels)
The Netherlands (Amsterdam, Utrecht)
Cuba (Havana, Santa Clara, Trinidad)
Hong Kong
Canada (Calgary, Banff, Vancouver)
USA (Seattle)

…and I think that’s it! Our holidays planned for the future are to Germany (Freiburg in the Black Forest), Norway (Oslo), France (Nice), Spain (Madrid over Easter, and Malaga in the Summer), England (Liverpool), and possibly Uist in the Hebrides in May and a trip back to Perth in October.

Since being in London we have seen the following plays:

All About My Mother
Fame
We Will Rock You
Avenue Q
Slava’s Snow Show
Macbeth
Woman in Black
Equus
Satyagraha
Antony & Cleopatra
Blue Man Group
Little Shop of Horrors
Ricky Gervais Live

…and tonight we’re going to see Blood Brothers. I don’t think I’ve missed any plays from the above!

In the past two years, we’ve seen the following bands live (and this will REALLY test my memory!!! I think I’ll need to go back over my calendar for this one!):

The Decemberists
Art of Fighting
The New Pornographers
Einsterzende Neubauten
Bauhaus
Muse
Arcade Fire
Jose Gonzales
The Hives
Spoon
Happy Mondays
The Young Gods
The Scientists
Air
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Bright Eyes
Modest Mouse
The Black Keys

…and possibly more, but I can’t remember!

Over the past two years, I’ve been promoted twice and am now managing the membership department of a national charity. I’m really happy in my job, am learning so much every day, and work with an amazing group of people. James has worked at:

Framfab
Nature Publishing Group
BBC
The National Archives
Office of Rail Regulation

…and now is permanent at Transport for London.

We’ve made an amazing circle of friends, some new, some old, and some people we weren’t that close to in Perth but are now good friends with. I’ve joined a book club and a writer’s group, and James has started a Spanish class. We’ve had adventures, from flying to Holland to help our injured housemate, to stopping a daylight rape in London, to going to the opening of the London Transport Museum. We’ve seen many museum exhibitions, we’ve stayed up all night staggering around the streets of Soho, we’ve stayed in all night watching British TV shows, we’ve gotten up early to listen to news from home, we’ve seen TV shows being filmed, and we’ve even seen a few celebrities! We’ve gone to Camden markets for lunch on many occasions, we’ve eaten in amazing restaurants (and some not so amazing ones!). We’ve chased squirrels and admired wild horses. We’ve thrown snowballs and stomped in piles of Autumn leaves. We’ve walked in Richmond Park, Hyde Park, Regents Park, St. James’ Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park, and more. We’ve been to Buckingham Palace. We’ve seen castles (both in use and in ruins). We’ve driven on the wrong side of the road. We’ve eaten frogs legs. We’ve gotten lost in Central London. We’ve eaten three vendor hotdogs in one night. We’ve tried to get on the last train home using staff passes (although we can’t remember when!). We’ve been yelled at by cranky men on public transport. We’ve had to catch a bus from far East London to far West London at midnight. We’ve been to Peckham and survived. We’ve been inside the House of Commons.

But more than all this, we’ve had a hell of a lot of fun here. I know people complain about the weather (and today’s grey, dank weather is not very encouraging!), but we’ve never, ever been bored. There is no end to the things we can do here. We never stop taking advantage of life here, and every week we do something unique and special that we could only do in London. Sometimes, walking down the street, you’ll turn a corner and see a massive landmark (the Gherkin, the Eye, Big Ben, all of the above!), and you just take a moment and breathe it all in and think ‘Wow. I live in London!’. It really is the most beautiful, vibrant, exciting city. Even when it’s grey and overcast, I don’t get down. Instead, I think of where I am, how lucky we are to be here, and how amazing our lifestyle is. I was never a beach person. I’m not crazy about heat (although blue skies don’t go astray!). I do miss family and friends and barbecues and cruising along highways with my windows down, but I don’t miss the lack of the theatre, the small number of gigs, the expensive concerts, the limited museum exhibitions. Every time I do something like that here, I can’t help thinking ‘I would never have been able to do something like this in Perth.’ Perth will always be home, but London is definitely my life right now. Maybe in a few years, maybe after we’ve seen the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, maybe when we get tired of expanding our cultural experiences, but right now, at this moment, at the two year mark, all I can see is years more spent here, and it makes me feel so…satisfied, comfortable, settled, happy.

So! That’s it. That’s the last two years, and thoughts on the next two (and more!) years. James and I are still really happy together (not sure if he’d say the same!!!), and we love our flat. We’re very settled, and are ready for three years and more together (although he’s finally tired of doing anything I ask, which sucks for me - haha!). Now all we need is a home of our own, two cats and a pet hamster.

Life is sweet.

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