Okay so, sincere apologies for taking an unplanned hiatus there.
Canada was great over the holidays. It was a glorious three and a half weeks, despite being snowed in for a great deal of it. As probably anyone could’ve predicted, I didn’t see as many friends as I wanted to, but the weather had other ideas. It was full of rest and relaxation and Christmas and birthday celebrations and leaving was tough. Most of the time was spent seeing friends and family, shopping, fretting about the weather, or marathoning West Wing.
(Chris has just informed me that he started a blog post while I was gone over the holidays that he didn’t finish, so now we’re racing. I am going to lose, though, because uploading photos takes a long time and Chris takes the easy way out.)
I got back to London just over two weeks ago. The day after I landed, our friend Colin returned to London from Penetanguishene, so we spent a day in London with him before he headed to Nottingham. Otherwise, things have been a bit slow. Classes are great, I’ve started three new ones and so far they’re great. Chris is very busy at work, and we’ve spent every single evening (and sometimes days) looking for a new flat. But we’ve finally found one! We can move on February 7th, so now we just need to find someone to take our current room and we’re golden.
The new place is A LOT closer to campus, and about equidistant to where Chris’ new office will be when the company moves over to Bank station, the one they’re renovating. It’s on the fifth floor (but really, sixth, because the Brits [or Europeans? Non-North Americans maybe?] number their floors differently) of a walk-up apartment building. It has lots of windows, and it ISN’T a studio. But the best part is: no flatmates! We’re pretty excited. It’s near the tube in an area that has lots of grocery/restaurant/shopping options.
It came about in a bit of a funny way. On Thursday afternoon Chris went to an open house, called me on my lunch and told me the place was great. But, because it was an open house, it became a bidding situation. We had no idea how to go about bidding on it, so we took a stab in the dark and put a bid in. I didn’t expect we’d get it, and when we didn’t hear back from the agent the next morning I assumed we didn’t get it and I put it out of my mind. On Thursday night I went to view a different flat without Chris, and I really liked it. The agency allowed me to put a holding deposit on it, buying us until Saturday at noon to make a decision. The plan was, Chris would view it Friday after work and we’d make a decision. But at 4 pm on Friday we heard that we won the bid on the first place. We only had one hour to decide if we wanted it and to make the deposit. There was no way I could see if before 5, and there was no way Chris could see the other one before 5. So Chris told me about it. It was in a very, very nice area, the same one we stayed in when we first arrived in London and were staying in the hostel. It was a studio, quite a large room with a kitchenette but shared bathroom with 5ish other people. Basement level, one big window but wouldn’t let in that much light. Cheaper base rent, but zero bills included. Not much closer to campus/work than we are now. The one I saw was in a nicer area than we’re in now, but not as nice an area as the one Chris saw. Top floor with tons of windows, smaller place but separate kitchen and a private bathroom. Higher base rent but all bills included. A lot closer to campus. So we spent a very tense 15 minutes trying to figure out what to do, and decided to go with the one I saw. Chris still hasn’t seen the place, because Friday after work didn’t pan out (but as some of you might recall, I seem to be fairly deft at picking out our apartments sans Chris). But it’s ours! I went back to the agency and confirmed we’d take it. So February 7th!
The first week I was back was dull; I had two assignments due on my first Friday back. Yesterday we checked out Borough Market and walked along the Thames. Today I went to Spitalfields and Brick Lane markets, then met with some lovely ladies from the course for a late lunch/early supper in Bermondsey, right near London Bridge.
Tobi ❤ :
Poor guy would’ve ended up very far from home:
Deep fried Mac n Cheese! :
Borough Market (full of fresh-off-the-farm cheeses, meats, wines, and desserts):
The wonderful Shard:
Southwark Cathedral:
I’ve got some more photos but WordPress doesn’t want me to post them now? Not sure…I’ll get that sorted and get them up tomorrow!
Missing everyone back home. If you’re getting hit hard with cold and snow right now, stay safe!
Love Meg
Bags of Milk 