life turned upside down

we are now a few weeks into our big move and at times it feels like having moved to the other side of the world life for all has been turned upside down. if you are not sure what this feels like try this:

life's a little bit like this at the moment!!

it wont be long till it stabilises though.

game on

Sue reminded me today that we have been working for over a month (her and I she was talking about) so its really game on. to date life has been good, but the weather has played a part in this (it has been really mild).

London is just a world away from Perth. it has so many pluses, but its negatives are so much bigger.

there are just so many "everythings" here. for every thing you can find in Perth there are a hundred in London (think beautiful women/men, handbags, shows, sports events, PUBS - they are everywhere) but the reverse is 100s of everything and everything everywhere you go.

I am getting to feel like a vole/mole (i have never spent so much time underground before).

i am also getting used to the social etiquette of big places (some people - mostly women - just cant seem to accept an offer of help to carry their obviously too heavy suitcase or bag up the underground steps here). Oh Well - sooner or later i will just carry my fat butt and paper up the stairs like all the other men around town.

I have noticed that you do change if you travel at peak hours on the tube - you get protective of your place on the platform and you try to work out where the doors will open so you get a seat. if you are too polite you stand with your hands up over your head for a while (so you dont get accused of touching someone up). while this can be a challenge i have already had some wonderful up close and personal experiences on crowded trains with my hands up over my head - there are truly some beautiful people riding the trains here (think of the power of hundreds every day).

I have yet to meet a true "dickhead" here, but i am sure my turn will come.

Until i sort out a new camera no new photos, but i did do a boy shop today - two news suits, two business shirts, two ties, a new belt and a new overcoat which could last for 100 years (ex silver fish) all for a very reasonable price. all this and a "new friend" and an offer of a trip to a Chelsea game - we will see.

moving time

we have sorted out some accomodation and the girls moved in yesterday. I am moving the rest of our stuff tomorrow. the house is lovely - it has been freshly painted and has new carpets and the owners (richanda and nick) have also been great leaving linen, towels, kitchen stuff and some beers.

the street view - not quite how it looks now - http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&q=18+bushnell+road,+balham,+sw17+8qp&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=18+Bushnell+Rd,+London+SW17,+UK&ei=MWTGSvO6Cc-04QaF67nHAQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1

the place has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and it is quite spacious by UK standards. there are no gardens to worry about (fan-bloody-tastic).

the rent is not cheap, but in the scheme of things it is really reasonable

my feet are sore and the camera has died

Went for a bit of a wander around london today - actually walked around for a couple of hours non-stop. the weather is still perfect. took a few photos, but now the camera does not want to work properly. Have managed to get the photos off the memory card however.

Fairy Land - from a little bridge over a little lake (amazing roof line in the middle of town).

a garden photo for Fi

this little garden jumped up in a walk around the place we might live. it was clearly a "Fi" garden

lov u

images of london town

I love London - it has some truly superb architecture, great parks and beautiful people. It is fashion week in town this week, but it doesnt matter this can be a really glam place (i saw my first 10 bottom today - sorry there is no picture but believe me this was a picture perfect derriere). now for the lame stuff:

The contrasts are amazing - pity about the tree which is "out of place"
















A great window in the back of a "church" i think



















Sue and me (covent garden)

Our mates if they make it

opera (for a gold coin) in covent garden (buy some lunch and a beer and be entertained - for free)

cool bike (park lane - i think)

hyde park - great place in the "centre of town"

memorial to the Bombing victims - sad but serene

a "forest and brook" in the middle of the park (complete with friendly squirrels)

cant wait for tomorrow (there has to be another 10 out there somewhere and another interesting image).

Mr B and Richmond

Today we met up with Mr B (a friend from Australia) and we had a wonderful lunch on the banks of the thames today (thank you Mr B). the weather has blessed us as we have had 5 days straight of mid 2o days.

After lunch we went back to Balham and signed up for a house. Subject to reference checks we have somewhere to live at least for the next 12 months.

tomorrow we will sleep in, have breakfast/brunch at home and then have a "cultural day".