the (half) pad

see that top window - that's our place. when i say 'our place' - its half our place - we share with another couple (yet still pay more than we would for our own 2bdr top notch place in say, south yarra - you may have heard london is expensive).

because every house in our very long street is virtually identical, about half the time i miss it and walk straight by. the other times i have to make a conscious effort to look out for it... approaching it slowly, wondering... is that it? yes, that's it...no, no... its that one. ok - yes, yes! that's it!

we have a good view from our front window. check out our dare devil neighbours.

so this is london

after st albans we moved to london nw3 4dj. i'm not exactly sure what our suburb is - its all postcodes around here. we are in north west london and near gospel oak (nearest railway), belsize park (nearest tube) and hampstead (nearest high street).

one of the best things about where we live is that its just below hampstead heath. this is a huge park brendan describes thus: in parts enchanted forest, in parts rolling hills, in parts grassy knolls and winding pathways, with long grasses, natural ponds and magnificent vistas and views.

the great thing is you can really get lost and feel like you are out in the country, but you are only 4 miles from the heart of the city - sweet!

find out more here: http://www.compulink.co.uk/~archaeology/hampstead-heath/index.htm

first stop: st albans (no, not that one)

i can not express how grateful we were to be able to stay at paris and trish's* place rather than some anonymous london hostel for our first few weeks in england. st albans is a lovely village north of the city (about 20 minutes on the express train). it is home to quaint houses, roman ruins, a cathedral, ye olde fighting cocks** and the aforementioned too many ducks.



fun fact: a train ticket into london from st albans costs £17 - that's nearly $40 - per day- each!





*brendan's sister and her husband
**a traditional english pub

before we start...

So you make this decision to come to London and you start getting ready for the big move and then you realise you are changing your whole life and that makes you pause momentarily and think, hmmm... why exactly do I want to go to London again? What do I know about England anyway?

I came up with this random list of pop culture references that make me feel good about our decision:

Enid Blyton, Oscar Wilde, Alice in Wonderland, afternoon tea, Nick Hornby, Little Britain, Badly Drawn Boy, Hugh Grant, The Famous Five, The Goodies, Britpop, the Sadler Wells ballet school, Absolutely Fabulous, What Not to Wear, Cold Comfort Farm, I Capture the Castle, mittens, Press Gang, Adrian Mole, Kate Moss, This Life, roses, guards at Buckingham Palace, posh people at boarding school, Roald Dahl (and Sophie), the Beatles and the Stones, the Blitz, Winnie the Pooh (old style of course)

but I fear my expectations may be slightly unrealistic!

this is us

really august 2007 - update of profile photo