Living in London

I’ve just renewed the domain for this blog. Even though I haven’t updated properly with anything in ages – I just couldn’t bear to let it go.

Three years ago I started this blog because I was planning on a move to London. I was nervous, but excited. I worried about my job, driving, where I would live – everything. A year and two weeks later it had finally come to fruition, and I touched down in shitty Terminal 4 ready to start a new life. Today, I’m here, and life is good.

I should make a better effort in writing everything down (the stuff that doesn’t have to do with food, for example), but it’s tough. FPN emerged into more social media/PR by default of me preparing a job and country change, but the aim of the blog was always supposed to be ‘American in London’ crazy times. So, here’s a few things I’ve done that I’ve been proud of in the last year:

Went bouldering (this weekend, actually) at The Castle in Finsbury Park. My muscles feel like they’ve been put through an organ grinder
Travelled to Turkey, France and Romania (and going to Spain at the end of the month!)
Got a promotion
Discovered Percy Pigs, and finally got a taste for salt and vinegar on chips
Went to Wimbledon
Failed at ice skating
Managed to spend a majority of my summer weekends outside
Sat next to two out of three Harry Potter for two separate meals (Rupert Grint at V Festival, Emma Watson at my birthday dinner
Was introduced to the wonders of Spaced (how in the world has that show not been shown on BBC America? American friends, you’d love it) and have subsequently watched the series twice in a row
Joined Cycle Hire, and am now cycling the streets of London on a mobilised Barclay’s advert

You can see why I haven’t updated the blog in a while. Thanks to everyone who hasn’t unsubscribed. I’ll update sporadically, I’m sure. Not ready to give up on this baby yet!

I’ve finally settled in to something slightly resembling a routine – I wake up Monday through Friday at around 7:15 or 7:30, I make a cup of tea, get ready for work, get on the tube, work, have some more tea, stop at Planet Organic, Sainsbury’s or Tesco for dinner food, cook, have some more tea, read and go to bed. Normal, yes? But I still don’t really feel like I live here yet.

My street

I think part of it is the lack of money. My last paycheck was the 8th of August and my next will be on the 28th of September. In the meantime, I’ve moved to third most expensive city in the world, put down a security deposit and first month’s rent, had to rebuy all my condiments and buy bed linen, towels, pillows and storage. This honestly doesn’t leave much room for all the restaurants I want to go to.

I’ve instead been concentrating on all the good and (mostly) free things here like…

Going for a jog in Regent’s Park
Glimpsing the top of the Eye when walking south on Tottenham Court Road
Playing wii at Dom’s (or this Sunday with Kat)
Social media meet-ups (Twestival!)
Getting caught up on reading
Watching the tennis players outside my kitchen window
Talking with my mom on Skype
Getting to see Bea Arthur via webcam
Hating on the new Facebook with the rest of the world
Going to Whole Foods
Counting the days down to September 28

All of those things help me not think about the bad things, which include…

I got turned down for an iphone because I don’t have any credit
I got turned down for a credit card because I don’t have any credit
Ikea was out of the quilt cover and mattress cover I wanted after the second time I went there (3 hour excursion in total, in the pouring rain)
Weather does indeed suck (shocker)
I still can’t find a multiple trouser hanger in-store, and I’m sure as hell not paying £12.50 for one
There are no decent cheap bottles of wine here
I’m too embarrassed to ask for skim milk when I’m made a cup of tea
I literally just found out right this second that one of my flatmates likes country music (it’s coming from the other room)
Despite seeing it on Thai restaurant tables, I still can not find sriracha (I’m going to try Chinatown this weekend)
I miss my friends, family and luxurious bed