So I had to go get my passport photocopied at my recruitment agency and after I dragged myself out of bed, showered, changed, rode the tube for an hour, I got to my destination to find the building on fire. Yay. Back I go.
Snuggling down for a nice nap before the broadband people arrive and I hadn’t even begun to drift when they pulled up…having said that I am very happy that broadband is now here!
Had the funniest time moving Saima’s brother into his new flat. Lets not mention the base-up-the-stairs incident for a while…or the bug-paper-stuck-to-the-shoe fiasco… :biggrin:
I’m employed and start work on Thursday…all in under two weeks.
Should I be ashamed by the fact that I just saw the trailer for I,Robot and now want to see the movie?!
Yesterday me and Meg had a late start (but a start all the same) and went to Borough Market for some late lunch. We couldn’t find the brownies but saw a lot of people wandering around with them. We settled on a yummy German sausage and two fat crepes. One was a Philly Cheesesteak and the other was a delicious strawberry cheesecake one complete with crunchy biscuit base! Top that off with eating it in the sunshine and you’ve got an afternoon made!
Then we were off to H&M for a successful shopping trip. Man does their underwear section put everything else I’ve ever seen to shame! I also saw the best suit which I want I want I want! After H&M we ventured to Primark and basked in the glory of cheap shopping. I was very good and only bought a cute pair of monkey and banana undies for only £1.50 (surely I can be forgiven for that!). Although there were signs everywhere that we should buy various other items. Metaphorical signs…not literal…
Around 9pm, we finally made it onto a bus down to the Thames for the Thames Festival (the whole point of the day…which started at 12pm and ended at 10pm). Our plan was to get cheap bubbly (to go with our cheap strawberries we picked up from Borough Market) and drink it by the river. We spied a Tescos so jumped off the bus and found a cheap bottle of pink Jacob’s Creek and grabbed some sandwiches, chippies and chocolate to match it. Turns out there was a Tescos much closer to the river but you live, you learn…
On our way to the Thames we stopped for a touristy photo session by Big Ben. For some reason Meg couldn’t get any green hand pics…I’m sure it was just my camera having a bad day…
We then got asked for a cigarette…no sorry…and got asked if we had the time. Me being slow said, “No sorry…” Meg being quicker said, “No, but Big Ben’s right there!” Hehehe
And just because we’re classy we found a spot on the steps right in front of Wagamama’s and planted ourselves for our dinner and drinks.
On our way back we took paparazzi pics (of ourselves) and must have looked like we were struggling with it as a lady walking past offered to take the photo for us :biggrin:
The moral of the evening: Cool Original flavoured Doritos are delicious!
Stereotypical, I know, but I am spending this morning reading the TNT magazine (as it’s free and my brain will turn to mush if I watch too many movies) and what do I read? None other than NZ and Mexico announced a working holiday scheme!!! How cool is that?! I SO want to take them up on their offer!!
On a sadder note, Nokia have betrayed me. I woke up to find the nav key on my cellphone refusing to move left or right :cwy:
Yesterday I met with a recruitment agency and as it turns out the agent was from Wellington! Go figure!
And for more excitement Ivy was in town! So me, Meg and Ivy all met up for a good ole chat and catch up. We went to Notting Hill (just like the movie…I’m such a geek) for drinks and food and reminisced about NZ. So strange, yet so normal to see everyone on this side of the world.
Well as I stupidly left my Oyster card in NZ I went to get a new one today. I asked for a card with £20 on it. Simple enough…or so I thought.
“It’s £3 deposit for the card.”
“Yes, I know thanks.” I gave her two £20 notes and she said something. I thought she wanted smaller change.
“No no no.” And gave me £20 back.
“Huh? I’d like £20 on the card too please.”
“You need to look at your money.”
Excuse me?! How about you be more condescending!
“This is £40.”
“Uh, yeah. It’s £23 right?”
“But this is £40.”
“Ah…£3 for the card and £20 on it. That’s 23?”
“It’s £3 for the card and £17 on the card.”
“I’d like £20 on the card. So £23 right?”
“So you want £20 on the card?”
“Yes please!”
“Okay, that’s £23. I just wanted to be clear.”
No, I wanted to be clear!!
Gotta love being looked at like you’re retarded when you know exactly what you’re talking about.
Anyways, after that I made a trip to Aldi for the first time ever. I always thought it was a cool place to go coz Conny was so excited to see it when we were in Sydney but apparently here you get looked down upon if you shop there. It’s uber cheap and I love it. I love all supermarkets so that doesn’t say much.
Two great finds were: refrigerator biscuits and prosciutto crudo! It’s like the best of the States and Italy all in one!
On Saturday me and Meg sat around being grown-ups perfecting our CVs and looking for jobs. It really is easier to do someone else’s rather than your own!
Then on Saturday night Meg took me to a birthday party in Camden. We went to The Green Note and had yummy meze style food and drinks. Met lots of cool people and got to use my “Don’t shoot!” phrase in both Spanish and German! Always gets a laugh…mainly because people wonder why the heck I would learn that.
My flights were relatively uneventful. An early start in Napier and off to Auckland. Then a 10 hour wait until my next flight as it was delayed by an hour and a half. A free meal voucher meant I was a little piggy and got three pies and a sausage roll for dinner. Oink oink! Uncle Mervyn came and met me at the airport and gave me The Secret to read. Unfortunately I have problems reading in airports and on flights as I’m always too tired to concentrate. Will save for bedtimes 
My Qantas flight from Auckland to LA was less than pleasant aside from their regular feeding schedule. My seat must have been broken as when I put it back you could push it back to upright without pushing the little button. The guy sitting behind me kept on pushing my seat forward and forcing my forward which was more than slightly annoying. I didn’t say anything for the first part coz I know that it’s cramped in plane seats so I gave him the chance to get comfy. But then I was settling back in my seat and I was bumped forward for the millionth time, so I put my seat back again and the guy shoved it forward. Anyone who knows me knows that I am nice up until my breaking point. So once my seat was shoved forward I whipped around and said, “Can you quit kicking my seat?!” The guy actually had his legs propped up against the back of my seat when I turned around and just looked at me and said something to the effect of, “I wasn’t.” So I said, “I can’t lean back if you keep kicking it.” He pulled his legs back and said, “There you go, you can lean back now.”
Yes I may have been a little snappy but he was rudely pushing my seat for hours before that.
My BA flight from LA to London was relatively uneventful. Great dinner. Shrimp cocktail, beef casserole, mini Moro bar, chocolate mousse…mmmm…
Once I landed in the UK I went through customs, no worries about my visa. I remember when I was still in Wellington I quizzed Meg on what to write on the forms, how do they know you have a visa etc etc. Turns out they ask you how long you intend to stay then just find the visa page in your passport 
My luggage, on the other hand, was another story! Waiting waiting waiting at the carousel, then queuing queuing queuing to fill in lost baggage forms. My pack just loves taking trips without me!