Short text, covering many events

This weekend has been a handful. A lot of new things to take in, new information about the family, the neighbourhood, the routines and the general life here - but I have never been more certain I made the right decision in coming here.

Friday was my first meeting up with the family since I first met them in June (apart from the brief encounter I had with the dad as he got into a taxi). And today I got around to their house again, just to get more information about tomorrow, which is my first proper working day. Exciting!

Also, I said a proper goodbye to my sister today, who's spent the past 10 days with me in London. It was tear-filled but she will be back in two months time. I will miss her, just as I miss my entire family (already - where will this end?).

This weekend has, as said been a handful, and I cannot think of anything nicer than crawling in under a massive blanket and sleep till 7AM tomorrow when my alarm rings. Night night!

London took another shower

Today it has literally been pouring down. From morning till evening there has been a maximum of ten minutes when it has not rained a single drop. But we didn't mind. Spent 30 minutes in a queue to get into the Natural History Museum, running around looking at dinosaurs and spiders, zebras and dik-diks. Lots of fun. However, Camden had to wait since we had no wish to get our socks wet. Instead we had an early dinner and went to see Sinister 2. I recommend it to everyone who doesn't care whether they live or die cause I think my heart stopped a good three or four times.

Tomorrow there is another driving lesson coming up. I am more nervous about this one that the first one cause it feels like I have more pressure on me seeing as I've already driven in the London traffic and should know what I am doing. However, I am sure I won't run someone over this time either *fingers crossed*

I had planned on making this an early night but failed miserably so here I am, just starting to watch King Kong. I wonder whether my subconcious is aware that that movie is little over 3h. Oh well, I'll just have to suffer my fair bit in the morning.

Fire alarms, good deeds and underground chaos

Today has been a handful...

Starting off with the driving lesson that went far better than I expected. Thankfully I will have another two lessons before actually getting the children into the car to drive them somewhere. Although I have have my license for a while now it is hard trying to remember "just think the opposite" throughout and entire drive - and the fact that the cars in Sweden helped me out with remembering right and left properly; I now have to rethink my entire procedure.

I had planned on getting into Tottenham Court Rd somewhen in the hour between driving ended and girlfriend Anna had her job interview but London Underground thought otherwise. Although the strike was off the lines were still not going according to plan which led me to take a bus in the opposite direction (blame the bus, not me!) and then walk back in pure spite. I got there "in time" to see her as she came out.

SeaLife, London Dungeons and London Eye was next on the agenda since sister Danni hasn't endure hours of masses of people all staring at the same things, screaming at the same people or taking pictures of the same views. So we managed all of that over a day + a little rain on the side. However, being about halfway through the SeaLife experience (around where the sea horses bewitch all the visitors) the fire alarm went off and Danni, Anna and I helped one mummy with a buggy each up about three flights of stairs with panicking people running pass us (god forbid they helped). And just as everyone had gotten out of the building we were allowed back in again. Trust me, a lot of people can fit into that attraction at once.

However, that was not today's good deed. Walking back home tonight, I somehow managed to get a cat out of a plastic container. It seemed to simply have jumped into it but was meowing really loudly so I walked by and looked into it (silently praying that it wasn't a murder trying to lure me into their trap) but it was just a really tiny black and white cat. I got it out and felt like a hero, but it ran off so quickly I couldn't check whether it was alright.

That is about it though. Today could have been worse. Tomorrow, another visit to the National History Museum and Camden. I really like having people over that haven't gotten around. It gives me a perfect excuse to redo and re-see without seeming obsessed.

Making a new place, my place

I am sleeping in my new home tonight. Which feels slightly odd. But at the same time very good. I am usually feeling slightly queasy when spending a first night at a new place but for once I am actually just feeling very comfortable. Snuggled down in my jammies with a cup of tea, I really do feel home-y. I would not go as far as saying that I feel at home but I am getting there and the fact that I don't feel like running in the opposite direction at the thought of spending a first night at a new place really make me sort of proud of myself. I mean, it is kinda small, a tiny fridge, limited amount of surfaces to place things on and the floor is squeeky - massive wardrobe though - but I think I managed to make it mine (and not by just spreading my stuff all over - which I felt like doing). I actually took my time sorting through the things that I brought and looked over the area where I could put it, arranging it all very neatly. I surprised myself.

Also, I finally have my computer set up now. Which means that I won't have to try and write on my bastard phone anymore. My fingers are not made for writing on those tiny pads (unless you are okay with 90% of all the words being misspelled).

Tomorrow is the first driving lesson which means that I will have to do my absolute best in not running someone over. *fingers crossed* Then again, I will just have to think opposite of how I think when I drive back home, right??

Enjoying my vacation

I am trying at least - to enjoy my vacation (that ends on Tuesday) - but it is hard when I am constantly reminded that it's over soon. Surely it is a minor problem seeing as I live here now and I can do the touristy things when I have time off, but I am still very nervous. I will move into my room today and seeing as I met my tennant yesterday I am not all to nervous about that.

The thing that is doing my head in is the learning-to-drive part that starts on Tuesday. To be fair it is only for too hours and surely I should manage not to run someone over in that time (but if you happen to be in London, stay clear of Islington on Tuesday between 10-noon. 

Yesterday was an experience. I managed to get half my packing to my new home, spend a few hours at Madame Tussaud's, ate heaven on a plate for dinner and on only 3 hours of sleep. Nonetheless, it was a great day and I am once again reminded why I chose London of all places. 

First Day

Today has been a rollercoaster. 

Emotions has gone up and down, perhaps as expected, but it has still worn me out to the degree that I could shamelessly fall asleep on the Gatwick Express. Right now. Just like that. Boom! Gone to the world. 

Tomorrow my new adventure begins, at 10.30AM to be exact, as that is the time I am setting off from the hotel I am sleeping at tonight to meet my tennant for the upcoming year. I am nervous but not as nervous as I would have been had I not been knackered from carrying three bags around for the past 4 hours (not including the 2h I spent on the plane).

Being an au pair is something I've wanted to do for the past 8 years. I'm glad I finally came around to do it. I don't know where it'll take me, but I know that I'll end up being far away from where I was when I started.