I'm a (very north) east-ender!

The giant marianette elephant
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After spending nearly six weeks locuming at Colchester General it was time to move to a new job in a new field of practice, in a new town closer to London, but still in Essex county.  My new job was at Goodmayes Hospital, a mental health facility, where I'd be working with predominantly elderly clients.  Goodmayes is not the most happening place, pretty suburban, but it's not a bad walk to Tesco's...

On the bright side, Goodmayes is about half and hour train journey from London's Liverpool Street, and a twenty minute bus ride to Romford, which means there is plenty to do on the weekends.

A three-storey marianette elephant is not something you see everyday

Catching up with Kaye at Cafe Nero near Drury Lane
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On the very first day I moved here, dragging my life in two suitcases and a backpack, I had to call an ambulance following a motorbike accident.  It seems a lot of people in England like watching calamity from a distance, rather than being involved.  Unfortunately being a newly arrived "resident" I had no idea where I was!  So handed my phone to a man who had managed to edge off the footpath but didn't look like he'd run off with my phone, and told him to tell the operator where we were.  It wasn't long before I got my phone back, oh and the ambulance arrived.  That's about as dramatic as it gets, which in a way could be a good thing...

Entrance Hall at the British Museum
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During my time in Goodmayes, as it was only a three-day-week job, I was able to head in to London to see a few more sights, including the Blue Man Group show with Kaye (from uni), and most of the British Museum, which took a couple of visits!  There was also a performance at the Horse Guard's Parade of "Elephant Echo" by French group Royal de Luxe - a three-storey high marianette elephant is not something you see everyday wandering through London!

Being in Essex, and being addicted to the Lakeside-sponsered Music Control show (Sally looks a bit old, but Kevin is hot!) as well as McVities Jaffa Cakes I have indulged in one of the people of Essex's favourite past-times: shopping.  Specifically Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock; "love shopping, love presents, love Lakeside!".  Definitely worth the journey past Romford to escape the crowds of Oxford St!  They have Krispy Kreme!  Yes, I may be on the other side of the world, but some things will never change.

The obelisk on the Thames - it's a sunny day in London town!
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From Goodmayes I may be heading back to Colchester, but could be moving elsewhere before my sister Kylie comes over in August for a whirlwind tour of Europe and the UK - really looking forward to it!