I'm finally here!

The journal so far...

I arrived at about 6am friday morning...5pm friday night for u'se on ozzie time.

# the drivers are crazy! - there's no merging just pushing in wherever there's an inch of space

Got picked up by Trish's housemate Piero (he was holding a sign with my name on it as i came out of the terminal - how cool!) got to see the urban side of london as we drove through the industrial area. when we got to the closer suburbs to where i'm staying all the houses got nicer and although they all look the same they are very cute!

I haven't had net access since i got here so i have to try and remember what i've done so far...

i've noticed quite a lot of difference that i wasn't expecting!!:

• there are heaps of road signs - dare i say too many?
• the drivers are crazy! - there's no merging just pushing in wherever there's an inch of space
• the people aren't friendly - don't try having a random conversation with the person shopping next to u
• i tried to be polite and 'excuse' myself to get passed ppl but neither moved so i had no choice but to barge through them

• the customer service is terrible - line of 20 people and 2 cashiers doing nothing - ...nothing...they do nothing....
• i would be lying if i said i didn't expect it to rain... but seriously! it's sunny - then a sun shower - then heavy rain - then sun...
• yep and it's chilly!!! 4 seasons in one day. i left here with sun - got on the train (less than 1mins walk) and windy - stopped at one station and it was hot, the next gailforce winds... then ice cold. omgosh  always carry - jacket, scarf, beanie, gloves.
• the transport is  really easy and a 5 min wait for a train is impatient lol

• the shops are open long and weird hours - and even the crappy chaep stores are glamourous

• the chocolate here doesn't have a non melting feature like our ozzie chocolate so it really does melt in ur mouth...instantly!!

i've been sightseeing:

• caught the underground tube
• a red phonebox (the thing i was most excited about lol)
• buckingham palace... really unimpressed to be honest...
• trafalgar square with it's huge fountains!
• big ben and its intricate sandstone
• the london eye
• westminister abbey but only from the outside bc it was closed on sunday. it is amazingly beautiful! can't wait to see the inside!!!
• piccadilly circus
• tony blair's st of residence

• the houses of parliment
• some gaurds on horses doing some touristy display of nothingness...??? caught a double decker red bus
• covent garden

been shopping at:

• H&M (bought a 99p hat (about $1 in oz but it cost me 3 cause the the ex rate - still a bargain by any standards!) think Best & Less

• Mark & Spencer - really overpriced and grandma is - like the older ppls section in DJs best chocolate chip cookies EVER!!!! the chocolate actually melts in ur mouth!!!
• Nue Look - cheap cheap

• Boots (like Priceline)
• Primark (think GoLo ghettoness)

• The coolest toyshop ever! Hamley's or something. where i bought graceeee the goat :o)

• Octopus - they sell crazy kitchen stuff like artsy toasters!

• Snowboard shop for our trip to france
• Replay
• & others i can't remember...

other than that... watching sex and the city to recover from jetlag and see what all the fuss is about. quite good. had a job iv with a recruitment agency today (the best way to get a job here). i'm now on the books and just have to wait for a call. i'll be applying to more tomorrow. hmmm being REALLY tight bc i don't wan't to pay triple the price for anything :o( haven't really done all that much and feel kinda bad about it but i'm still settling in and have plenty of time to sightsee. kinda weird it's really homely here so i still kinda feel like im in oz :o) i think that's about it for now... off to eat my soup-a-licious dinner and watch more S&C with my cuz. so tata & toodles for now! i'll try and keep u updated each day but we'll see how i go ;o) lots o love & big hugs & kisses!!! miss u all heaps!!! kristine :o)

xoxox