Hey all!
This morning I walked for an hour to my job interview. I'm trying to get my bearings as much as possible this week while I'm staying so close to the city! I passed King's Cross Station on the way, it's so beautiful! I could picture Harry and Ron flying the Ford Anglia above it in Harry Potter 2!
I got to the address of my teaching agency in Tottenham Court Road and had my interview. It went really well! I was a little nervous but I was ok. My consultant's name is Poppy and she's really nice. She helped me with all of my paperwork and then introduced me to some of the people who will find me work. I met five consultants which apparently is heaps. Apparently I'm hot property because Maths and Science teachers are hard to come by here. Yay for me!
Afterwards I was very productive. Firstly I went to the bank (HSBC) and have made an appointment to set up a bank account tomorrow. Then I went to the EE mobile store and bought myself a one month sim package so I have a way to contact friends while I'm here.
By chance I ended up on Oxford Street, one of the main shopping streets! It was very busy. Whilst I was walking here it started to snow. Everyone around me moaned and sounded annoyed about it but I was so excited!
Made my way down Oxford street and some other streets to Piccadilly Circus. A couple of things I've noticed over here - firstly, people don't pick one side of the footpath to walk on. They walk all over the bloody place! At home people veer left, in South America they veered right. Here they just go wherever and you all nearly walk into each other! Second, sunglasses are hard to wear here. When the sun is out it's really bright and you can't see so you put your sunnies on, then it goes away 30 seconds later and you take them off. Then it comes out again and the cycle just keeps repeating!!!
Last time I was here the statue in Piccadilly Circus was under scaffolding so it was nice to see. Next I walked down to the Wellington Arch on Hyde park corner. Here two separate people asked me for directions! I had my first day since before I left of not looking like a tourist today. And I'm officially a Londoner already because guess what? I knew exactly where both of them had to go. Woo!
Enjoyed a walk through Hyde Park. At this point though the wind was so icy I lost feeling in my hands temporarily! The weather here is strange. Sometimes I feel warm and sometimes cold. I made my way through the park to the statue Queen Victoria had erected of Albert (her husband) when he died and Royal Albert Hall. This was also under scaffolding last time we were here! Half the city was in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.
My last stop of the day before meeting Rhi was Harrods. I walked through lots of different departments, enjoyed the architecture and saw the memorial for Princess Diana and Dodi. Today was mostly things I did last time! Strange to be back, can remember it all so clearly. I bought myself a delicious chocolate macaron (thought of you Robyn!) and then caught the tube to Hampstead to meet Rhi and her friend for dinner. Everyone had introduced me to this fantastic app called 'Citymapper' that is making it super easy to get around, especially now I have internet on my phone! We enjoyed Thai for dinner but unfortunately a bad stomach ache has hit me and I'm not feeling very good now! Probably a bit run down. Going to have a relaxing morning tomorrow!!
Love to all
Claire
Xoxox
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