It looks like London is heading back to the snow temperatures that we had back in December. Again I need to cover up with gloves, beanies, and maybe even thermals.
People say that January and February are the worst when weather is concerned but for me January has been much better than December. Only now, on January 27 are we going back down to around 2 degrees. I am hoping February stays around 5-10 degrees as those temperatures are bearable.
I am missing the warmth of the sun, and beautiful sunny and bright mornings. But not long now until spring and summer, and I dont care what anyone says, I know it will be warm. Otherwise im going to Greece, or Spain!
I have noticed that people are quite rude here too. Maybe it is because of the weather, but alot of people dont have any self awareness or consideration for others. Whether at the shops, or walking down the street, people always seem to go their own way without caring about who else is around them. I guess thats what you get in a big city. It is kind of like every man for themselves, and I dont like it.
But the people you meet, who you work with or meet through friends are lovely. It is all about developing that network and being open to new friendships.
It is like you have all of these networks, routines, familiarities, and comforts at home, but when you move somewhere else, you have to start completely from scratch. But that is also part of the beauty of what I am doing, theres no preconcieved ideas, no boundaries, just a clean slate. Theres plenty of time to think and reminisce about your other life, and decide what is good about it and what isnt so good. I have never done so much thinking in my life. But I still have alot more to do.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Monday, 24 January 2011
First 3 months
I am not sure where to start though as it feels like ages since I said my farewells with tears and excitement and nervousness. Really tomorrow marks 3 months since the day I got on the plane. And what a jam packed three months it has been.
When I arrived in London I was picked up by my friend Ben who has been here for 4 years. He took me to my hotel in Paddington and then we walked around and also walked around Theatreland and saw the big thestres etc. I was in awe of everything I saw. My first impressions were, oh my god theres Piccadilly Circus, omg here is the west end, ong these people are Londoners just finishing work.....everything seemed exciting and new. I could hear people talking in different accents and languages which is one thing I was most looking forward to.
So the first week was just discovering my new city, and going on the hop on hop off bus etc. Just being a tourist. I moved into my friends house in Shepherds Bush and had a great time catching up with them. Then it was time to look for work.
It took about 3.5 weeks for me to get my temp job. And by this stage I had applied for about 100 roles online. I also completely re did my CV after feedback from agencies. It went from 4 pages to 1.5 pages. But it did the trick cos soon after that I had my temp job and I was also getting calls for other roles. On the work front I have been at the same job eversince and have been extended twice. It is a company who own cable t.v networks like the regional one, Austar in Australia. They also own channels like the Food Network, Fantasy, Reality, and Horror channels. So people are creative and nice.
So after securing the job I wanted to do some travel so I went to Brussells for the weekend on the Eurostar. I went on my own and loved it. Didnt have long there though. It was the first place I have been where english isnt the first language, so you would have laughed at my efforts to order coffee etc. In one cafe I thought i ordered a latte but I got hot milk, so a bit of a fail there. But I wanted to better myself so later that day went to another cafe and got a latte and ordered much better! I saw Mannekin pis and some other things, then came home.
I didnt travel again till christmas where I went on a 9 day tour. This began on Boxing day. Christmas day I did a walking tour of London with Charles Dickens as the subject. Christmas day was very weird. I Skyped family and they were all there in the one place except for me. I knew this was coming but it was a bit hard to take. But at the end of the day I could skype and I enjoyed that so its fine. I also had Christmas Dinner with some room mates. I am living in Marylebone which is really central, 3 tube stops to Oxford Circus, I can even walk there :)
Back to the christmas trip. I loved it so much. Travelling to such wonderful cities and seeing wonderful sights I have only ever seen on the tv or in magazines etc was electric. My favourite city was Florence. It is like a postcard. Unbelievably beautiful. My favourite thing to see would probably be a toss up between the Eiffel tower (which I climbed to the top of) and the Coleusseum which was breathtaking.
I met some nice friends on the trip. Next stop is Edinburgh.
So thats work, travels, accomodation covered.
Shows I have seen are Sweet Charity, which was the first show i saw on the West End and I loved it. Then Billy Elliot which was amazing, The Mousetrap, which is the longest running play in the world, and Blood Brothers. Last week I saw Les Mis. Les Mis was probably the best pieve of theatre I have ever seen. A real lesson in singing technique, and characterisation. A seamless display of top class talent.
I was also taken to audition for an amateur show, High Society by a friend, who I did grease with. I wasnt prepared in the slightest and hadnt sang properly since I arrived but I went in and I am doing ensemble. People are so lovely there, and I have made some good contacts already. Also heard of another company who are the premier amateur company in London so ill go for their shows next. Apparantly that company has agents who come and see people. The cast are also very talented so that is good also. We rehearse each Friday night which is good as there isnt a huge time commitment.
London in general is great. Sometimes I long for home, and this is usually when I am tired etc. But mostly I am enjoying my time here. Now that I have a routine and feel more settled it is easier. I am getting back into the gym and feeling good about myself. I have lost weight since I arrived and I think that is because you walk EVERYWHERE here, also the tube stairs provide for a good workout.
I would like to come home for a visit this christmas but it will depend on finances.
Missing you all!
Marcus
When I arrived in London I was picked up by my friend Ben who has been here for 4 years. He took me to my hotel in Paddington and then we walked around and also walked around Theatreland and saw the big thestres etc. I was in awe of everything I saw. My first impressions were, oh my god theres Piccadilly Circus, omg here is the west end, ong these people are Londoners just finishing work.....everything seemed exciting and new. I could hear people talking in different accents and languages which is one thing I was most looking forward to.
So the first week was just discovering my new city, and going on the hop on hop off bus etc. Just being a tourist. I moved into my friends house in Shepherds Bush and had a great time catching up with them. Then it was time to look for work.
It took about 3.5 weeks for me to get my temp job. And by this stage I had applied for about 100 roles online. I also completely re did my CV after feedback from agencies. It went from 4 pages to 1.5 pages. But it did the trick cos soon after that I had my temp job and I was also getting calls for other roles. On the work front I have been at the same job eversince and have been extended twice. It is a company who own cable t.v networks like the regional one, Austar in Australia. They also own channels like the Food Network, Fantasy, Reality, and Horror channels. So people are creative and nice.
So after securing the job I wanted to do some travel so I went to Brussells for the weekend on the Eurostar. I went on my own and loved it. Didnt have long there though. It was the first place I have been where english isnt the first language, so you would have laughed at my efforts to order coffee etc. In one cafe I thought i ordered a latte but I got hot milk, so a bit of a fail there. But I wanted to better myself so later that day went to another cafe and got a latte and ordered much better! I saw Mannekin pis and some other things, then came home.
I didnt travel again till christmas where I went on a 9 day tour. This began on Boxing day. Christmas day I did a walking tour of London with Charles Dickens as the subject. Christmas day was very weird. I Skyped family and they were all there in the one place except for me. I knew this was coming but it was a bit hard to take. But at the end of the day I could skype and I enjoyed that so its fine. I also had Christmas Dinner with some room mates. I am living in Marylebone which is really central, 3 tube stops to Oxford Circus, I can even walk there :)
Back to the christmas trip. I loved it so much. Travelling to such wonderful cities and seeing wonderful sights I have only ever seen on the tv or in magazines etc was electric. My favourite city was Florence. It is like a postcard. Unbelievably beautiful. My favourite thing to see would probably be a toss up between the Eiffel tower (which I climbed to the top of) and the Coleusseum which was breathtaking.
I met some nice friends on the trip. Next stop is Edinburgh.
So thats work, travels, accomodation covered.
Shows I have seen are Sweet Charity, which was the first show i saw on the West End and I loved it. Then Billy Elliot which was amazing, The Mousetrap, which is the longest running play in the world, and Blood Brothers. Last week I saw Les Mis. Les Mis was probably the best pieve of theatre I have ever seen. A real lesson in singing technique, and characterisation. A seamless display of top class talent.
I was also taken to audition for an amateur show, High Society by a friend, who I did grease with. I wasnt prepared in the slightest and hadnt sang properly since I arrived but I went in and I am doing ensemble. People are so lovely there, and I have made some good contacts already. Also heard of another company who are the premier amateur company in London so ill go for their shows next. Apparantly that company has agents who come and see people. The cast are also very talented so that is good also. We rehearse each Friday night which is good as there isnt a huge time commitment.
London in general is great. Sometimes I long for home, and this is usually when I am tired etc. But mostly I am enjoying my time here. Now that I have a routine and feel more settled it is easier. I am getting back into the gym and feeling good about myself. I have lost weight since I arrived and I think that is because you walk EVERYWHERE here, also the tube stairs provide for a good workout.
I would like to come home for a visit this christmas but it will depend on finances.
Missing you all!
Marcus
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