It was somewhat like deja vu as we returned to London after our long trip. We had arrived in London 2 1/2 years ago looking for somewhere to live and somewhere to work. This time it wasn't all new and exciting however. Also, sleeping in a van on the streets of London wasn't nearly as pleasant as the various campsites we had been staying at around Europe. We were fortunate that even though our old flat only had one person left who we knew, they allowed us to shower and cook and keep warm there. We were also fortunate that Marcus was able to go back to his job. Jess was not so lucky and had the unenviable task of trying to find somewhere to live and somewhere to work.
It wasn't all doom and gloom though. The world seemed to be intrigued by the beard that Marcus had grown on our time away. Even our bearded friends were impressed with the sheer size and bushiness of it. It was starting to itch however, and eating anything with cream in was impossible, so after a week (enough time for people to see it) Marcus got out the neglected razor and off it came (in stages of course, to show what is possible if he ever tries to grow facial hair again.)
In that first week back we made the journey down south to Wandsworth to catch up with Anna and Perry. The temperature was cold but they took us out for some very tasty Thai food. Was good to see them again and tell them all about our adventures away.
We also managed to coax a few people away from the Occupy London Stock Exchange protest to come and meet us for welcome back drinks at the Camden Head. When people stopped freaking out at the size of Marcus' beard we caught up for a good natter. Unfortunately they stopped doing food early and with a group that size the only option was a round of decidedly average Nandos. At least it was warm...
Cleanly shaved we caught up with an old friend of Marcus' from law school, Fionna, who had been living in Cambridge but happened to be down in London to do her citizenship test, just around the corner. The sun was out so we spent the afternoon at the the Lord Clyde catching up over a few drinks. It was a very enjoyable afternoon and a reminder that we should catch up with people who we like more often.
The rest of the month was spent tripping from flat to flat trying to find somewhere that would have us. The novelty of van sleep was well and truly wearing off. As the last week of October arrived we were seriously considering calling it a day in London, when it all came together. Jess managed to score a job working for Brent Council and we also secured a very nice apartment with a very nice girl called Aimee in Dalston. We were off to Hackney!
In typical October fashion the end of the month came and our old flat was having a Halloween party. Never ones to say no dress ups the grim reaper and the corpse bride made their appearance and Tree even made an appearance (being the flatmate of our old flatmates brother...don't think too much about it...) There were zombies and vampires and tigers and ghouls, all seeing in all hallows eve. There were some sore heads the next day...some more than others...
https://picasaweb.google.com/JessicaLMcMillan/October2011
It wasn't all doom and gloom though. The world seemed to be intrigued by the beard that Marcus had grown on our time away. Even our bearded friends were impressed with the sheer size and bushiness of it. It was starting to itch however, and eating anything with cream in was impossible, so after a week (enough time for people to see it) Marcus got out the neglected razor and off it came (in stages of course, to show what is possible if he ever tries to grow facial hair again.)In that first week back we made the journey down south to Wandsworth to catch up with Anna and Perry. The temperature was cold but they took us out for some very tasty Thai food. Was good to see them again and tell them all about our adventures away.
We also managed to coax a few people away from the Occupy London Stock Exchange protest to come and meet us for welcome back drinks at the Camden Head. When people stopped freaking out at the size of Marcus' beard we caught up for a good natter. Unfortunately they stopped doing food early and with a group that size the only option was a round of decidedly average Nandos. At least it was warm...Cleanly shaved we caught up with an old friend of Marcus' from law school, Fionna, who had been living in Cambridge but happened to be down in London to do her citizenship test, just around the corner. The sun was out so we spent the afternoon at the the Lord Clyde catching up over a few drinks. It was a very enjoyable afternoon and a reminder that we should catch up with people who we like more often.
The rest of the month was spent tripping from flat to flat trying to find somewhere that would have us. The novelty of van sleep was well and truly wearing off. As the last week of October arrived we were seriously considering calling it a day in London, when it all came together. Jess managed to score a job working for Brent Council and we also secured a very nice apartment with a very nice girl called Aimee in Dalston. We were off to Hackney!
In typical October fashion the end of the month came and our old flat was having a Halloween party. Never ones to say no dress ups the grim reaper and the corpse bride made their appearance and Tree even made an appearance (being the flatmate of our old flatmates brother...don't think too much about it...) There were zombies and vampires and tigers and ghouls, all seeing in all hallows eve. There were some sore heads the next day...some more than others...
https://picasaweb.google.com/JessicaLMcMillan/October2011
