Flatmates

When I first moved to London flatmates were an adjustment. I went from having my own house, with lots of space to sharing small London flats (some very small) with others that I didn't know. I've learned a lot over the past 4 years and come to appreciated my flatmates who make up my family here in London. It is nice to come home to a house full of people.

All in all I've shared space with 12 other people over the years. Some were dossers, those that stay temporarily on your coach while looking for their own place. All of whom I have stayed in touch with (minus the crazies). 

One thing learned is it isn't always easy to vet out the crazies in meeting someone for 20 minutes, about the length of a flatmate interview.  Another is, it can be a harder to flatshare with someone who owns the flat, you never feel on equal footing or that you have a say in how the flat is set up.  Over all it is best to stay flexible when it comes to common areas, be respectful of your flatmates, pay your bills on time, buy your share of toilet roll, and do your share of the cleaning.

Tweasel, it doesn't feel like home without my kitty around.

Camden Flat "Family Night Out"

Part of the fun is learning about another contries culture, and traditions, and sharing your own Olympic Hockey - Go Canada!

Girls night out

Some flatmates are temporary, aka dossers. 

Current and past flatmates.

My current flatmate and lovely boyfriend.

Visit from my sister

I always look forward to visits from friends and family, a chance to show them around London and hopefully see show them things a tourist might not see.  So when my sister and Peter had a stop over planned for their next Europe trip I was very excited. The weather even cooperated and it was hot and sunny.

Lisa and Peter in front of St. Paul's Cathedral.

We took a trip down Thames. Tower Bridge (not London Bridge)

This boring bridge is London Bridge....

In the executive lounge at the hotel, a bit of an upgrade from their first hotel in London where the lamp shade had a hole in it and the halls smelled like damp dog and smoke.

Relaxing in Regent's park.

Canary Wharf.

Millennium Bridge

Looking forward to their next visit, especially now that I have room for visitors in my flat.

Old Friends

When I was 13 a very good friend of mine Erin moved away to Ottawa.  Erin and I had known each other since we were 5, and lived 2 minutes away from each other.  It was a sad time.  We wrote letters for a while but then lost touch (as you did before Facebook and email came along).

Fast forward 10 years later, my sister who was going to University in Ottawa was stopped by a girl on campus who thought she was me.  My sister realized she recognized the girl and Erin realized it was not me, but my sister.  Emails were exchanged and my sister forwarded the information on to me. I had a visit to Ottawa to see my sister planned so Erin and I plans to meet for Lunch.

As the day approached I felt a little hesitation, what if it was awkward and we had nothing to say to each other? It turned out none of that was a problem, Erin was still the girl I knew and loved, lunch went far to fast and I left very pleased to have my old friend in my life again.

So what does this have to do with London, well fast forward 10 more years... time for another reunion! After both of us having moved around and living in various parts of the world we were going to cross paths again, Erin was coming to London on some work related business.

We managed to meet up 3 times in the week she was in London and about 7/8 months later again when her brother relocated to London and she came for a visit.  Great to catch up and not wait 10 years between visits. Alas now she is living in Asia, I can only hope it isn't 10 years until I see her again.

Me, Jennie (another London friend of Erin's) and Erin.