DAY 6 - life in London!

I've always wondered what people are 'banging on about' with London. From what they say London is cold, dreary, grey, wet, miserable, dark, depressing and hectic! So why do people love it (and hate it) so much and why don't they just leave?

I now understand why! Ah alas London, you have stolen our heart also! Yes - its been cold, dreary, grey, wet, miserable, dark, depressing and hectic, but it is so unlike home - it's wonderful!

High Street, Fulham

 The houses are so pretty & look like something out of a story book. Space is such an issue that they are all 3 story row/terrace houses and each floor will have it's own 2 or 3 bed flat. So most are converted to maximize rent return. We commandeered Nicky & Tony's lounge room (Paul's cousin's) for the first 10days until we eventually found our own place to rent in Wimbledon. We found it a little hard to find our own place or room to rent as most people don't want a short-let or couples. We could have rented a serviced apartment but that will cost around GBP3000 a month where as doing a private room in a house-share or 2bed flat is only GBP650, so massive difference. We are staying with a really nice couple Michelle & Andy, they only starting living in London in Nov 2010 as they normally live in Southampton and commute to London to work every day. But to save on the commute they bought a flat in London and go back to Southampton every weekend, so we get the place to ourselves each weekend.

We haven't done much touristy stuff yet around London we've mainly been hopping on the bus and just seeing where it takes us. The weather is warming up by London standards but is still only 17 or so. Then there is this bloody wind! which is so cold. It just goes straight thru you. We've been walking around in our big jackets & all the locals are in the little thin cardy's of just T-shirts trying to soak up as much sun as possible.....bbrrrrrr. I'm sure they think we look ridiculous in our big coat's, but really I just don't understand how they don't feel the wind! Tony keeps saying to us that our standards on summer will drop, but I don't know about that!

outside the Roebuck, Richmond Hill

I went for a big 8km run last Sunday with Tony & their flat mate Mel all around Fulham, past the Fulham soccer stadium, over the Thames & around Parson's Green. It is just so pretty & I can totally understand why people fall in love with London. There are just so many nice places to explore & hangout. Sunday was Tony's 34th birthday (sshhh) so we enjoyed the day along the Thames river in and around Richmond. After a long lazy German lunch at Stein's (you'd be impressed Ing) we went up Richmond Hill to Roebuck pub and drank jugs of Pimm's and watched the sunset over the Thames.   It's one of the best Sunday arvo session's I have ever had.

London is good....Paul and I are really enjoying it and know why people fall in love with London so easily and find it hard to leave. There is just so many things to see and do to keep you busy. Paul's back has been playing up a bit this past few days and giving him a fair bit of grief, we are going to take it easy for a week or so just to make sure it doesn't flair up again and give it a bit of rehab work to try and heal it. I've googled on the internet sports injury massage and treatment for lower backs and now find myself practising on Paul - which he's not complaining about and seems to be finding some relief. We will keep doing the exercises and massage for the next few weeks and if their so no or little improvement then we will seek some medical advice. But for now, the 1 day we have done the treatment (at home) he is feeling better.

Now - anyone for a cuppa??  

or perhaps a Pimm's??