My New Life

I guess now is as good a time as any to update you on the first two and a half weeks in my new job. It's taken a while, I know, but it's taken me a while to get used to working 12 hours a day.

I started on a Friday, and moved out of my old job that morning, carting the rest of my not-so-light stuff by bus and train to West Hampstead. The rest of the day, I spent getting settled into my room. Saturday was my first official day of work, which included the baby's 1st birthday party in the afternoon, so I got to meet most of the extended family. And there are a lot of them!

The first week was very long and very challenging as it was the week the kids started back at school, having been overseas for most of the summer. Most nights after work, I just crashed into bed, too exhausted to even think. This nanny thing is tough! But since then, we have all sort of settled into a routine and the kids are getting to know me and even answer me when I talk to them! It's a good start.

The highlight has definitely been spending the days with the 1 year old boy. He is absolutely adorable, even though this brother has taught him to scream, which Little Boy 1 does at a very high pitch! Pushing the buggy down the street, on our way to Gymboree or music classes, is the part of nannying I always imagined. I had one particular moment this week...the sun was shining, the sky was blue, I was pushing Little Boy 1 in his buggy, choosing to forget that just that very morning, I had changed the wet sheets on Little Girl 3's bed, washed the bedding of Little Boy 1, who had thrown up in the night and cleaned up the trail of poo on the kitchen floor from Little Boy 1's leaking nappy (he had a very bad tummy bug). All that faded into a distant memory in the light of the sunny morning stroll.

I have also had to get used to driving the foreign streets of West Hampstead. As all navigationally-challenged people understand, this filled me with dread. But, my bosses car has Sat Nav. Yes, Sat Nav! I have never driven a car with this before and it has to be one of the best inventions ever. Today, the kids decided to name the Sat Nav lady Star, and we spent the journey home from school mocking her voice and giving crazy instructions.

I've done some exploring around West Hampstead and I have to say it is a whole new world. I love it though. I love having transport options too. I can pretty much get a bus to anywhere from here...if I manage to concentrate and get on the bus going in the right direction! Note to self: never catch public transport when over-tired.

So this is my new life. It's a lot busier than my last one.

The End of Chapter One

Last Saturday was my last day at work. Since then, I've been packing, getting lost at Heathrow, looking after my little cousins and trying to get some quality sleep on an air mattress!

Now, as I am getting ready to start my new job tomorrow, I've been looking back on the past 16 months. It has been an amazing experience and I was truly fortunate to be welcomed into the home and lives of such a great family. I will miss the kids a lot but I will still get to see them. It was certainly one of the best decisions I made to get out of the whole Monday to Friday 9-5.

So, on the eve of the next chapter, I am excited. I am definitely looking forward to seeing more of the world and also the chance to be part of a new family. It's not like I'm moving to a new country. I think I'll like living in NW London.

Here I Go Again

The past few days, I have been sorting through all my stuff and starting to pack up my life once more, ready for my move to the wild frontier that is West Hampstead at the end of this month.

This month will also see the arrival of the replacement for my current position, which I'm actually looking forward to as she comes in the form of my friend, Hannah. Yep, Hannah, who was here last year for our trip to Paris, is coming to take over from me. It'll be great to have her here and I know I'll still get to see the kids. I am starting to get excited about my new job...and a bit scared at the same time. But I have to remember that they chose me to come and live with them and I know this is the right move for me at this stage of my new career.

So while Hannah packs up her life in New Orleans, I'm packing up mine here. Time to move on again. One day, I'm sure I'll be done with all the moving around and be more than happy to settle down in one place. As for when that day will come, I have no idea!

The Next Chapter

There's a reason I've been so quiet on this blog of late. For once, it hasn't been because I've done been doing nothing. Quite the opposite. There has been so much going on, I didn't know where to start and what was going on, I couldn't even tell you about.

But now I can. I have found a new job. Yes, I am still a nanny, but now I'll offically have the job title of "nanny", be working full time, travelling the world and moving from SW London to NW London, close to Hampstead Heath and full of brand new places for me to explore.

As excited as I am to start this new experience (I start in September, by the way!), it hasn't been an easy thing to think of leaving my current family. No one prepared me for this when I chose to become a nanny. It's going to break my heart to leave those two kids who have been such a huge part of my life here. My bosses have been brilliant too. I really hate goodbyes!

The Year That Was...A Year Later

I first posted this list on New Years Eve last year, so here it is again for this year:

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Where do I start? Went to my best friends wedding in Sydney, worked in a call centre, moved to live in London, saw Abu Dhabi and Dubai, worked for a whole week without having to answer the phone once, went to Paris...the list is almost endless!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do New Years Resolutions as they are always doomed to failure! I did keep my resolution to save money and finally move to London. I won't be making any this year, but I do have 'plans"...they're different, aren't they?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my friend Chris had a little girl this year

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
Australia, United Arab Emirates, England, France

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Will-power!

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
That would be May 10 - Mothers Day, my friends wedding day and my last day in Australia

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving to London and starting my new career

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't think I have failed. Sometimes, things haven't worked out as planned or have been harder than expected, but that's not failure, that's all part of life and living your dream

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Crocs!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Hannah, who was my first guest from home. We had a blast!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Can't think of anyone...

14. Where did most of your money go?
Paris...and clothes!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Hannah coming to stay, Paris, the release of New Moon and Christmas

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"Number One" by Tinchy Strider and N-Dubz (just because it was on the radio ALL THE TIME!!)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder?
Happier, mostly, but sad when I think of home

ii. thinner or fatter?
Hmm...next question!

iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer :-(

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
More trips out of London to see the countryside

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Staying up too late, reading!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
I opened presents and had breakfast with the family I work for, then spent the day with my cousins and auntie and uncle from Australia. Oh, and thanks to Skype, I opened presents with my family in Brisbane too! Great day

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No

23. How many one-night stands?
None

24. What was your favorite TV program?
One Tree Hill - all the season one oldies!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. Hating people is never good

26. What was the best book you read this year?
Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda. An old favourite, but it's set in Paris and I read it on the Eurostar on my way there

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Olly from X-Factor!

28. What did you want and get?
A new start as a nanny in London

29. What did you want and not get?
Knee high flat black boots...can't find any I like!

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
That would have to be New Moon (and no, I don't care what you think!), followed closely by Nativity!. So funny

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Spent the day at work in the boring call centre, counting down the days until my escape! And I was 36

32. What's one thing that made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Massive unexpected payout from the Australian Taxation Office!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Layers...

34. What kept you sane?
Having my room on a seperate level to the kids I look after!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the moment?
I still love Ewan, but would love to run into Jude Law, strolling down Kings Road in Chelsea

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Huh? I don't get to see much news

37. Who did you miss?
I really miss my family and friends in Australia

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My little cousins, Arwen and Zion!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Life is too short - follow your dreams

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb"

So that's all from me. Have a great New Year and all the best for 2010!

Licence to Drive

Today I had to got to the DVLA in Wimbledon to change my Aussie licence for a British one.

I was prepared. I had dealt with British red tape before.

First up, I drove to Sainsbury's and their photo booth for my recent passport style photos, which I have to say are not too bad at all (shocker!) and then made my way by bus to Wimbledon, somewhere I hadn't been before. I had my D1 form all completed, my passport, my new photo, proof of UK address, my Aussie licence and the princely sum of 50 pounds. I was ready to wait as long as necessary and had no other plans for the rest of the day.

Getting off the bus near the station, I found the office just around the corner and located the licencing section on the 1st floor. I took my ticket, opened the door and prepared to take my seat and wait for my number to be called. I even had a book to read!

The waiting area was...empty! My number was next to be called and five minutes (yes, it's true!) later, I had surrendered my Aussie licence, had my passport and ID checked, paid the fee and was on my way out the door.

I was stunned, to say the least. I thought back to when I first arrived in Queensland from South Australia three years ago and I spent half a day at Queensland Transport trying to change my SA licence to a QLD one. I had expected this experience to be at least that much hassle. But no. It wasn't bad at all.

Then it hit me. I had just given up my Australian driver's licence for a British one. The licence I have had for almost half my life. What does that mean? Am I no longer Australian? I can't explain it, but I feel a bit sad without it. Like a tie to home has been cut off. I know that's crazy.

So this isn't just a holiday, then? I live in London now.

Ahh...London

So at last I am in London and having been here for just over one week now, I have to say that I am LOVING it!

Last Saturday, I arrived at London Heathrow after a pretty good flight from Abu Dhabi on which I managed to sleep, yet again. Kirstie and I had been joking before our flights about how we both didn't get upgraded to Business Class. Kirstie said she would love to have a seat in the emergency row for the extra leg room and I said I don't like that row because I become obsessed with the big lever that if you just pulled it down, the door would fly open (I'm sure it's more involved than that!). So, guess who got a seat in the emergency row? Yep. That would be me! Luckily, I had the aisle seat so any overwhelming need to pull the giant lever would have to be done by my fellow passenger in the window seat and she looked like the responsible type.

After making my way through Heathrow to Customs and having to fill in the arrival card as I was in the line (turns out, I was fast asleep when they gave them out on the plane), I made it through, bag collected and unchecked through to the arrivals hall.

Now, if you remember, I had secured my new job before I arrived in the UK and had never actually met the family I would be working for. It's a very strange feeling, arriving in a new place, and trying to look for someone you've never met, so times that feeling by about 100 when the place you're in is London Heathrow!

Luckily I found her, thanks to my cousin who also had come to the airport to meet me, which was a huge surprise. I haven't seen him for about 7 years.

Anyway, drove back to their (and my new) house and settled in. Went off to my cousin's house for an Aussie BBQ on Saturday afternoon, then jetlag set in and came home to crash.

This week, I have done a mixture of work, shopping and sightseeing. Tuesday was my first trip into London to sort out my bank account (which, if you are thinking of coming over here, definitely buy a bank account package before you leave Australia. It will make your life so much easier. For a bit of a plug, I went with 1st Contact and set up my account with Barclays. Vojtek at Barclays Bank on Edgeware Road was brilliant!) and to do a bit of shopping. I walked from Covent Garden, along Oxford Road to Edgeware Road. This day was a bit cold and wet. Since then, the weather has been awesome. Today, I went into London for church and then wandered through Soho and along South Bank and the skies were blue all day.






It felt good to wander around London today, knowing that I wasn't just a tourist here for a week or passing through, but that I was now living here.

I have had to drive a 4WD on London streets for the school run, which is hard to get used to. I have only ever driven small cars on streets generally twice as wide as the ones here. But I'm getting there. The buses and the tube are so easy to get around on that I don't need to drive much at all.

And I am loving being a nanny.

One Last Week

I finished work yesterday and said farewell to my career in the 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, commute-to-work-in-over-crowded-trains-full-of-noisy-school-kids...I hope!

This is my last week in Australia for a while and it's going to be a tough one. Now the serious packing needs to start. On Sunday, my mum and my sister have organised a farewell / birthday party for me and while it will be great to catch up with everyone one last time, I'm really not good at big parties and especially not good with goodbyes.

Monday I need to get my car ready to be sold. Tuesday, I'm doing some final shopping for last minute items and meeting a friend for lunch. Wednesday, I'm getting my haircut and I have an appointment at the doctor to make sure there is no trace of swine flu! Thursday is my only free day so far and Friday, I'm meeting the girls from my last job for lunch in the city. Saturday is for cleaning and packing and trips to the dump and Sunday is Mother's Day and I have a wedding to go to in the afternoon. Then it'll be Monday...the day I leave. Oh, and I need to finish packing somewhere in there, too...

At least being busy will help to keep my mind off the fact that I'll be leaving everything I know (again!), moving somewhere new (again!) and starting over (again!!). But even though the thought of that is hard, I am excited. I get the chance to start fresh. The chance to do things differently and not be locked in to doing things the same way I have done them for years. That thought is liberating!

This time in two weeks, I'll be in London, starting my new life and living my dream. I know it won't be easy but it will be an adventure.

And to use one of my favourite quotes by Jane Austen: "If adventures do not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad".

Start at the very beginning (a very good place to start)

I am moving to London - changing countries, changing careers and hopefully changing myself. That is the reason for this blog. But this won't be the first time I have packed up my life into one suitcase (weighing no more than 20kgs, of course!) and travelled to the other side of the world in search of....adventure? Maybe. Something new? Yes. An opportunity to live the dream? Definately!

I have always wanted to travel and see the world, but was always putting it off, so when a friend one day sent me an sms asking did I want to go to Scotland, I jumped at the chance. That was back in 2002 and I spent a whole year working and saving, saving and working and then jumped on that plane and off I went.

It was such a great experience. Don't get me wrong. It had it's fair share of the good, the bad and the ugly.

I lived in Scotland for 6 months in a small village called Crieff (home of the lovely Ewan McGregor!!) and worked at the Crieff Hydro Hotel - a huge leisure hotel set in 900 acres of beautiful Scottish countryside. I loved the snow, the mountains, the whole village life. But soon the city girl in me started to resurface and I had to move on.

So, one day my two Aussie friends, Mandy and Lisa and I opened our Great Britain atlas and, not being quite ready to make the leap from Crieff to London, we chose Manchester - situated nicely in the middle of both.

Packing our life once again, this time into a hire car, we got behind the wheel, braved the M6 and headed for Manchester - home of the awesome Manchester United and Take That - what more could a girl want?

We soon settled into Manchester and it felt like a real home. But inevitably, the drag back home became stronger and so after a year in the North West, the packing began again - this time we were homewardbound.

It was strange being home again too - like living in a new place. It took me a while to realise that I'd been bitten by the travel bug and that it was terminal.

So after a few years, here I am again, planning to once again pack my life into one suitcase (weighing no more than 20 kgs, of course!), jump on that plane and travel to the other side of the world.

This time, I think I am ready for London....will it be ready for me?
There are so many places I still have to see...so many things I still want to do...

And so, this blog will make that journey with me and be a lasting memory of all my adventures when I finally get to that place where I settle down and look back over my life...whenever that will be!

You Sneaky Blogger!

Just sneaking on to my blog while I am at work - is that bad?

Off to buy my own laptop tomorrow, so hopefully my posts will become interesting - or at least a bit longer without me looking over my shoulder for the boss to catch me out!

A blogger is born

Here I am. Finally. My own blog! I have thought about starting one for a while now and here it is. This first post will be a short one - just a test really - then I will be back to fill you in on why I am starting a blog and a bit more about me!

Back soon!