English Autumn Rain

My first week completely alone in a foreign country.

-Still alive?... Check

-Spent too much money on frivolous market finds?...Check

-Had my photo taken on the street by fashion bloggers?...Check

-Met my future flat mates?...Check

-Scored an interview for Topshop/Topman buying role?...Check (hell freekin yes!)

Phewww it's been a long week but it all ended on an pretty good note, care to know more?......

So my first time at Portabello markets, WHAT A DAY! It just made me so happy, I mean yes I did buy a few things (including a lovely floral number for 1 pound) but it was just a beautiful day and everyone I spoke to was so nice and helpful and a few fashion bloggers were kind enough to come up and take my picture (I was wearing something rather normal I thought).

Bricklane markets are alot more trendy though, like more locals...Portabello is 90% tourists.

The flower markets are also amazing, once I have my own place I'm going to go there every week, at the end of the day you can get 3 massive bunches for 4 pounds.

As I was walking up the Portabello Road I heard some music and turned the corner and saw these 2 girls, I think the photo is a bit small, but they had a little suitcase with 2 puppets inside with this mini band that were 'playing along to the music' so one puppet was playing the drums and the other was playing the guitar....it was rathter adorable and they were making really good money!

LOVED this little stall (Petra it reminded me of you too!) the guy was selling pretty bone china tea cups, pots and plates...AND way old school cameras! GOLD

Oh and before I forget the other day I was just walking the streets and came across this crowd that were waiting for a film premier...the film was The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus! wooo (Heath Ledgers last film) however I didn't get to see anyone I cared for (yes, I was holding out for Johnny Depp) so I walked off and a lovely gentlemen asked me for directions and then asked if I wanted to join him and his friends for a drink....and I (craving a big glass of wine but didn't have anyone to drink with) said sure why not.

4 or 5 glasses later (not one drink funded from my own wallet) I stumbled back to find my tube.

On one of the nicer days this weeks I paid a visit to Regents Park, where I sat and had a cup of tea and enjoyed the view and chatted to some other tourists.

When I walked further down to the pond, this guy was walking past with his little pug dog that was barking and growling at the (gigantic!) geese, but the owner warned 'hey boy, they will EAT you' hahaha I wouldn't even be surprised.

Talking of random overheard things, I'm starting to compile a list....some of the things people say on public transport is hilarious! Once I get a good page Ill post them up here.

This is still inside Regents Park, inside the Queen Mary gardens where they have a massive rose garden and I just thought that they were pretty.

Here are a few of my market finds....I'm wearing the cardican right now, it has stawberries on it with stawberry buttons...LOVE!

Baked these delcious babies yesterday.

-Date scones mmmm

Going out for tea tomorrow with a girl I met the other night aka future house mate, we're checking out a few places in Bethnal green. Hopefully we find ourselves a place by the afternoon! Hoorah! Love you, miss all your pretty faces *hugs*

-Amanda

I made it!

Hey guys,

So I finally made it to London! I've been here almost a week now and it's completely amazing....this is where I'm staying now (at a family friends place in Wembley, about 20 mins from Central London by tube) - photo taken on a pretty evening after the sun set.

So Louise also finished her Contiki trip on the same day that we arrived so we met up over the weekendand wondered across the Thames and towards Big Ben, Westminster and Tesco! baha

....and apparantly there was something incredibly shocking on that fat pamphlet there...

The weather has been so perfect since I've been here, Ireland aswell....I still haven't seen a drop of rain in over a month! Which is a very long time for the UK...the good weather is following me, but unfortunately I left all my summery clothes in Dublin as I thought it would be getting colder by October...

We then had a nap in the park, where some random lady came up and made a weird child-like sound and took a photo of us....and when we awoke from our nap a good half hour later she was still THERE!

....and stumbled upon Buckingham Palace, which on the whole was relatively unimpressive, but I could imagine it's completely amazing inside.

From here we decided to check out Harrods and meet up with Louise's friend Charmaine....the ground floor is completely dedicated to food, there is a room for everything, a room for candy, a room for the bakery, groceries, ice-creams, sushi etc....we got lost trying to find the batheroom! The high street fashion level was a random mix of brands though....like Diesel, Ralph Lauren, Juicy Couture, warehouse and Diane Von Furstenburg....weird right?

Later on that evening we visited a pub before heading towards a little theatre down a side street to watch Louise's cousin perform in retro interactive musical. It was a hoot! Lots of fun!

The next day I had a few appintments for viewings of houses, one was a WHOLE IN THE WALL, the other one was in a really lovely area, (Islington) - just 10 min walk to Angel tube, ut it was a really narrow townhouse with 4 levels and no lounge/common room and I kind of want to live with a group of friendly people who I can talk to rather than be a room hermit...oh! I have an another appointment this evening for a 'vegetarian only' house...but before that I'm going to a social evening held monthly for people looking for hosue mates and places to rent, so THAT should be interesting....at least they have free drinks hour...

Later that night I met up with Louise and  Charmaine at Charmaines friends house warming party, it was a cute little house in Sheperds Bush (could it sound any more Australian??- it's where all the Aussies go) and then left to go to an underground club called the bath house where they were holding a rockabilly, jazz evening so it was really fun music where Charmaine and I got our groove on.

and 2 of Charmaines friends were so adorable, they had all the moves... and the DJ was in a man sized bird-cage.

 

We went ot Bricklane markets the next day, had a bite to eat and it was a pretty successful day! I got an awesome red pant jumpsuit and a printed dress, Louise got an khaki anorak and Charmaine got a rad pair of chunky nude heels!

 So that is pretty much where I'm at these days, yesterday I had a day of e-mail and calling prospective room mates to check availability and make appointments and I was in touch with a CV agency to review my resume and cover letter, so they should be getting back to me by tomorrow....might be meeting up with Louise today, depending when they wake up....they're leaving for Paris tomorrow (jelous!)

I'll let you all know when I eventually find an awesome place to stay...there's one place I really really want, it has an amazing view over a park and river in North London, I'm going to stalk these people until they let me see their house...but don't worry, I'll be subtle about it...

Also, I thought I might update some photos of my last week in Ireland, Katrina and I went away for a few days down South of Ireland to the Wicklow Mountains, a really small village (1 pub and 1 resturant) that only has one bus that goes in/out of town at 4:30....

hahaha Katrina posing on the bed in our B & B...Drinking pints at the only pub in town where we crashed a crazy Irish Hens party where we were exposed several time to male genetalia...Katrina I miss your face!!

Stick was way bigger than the dog...

Pretty Ireland.

Can't wait for you guys to come visit me! I'm off to Regents Park now, love you all, miss you, London is fab

xo *hugs*

Amanda

first week of Ireland

Firstly I cannot believe I have been here for 2 weeks....it feels like I've been here for half of that, I think my body is starting to rebel against all the different time zones...

I've started applying for jobs in London the past few days so fingers crossed I'll have some more interviews for when I arrive, I'm beginning to crave work, it's been nearly 2 months now that I haven't worked and I'm beginning to run low on funds! the Euro is killing me...

Anyway onto lighter thoughts, Ireland is beautiful, rather cold but the weather has been pretty good for Irish standards I have been told....Katrina has been working most of the time so I've been exploring Ireland on my own, I'm planning a couple days in Galway next week....I can't wait to get out of the city! rolling green hills, national parks and steep cliffs etc...I think I'm going to stay a couple nights and a bed and breakfast....unfortunately by myself (screw you Katrina)

Ohhhh we saw Fleet Foxes last week....seriously amazing, I've heard that they're really good live but they just blew me away, I had goosebumps ontop of goosebumps, best gig ever....Fleet Foxes in an Irish pub....doesn't get better than that...
Katrina has been working mosst days, but she has the day off today for the Coldplay gig....I'm pretty hungry, I might make some scones....or banana muffins!
Ok I have to go and wake up Katrina now and go get some brunch, love you guys and I'll update a better blog soon....here's a few photos, I'll have some better ones when I get back from Galway.

Arriving in Howth, a little fishing village on the East Coast of Ireland.

Drinkin Guiness straight from the loins of it's origins.

Weeee first day in Ireland...in a nearby park. 2 old men trying their luck on the wharf at Howth.
Poet 'Yeats' house.

"Every experience is unrepeatable"

I've seen and done so much over the past weeks that it's hard to believe that I've only been away 1 month and it's almost time for me to leave America for Europe....this is our last day in San Fran and it's a bittersweet feeling as it marks the end of my voyage across the US but the beginning of my independence (oh dear!) I'm not home sick yet, I thought I might be but home seems like a world away....there's so much happening here and there's still so much to discover and experience, I feel like I've just tested the water and I'm very much looking forward to diving in!
Ok so the past couple of days Louise and I have been wandering the streets of San Fran discovering cool little streets and more ridiculously steep streets (my poor poor calves) Yesterday we walked East to have a guided tour through one of the Victorian houses which line so many of the streets here.

It was built in 1855 and reflected the opulance characteristic

of the Victorian period; large, vaulted ceilings, marble fire

places and beautiful stained, arched windows.

After this we wondered down the road to whole foods (to non Americans/ travellers, wholefoods

is a massive Organic food supermarket) and I made myself a salad from lunch....in wholefoods

they have all the ingredients you could possibly want to make a salad from and you can just mix and match as you desire....I'm not so good with so many options and end up making the most ridiculous (but so delicious) looking salad ever.

So we took out lunch to the nearby park to consume and watch a friendly game of softball going

on across the street......and then Louise had a nap

in the sun, I also napped....until it got cold and we

had to move on.

and thennnnn we went on a search for debaunchery....and found ghetto street instead...

But we made it out alive....San Fran sure does have alot of bums, but usually they're rather nice....

So we walked the streets some more and finally discovered our street but we had to walk up a 30 degree incline just to get half way to our hostel...

But there were really pretty views once we reached the top....see Alcatraz (the prison island) in the background.

awwwwwwwww...

Love you guys xoxoxox

Charrrr

1st time blogger, long time reader

Hello fans of the very exciting first edition of my travel blog,

So Louise and I have made it to San Fransisco, which means I've been away for almost a whole month now! I'll just quickly update you on the previous 3 weeks....

Arrived in NY Aug 1st, spent around 2 weeks with Sanna in her Lower East side crib and with Allie in her Southern New Jersey Farm, spent some time in Pensylvania and Philly, Conneticut and upstate NY before Louise and I left for Vegas on the 18th.

Vegas = 4 days ofsleeping till 1, intense heat, large frozen cocktails, losing money and taking naps by the pool.

LA = 3 days of all-day walking, amazing vintage shops, flea markets and road sales, site seeing, people watching, free (perhaps fermented) wine and romantic dusk bike rides.

San Fran = Huge dept stores, lots of National Parks, went bike riding in the Golden Gate Park

and had a small picnic (had to hide our food from

the park bums) - schitzophrenia seems to be

quite big here... and then walked around and

shopped in the hippy district.

Bought ingredients

for Sangria and had a pleasant evening.

Ok! So we're almost up-to-date now....get comfy friends as it's going to get a bit more nitty-gritty here on in....

San Fran day 3:

Day begins being rudely awakened by some strangers alarm: welcome to hostel living. Jumped off my bed still half blind from sleep and walked down stairs to find a free bathroom....got hungry so wandered into the kitchen to make myself some (free) waffles. Made conversation with cute Belgium boy about the 'Burning Man Festival' - (a festival out in the desert of Nevada - 2 hours from any town where around 65,000 people congregate for a week or 2 to build a small city which becomes the 4th largest in Nevada upon completion.....they party and then burn the city down and go home...hippies...

Went back to room, scalded myself in the crappy shower (shower only goes on or off, you can't

actually change the temp) dressed and walked

down the street to get some coffee.

We journeyed towards Lombard Street through China Town to reach the 'crookedest street in

the world' where we jumped retardedly and hung off signs

for some classic lomo shots.

It was around mid day that we caught a bus down the beginning of the Golden Gate Bridge where we walked....and stopped to take photos....and walked....photos and then walked some more until we reached the end wheree we realised there were no buses to take us back so we had to walk over theh bridge again (which is a solid 30 minute walk).....waited for a bus...got back to city (around 4pm now) had a big late lunch with milkshakes, bought a book and headed back to hostel to chill before heading to the MOMA. (museum of modern art).

Didn't make it to the museum, wrote this blog instead, so love it with your entire freaking heart bitches. *hugs* Love you!