Brick Wall

Life in London is going well. I am settling into a flat well and starting to personalise my room. I'm still enjoying my job and have had a permanent contract approved, just waiting for the contract to arrive through the post. So no more worrying if I am going to earn enough money to pay the rent, YAY! I'm relatively happy.
I am filling my spare time with sight seeing and making new friends. But why then do I feel like I have hit a bit of a brick wall?


I am feeling incredibly home sick, but it feels like more than just home sickness. I know I should just be getting on with things, trying new things and meeting new people, which I am actually doing. Tonight I'm off to watch some carols and drink mulled wine with a few people and tomorrow I'm going to try rock climbing. But for some reason, this just isn't helping me shift this "brick wall" feeling.

I have only been here 6 weeks(ish) and it does take time to really settle down. Perhaps I haven't given myself enough time yet. A few have said I'm putting too much pressure  and expectations onto myself.

What ever it is, I'm sure it will pass. I'm going to keep myself busy and remember that I'm going home in 22 days :)

So it's been a while

So it's been a while since my last post. I have successfully moved into the flat I had found in Canada Water and am starting to settle in quite well. I still need pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, etc. I have been provided with some and it is doing a job for now. There were a few mishaps, I got on the bus to work in the wrong direction my first morning there and last night I managed to lock my flat mates out, but never mind, I'm learning.

I have managed to fill my spare time with wandering round London and my local area and have discovered some pretty amazing things. One of my favourites is a city farm, called Surrey Docks Farm. It is literally 5 mins from my house and in the middle of London, it is very bizzare. Being from Devon I'm used to farms being around the local area, but this just blew me away. It really isn't something you expect to find in London. As well as being a working farm (so I can buy some really fresh meat and eggs) they are a charity that does learning workshops with disabled adults and children. I managed to get talking to one of the guys that runs the place and he suggested I donate some of my time to them volunteering to work in the learning workshops. Something I am most definitely thinking of doing, not only will it be worth while but I will hopefully meet some new people.

I have just had a brilliant few days with a friend from home who came up to visit me. We managed to fit so much in it is crazy! Am very tiered now and looking forward to my bed (especially before a 12.5 hour shift), but it was very worth it.

On top of all of that there may be a possibility of securing a permanent position at work! Being on a zero hour contract is not ideal. I am paid on an hourly rate and the can add or cut hours as they wish, which I found out the do without qualms this week when most of my hours were cut. Plenty of free time but it won't feel so nice come pay day. So fingers crossed that I get the permanent position, as it means I won't have to worry about money to pay the bills and I get to go to the work Christmas party!

All in all things are going well. Am missing everyone from home especially my partner, but I am working towards a career and happiness and appear to be doing an ok job!

New Flat

I've managed to find my self a room in a flat and I'm moving in on sat, Yay! It's in Canada Water, which is about 15-20 minuets away in total, so lovely and close. Plus there are buses that run 24 hours a day, meaning that I can get back from work (or most likely a late night out) even when the tubes have stopped.

It's a two bed flat and the other room is occupied by a couple who are studying and working towards Ba's in teaching. There is a large living and dining room, a fair sized bathroom and a fairly large kitchen. My room is a double, which is brilliant as it means there is some where for my friends and family to stay with me! :)

Whilst I am very excited about the move I am also quite nervous. What if: I don't get on very well with my house mates?, the area isn't right? my house mates don't like me? Amongst many other "what if's?"I think that part of the nerves  may also be because I am leaving the one area of London I have gotten to know well and feel quite safe in to go to an area I don't know at all.

It will however allow me to start feeling more settled, have some space of my own and get to know some new people!

As soon as I move in I will try to get some pictures up for you all to see :)

Up's and Down's

It's been a small while since my last post. My job is going very well, am getting into the stride of things and thoroughly enjoying it, which is amazing :).

 I am however finding the house hunting a bit difficult, people don't respond, aren't there when you have arrange for a viewing or the place just isn't right. I am however being really proactive, searching every day and trying really hard. I have also booked myself a place for a speed flat-mating event on Wednesday which should be great fun, am really looking forward to it.

On Friday I met up with my second cousin for the first time in our adult lives (we apparently used to play together all the time as little girls- sweet). She through her arms around me and gave me a massive hug, which made me feel so good and really at home. We then had a wonderful dinner and didn't stop chatting all evening. It makes me very glad that I am here in London and able to get to know such a lovely person and hopefully make a wonderful friend.

This weekend I went home, (yes I know I've only been here for 2 weeks), it was a very full weekend, seeing family and a few friends as well as my gorgeous partner. I had a lovely weekend, but it made coming back to London very sad, there was a few tears when getting on the coach.

Was back to work today and despite a good (but hectic) day at work I was feeling very rubbish. I very quickly realised that I am feeling extremely  homesick. I miss every one and Plymouth so much. Today London just irritated and frustrated me.

But then I realised that I'm in London and there is so much to do it's untrue. So I booked myself some (really) cheap tickets to see a Ballet - Sleeping Beauty, something I have always wanted to do. Is that something I would have been able to do in Plymouth? Properly not.

There are going to be some down times in the next few months and I will always miss my family and friends, but I'm living in London where there is so much to do and so many things to see, so there will be quite a few up times to balance it out!

My first week in London

My first working week in London has flown by! Work is going well, I have learnt to take ECG's, blood pressures, measure BMI's, take temperatures, read a million company policy's and regulations. So as you can tell I have been busy busy learning things at work.

I have been finishing work at about 4 every day, then going straight home and crashing out. But on Wednesday I decided to take a walk. I turned right from my building and walked straight across London Bridge. I then turned left and just walked, all of a sudden, I was at St Paul's cathedral! I have never been that close to St Paul's and was blown away by how beautiful it was. I also got to see all the people camped out protesting about capaltism or something ( I'm not 100% what they are doing), seems like a waste of time if you ask me but hey ho.

 From there I carried on walking down the road towards the famous Fleet street (not that everything in London isn't famous for something as I have very quickly realised). Again I carried on walking until I got bored of that direction, so turned down a asumingly random road to end up along the Thames, just 10 minuets up from Monument bridge! I then walked across Monument bridge, had a gander at the London Eye before taking a stroll towards Waterloo station and home.

I soon realised that Waterloo station is actually only 20 minuets or so from where I work at London bridge, so I defiantly took the long route round, but got to see some amazing views and some bits of "real" London. Here is a picture I took looking across the Thames

Tonight is Friday night, last working day of the week, so what did I do? I obviously did the cool thing and went for a drink in Soho! I had a gorgeous glass of wine in a (well outside) a pub followed by a really nice (and surprisingly cheap) dinner in a seafood restaurant. The rest of the evening I am spending crashed out on the sofa watching An Idiot Abroad 2.

The weekend... I think we are going to check out Camden market, Sunday is a given, seeing as I'm living with three Kiwi's at the moment, the rugby world cup final!

So all in all my first working week in London has been a big success, bring on the next one please!

So here I am!

Here I am, sat in a flat in London after completing my first day at my new job! The move up yesterday went pretty smoothly (with the exception of initially  pulling up outside the wrong flat).

I made it to work without getting lost (hooray), my day started with a comprehensive tour of the building, wards and numerous other facilities. I met so many people and remember less than half of their names, despite them all seeming to know mine. I've been given a pass and a locker (both of which I have never had at work before), my uniform has been ordered after having tried on a few sizes (still have to take up the trousers though :( ). Started my training with reading an absolute mountain of obligatory documents.

All in all its been a great first day, but despite all of that I feel extremely overwhelmed and home sick (even though its only been one day, sad I know).

 But like dad said, tomorrow can only be better, I now know where the toilets are and can get into them without help (toilets are locked to stop volunteers from using them when they are on urine collection, just thought I had to explain that one!)

So..

Moving day tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the big day, the day that I move to London! Eeeek! Am mostly packed and am no longer worrying about my To Do lists . Not that I’m ignoring them either

I had a really fun night of food and cocktails with some of my closes friends (including my mum and little brother) at a pub in town last night. It felt really good to be surrounded by those people but also reminded me of how much I'm going to miss them all. One upside to this is that there will always be people to visit and be visited by, and therefore more excuses for evenings of food and cocktails.

For my last night in Plymouth I am spending it with my gorgeous boyfriend. Our relationship will be hard work long distance, but in my opinion worth all the hard work and effort. Plus he wont have to feel guilty he isn't spending lots of time with me whilst he is working hard to complete his final year at university. 

So am I scared? Yes, but am I excited? Even more so, I just can't wait to get there and start this amazingly marvelous adventure!

To Do lists

I am a big believer in to do lists, in fact any type of list really, they help to keep me organised and fairly panic free in most aspects of my life.

I have several to do lists for the move to London:

To Do 1

• Find some where to live/stay
• Sort out physio re-referral
• Change address for contacts
• Work out a budget
• Find out how Oyster cards work 
• Make nail appointment (to remove the shellac nails I currently am wearing)
• Hand in notice
• Sort out gym
• Pack
• Sort out banks
• Buy toiletries
• Sort out laptop
• Replace Mum's conditioner 
• Cards
• Order skype head set
• Catch up with friends

I worked through this list, ticking a large portion off to only then realise that there was a whole bunch of other stuff I had to do to

To Do 2

• Find out monthly & weekly tube ticket prices
• Find out work start times
• Figure out how to get to work
• Find out what zone I'm in
• Find own house
• Order Oyster card
• Contacts 
• Decide on and buy tube pass
• Protect Oyster card
• Register at GP's 

Working through this second list I quickly realised that most of the things on it can only be done whilst I'm in London. Which is great, it means I am as prepared as I can be atm, right?

Then why do I feel so unprepared?

I am currently sat in my parents bed at home, (looking after the house, dog and brother whilst they are away enjoying a few days to them selves) looking at all my lists and going over them and I am quiet frankly terrified!

After taking a break and reading through this again, I've just come to realise that actually, I have achieved a lot in such a short space of time (go me), well not just me, I've had a massive amount of support from my family and friends. So for that I thank you!

There are going to be things that aren't going to be done by the time it comes to leaving and that's OK! I am just going to go with the flow and try to enjoy every minuet of it, completed To Do list or not!

So I'm moving to London...

I'm an average 22 year old girl who enjoys socializing with friends and generally enjoying life. I finished my university course this year in May and graduated this September with a Bsc Honors Toxicology and Health (2:1) of which I'm very proud. However after three very hard years an even harder challenge began, a hunt for a start to my career. 

After about five months, four interviews and literally thousands of job postings later I've landed a job that will  be the start to my dream career. My new title will be "Clinical Research Technician" working in a phase I clinical trials unit for Quntiles CRO. My role will include taking bloods, ECG's, specimen labeling, collecting etc. It will give me the opportunity to really start to understand the industry I wish to make my career (perfect). The only hitch, I'm living in Plymouth (Devon) and the unit is in central London. 

So here I am, a week away from moving from a fairly quiet little city to the hustle and bustle of London life, the start of my career, real adult life and not to mention a marvelous adventure!