My 'hood

Thougts on my (still newish) neighbourhood:

- I wish we lived in a friendlier building. I know this is London, and of course we don't like to speak to our neighbours more than we have to, but really. On moving in day I bumped into a girl who lives in the building. She wasn't best pleased I said hello and then was clearly horrified when I actually introduced myself and she had to reciprocate. Today I met a 'crazy professor' type character who lives on the very top floor. Mad white hair, little beard, too short cordruoy trousers and glasses round the neck on a cord. He also wasn't thrilled when I tried to be friendly and engage him in conversation. In my ideal world we'd live in 28 Barbary Lane in the Tales of the City books, and our neighbours would become dear friends.

- We have a wonderful charity shop just a street away. I worried the area might be a bit posh for it, but I love sifting through all the homewares, books (only £1!) and they even sWeell cheap balls of wool. Obviously a local dominatrix/stripper is having a clear out at the moment, as the window display was sporting several pairs of thigh high, lucite heeled PVC boots and a PVC dress. Unfortunately I just spent all my money on make up and porridge oats!

- There's a library under a minute's walk from our flat. Soon as I move somewhere new I have to sniff out and join the nearest local library. I still find it amazing that I can borrow all these books for free! Libraries are wonderful. And long may they be around.

- We're only a couple of minutes walk from the river. Admittedly the Thames is no Seine, but I still love being near a river when you're in a city and walks along it are great in any weather.

Connected

Finally back online after an excruciating couple of weeks without internet post-move. I have a lot of catching up to do!

The hard work and stress of moving is all rewarded by the fun of unpacking and making your new nest a home. Managed to shed a lot of rubbish along the way and rediscovered lots of forgotten treasures - books, shoes, clothes and odds and ends, like these coasters. I'm being mocked mercilessly by Mr C for my love of them, inherited from my grandmother, but I'm really fond of them.


Also, glad to finally be putting some of the wine crates I can't resist accumulating to good use at last, so my makeup is now a bit more organised. Just need to get hold of some of those flower arranging beads now so I can turn that vase into a Sephora style brush holder.


Now I need to go start making the rounds and see what everyone else has been up to

Packing Tip No.1

Top packing tip, courtesy of my Pa -
- don't worry about packing your book into boxes (nothing more upsetting than a box bottoming out and depositing the contents on a pavement in the middle of a move) - instead, tie them up into beautiful little parcels with string, just like this:


Easy to carry, easy to fit into small spaces in the car/van and most important - don't they look adorable?