#35 Ode to London

March 25 2010

Ode to London

So this is it. I am packing up all the final bits of my flat and we are within 5 days of the move date. My life in London is well and truly coming to an end. Thinking back over the last 6 years and all my time here, I can't help but smile. The fact that I ended up in London was all down to a vacation that I had gone on with my old roommate from LA. There are so many small and tiny decisions that were made in that period that ended up having a monumental effect on my life. So I wound up in London, with little more than the naivety that only a 23 year old can possess.

London represents my 20's and freedom. It represents years of questionable decisions and nights that I can't remember and nights I wish I couldn't remember.. People and friends have come and gone, bars and clubs have come and gone, and like everything good.... London is coming to an end. I think everyone leaves London at some point. Whether they are searching for more space for a growing family or whether they are yearning for a more quiet and less smoke filled existence in the expanses of the countryside. But I leave here knowing that I did this town proud. I was packing up some things last night and came across an old journal of which had entries from my final semester at Brown all the way up to me meeting Matt. I also found a letter that my mother wrote to me the night before she left after having helped me move over here. I can honestly say it brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't have imagined then how it would all turn out. I also found another entry during those first few months, where I was so lonely that I used to cry myself to sleep. Now anyone who knows me will probably be horrified at that statement, but it's true. I had never ever been so desperately lonely as during my first few months in London. But it's all part of the process. If it was easy, then everyone would do it.

Bye bye London, I love you more than words can say.

What London means to me in a nutshell:

Love
Best friends
Sterling, Bertie, Bondi, Hazzler, Colin, Dal, Megan, Sophie, Jeffers, Ryan, Becs
Eades, Badders, Scorch, Reena, Talisa, Jackey, Uncle Reesy, Garns, Brad, Glenn, Bobby
Brown Dog
Sands End
Duke on the Green
La Famiglia
the City
the District Line
Elizabeth King
Joe's
Randall's
The Ship
South Park and all the dogs - Mash, Benji, Teddy, Jack, Yorda, Lucy, Luca, Lola, Chantey, Hendrix, Willow, Coco, Oscar, Fin, Ruby, Preztel, Wilma, Luna, and all the rest of the lovlies
Travelling the world, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Croatia, Paris, Capri, Rome, Norway, Sweden, Zanzibar, Ireland, Tuscany, Edinburgh, Valencia
Early days of partying in Farringdon and King's Cross... Kate Dwyer
Thanksgivings with the group - Cotswold, Tuscany, Kinsale, Suffolk
Wicklow
Road rage
Soot in your nose
Commerce Partners
Harbor Group
Churchill Arms
Portabello Market
Vintage shopping
Rain
More rain
wash out summers
White winters
King's Road
Ledbury Road
Matches
Browns
Dover Street Market
Goyard
Mount Street
The Berekely
Zafferano
The 22 bus
Walking
Clogs
Rainbows
EAT
Richmond Park
Wimbledon Common
Teddy the German Sheppard
Edward Rutherford novels
Guitar hero
The Derby
The RAC
Cheam
Capri
Aragon House
Topshop
Bond Street
Parson's Green
Broomhouse Road
Settrington Road
Parson's Green Lane
Westbourne Terrace
Musgrave Crescent
Shorrolds Road (yes I have moved 6 times in 6 years)
Sophie's Steak House
Mahiki birthdays
Furs
Hyde Park
The V & A
Heat
Now
Hello
Grazia
Wagamama's
Men in skinny jeans
Ark Day Spa
Eve Lom facials
Elvis night at Novello's
Cafes
John and Gail
Singing Irish songs
Rugby at Twickenham
Veal milanese
Chez Bruce
Me Me's
Nobu
The Big Easy
Lucky Voice

I am sure there is so much more but I will miss all of the above and hope that the next step is just as big an adventure whatever it may be!