Moving Right Along :)

Most of my teaching materials have arrived from Manchester, so I was fortunate to be able to unpack some of my room yesterday.

Flat hunting turned out to be a positive experience.  The housing coordinator, Maxine, was an absolute Angel - funny, cheeky, knowledgeable, and had us looking at great flats.  I was really committed to living in Ealing, which is considered West London, and sits about half-way between where my school is and the center of London.  I was attached to this because many of the teachers at my school who are around my age live in Ealing, though my brief experience in Ealing did not make me fall in love with it - I liked it, but I didn't have that internal, "YES!" feeling.  However, as many people recommended Chiswick (pronounced Chizick).  Chiswick is a little East of Ealing (which means closer to London), is bigger than Ealing, and is totally lovely.  Of course, as in most cities, the more awesome the place, the more expensive the flats.

I mentioned to most of you that there had been some difficulty finding flats that would allow dogs (story of my life).  Well, I found one.  And the flat is absolutely beautiful.  Really.  It is across the street from Turnham Green (big park), and two blocks from Chiswick High Road, which is loosely comparable to places like Pearl Street for those of you in Boulder, and Allston/Brighton, for those of you in the New England area.  The flat is bright, roomy for a 1 bedroom, and it has a little character to it, which I always enjoy.  It is quite a bit more $$ than most of the flats I was looking at in Ealing, but other than that, it really is the perfect place for what I need (no other place allowed dogs, so it's not like I had oodles of options), and gives me access to everything I desire in living in England.  In other words, it's perfect, but wicked expensive.   I put down a deposit yesterday, so hopefully, within the next 10 days or so, I can move in :).

Okay, off to play in London today!  I slept for a full 9 hours last night, so I am starting to feel a little closer to normal....

Big Love!
J