It's hard to believe it has been 4 weeks to the day since we arrived. I'm not sure if time has flown or if it seems far longer than 28 days. I might say either depending on the moment.
Our first month in a nutshell
Flashback to Austin Powers miming, "look, this is me in a nutshell"
I digress.
The Highs:
- Our first walk through Holland Park, wandering the picturesque gardens where peacocks roamed while opera music drifted from the park's opera house providing a fairytale soundtrack and setting.
The 2nd pic we took at Kensington Gardens but you get the idea
- The Queen's Jubilee where we got into the spirit with 1.2 million others by dressing as royalty and watching the Flotilla from Blackfriar's Bridge
- The Flyby
- Scoring a sweet "Edwardian/Victorian" antique from a shop at the Portobello Market after bargaining with the drunken (at 12pm) shop lady. Très British.
- Finally having furniture arrive after living with just a mattress for 3 weeks
- Exploring our neighborhood and discovering what will be our new local spots
- Watching Italy win against England in the Euro Cup
- Every moment I get to spend with Rob
- Rob's new job - his colleagues seem cool and have already taken him out for pints after work a few times. Plus, he found out he will be traveling regularly to Milan and Rome where his office sits next to the Trevi Fountain (swoon)
- Watching Rob's reaction as he feels and sees his baby kick
- Laying under the sun on a blanket in our garden
- One leisurely Sunday with a stop at a nearby garden nursery and a walking house tour around Kensington
- Learning how affordable fresh flowers are here compared to NY
- Walking around Tower Bridge on a sunny (yes sunny) afternoon
- Making a friend who has already spoiled me with a welcome brunch, baby gifts and dinner out!
The Lows:
- 3 weeks with only a mattress to act as bed, couch, desk, chair etc
- 2+ weeks with no phone, no tv and shoddy internet
- Rain/clouds/overcast skies (this can be read as three separate lows or one all-encompassing crap weather low)
- Excitement of furniture arriving dashed by herculean task of unpacking an apartment of floor to ceiling boxes
- Missing family and friends
- Missing work
- Being labeled a homemaker by the bank and phone company. Apparently you are only a lawyer if you are making an income as one.
- Feeling like I need Rob more than he needs me at the moment
- Having to pee at inopportune moments because there is a baby on my bladder
- Dealing with immigration
- Missing Rob when he's at work
- Having an emotional breakdown on the floor in the nursery and knowing the people I want to call are all at work or unavailable
*****
I hope and expect the lows to become fewer and highs more frequent as we build a life and routine here, but it's certainly an adjustment.
We're super excited for my parents to visit later this week and visits from Noah and Ian next month. We make fabulous hosts so plan your trips soon and please leave a comment or private message to share your own highs and lows.
With love from London,
Lia
