London...I've finally arrived

Destination London (Westminster to be exact)....via the district line from Kew Garden.  I love the tube!!!  So easy to figure out and the best thing is NO TRAFFIC!  Just hop on and ride.  I've got a straight shot for my debut ride on the tube today which is great.  No connections means less room for missed stops or crossed connections.  30 minutes and I am stepping out into London.  Up the stone steps of the tube station and into the city.  The moment my feet hit the pavement I am stopped in my tracks.  I am overcome by a wave of emotion I wasn't expecting.  As I stare directly up at Big Ben I get goosebumps.  I realize that this is the moment I have been talking about for the past 2 years....taking this adventure to London and experiencing it for a chunk of time.  Well now I am here and it's real!  Ok, sappy moment over...on with the day.
I begin my walk to the Tate Britain (the Tate Art Galleries have 2 parts, Tate Britain and Tate Modern in 2 locations along the river) and realize that apart from knowing the correct tube stop I have no idea where I am going and no map.  I guess I am feeling my way there...Maps are for sissy's...and I just start walking.  Lucky for me the British are so polite and want to make sure everyone is taken care of so there are signs with arrows pointing me in the right direction.

Side note...seriously all the signage is so polite.  Most of the time when I read a sign here I feel as if I am being spoken to by a sweet old lady who is concerned for my safety and just wants to make sure I am alright.  They even write on the ground the correct way to look before you step out into a crosswalk.  If that isn't the most considerate thing ever I don't know what is.  There may need to be a whole separate post about this signage thing.
Ok, back to the walk....I make it to the gallery without any issues and enjoy the stroll along the bank of the river.  The gallery is a lovely tour of British artists from the early 1600's to present.  It's a great look at the different events in Britain's history and how it has influenced art and design.  The romantics was an area that srtuck me the most.  One of the styles of that period was called Skying.  Yes it is exactly what it sounds like...lying on your back, looking at the sky and painting the clouds.  It was really cool to see the different types of views people could have just by looking up.

 After leaving the gallery I wandered into one of the royal parks and saw an adorable man who could have been anyones grandpa sitting and doing a lovely oil painting.  He tipped his had and winked as I walked by saying "lovely day, aye"  And a lovely day it was.  in fact I suppose I need to apologize for stealing the california sunshine and bringing it to England.  It has been gorgeous and sunny everyday since I have arrived.  The Londoners are out in full force enjoying it too.  The park was full of every type from moms and kids, to business men in suits.  There were also your standard couples on the blankets who forget they are in a public locations and take the make out session from PG to PG-13.  All in all the consensus seems to be play in the sun!

Millbrook Park (A Royal Park)

Tate Modern is down along the South Bank of the Thames river so after leaving the park I headed that way.  South Bank is a whole different world. How do I even describe it...It's a bit of Venice Beach, splashed with some fisherman's wharf and just a dash of Disneyland.  Yes Mickey and Minnie were present along with Shrek and a random Viking.  Ya, I know I was totally confused by it all so you will have to be also.  One I got passed all the madness it was quite a beautiful view walking past the house of parliament and seeing all the beautiful bridges.

Start of South Bank

Now let's talk about modern art for a moment.  I appreciate all forms of art but I have a hard time understanding and connecting with modern art.  I just keep trying thinking one day it's gonna click but it just hasn't yet.  If any one can explain it to me I would be forever in your debt.  I really did give it the old college try as I walked through the museum but much to my disappointment I was still not grasping how a slice in a plain canvas was the opening to my soul.  Maybe next time...I'm not giving up!  The really cool thing about my Tate Modern experience was seeing my first real life Picasso, and Dali.  Although nothing in the gallery will top walking around a corner and seeing up close the famous Water lilies by Monet.  I feel like I have grown up seeing that picture plastered on just about anything from mouse pads to coasters to playing cards so you would think it would just be "oh ya Ive seen that before" but, there was something magical about seeing it in real life.  There was a calming beauty to it that I had never felt by seeing it on all the common place items in my youth.

Same spot...2yrs later.  

   As my first day in London comes to a close I sit having a pint in St. Stephens Tavern and reminise once again for a moment.  It was 2 years ago this month that I sat in this same pub at this very table with my best friend and my mom and said I will live here at some point for some amount of time.....Raise a glass with me because it happened (mind you the night here 2 years ago was quite different then tonight but the sentiments the same and that night is a whole different story)
Cheers!

It's been a week...

I have reached my one week mark in England. It's amazing how easily you can fall into routine.....

The chimes of my alarm are ringing at 7 then it's downstairs for a bit of time with Rudi.  The hand off from Mum to me happens between bites of porridge with Rudi being none the wiser and Belinda now being freed up to tend to the waking George.  She passes me and leaves the room no words are needed as she hands me a cup of coffee, with cream and 2 sugars....just the way I like it.  The morning dance has begun.  We move through the house for the next few hours just prepping for the day.  Rudi and I spend some time speaking of and playing with hoovers, dryers and blenders.  Now, I'm going to pause here and explain the relationship Rudi has with cleaning, cooking and drying devices that make a bit of noise.  It's best described as a love-hate relationship.  He must be well aware of all their locations at all times with occasional viewing just to make sure they are good and in their proper spot.  I think Rudi must feel a bit like Dorthey in the Wizard of Oz but instead of "Lions, Tigers and Bears... Oh My!"  it's "Dryers, Hoovers and Blenders...Oh My!  He does love playing with his kid size Hoover that doesn't make any noise and watching Cebeebies (British Cartoons)...so we stick to that and keep the real things out of site.
Lauren(full time nanny) usally swoops in at some point and starts fussing about in the kitchen.  All the while Belinda and George are getting ready for school.  Once George is prepped and ready we all switch partners again.  Belinda takes Rudi on an outing, Lauren takes George to school and I take off...                

Yoga-Church Court Ally, Richmond

I get afternoons off which start with my new love Bikram Yoga.  I was taken to a class right before I moved and loved it (Thank you to the one who introduced me to this little treasure).  It has fit perfectly here for me and is a great workout.  Its also a lovely walk there and back.  As I am walking home from yoga today I am struck by how things are already looking and feeling familiar.  The great little black door with the bike out front...cross right then left at the round about....Richmond Church...nearly home....Kew Garden entrance...turn right.  These things happen with out even thinking about them.  It's so great I've easily been able to form a routine which makes me feel comfortable and content but also a great reminder that the routine must also adapt and change to include other experiences outside this comfort zone I have found so quickly.  It's so easy to forget that just by taking a new route somewhere you can have a whole different view on things.  We sometimes take advantage of our comfort level and forget to grow.
I am also reminded, as I sit in this little cafe and write, that some of our best experiences can come from being still and observing    

The Little Black Door

the moment.  While playing with Rudi in the garden the other day I was shown the wisdom of a child.....I was doing my best to get him interested in playing with everything in sight..run, jump, bounce, etc.  He totally ignored me, walked over to a stone step, sat down, patted the spot next to him and said " Sar-wa Sit....Listen...Bird, tweet, tweet...Bees, buzzzzz...Shhhhh."  
Oh sweet Rudi...Thank you for reminding me (and everyone reading this) to just be present in the moment you are in and soak it up.
I believe my full days off have come at the perfect time.  I am ready to venture out of little Kew and Richmond for the city. Tomorrow I head into London...the Tate museum and whatever else comes my way....more to come!

Richmond Church

Richmond and the Old Victorian....

We pulled up outside a house that looked a lot like the sweet little doll house every darling girl wants to play with when they are small.  I ring the bell and am greated by Michael, the husband who will be heading to America during the 6 weeks I am here, and Rudi, the precious little 18month old I will be tending to.  As soon as I am through the breeze way and bright blue front door Rudi toddles over with his curly ringlets, points his chubby little finger at me and says "Sa-wa" is his adorable english accent.  My heart melts immediately.  He proceeds to give me a tour of the "garden" which is what he calls his back yard.  They then show me around the house ending in my quaint little room which has a beautiful view of the famous Kew Gardens.  This home has more character then the little apartment I left behind although I do miss that sunset view occasionally.  In the true victorian style there is an "outside loo"  It does have plumbing but can be a bit chilly to use at night....Seriously does it get any better then that...a working outhouse!!!
Belinda (Mom and my partner in crime the next 6 weeks) and George (8 yr old) return home and we all spend the evening getting to know each other.  It's just lovely...we laugh and share stories over dinner like we have known each other much longer then just a few hours.  I sleep like a baby that night in my new home with my 6 week family.
The next day was filled with lots of "getting to know" the area outings. The full time nanny Lauren takes me under her wing and shows me the ropes.  We walked through downtown Richmond and along the Thames river with Rudi who was trying to figure out just the right way to lick an ice cream cone.  I suppose that is quite tricky if you've never really done it before.  As we walk I am just in constant awe of the beauty and history around every corner.  
A highlight of this day is was going with Belinda and George to his riding lessons (side note...I still tried to get in on the wrong side of the car again)  As we drove into the place where his riding lesson is I realize it is nothing like we are used to in the states.  No barns and farm houses....it's like you have stepped back into the 1600's as you drive-up to a huge castle/house called Ham House.  The horses live in true brick stables and a stable house that the woman who gives the lessons actually lives in.  Come to find out this house, which is really the size of little italy with land around it that stretches past the airport and up into bankers hill, has been passed down in the same family since it was built in the 1600's.  It was only given to the historical society in the 1950's.  Can you even imagine a house now a days being passed down from parent to child let alone through all those generations over hundreds of years.  It's just so amazing!

View From My Room

The weekend was a bit of a blur....unfortunately I spent Saturday very ill do to a recently famous english flu bug thats been all over the news (maybe I should have checked on that).  Sunday was a bit of recovery and some short walks around the neighborhood and into Kew Gardens.

Tomorrow starts regular work days which will be good...Working Early Mornings (PJ style), Afternoons off, and working evenings......and so it continues!

My Lovely Street

And so it begins....

About and hour into my flight it hits me like a ton of bricks.  I have just left everything and everyone I know for a country of strangers.  I desperately search my bag for the the Green Book filled with the words of the world I left behind.  As I read I feel my anxiety subside because the pages are filled with support, love and a few surprises I wasn't quite expecting.  With each turning page I realize that I am exactly where I am supposed to be and each one of you are with me in some way.  So begins this adventure....


The flight was amazingly smooth and as luck would have it I was seated in the front row with loads of leg room, next to the window with no one next to me.  Tylenol pm helps the flight become one nice long nap and before I know it we are landing in London.  
Now since I'm flying on a one way ticket I knew going through customs might be tricky...The UK gets nervous you are going to try and stay.  I was prepared with my continued travel ticket to Spain but wasn't ready to be questioned like I was a celebrity on a talk show.   It was the longest 5-10 minutes of my life as I was asked everything from why was I traveling to what I designed, who I was living with and what they  do etc....  I believe that after all the questioning the man with the brilliant 90's style ponytail knows more about me then all of you...Sorry about that.  He finally stamps my passport and I head out to arrivals where the family I am staying with had a car sent for me.  Let me just say this is not as glamourous as it seems in the movies.  You assume that you are going to walk out the door to arrivals and a lovely man in a dapper suit and driving cap will be standing there with your name scrolled across a white board perfectly.  This is not how it happens in the real world...It's actually a hodge podge of dodgy characters whom you would never approach on the street holding scribbled names on ripped pieces of binder paper.  I roamed aquerdly up and down in front of these men staring each one down trying to read my name.  Some would barely lift up the sign while others were waving it at me like they thought they were about to win the lottery (those were the super creepy ones)  I finally found my name on the sign held by a english gentleman who was only slightly taller then my suitcase but absolutely lovely.  When we got to the car, being the American that I am, I went to what I am used to as the passengers side of the car and started to get in only to find the steering wheel in my way.  The driver calls out "The other side love...you'll get used to it."  
We climb in the car and head to my new home in Richmond, Upon the Thames, Surry (yes that is all apart of the address)
Stay tuned for life in Richmond and the old victorian.