Transference
I've moved!!!! Look at my new building, isn't it gorgeous and London-esque?
My new neighborhood is totally rocking. I guess it is technically the Edgware Road area, but I'm having a little difficulty determining the actual borders of this designation. Seems to be just the area "around Edgware Road," as I've been told. From what I can tell though, I'm about a 5 minute walk from Marylebone, 10 minute walk from Baker Street, and a 10 minute walk from Paddington Station. So if all that is Edgware Road, then so be it. And I absolutely adore my flat. It's clean and nice and safe and full of lovely people. I even live over a news agent and a restaurant, and across the street from the tube station; I really love the big city feel to it!
A lot of people gave me a bit of a hard time when I told them I was moving here. "Yuck," they'd say, and crinkle their noses. I'm really not sure why, as I'm finding it delightfully busy and interesting (especially when compared to my old 'hood by Waterloo station, which was dead at nights and weekends). But I suppose if I had to guess, it's due to the distinctly ethnic flavor around here. There are loads of Middle Eastern types walking around, and nothing but Lebanese taverns up and down the whole road. It's not like I'm the only girl walking around without a hijab, but it's definitely a common sight (seen plenty of full burqas, too). Edgware Road was also one of the tube stations bombed in the July 7 attacks, and now that I've been here I'm not at all sure why. I've been told it's due to the Paddington Green police station, which is very big, scary, used to hold terrorist suspects, and I can see it from my window. Apparently it's the victim of lots of terrorist offensives. But I'm not scared. After all, if I don't take this awesome, not-too-expensive flat in a cool area, then the terrorists win.
My new neighborhood is totally rocking. I guess it is technically the Edgware Road area, but I'm having a little difficulty determining the actual borders of this designation. Seems to be just the area "around Edgware Road," as I've been told. From what I can tell though, I'm about a 5 minute walk from Marylebone, 10 minute walk from Baker Street, and a 10 minute walk from Paddington Station. So if all that is Edgware Road, then so be it. And I absolutely adore my flat. It's clean and nice and safe and full of lovely people. I even live over a news agent and a restaurant, and across the street from the tube station; I really love the big city feel to it!
A lot of people gave me a bit of a hard time when I told them I was moving here. "Yuck," they'd say, and crinkle their noses. I'm really not sure why, as I'm finding it delightfully busy and interesting (especially when compared to my old 'hood by Waterloo station, which was dead at nights and weekends). But I suppose if I had to guess, it's due to the distinctly ethnic flavor around here. There are loads of Middle Eastern types walking around, and nothing but Lebanese taverns up and down the whole road. It's not like I'm the only girl walking around without a hijab, but it's definitely a common sight (seen plenty of full burqas, too). Edgware Road was also one of the tube stations bombed in the July 7 attacks, and now that I've been here I'm not at all sure why. I've been told it's due to the Paddington Green police station, which is very big, scary, used to hold terrorist suspects, and I can see it from my window. Apparently it's the victim of lots of terrorist offensives. But I'm not scared. After all, if I don't take this awesome, not-too-expensive flat in a cool area, then the terrorists win.
I'm so jealous! that's exactly what I picture when I think of living in London. Would you mind disclosin ghow much it is?
Posted by
Makeesha |
4:23 am, September 17, 2007
Ohmygosh, that's just round the corner from my office! In fact, I actually recognise that building - I get my fags from the newsagent underneath sometimes. Let's do lunch!
Posted by
Will |
3:19 pm, September 17, 2007
Ooh, let's!! I'm still spending my days trapped in the lab at Waterloo, but when I get to writing up my thesis in a month or so, I'll be in my flat every day and looking eagerly for distraction!
Posted by
Monica |
6:13 pm, September 17, 2007
Cool - Facebook me, ya? Oh, also, you're right above the weird Spanish bar which stays open all night. It's apparently very weird - only go there when you're ridiculously drunk.
Posted by
Will |
9:45 am, September 18, 2007
I'm shocked! You moved away from the joys of The Borough and Waterloo for Marylebone..... You're obviously getting too posh for your own good. The next thing will be you claiming that you live in St. John's Wood or Maida Vale. To answer makeesha my guess is far more than she could possibly imagine the place would be worth.
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:07 pm, September 18, 2007
Dude I walk past your place all the time on the way to work. Trippy!
Waterloo would be awful to live in - like living around Liverpool Street or something.
Posted by
deanne |
8:44 pm, September 20, 2007
It may seem like a posh place for a foreigner like yourself, but to a Brit, it's equivalent to New York City slums no matter how expensive it is. A home in Kensington, Notting Hill, Chelsea, Greenwich etc would be seen as posh.
What places have you been to go shopping by the way? I could recommend some places.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:27 pm, September 21, 2007
I agree. I don't know about you, but buildings like that pictured above wouldn't be fit for a potting shed on my estate. Now, where has Jeeves got to? I wish him to fill my pipe with the finest McChrystal's tobacco.
Posted by
Huw |
10:48 am, September 22, 2007
Hiya Monica
Well I have only just found your blog and I must say I love it already! Being an expat too (UK to NZ) I love reading other people's views on the whole thing, and I especially love to hear how and what you feel about good ol' London town.
Drop by if you get chance, it would be great to hear from you!
:-)
Posted by
Marrisa |
9:02 pm, September 22, 2007
You're a girl? Why did I think you were a boy from the blog's look and about page? No idea!
So there are a lot of girls with hijab there? If you know the word 'hijab', I guess that's the case then.
I read your other post about your PhD not being finished yet, it's scaring me... I don't want that to stop me from getting my PhD, I've heard similar things from other people too. :-/
Good luck with everything! First time I visit your blog. :)
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:01 pm, September 29, 2007
A few things to do in Britain when you're feeling bored:
-Casual day out shopping at Bluewater.
-Casual afternoon out to the pictures at Park Royal, Acton.
-A day out at Royal Botanical (Kew) Gardens, Hampton Court Palace and the surrounding areas (Richmond, Old Deer Park etc) on a dry, sunny day).
-A day out at Warwick Castle (on a dry, sunny day).
-A day out at Whipsnade Zoo (on a dry, sunny day).
- A weekend or overnight stay in Brighton (on a dry, sunny day).
-A weekend in Bristol.
-A weekend or longer in the Isle of Wight and visit the Needles etc (on dry, sunny days, especially during the summer - Isle of Wight festival!).
-An afternoon shopping at Uxbridge Town Centre.
-Visit London museums (British, Imperial War, Tate Modern, V&A, Science, Natural History etc - the last three are all in one place).
-Visit London's Chinatown.
-Stonehenge! The area may look bare, but if you search around, there are more things to see there (e.g. gardens etc).
-Go on a pub crawl...
...the list is endless.
Remember to do research on the place you're visiting so you won't miss out on anything!
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:48 am, October 01, 2007
Bizarre.... I swear it used to say "posted by Monica" at the end of each entry. But I strive for an essentially gender-neutral affair here, so I don't find your comment distressing.
Posted by
Monica |
1:09 pm, October 01, 2007