Cricklewood

Dear Cricklewood,

Today I am parting your company to seek new adventures.  Thanks for being my home in London for a year and a half.  Since I have known you, you have grown up a lot.  Look at you with your own Costa and everything!  Now that you have a Tesco though, don't let the taste of city life go to your head.  Stay true to the hood! Also, thank you for bringing the following into my life:

Banana Stand - You are a bit of a creeper but I am sure that you meant well (and you always gave me good stories for Lindsey).

Fruit Stand Guy - It's too bad you don't speak English.  You were always really kind to me and I hope that the people you work with aren't being horrible to you.  It really does worry me.

Old Irish guy from down the street - I don't know how our paths crossed several times a week but it was always nice to have someone who asked how I was doing.  Cheers!

Gladstone Park - We shared many picnics and workout sessions.  Thank you for giving Erin and me a welcoming hillside for our much needed chats.  I sincerely apologize about the publicly unmentionable moments but let me assure you, it was a necessity.

Cricklewood Library - You are tiny but it always made me smile to visit you.  I am sad that you left the neighborhood before I did, but I think you will find a happy home in the Willesden Library.  They are pretty friendly there.

Waitress at Pedro's who sees me far too often - I always wanted to have a local diner where the server knows my "usual" order.  Thanks for making that happen for me :)

Costa Girls - Thanks for not judging me when I took over the big, comfy chair for the entire day justified solely by the purchase of a small tea and the pressure of a big thesis.  You saved me many hours on the train.  I promise one day I will remember to bring my Costa card and I will do my best to keep my feet off the chairs.

Kamma - Flattered and all, but it's gonna have to be a no.

Kitty -  Thanks for always playing along when I chatted with you.  You are a gorgeous kitty and I can see why you are always getting lots of (disturbingly loud) cat sex.  Maybe you don't have to be quite so vocal every time though?  Oh, and that neighbor cat totally figured out how to get on the ledge that you were stumped by.  It's doable, dude!  

Anya - Thanks for being my backyard neighbor and movie night regular.  I enjoyed our Pedro's mornings and Windmill evenings.  Perhaps we can fit a couple more in before I go :)

International Market (aka Save 2 Save) - Thank you for being open 24 hours.  One suggestion, though.  Fix your freakin' lights, man!!!  For a drunkity person at 3 am, walking into your store is pure hell.  The only things that gets us through is knowing a) we will leave soon and b) when we do it will be with more drinks and possibly some type of chocolate covered thing (or mozzarella balls, or hagen daas, or ramen, or whatever else sounds unmissable at the time).

Bingo Hall - Thank you for being a "beacon" guiding my friends to my flat.  Without you, Robyn would still be helplessly wandering around the neighborhood.

Hassop Road - I never introduced myself to you and I hope I never get the chance to.  I don't know what it is you get up to but there is no way it can be good.

Staff at the eye clinic - Thanks for being my most regular social engagement outside of work for the last four weekends.  You are some of the sweetest people I met in the neighborhood.  Thanks for your encouragement about the trip and for sharing such wonderful stories from your lives.

My room - Everyone judged you for being too difficult to get to but I think they just didn't understand you as well as I did.  I loved the way you flooded with light every morning.  I loved the views you gave of the rooftops at sunrise.  And I loved the quiet evening moments, reading under the cool breeze of the open window.  I will miss you most of all!!!

So thank you Cricklewood for not only being my home for time in London thus far but for giving me so many good memories!!!

~ N

So It Begins

I've probably used this title before (though I'm too lazy right now to check).  What other movie line so succinctly describes the last moment you experience when you see something huge looming on the horizon and know that soon, you won't be looking at it, but will be in the middle of it, figuring it out while you go?  Luckily for me, the rapidly approaching future does not contain an army of genetically altered orcs, seeking to destroy all that is good in the world.  That would suck.  My imminent future holds a new type of adventure for me that is exciting, exhilarating, liberating, and also slightly scary.  Three weeks from today I board a plane to Thailand where I will meet two of my lovely London friends to spend a month lazing on beaches, shopping at markets, and hiking through some of the most lush and beautiful mountains I have ever seen (pictures of, at least).  They will depart for home and I will continue on to wander around Asia.  As of now, the plan is possibly to stop in Burma before heading to Nepal to hike around in some stunning landscapes.  From there I may go to India, or back into Southeast Asia to finish off the last of my three month travel stint.  I am really really really excited to get on the plane and go somewhere completely new and different.  I can't wait to see the countryside, meet the people, and try the food and share with you all the stories from the road!!!!!

Quote exchange of the weekend

"Why is there air in this?" "In what?"  "In this mattress?"  "Because its an air mattress....any other way it would be the floor....?"

2011

Well it looks like a new year has started.  I know it is cliche to say 2011 passed incredibly fast but there is no other way to describe it.  Despite a rough patch at the end, it's was a fantastic year, really.  I spent a lot of time with some great friends.  Saw a lot of new country in the UK.  And laughed my ass off with the A-team.

I am always amazed at how much happens in one year.  What with all end of year lists (News of the Year, Celebrity Gossip of the Year, Best Films of the Year, Biggest Fashion Mistakes of the Year) posted everywhere last week, it was impossible not to look back on my own highlights.  I tried to sit down and make a list of events but only the biggest ones really came to mind: road trip, summer with the gang, thesis, etc.  In going through my photos and posts from the beginning of the year, I was reminded of many events and adventures I had forgotten.  I suppose that's why we document these things, huh?!  Here are some of the highlights from 2011.

Happy New Year, all!!!!!!

Rae
Having left my lovely road-bike back home, I had to purchase a new bike in London.  I was terrified for a long time to get on the roads but I finally bought Rae in January and I've loved cycling again.  Beside the commute time, I've also explored London quite a lot.  One big day out this summer was to Richmond Park. Gorgeous :)

Gardens
I bought a membership to the Chelsea Physic Garden this fall.  I actually went the first time last November  but I went again this summer and just couldn't get enough.  It's so small compared to the parks and things but it is packed with gorgeous flowers.  As for all the other gardens on my list this year, the only one I haven't made it to is Kew.  That will definitely get checked off when I get back from the trip!!

Friends
I was probably the luckiest person in the universe this summer because three of the most incredible people I know came to London and spent several weeks doing nothing but making me laugh, smile, cartwheel, skip, drink, and feel nothing but love, affection, and happiness.  In looking through my posts I can see that the distraction of their presence limited my posts to a grand total of ONE and I should probably put up some pics or things about what we did.  Pretty much the most amazing summer I could have asked for.

Hot Dates in 2011
Jan 1st: Lindsey left London
Feb 7th: First day at Human Rights Watch AND the overthrow of Mubarak.  Fairly epic!!!
March 3rd: Surprised Alex in the frosting aisle and Dad at La Puente ;)
May 2nd: Yafit back in London!!
May 5th: Set out for our Cornwall adventure!
June 27nd: Erin in London!!
July 13th: Alex in London!!
July 13th: Surprised by Sara in London!!!
July 23rd: Edinburgh.  Erin's Birthday. Egregious drinking.  Empty stomach.
Sept 19th: Gram's birthday celebration
Sept 22nd: Mom, Pam and Grandma in London
Dec 8th: Thesis done!!!!!!!
Dec 23rd: Ma and Pa Poulson in London for the holidays :)

30/30
I did cross somethings off my list this year and have a plan of attack for several more coming up here soon. The books present the biggest challenge, probably, just because there are so damn many of them. If I can genuinely focus on the list and stop taking new books people give me it's totally doable. So for those of you who know I love reading and want to buy me books, buy from this list please!!!! ;)

UK Life
The best/worst thing I have learned this year is that I do love living in the UK.  For the first year, I had fun wandering around, taking in the sites, learning all I could about the country, the people, the pop culture, and the silly traditions, sayings, and history.  Still, I let myself enjoy it as a visitor trying not to force a future here if it didn't happen organically.  I still worked my ass off, mind you.  I put in everything I had to make sure I was available for any opportunity that came my way.  But I wasn't ready yet to commit to trying to stay forever and always.  I've missed my friends, my family, my house and my mountains, and I wasn't ready to say that they would not be my home any more.  It's hard to know that I might not ever live my life with them in the way I wish I could.  I love them so so so very much and they have stuck with me despite the distance so I know now they will always be there.  It's really really hard to have two places feel like home :(

So that's my 2011.  I just put my dad on the train to Paris this morning and am back to work today so my 2012 really begins now.  I don't like resolutions but I do have some things I hope to accomplish this year.  Another post to come on that :)

Happy New Year!!!!

Mulled Wine, Mince Pies, Crackers, and Bank Holidays

Hello dear world,

Long time, no contribute!  Thanks for holding out while I finished my thesis, had a minor meltdown, and spent Christmas with mi familia.  The beginning of December proved more difficult than anticipated but luckily the much-needed break consisting of family time, friend time, drinking, dancing, and various UK holiday traditions has helped me forget the pain of the paper.  Even more lucky, I have a break until Jan 5th! That's pretty hunky dory!!!

Let the blogging resume!

Love,

N