Ok.. so i have a few posts i NEED to write, including the one about my Pakistan Cab Driver, The Underdog and Aussies... but i had to let you all know about Gumtree and the hysterics that it has brought me!! :-)
So, Gumtree is basically the London version of Craiglist. They have Craiglist here, too, but it is not as popular. Anyway, like may people do to post ads about living situations and sublets, i did as well in that i am looking for a flat. It is not scary and this way, i can broaden my network of friends here in London...
i have gotten some amazing responses and saw tons of flat, but nothing that has blown me away yet... anyway.. in addition to the flats, i have received some interesting e-mails.. see below for my favorite one so far and feel free to laugh aloud like i did.. and see if you can point out a few of my favorite line!!
#1 ... my favorite...
Hi,
You look very pretty, thats why I am asking if you would be interested in this job. The money is very good and its not hard work, there is no sex involved but you do have to undress, dont worry, its not infront of lots of people, its just one person and you get paid £80 an hour. Its not in a club, its very discreet, its in a private apartment and you can wear a mask if you want.
Let me know if you want this job.
Its good even if you do it for a short time to pay bills, thats why Im doing it.
Michaela x
Monday, March 9, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
YO! SUSHI
Yo! Sushi is probably one of the most amazing places EVER.
It is a fun sushi restaurant where you can either sit in a booth or at the bar and the sushi passes you by on a little conveyor belt. it is amazing. and depending on the color of the plate you pick up, tells you how much it is. it is simply fantastic! and there is also a full menu if you would like soups or hot food. and to top it off, they also have a water fountain right at your table.
it is priceless and amazing!!
just thought you should all know! :-)
til next time...
Rachel
It is a fun sushi restaurant where you can either sit in a booth or at the bar and the sushi passes you by on a little conveyor belt. it is amazing. and depending on the color of the plate you pick up, tells you how much it is. it is simply fantastic! and there is also a full menu if you would like soups or hot food. and to top it off, they also have a water fountain right at your table.
it is priceless and amazing!!
just thought you should all know! :-)
til next time...
Rachel
Friday, February 27, 2009
Family Lunch..
So, like i said in earlier blogs, Sunday Lunches here are OUT-OF-CONTROL!! it literally is America's Thanksgiving, EVERY SUNDAY!! Now, don't get me wrong, i LOVE FOOD and i hanging with the fam, so it is quite nice actually, so i am not complaining, i am just amazed that this goes on Every Sunday!
So.. Martyn (my other cousin) and Maddie, his GF picked me up, after a late start, around 11:30 and we were on our way. When we arrived at Clare & John's at noonish, and Mary & Pat and Frances were already there. It was great. Of course Football (Soccer) was on. The Brits here, as you know are crazy about their Football, as Americans are about their "football" on Sundays. And this particular game was a big one.. Manchester United vs West Ham... and i have learned.. WEST HAM is "THE" team to root for! -- -according to my cousins of course!! .. and i dare not stray!! :-) Although we lost that day, 1-0.. Boo!!
Anyway... this was Clare's first Roast and in my opinion, it was AMAZING!! we had Turkey and Roast Beef, and assortment of veggies from Carrots to Brusselsprouts! - --Oh, BTW, bursselsprouts are HUGE HERE!!! i have never eaten one in my entire life and 2 weeks in a row i was subjected to them!!.. and i ate them, but i must say, they are NOT my favorite veggie.. :-) anyway.. in addition, there were potatoes and gravy, i mean i could go on and on!! not to mention the delicious cheesecake and home made apple pie.. and bottle and bottles and bottles of wine!!
AHHHHHHHH..... GOOD TIMES!!!
So.. Martyn (my other cousin) and Maddie, his GF picked me up, after a late start, around 11:30 and we were on our way. When we arrived at Clare & John's at noonish, and Mary & Pat and Frances were already there. It was great. Of course Football (Soccer) was on. The Brits here, as you know are crazy about their Football, as Americans are about their "football" on Sundays. And this particular game was a big one.. Manchester United vs West Ham... and i have learned.. WEST HAM is "THE" team to root for! -- -according to my cousins of course!! .. and i dare not stray!! :-) Although we lost that day, 1-0.. Boo!!
Anyway... this was Clare's first Roast and in my opinion, it was AMAZING!! we had Turkey and Roast Beef, and assortment of veggies from Carrots to Brusselsprouts! - --Oh, BTW, bursselsprouts are HUGE HERE!!! i have never eaten one in my entire life and 2 weeks in a row i was subjected to them!!.. and i ate them, but i must say, they are NOT my favorite veggie.. :-) anyway.. in addition, there were potatoes and gravy, i mean i could go on and on!! not to mention the delicious cheesecake and home made apple pie.. and bottle and bottles and bottles of wine!!
AHHHHHHHH..... GOOD TIMES!!!
Drinks with New Friends...
So, i must say, that i have a fabulous network of friends. One of my bestest from high school, Jenny, introduced me via e-mail to one of her friends, Kathleen, from University and we decided to met up and have a few drinks!
It was a blast, and knowing Jenny, I knew that Kathleen would be super fun times!
I met them in Shepard's Bush, which is in Central London for all of you that are not sure where that it. Kathleen lives in Northern London and I, in South London.. anyway.. it was fun! One of the bartenders was from Australia and was heading back home and the new bartender was from Long Island, NY!! so we all hit is off smashingly.. and since one of Kat's friends, Jill, lived around the corner from the pub, she new everyone and we ended up getting free drinks and shots and before i knew it, it was 2;00am in morning and we were heading back to Jill's for Dance Party UK!!
The bartenders and her friends joined us, it was about 10-15 of us and super fun!! danced the night away, until finally around 3:30/4:00 i had to put myself to bed, as i had "Family Lunch / Roast" on sunday at my cousin clare's. However, fearing that i would not wake up by 8:00 to head home to shower and change to be ready for an early pick up, i was waking up every 30min or so, and finally headed out at 6:30am. Made it home around 8:00 and took a strong power nap until around 10:00ish then was on my way!!
Needless to say... i was the T-word when i woke up on sunday!! ... and the T-word, is TIRED!! ;-)
It was a blast, and knowing Jenny, I knew that Kathleen would be super fun times!
I met them in Shepard's Bush, which is in Central London for all of you that are not sure where that it. Kathleen lives in Northern London and I, in South London.. anyway.. it was fun! One of the bartenders was from Australia and was heading back home and the new bartender was from Long Island, NY!! so we all hit is off smashingly.. and since one of Kat's friends, Jill, lived around the corner from the pub, she new everyone and we ended up getting free drinks and shots and before i knew it, it was 2;00am in morning and we were heading back to Jill's for Dance Party UK!!
The bartenders and her friends joined us, it was about 10-15 of us and super fun!! danced the night away, until finally around 3:30/4:00 i had to put myself to bed, as i had "Family Lunch / Roast" on sunday at my cousin clare's. However, fearing that i would not wake up by 8:00 to head home to shower and change to be ready for an early pick up, i was waking up every 30min or so, and finally headed out at 6:30am. Made it home around 8:00 and took a strong power nap until around 10:00ish then was on my way!!
Needless to say... i was the T-word when i woke up on sunday!! ... and the T-word, is TIRED!! ;-)
Snowed In!!
So it snowed here. and of course at first it was nice and pretty... unfortunately for me, super cold as i only had my little sockless sneakers on my little toesies.. so they were freezing, but regardless of that it is just snow.
but i find it absolutely amazing how the ENTIRE LONDON shut down. I will give them a little slack as it has not snow like that (about 2ft) in 18-20 years. But, it does snow here, so they are equipped to handle it, but oh no.. Tubes, Buses, Trains, Trams, you name it... CLOSED!! - it was quite funny actually!
And the best part about it was that everyone was acting as if they were a little kid getting a snow day out of school!! Grown men and women were on baking trays and kiddie pools, 4 & 5 people in a pool gliding down the smallest of hills. The largest snowmen were built in every park and front yards and the pubs were filled!
anyway, it was crazy 2 days!!
i will post a few pics later!
but i find it absolutely amazing how the ENTIRE LONDON shut down. I will give them a little slack as it has not snow like that (about 2ft) in 18-20 years. But, it does snow here, so they are equipped to handle it, but oh no.. Tubes, Buses, Trains, Trams, you name it... CLOSED!! - it was quite funny actually!
And the best part about it was that everyone was acting as if they were a little kid getting a snow day out of school!! Grown men and women were on baking trays and kiddie pools, 4 & 5 people in a pool gliding down the smallest of hills. The largest snowmen were built in every park and front yards and the pubs were filled!
anyway, it was crazy 2 days!!
i will post a few pics later!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Stay Tuned for the Next Adventure
Hey...
Check out my new blog:
www.rachelslivinglavidalondon.blogspot.com
I recently moved to London and I will fill you in on all my trials and tribulations!
See you soon!
Rachel
Check out my new blog:
www.rachelslivinglavidalondon.blogspot.com
I recently moved to London and I will fill you in on all my trials and tribulations!
See you soon!
Rachel
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Notting Hill and the First Few Weeks...
Notting Hill is a beautiful neighborhood. It has great food, central tube and a few fun pubs.. and my new love, Cafe Nero! Cafe Nero makes the BEST Chai Tea... and when i first arrived, Tom's had switched Internet providers, so i spent my first 3 days there to use the Internet and wow, was it amazing!! and lucky for me, it is a chain here, so they are all over!
anyway, Tom lives a block over from Portobello Road. Which some of you may or may not know is widely known for its antique stores and outside market on the weekends. It is loads of fun, but you definitely have to be in the mood for it, because it is super jammed packed!
So, my first few weeks in London i have to say were super fun... and unfortunately, and fortunately, filled with tons of drinking! I am not complaining, my liver was for a little, but its all good. I basically have reconnected with everyone i have met overtime that currently lives in London. It is really cool catching up with friends and family that i have not seen in ages.
My first real weekend in town, my friend Matt, that i literally met for a few hours with my friend Jamie while traveling in 2007, took me out to meet some of his friends. I of course was under the impression that we were doing drinks, then dinner at a Cuban place, then out for the night. Ummmm I was sorely mistaken, the Brits DON'T EAT! :-) I met Matt at Waterloo station for a cocktail hour at 6:00 where i was greeted with a glass of wine and a shot of tequila! OH BOY, i knew i was going to be in for it! Fun times there, then we head off to the cuban place (where i thought we were going to eat) and there we were greeted by table service with bottles upon bottles and a few beers and of course, more tequila. Around 11:00 that night i realized food was not in my future and continued dancing with my new friends. Shaun, who i had also met while traveling met up with us, as well as a great girl i met, Michaela who will be opening for Britney Spears and the Pussycat Dolls in Florida in March!!! I am super excited for her... It is going to be huge! so that is cool! Then finally, around 1:00 or so, i think, we managed to hop into a cab and get me home. Needless to say, i was a little out of commission all day saturday!
But... saturday night, we headed out to celebrate Australia day (which was actually that following monday). I went out to dinner with Tom and a few of his friends then off to the party. It was pretty fun and interesting. Now, i don't know if this is normal or not for a typical Aussie Day party, but the girls dressed up as "famous people" from Australia. One girl was Kylie Minoque for example. Then, in the middle of the party, the host turned off the music and had everyone play an Australia Trivia Quiz. He had prizes and everything. And everyone was crazy into it. Of course my knowledge, as well as the others i was with, of Oz is practically non existent! :-)
Sunday... now the Brits have an interesting day on Sunday. They all indulge in what as known as SUNDAY ROAST... EVERY SUNDAY! my first experience with Sunday lunch/roast was a good one. I met up with Matt & Shaun, Shaun's sister and few other of their friends at 2:00 and proceeded to get home around midnight that night! (that is not typical, as i learned from my later sunday roasts)... anyway.. the restaurant we went to was great! It was in this town called Putney and was quite nice.. Roastbeef, mashed potatoes, veggies, "pudding" - which is dessert here and it is not pudding at all. this time it was a pastry. Good, but rich, like a croissant. Picture American Thanksgiving EVERY SUNDAY!!
anyway.. it was fun... then of course matt, shaun, myself and and shaun's sister took it to another level with a small pub crawl with pool and chatting. Oh.. and the pool/billiard tables here are smaller than the ones at home and they only have red & yellow balls and the cue ball and they are all smaller, too! And they have these silly, ok, not silly, rules. First off, they don't call their pocket. And if i hit your ball by accident and not mine, you get to shoot twice! same as if i scratch. so, if you hit your ball the, and get one in, you get to go again (like home), but if you miss your 2nd shot, you still get to go a third, b/c i hit your ball earlier.. its very complicated and not, at the same time.
The following weekend i headed out to Essex County to see the fam. Martin (my cousin was away) but i got to spend the weekend with my cousins, Mary & Pat (parents) and Clare and Frances. Super fun. We had a great Saturday lunch catching up and relaxing before heading out to dinner. then Frankie (frances) and i headed out on the town after. It was quite fun! We went to a typical "pub" in Rayleigh then headed to "The Brush".. short for "The Toothbrush!" .... i was like WHAT?? we are going to a place called the toothbrush! but it was fun. it was a dance club - club where we had Red Stripe Beer, in a can!! that was new to me and danced the night way. That sunday was yet another Roast. So much yummy food!!! my belly is loving it!! ;-) and my other cousin's Ann & John came over for that as well. That was really great seeing them, as i had not seen them since my first visit over when i was 13 years old. It was at there house where i fell in love with LA LAW! anyway.. great times and AMAZING FOOD!!
That night i headed back into the city and made my way to my new flat, that we are subletting for the month. As the snow started to fall, i had a feeling that my "moving day" the following morning was going to be difficult if at all!....
anyway, Tom lives a block over from Portobello Road. Which some of you may or may not know is widely known for its antique stores and outside market on the weekends. It is loads of fun, but you definitely have to be in the mood for it, because it is super jammed packed!
So, my first few weeks in London i have to say were super fun... and unfortunately, and fortunately, filled with tons of drinking! I am not complaining, my liver was for a little, but its all good. I basically have reconnected with everyone i have met overtime that currently lives in London. It is really cool catching up with friends and family that i have not seen in ages.
My first real weekend in town, my friend Matt, that i literally met for a few hours with my friend Jamie while traveling in 2007, took me out to meet some of his friends. I of course was under the impression that we were doing drinks, then dinner at a Cuban place, then out for the night. Ummmm I was sorely mistaken, the Brits DON'T EAT! :-) I met Matt at Waterloo station for a cocktail hour at 6:00 where i was greeted with a glass of wine and a shot of tequila! OH BOY, i knew i was going to be in for it! Fun times there, then we head off to the cuban place (where i thought we were going to eat) and there we were greeted by table service with bottles upon bottles and a few beers and of course, more tequila. Around 11:00 that night i realized food was not in my future and continued dancing with my new friends. Shaun, who i had also met while traveling met up with us, as well as a great girl i met, Michaela who will be opening for Britney Spears and the Pussycat Dolls in Florida in March!!! I am super excited for her... It is going to be huge! so that is cool! Then finally, around 1:00 or so, i think, we managed to hop into a cab and get me home. Needless to say, i was a little out of commission all day saturday!
But... saturday night, we headed out to celebrate Australia day (which was actually that following monday). I went out to dinner with Tom and a few of his friends then off to the party. It was pretty fun and interesting. Now, i don't know if this is normal or not for a typical Aussie Day party, but the girls dressed up as "famous people" from Australia. One girl was Kylie Minoque for example. Then, in the middle of the party, the host turned off the music and had everyone play an Australia Trivia Quiz. He had prizes and everything. And everyone was crazy into it. Of course my knowledge, as well as the others i was with, of Oz is practically non existent! :-)
Sunday... now the Brits have an interesting day on Sunday. They all indulge in what as known as SUNDAY ROAST... EVERY SUNDAY! my first experience with Sunday lunch/roast was a good one. I met up with Matt & Shaun, Shaun's sister and few other of their friends at 2:00 and proceeded to get home around midnight that night! (that is not typical, as i learned from my later sunday roasts)... anyway.. the restaurant we went to was great! It was in this town called Putney and was quite nice.. Roastbeef, mashed potatoes, veggies, "pudding" - which is dessert here and it is not pudding at all. this time it was a pastry. Good, but rich, like a croissant. Picture American Thanksgiving EVERY SUNDAY!!
anyway.. it was fun... then of course matt, shaun, myself and and shaun's sister took it to another level with a small pub crawl with pool and chatting. Oh.. and the pool/billiard tables here are smaller than the ones at home and they only have red & yellow balls and the cue ball and they are all smaller, too! And they have these silly, ok, not silly, rules. First off, they don't call their pocket. And if i hit your ball by accident and not mine, you get to shoot twice! same as if i scratch. so, if you hit your ball the, and get one in, you get to go again (like home), but if you miss your 2nd shot, you still get to go a third, b/c i hit your ball earlier.. its very complicated and not, at the same time.
The following weekend i headed out to Essex County to see the fam. Martin (my cousin was away) but i got to spend the weekend with my cousins, Mary & Pat (parents) and Clare and Frances. Super fun. We had a great Saturday lunch catching up and relaxing before heading out to dinner. then Frankie (frances) and i headed out on the town after. It was quite fun! We went to a typical "pub" in Rayleigh then headed to "The Brush".. short for "The Toothbrush!" .... i was like WHAT?? we are going to a place called the toothbrush! but it was fun. it was a dance club - club where we had Red Stripe Beer, in a can!! that was new to me and danced the night way. That sunday was yet another Roast. So much yummy food!!! my belly is loving it!! ;-) and my other cousin's Ann & John came over for that as well. That was really great seeing them, as i had not seen them since my first visit over when i was 13 years old. It was at there house where i fell in love with LA LAW! anyway.. great times and AMAZING FOOD!!
That night i headed back into the city and made my way to my new flat, that we are subletting for the month. As the snow started to fall, i had a feeling that my "moving day" the following morning was going to be difficult if at all!....
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