7 months ago, Chris and I arrived in London. The first few weeks we were in an AirBNB, to get our shit sorted. Chris started his new job straight away and I started my search for a job and organizing the bits and bobs for us to get all sorted in this new country. We spent our days going to Ikea and, going apartment hunting and after two weeks we moved into our lovely 2 bedroom apartment in Limehouse, with a view of the Thames. My parents came over to help us move and put all of our furniture together and organizing our little apartment. The week after I started doing job interviews and trial shifts, which finally resulted in a job in a great restaurant in Covent Garden. Unfortunately the hours of the job didn't work for me and I decided to change jobs after a few weeks, where I now work in an Italian Deli, selling take-away lunch and breakfast and dry food products.
I played my first beach handball tournament for London GD (in London) and I joined the indoor handball club as well, however I did not return to goals, as I have done for many years, but I decided to start playing outfield instead.
My parents decided to come over for another weekend, but this time to actually explore the city a bit. The two previous times they came over, they didn't get to see a whole lot, because they helped us to move and put all our furniture together and such. So now they came for a 'long' weekend and we visited all the highlights of London, Big Ben, London Eye, Westminister, Buckingham Palace, and Tower Bridge, we walked around London for a good long while.
I played my first beach handball tournament for London GD (in London) and I joined the indoor handball club as well, however I did not return to goals, as I have done for many years, but I decided to start playing outfield instead.
My parents decided to come over for another weekend, but this time to actually explore the city a bit. The two previous times they came over, they didn't get to see a whole lot, because they helped us to move and put all our furniture together and such. So now they came for a 'long' weekend and we visited all the highlights of London, Big Ben, London Eye, Westminister, Buckingham Palace, and Tower Bridge, we walked around London for a good long while.
The weekend after, it was time for the British National Beach Handball Championships in Poole. We took the train down to Poole on Friday night and on Saturday morning we had our first game at 10 am. We went through all of our games quite easily and came home with the trophy and a ticket to the Champion's Cup in Sicily. One week later I got some really exciting news, as my beautiful nephew was born and I booked flights to go and visit them the next weekend straight away. I got to spend two days with the little bub, I got to bathe him straight away, but other than that he didn't do a lot more than sleep and fart very loudly. |
I switched job at that stage and my weekends started to free up again, so Chris and I could go and explore the city together. We went to watch a rugby league match and had an amazing dinner to celebrate our 2 year anniversary.
In the spur of the moment, Kim decided to join us in London for a long weekend. So on the weekend we decided to get cultural and visit the British Museum for the first time. There was so much to see in there that it was difficult to keep concentrated after about 2 hours of wandering through the museum.
On our walk back after the museum, we decided to wander in and watch the show of The Illusionists in Covent Garden. The show was really good, it was funny, it was dangerous and it was mind boggling, it kept you wondering what was going on long after the show had already finished.
Then a few weeks later, Chris took me out to celebrate my birthday early, since we were flying back to Holland on the weekend of my actual birthday. He had the entire day planned and didn't tell me what we were going to do until we left. He took me on a VIP tour through the studio where they filmed Harry Potter and we finished the night by going to the Cauldron, where we got to dress up as wizards and witches and make our own potions, which we were allowed to drink afterwards.
In the spur of the moment, Kim decided to join us in London for a long weekend. So on the weekend we decided to get cultural and visit the British Museum for the first time. There was so much to see in there that it was difficult to keep concentrated after about 2 hours of wandering through the museum.
On our walk back after the museum, we decided to wander in and watch the show of The Illusionists in Covent Garden. The show was really good, it was funny, it was dangerous and it was mind boggling, it kept you wondering what was going on long after the show had already finished.
Then a few weeks later, Chris took me out to celebrate my birthday early, since we were flying back to Holland on the weekend of my actual birthday. He had the entire day planned and didn't tell me what we were going to do until we left. He took me on a VIP tour through the studio where they filmed Harry Potter and we finished the night by going to the Cauldron, where we got to dress up as wizards and witches and make our own potions, which we were allowed to drink afterwards.
Then for my birthday, I went home and celebrated it with my closest friends and family for the first time in 4 years again and it was great. Very low key, we just went out for some poffertjes and people came over for cake and coffee and there was a lot of chatting and catching up going on.
The weekend after my birthday, Chris's parents arrived in Manchester. So on Friday afternoon we decided to drive up and spend the weekend with them. I got to meet the extended family and Chris was super happy to see his parents again after such a long time.
The Wednesday after, they arrived in London and came to stay with us. Michelle and I went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the theatre and we spent our time at the Borough Markets and just enjoying all that London has to offer.
With the arrival of Chris's aunt and grandmother the week after, I went to see the Phantom of the Opera in the theatre with them and before they took the train to Paris on Sunday, we had a big family breakfast.
Time was flying by and mere days after everyone left, I boarded a plane to Sicily to compete in the Champion's Cup in Sicily with London GD. It was great to catch up with old beach handball friends and we managed to write history with a first ever international handball win for an English team, in a thrilling game that went to shootouts. We still came last, but we had a lot of fun and saw ourselves grow throughout the tournament.
The weekend after my birthday, Chris's parents arrived in Manchester. So on Friday afternoon we decided to drive up and spend the weekend with them. I got to meet the extended family and Chris was super happy to see his parents again after such a long time.
The Wednesday after, they arrived in London and came to stay with us. Michelle and I went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the theatre and we spent our time at the Borough Markets and just enjoying all that London has to offer.
With the arrival of Chris's aunt and grandmother the week after, I went to see the Phantom of the Opera in the theatre with them and before they took the train to Paris on Sunday, we had a big family breakfast.
Time was flying by and mere days after everyone left, I boarded a plane to Sicily to compete in the Champion's Cup in Sicily with London GD. It was great to catch up with old beach handball friends and we managed to write history with a first ever international handball win for an English team, in a thrilling game that went to shootouts. We still came last, but we had a lot of fun and saw ourselves grow throughout the tournament.
With the handball matches and such going on on the weekends and the family and friends visiting, Chris and I haven't spent a whole lot of time together just the two of us. So with a weekend coming up where we had nothing planned, we decided to make a date weekend out of it. Friday night after work we went out for pizza and drinks before enjoying a lovely comedy show on a boat on the Thames. Saturday we went ice skating, with a bottle of wine and a delicious gyros. This weekend was all about the reasons we decided to move halfway across the world, to explore the city and spend time together after doing long distance for such a long time.
After another few weeks, it was time for a weekend catch up with one of my Aussie faves as Synne was coming over to London for a few days. We went out for pizza before seeing Matilda in the theatre and making a little detour to the massive Christmas tree in Covent Garden. Walking along the Thames from the Tower of London to Hyde Park, where we got into the Christmas spirit by visiting Winter Wonderland, before heading out to Syon Park with Alysha to stroll through the Enchanted Woodlands, where the trees were all lit up and there were all different animals to see (rabbits/dragons/lions, you name it)! London has been a beautiful place to get into the winter spirit. We visited multiple Christmas markets and trees throughout the entire city, all within walking distance of one another (in total walking about 15 km though). Even though they were all very similar, it was a lot of fun to just stroll around and enjoy the food, drinks and music. |
During another rare free weekend, Chris decided to take me out for my late anniversary gift. So on Saturday morning we had breakfast and headed out to the London Zoo. For a zoo in the centre of such a big city, there was a wide variety of animals we could see and I was walking around like a kid in a candy store. However, the day got even better, when I was allowed to Meet the Meerkats. We were a very small group (only 4 people for 7 meerkats) and we got to sit down with some celery in our hands, which instantly attracted the meerkats, who jumped in our laps and kept begging for more food. |
3 days after meeting the meerkats, it was time to travel to Holland to celebrate Christmas with my family for the first time in 2 years (my entire family, not just my parents who came to visit me in Australia last year). On Christmas eve we had the Kolfschoten family over for dinner, drinks and laughter, followed by a quiet Christmas day which we spent eating, watching TV and playing board games.
On Boxing Day, we decided to go on a little daytrip to the south of Holland, to Neeltje Jans. Here we saw the waterworks that were put in to keep the high water out of our low country.
To finish off the week in Holland, we were lucky enough to be invited to a beautiful wedding in Almere last weekend. On a beautiful Saturday, we got to witness Valerie and Michael say "I do" in front of all their family and friends. It was a beautiful service, with great food and very bad dancing (their words not mine :) ) afterwards.
On Boxing Day, we decided to go on a little daytrip to the south of Holland, to Neeltje Jans. Here we saw the waterworks that were put in to keep the high water out of our low country.
To finish off the week in Holland, we were lucky enough to be invited to a beautiful wedding in Almere last weekend. On a beautiful Saturday, we got to witness Valerie and Michael say "I do" in front of all their family and friends. It was a beautiful service, with great food and very bad dancing (their words not mine :) ) afterwards.
Now we are back in London, counting down the hours until the new year. Yesterday was my last day working at Carluccio's, as I am starting a new job as a teaching assistant at a special needs school next week. The new year brings new adventures and possibilities and I can't wait to dive right in. But where has the time gone? This year has flown past, so much has happened and I am so grateful for all the people I have met and I can definitely look back on an action packed decade, where I made some of my dreams come true. I can only hope that the next one will bring me as much joy!
For now, I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year and see you in 2020!
For now, I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year and see you in 2020!