I've been here for 6 weeks now and have really enjoyed myself. Finally, after so many months living out of my backpack/panniers, I have a place to call home. I have my own room, a cupboard to store my clothes, a desk to sit at, a window to stare out of. I have even got a sink in my bedroom - it's like I am back in one of those cheap 2 star hotels in Italy, except I am staying here for longer. I can cook my own food in a kitchen with 2 ovens and 2 fridges. I share this old 3 level terrace building (built in 1896) with 3 others. The old house use to be a hotel apparently. It has gargoyles on the front of it, which makes me feel safer at night. Across the road is a cemetary, down the road some more is Lord's Cricket Ground. There's a cinema around the corner and about 10 pubs that are potential 'locals'. One pub is called Father Teds. Plenty of live music get's played around here and some good comedy once a week. It takes a while to sniff out a decent coffee, but it's a big city. I ride my bike as much as I can. The other day I rode along the canals to Camden Town and then back again. When I jog in the mornings I have to sometimes jump over squirrels, they are fairly tame in the parks around here.
Occasionally the sun comes out, often it rains. I don't mind, it's a nice change and Spring is almost here...
We recently hosted 15 friends for a Sunday Roast at our house. There was a Mad Hatter theme, with the winning hat going to Julia and her 'Shower Cap'. Simple, yet very effective, Julia wore the hat throughout the course of the afternoon/evening and was a deserved winner. The roast meats on offer were lamb and pork, accompanied with potatoes, pumpkin, beans, carrots and Dave's famous home made yorkshire puddings. Special mentions to Rach for her grand help in the kitchen (despite being our guest of honour) and Dave and Meg's tireless efforts were also very much appreciated, in particular Meg's ability to make all types of interesting shapes with balloons. The spinach dip was also a crowd favourite, despite the efforts of 15 ravenous adults not being able to finish it all. Long live The Cob.
