London, sweet London

Oh it’s so good to be back. Better than we’d ever imagined in fact. We’ve walked and walked and walked and walked. Through Soho, from here to Camden, back to Belsize Park, up to Hampstead, around the Heath, through the City, up to Hackney and from here to South End Green countless times. We’ve walked more than we walked in an entire 18 months in Auckland.

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walking up to Belsize Park – London believes in meadows

We’ve eaten rhubarb yoghurt, parma ham from Carluccios, cranks wholemeal loaf, lurpak butter, proper english sausages, strawberries, plums, pret twice for breakfast, spinach and ricotta pastries, incredible raw-food mango cake from Spitalfields, salt beef beigel, smoked salmon and cream cheese beigel from Brick Lane, and I had the best ever Mocha from the coffee house by Spitalfields.

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our Street

Sunday morning saw us up bright and early and on the bus to Farringdon where we walked to Spitalfields while everyone was setting up – it was brilliant being there without the crowds then on we went to Brick Lane. Too early for Labour and Wait so up to Columbia Road (all minus camera of course!) where my crowd combat method is to walk down behind the market on the footpath and dip in and out to look at the flowers and plants. And to buy herbs and alliums of course.

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kitchen herbs

That night we walked up to GPK for dinner, just to ensure we didn’t need to eat for another week at least. They’ve got coleslaw now which tastes as though it’s half sugar. Astrid liked her burger though. And she shouted a lot too.

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Astrid yelling for burger

Then our weary little feet carried us back home. To a new home that’s very quickly and naturally feeling like home home. This is my favourite place in the world to live this little Street we’re in. And our little cottage is better than we could ever have hoped for.

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view from the kitchen (note strawberry hanging baskets)

And in only a few short weeks we’ll have our stuff, the cats will be here, Astrid’s childcare will all be sorted and we’ll both be working. Simple (she says collapsing in a heap).


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28 responses to “London, sweet London”

  1. Emma avatar

    Hi Charlotte

    So glad that it’s all magical for you. I’ll live it vicariously from a wintery Melbourne. At least I have your cheerful green bag to brighten up a grey day.

    Hope everything continues to be such joy.

    All the best
    Emma

  2. Alicia A. avatar

    I am so happy for you all. I’m glad to hear you’re feeling home.

  3. leslie avatar

    welcome ‘home’, charlotte. i hope the next couple of weeks continue to go amazingly well.

  4. Sam avatar

    Oh how lovely; I need to make a visit there.

  5. Nonnie avatar

    So glad to see you settled in and already enjoying London life. I felt quite guilty reading this as I have so lost my enthusiasm for London and reading this reminds me how I felt when I first moved here 11 years ago. You’ve reminded me of some of the wonderful things there are to see and do in this amazing city. Although now I’m only working here and living in the countryside I probably still won’t take advantage of everything. Your little street looks so cute and I love that view out into your back garden. Having hanging baskets up already is very impressive. Continue enjoying your new life!

  6. emily avatar

    oh charlotte! it sounds spectacular. thrilled for you. and looking forward to seeing london and your adventures through your lens and your words.

  7. Lindsay avatar

    Wow, you’ve settled in very quickly! Can’t believe you have hanging baskets and a picture on the wall so soon, you’re a very competent nester and totally organised! Welcome back to London, here’s hoping for a gloriously sunny one for all of us.

  8. Di avatar

    It sounds like it is good to be back! And beautiful weather over the weekend just to make it perfect!! So much nicer than rain. In fact I just realised you get 2 summers this year!

    Enjoy your continued wanderings!

  9. Creature of Habit avatar

    Your street looks amazing and London sounds wonderful. I’ve never lived there, only visited and I loved it!

    You guys must be freakishly organized, I can’t believe how smooth everything is going and how easy your transition is happening *she says, unsure of where you have collapsed in said heap* 🙂

  10. Yvonne avatar

    I’m so happy for you! That’s the only ting that pops up in my head … I’m so happy for you Charlotte!!!

    Go London!!

    … and that also popped up in my head LOL!

  11. jimin/smallville avatar
    jimin/smallville

    i am sure you haven’t been sleep well since you got there with all the excitement. your street looks beautiful. love to see more of pictures of where you are in the future.
    wish you the best.
    cheers,
    jimin

  12. pen and purl avatar

    Hey Charlotte – welcome to the neighbourhood! I think we are quite close as I live in Belsize Village. 🙂

  13. Helen avatar

    Sounds great :). Takes me back to when we were in London.

  14. aga avatar
    aga

    so happy for you. xx

  15. rebecca avatar

    Welcome back to London – your enthusiasm for the place is infectious!

  16. Megan avatar

    How awesome – I’m so happy for you, though, as always, that is tinged by a huge attack of the green eyed monster! I will enjoy being a part of it all by proxy…

  17. Rach avatar

    Thank you for reminding of my old home. I lived near Brick Lane and practically survived on salt beef bagels… I miss my home in Bethanl Green. We were just talking about the sausgages we used to eat. Those were the days…

  18. lies avatar

    Yay! It sounds sooooo great all that!
    Enjoy your in the heart of the happening!
    Hee we have Lurpak too here in Auckie…
    We miss you…
    but chuffed for you!
    Lies

  19. hanna avatar
    hanna

    Glad you guys have arrived all safe and sound and happy. I’m looking forward to hearing of more of your London explorings. All that food talk makes me want to come visit – and how I wish I could come and wander the markets – we need more good markets here!

  20. hanna avatar
    hanna

    Glad you’ve all arrived safe and sound and happy. I’m looking forward to hearing of more of your London explorings. All that food talk makes me want to come and visit – and wander the markets! we need more good markets here!

  21. betsy avatar

    Welcome home. xo

  22. helen avatar

    welcome back to London!

    WOW – it sounds like you did more in a day here than I’ve done all year – your enthusiasm is infectious!

  23. erin avatar

    thrilled for you, charlotte! you’ve been busy already.

  24. heather avatar
    heather

    this is so timely for me! we are in the middle of most likely moving to london from the states. i’m having yard sales to sell most of our worldy possessions, readying the house for sale, figuring out if it’s worth the money to take our 2 dogs along, preparing my 2 girls for adventure and heartbreak… i’m also formulating plans to furnish with ikea! we’ve moved a bunch, but never like this! thanks for showing a picture of things a few steps down the line! best wishes for comfort and peace in your new home!!

  25. Rebecca avatar

    Welcome back to London, so lovely to read of your adventures and to enjoy your enthusiasm for the city, makes me almost wish I lived there again!

  26. di avatar

    So glad to hear you’ve made it safely and happily to London. (Apparently I haven’t made it to the post office yet… sorry… I will soon…)

  27. colourspace avatar

    Welcome Home!
    Your street looks lovely. I was in Regents Park on Saturday and remembered why I love London so much.ENJOY!

  28. Mela avatar

    I just stumbled onto your blog. Everything you missed about London is what I miss about it everyday. I’ve been living here (Portugal) near on 20 years, but I still long for “proper english sausages” all the time!

    (that is not to say I don’t love Lisbon. But I feel my heart is in London)

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