Apologies for my long absence. It has been a busy few months as I ultimately decided to take the leap and move back to London. While I love Australia, and Sydney will always feel like a second home, the lure of family & friends was just too strong. My attempts at being a rootless citizen of the world only helped me realise just how rooted I really am.
So now I am back in London. I arrived late November and started working almost straight away (I'm not happy unless I'm busy & never let me pretend otherwise). It has been quite an emotional adjustment but I'm still very much at peace with the decision that I made to return. I'm happy here.
In order to ensure I remain happy I have fully embraced the cultural richness that London offers. It feels really good to behave like a tourist in my own city. I recommend it to everyone. I'm going to lots of plays, concerts, films, dinners with friends and I'm taking very long walks through the streets of London to make sure that all that London-ness seeps in and warms my bones.
There are some hangovers (good ones) from Sydney. Given my propensity to walk, I've become addicted to London's bridges. Waterloo, as always, remains my favourite for the "London moment" views (proximity to Waterloo station doesn't hurt either). I think this is because I need to see the water. I saw Sydney Harbour everyday, the water soothes me. I suspect that a proper trip to the sea will be required soon though, the Thames can only do so much.
The other habit is my lunchtime walks. Instead of strolling by the harbour in a summer dress though I'm now wrapped up warm and strolling through Regent's Park (right next to my office). It has to be one of my favourite London parks. You walk through certain parts & feel like you've stepped back in time. Exactly what you need to re-set the old brain cells in the middle of a hard day's work.
Speaking of which I'd better tie up a few bits & bobs before I can enjoy an indulgent weekend packed full of London goodness.
2 comments:
It would be insensitive of me to just say "Welcome Home Steph" because I know the feelings must be more complicated than that, choosing one home to leave behind over another you're returning to.
Let me just say "Welcome" instead. I hope you'll be happy living back here and not miss Sydney too much.
I thought you'd have tried to suffer an Australian summer a little bit longer though, and come back to Blighty when the weather has cheered up a bit. Our winter must be making you miss Australia just that little bit more.
Thanks Dave for the very sensitively worded welcome :)
I'm actually loving the London Winter, but I'm a bit strange like that. Plus Sydney is making it easy for me by being in the middle of a fit of miserable weather. I'd much rather a cold, crisp London than a grey, wet Sydney.
You're right that it is emotionally complicated, a lot of the decisions we make in life are. I try very hard not to second guess myself (with mixed results).
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