Unpacked, after 15 months

And so, I was back at Abercorn house - I had avoided it for a month, but there was no escaping it this time. The room I had been in wasn't available, which wasn't too bad - as I got the bottom bunk straight away, and this room had a sink, and ample storage (floor) space for my multiple bags of possessions gathered in the previous 15 months. Unfortunately my roommate - Attila the Hungarian (that's his real name) had just left that day to go back home. Which was a real shame, as he was a good guy, and I didn't get to get his details.

I had been looking for flats ever since I started my new job, but my motivation was renewed with a passion, especially when I came home the following Sunday afternoon and my roommate was doing coke (cocaine - not the drink) off the top of the fridge. It seems over here coke is pretty common place, for you non-NZers, if someone told you they had coke in NZ, they are probably full of it as it would require being up someone's bum on a plane for over 10 hours. A very good reason kids, not to do drugs.

Anyhow, I checked out Little Venice, and walked along the canal for ages, but turns out it was not the branch I intended going along. Might explain why I haven't seen that date again either.

That Tuesday was the first game of touch for the new season - I had so been hanging out for it to start again, for enjoyment, but also as a form of exercise. Following my game, I went and checked out a flat again - to meet the flatmates before I agreed to move in. I said yes, and subsequently moved in the following Sunday - which was euphoric - finally emptying some of my bags after 15 months, and knowing I didn't have to move them again.

On the Friday (prior to the Sunday) I went out to my cousin's, as my Auntie was over visiting, so figured it was a good opportunity to catch up.

The next Tuesday I went to Wembley Arena with Suzanne & Bevan to see Flight of the Conchords. It was awesome. Admittedly I'm a little bit addicted to them, and seem to consult videos of them on YouTube for application to my life - which might sound a little weird, but considering most of what they sing about is girls, and the show is about them being Kiwi's in New York - it's easily transferable.

The following Saturday I went and watched the Rugby 7's at Twickenham, which was a good day out, but because NZ didn't play a whole lot, it was slightly boring.

The following weekend was a long weekend. I didn't have anything planned, and if I did, I wouldn't really have been able to afford it. On the Friday night, it ended up that I drinks with my workmates, which lead to dinner as well, I called it a night however while I still had time to catch the tube home.

On the Saturday, I went to farewell a friend who essentially was my flatmate for a good part of last year (albeit I was on the living room floor) which was nice, but also naturally sad.

On the Sunday, I went down to the Redback - the local Kiwi/Aussie pub near me, as they do free BBQs on Sundays - so I figured a free lunch is a good lunch. Turns out a friend from my Turkey trip lives just up the road from me, and she was there with another friend, and her friends, so I joined them, and later we carried on to the Shepherd's Bush Walkabout (another hangout). Since then, my friend's friend has become my newest partner in crime, sightseeing and drinking around London.

On the Monday I went to Brick lane for a curry festival - where there was supposed to be free curry tasting. You had to line up for ages, and then they closed the tasting an hour early, so I was suitably not impressed, and was rearing to rip someones ear's off, especially because I had skipped breakfast in anticipation.

The following week Saturday, my friend from Kaitaia had her leaving party, and on the Sunday I went to an Antique map fair by Hyde park, for about 10 minutes. After that my friend and I walked back to Shepherd's bush, which didn't really take all that long.

The week after that... Watched the All Blacks play Ireland at the pub, then went to an information session (complete with free Sangria) on teaching English in Spain, which is probably what I'll do when I finish here.

The following Tuesday was the All Whites first game - against Slovakia - I managed to time my lunch to catch the last half an hour - which included seeing our goal in the last half a minute. Priceless. That night after touch I went and saw the Feelers (one of my favourite NZ bands) play for free at the Walkabout.

To be continued... but enjoy for now. Currently this is up to mid-June.