Summer - Northern Hemisphere Style
Summer in the months of June, July and August is something quite foreign to me. However one mustn’t complain when you can experience two summers virtually back to back. Although, a summer’s day here in the UK is vastly different to the New Zealand summer’s I am use to. The hot days are few and fair between and when they do eventually come all Londoner’s can talk about is how uncomfortably hot it is, especially if your day involves taking the unbearably sticky and humid underground which for a large part of the London population it does. Except for me, as I bask in the sunshine on my walk to and from work.
However, as the summer months slowly begin to dwindle away and the night’s get darker slightly earlier each week. There will come point when I go to work in the dark and return home again in darkness, in bone chilling temperatures and pouring rain and I will look back and think the English summer wasn’t all that bad after all.
So, what have I been up to since my last blog post? Well where do I start... It’s been a whirlwind of a few months that’s for sure and it’s all gone so fast I forget I have lived here for six months now!!! Where did that time go???
Funding the lifestyle... £££!
Work has been its busy self but I have been fortunate enough to see a lot of the UK and Ireland in the process gathering samples for our clients. I am kind of a bit of a jack of all trades at the moment doing some sales and account management work, strategy and legal related tasks and of course the more operational work such as gathering samples. It’s always an interesting one explaining to people what I do for a job, as nobody really think’s that food fraud is an issue until I start rambling off the facts. For example, food fraud effects at least 10% of the global food supply chain and costs the British food industry at least £10billion. But the fraudulent activity can be a range of different acts be it adulteration, substitution, dilution or geographical misrepresentations, for example claiming that meat is New Zealand beef and lamb when it actual fact it’s lower grade product from elsewhere but labelled otherwise. So we work with food producers and retailers to mitigate their risk of another Horse Meat scandal happening to them. Or in more light hearted terms we are like the CSI of the food industry.
Looking stylish collecting meat samples in Ireland.
Ticking the countries off, one at a time...
Aside from work, I have managed to fill my weekend with some great activities and trips away - I seriously don’t not think I will see a weekend through where I find myself bored and thinking of something to do, there is just so much on offer. Some of the highlights include sneaking away to Malaga on the southern coast Spain for a long weekend in June, which was just amazing. The city is stunning, amazing architecture, beautiful beaches and yummy food. I had a great time with new friends and will definitely be back to explore more of Spain - perhaps when my Spanish is a bit more than Hello, Bye and Thank you?
A summer’s day at an English Beach
There has also been lot’s of day trips as well, Brighton was definitely a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Although, not the beach trip I was expecting, the sun was lacking, so too the sand and we didn’t dare go for a swim although the rain ensured we got drenched anyway. So it was indoor activities for us and where better than the Brighton Pier Arcade topped off with a few pints in the pub.
I tried my best to get my tan on, but the weather had other plans... so did my friends after nicking my clothes, so I was stuck on the beach in my jockey’s.
The rest of the summer has flown by with jammed packed weekends. Including watching the AB’s smash Wales at the Clapham Grand (the former Church which is renowned for massive Kiwi and Aussie parties) and subsequently Australia a couple of months later (much to the disgust of my new Australian flat mates).
Living a life of luxury and class - or at least trying to...
I got right proper English and attended the Polo in the Park, which was a great time, drinking Pimms and in great company what more could one ask for? Admittedly I had no idea what was going on, but it was still a great day out none the less.
After each session the public are invited to walk onto the pith and stamp down all the divots
What really get’s me about London though is just how much there is to do and the variety, there is literally something for everyone. If I ever heard someone complain about there being nothing to do here I honestly think I would have to slap them silly. Although, to have a good time it does mean the wallet takes a bit of a hammering and even more so if you enjoy a couple of pints here and there. But not everything cost’s lot’s of money in fact there are plenty of really fun and cool free events, it’s just mind-blowing. To be fair, I am still relatively new to this city so getting out and about and exploring what is on offer is a top priority but I’ve been here 6 months now and havn’t managed to have a quiet weekend yet.
So what has kept me busy then you ask? Well there has been boozy boat trips up the river Thames dressed as American tourists which felt like a home away from home as the boat seemed to be filled with Kiwi’s and Aussies; Saturday afternoon’s watching beach rugby - who knew this was a sport?; Visiting my best mate Georgie who’s living and working at one of the most renowned schools in the UK, Marlborough College; Music festivals where I saw Mumford and Son’s at British Summer Time in Hyde Park and Kygo (who I have been wanting to see for ages!) at the Wireless Festival both of which happened to fall on the same weekend, so that particular weekend was a massive one.
Classic tourist snap!
Beach Rugby in central London - because why not?
Getting the grand tour of Marlborough College where the Duchess of Cambridge went to school. The grounds are amazing!
Mumford and Son’s at BST in Hyde Park
Mumford and Son’s was probably one of the best outdoor show’s I have seen and the stage design was amazing - I guess the idea was to blend in with the park.
Kygo at Wireless
My girl T and I braved the crowds which seemed to be full of 16 year olds getting high, to rave to Kygo and supporting artist Jess Glynne in the front row!!
Discovering the past!
But it hasn’t all been boozing and getting rowdy. I have managed to educate myself on some of the rich history this city has to offer. One weekend a friend and I took a tour of one of the London World War Two shelter tunnels, which housed thousand’s of Londoners during the London blitz.
This particular set of tunnels are located approximately 30-50m (180 steps) below the Clapham South Tube Station and stretch 2 miles over two levels. At its capacity up to 8,000 people each night would make the commute down into the depths of the tunnels with all their belongings not knowing if they would return to a house still standing the next morning.
It was just mind boggling to imagine how crowded it would’ve been, I mean I thought the Central and Northern tube lines were busy during rush hour, but this would have been a whole new level.
Although, the tour was slightly on the pricey side (as it is not normally open to the public) it was well worth it and I definitely learnt a lot. Post World War Two, the tunnels have had multiple uses, which have included housing Jamaican workers migrating to London to earn a living, it was also a hotel during the “Festival of London” which was designed to bring tourist’s into the city after the war and then it’s final use was to store government records and other official documents. It now has one of the highest forms of heritage protection.
Bunks stacked three high with very little room between them and each cubical would house 6 people, mostly women and children.
Row’s upon row’s of bunks - must have been one noisey place at full occupancy!
Another year older and another year wiser....?
It was a pretty strange feeling having a birthday this year as it was the first time I was miles away from any family, made slightly worse because I missed my little sister’s 21st (sorry Leish) which was hosted the night before my birthday.
But never-the-less I wasn’t going to let a bit of sadness ruin my day so I had arranged a boozy picnic at Primrose Hill with all my great London friends. Primrose Hill is an absolutely stunning park with views right over the central city at the top of the hill so it seemed like the perfect location to spend a great evening. The plan was to have a few drinks in the park until about 9.30pm (which was when the park was suppose to close given its a Royal Park) and then head to a pub or bar somewhere nearby. Although 2.30am strolled around pretty quickly and we were still still there cranking some great kiwi music and singing along as if we were back home, it was a fantastic night spent with even better company!
As you can tell the views of the central city draw a fair amount of people on a good night.
A New Flat and New Best Mates
In the last month I have also moved flats, nowhere different I’m still living in East London (unlike every other kiwi who migrates west) and just 200 metres down the road from where I was last living. I found it was just time for a change and I I needed a bit more of a sociable household. So who better to move in with than two Aussies cousins (not that we’re actually cousins but Kiwi’s and Aussies are basically family aboard)!! And I can tell you now only a few weeks in, it’s been the best decision. I was so lucky to find the place and as soon as I met both Nikki and Adam I knew we would become great mates (except when the All Blacks thrash the Wallabies - then I am not so popular...).
Adam took me along to my first premiership game which was a great afternoon out and I have never seen such animated fans in my life. Football fan’s are definitely full of passion and enthusiasm!
The new flat also has a small back garden which is not only enjoyed by myself on a good day but the local urban fox thinks its not to bad either!
The final few snaps of summer
Most people who know me, know that I love my Gin and Tonics so how could I pass up going to the UK Gin Festival with my bestie Rach Worsley? It’s fair to say I am even more of a Gin connoisseur now =)
Every now and then I try go on a big long run to somewhere new. The most recent run was to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park which is huge and still very popular with visitors and locals.
The Happiest 5km on the Planet!
And last but not least, this weekend just gone saw our social netball team took to the streets of East London to colour ourselves happy! It was such a great Sunday morning activity and I can confirm it was the happiest 5km I have run ever! Also happened to be one of the very few Sunday’s where I didn’t wake up feeling a bit sorry for myself!
Perhaps to much happiness?
Well that about wraps up my summer and what I have been up to these past six months! As you can tell I am still absolutely loving my time over here and can honestly say it’s been the best move for me. Despite missing my family and friends every single day, I know this is where I need to be for the time being! I am just waiting to everyone else to realise that London is the place for them to and I will be sorted.
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading this rather long and perhaps boring blog update and apologies for any terrible spelling and grammar. But I know my Grandmother’s enjoy reading this so if no one else does, at least I know they do!
Keep an eye out for my next update in a months time as I take some leave from work and explore some more of Europe.
Until then, take care!
Peace out!
Stew xx
