Friday, 28 December 2012

Our First UK Christmas

 
We have had a wonderful few weeks I can tell you that much...

We had our work Christmas party on the 14th of December, where we all got rather merry. The best thing about working together, is that we get to go to work drinks and parties together, it makes it so much more fun.

On the 16th of December Ben and I got up early and took the train to Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
To meet my Grandfathers family and have an early Christmas lunch with them all, we went to such a quaint country pub for a traditional meal. It was such an amazing day and so nice to spend it with family, they reminded me so much of my own it was just such a good feeling to have a slice of home away from home. We will def be going back there for lovely weekends away.

Christmas rolled around all too soon, everyone had such a lovely day / night. I was on turkey duty and must say was pretty proud of my effort.
Orphans Christmas' are so much fun. Everyone made such a fantastic effort and I didn't miss home one little bit, Skyping the fam back home in the morning put us in such good moods as they were all winding down after a fantastic day.

I have a few photos to share with you that made our first Christmas here so special.

 
Christmas Spirit
 
Possums having fun at the work party
 
Work Party





En-route to Tunbridge Wells

Such a beaut trip up- even saw a Bambi!







 My great Aunt Peggy came to visit NZ before I was born. I got to look through the album and saw lots of pictures of my Mum, and family.. Was so nice to have them on the other side of the world with me!
My Mum and my sister over 25 years ago..

My Grandma and Aunty Peggy

My Grandma's lounge where many Xmas was spent both before and after I was born

Our Presents

The Turkey- with bacon and homemade stuffing

The Spread

So delish!

Showing off our fancy Xmas nails.

Gorgeous Girls


 

Hope everyone had an amazing time, ate way too much food, and got lots of sweet presents.

Now just bring on new years.. We have an awesome boat Cruise planned so will def have to update you on that next week.
xx

Thursday, 13 December 2012

13/12/12

LOVE;
The price of cheese
Wooly xmas jumpers
Wearing my wellys and splashing in puddles.
House of Fraser
Primark
China town
Bulmers cider
Copenburg cider-all the berry ciders one could ever want!
Icey footpaths and frozen puddles
Microwave meals
Snow
Exploring
Oxford St
Hyde park

Mc donalds breakfast wraps
Getting lost and discovering the best
Made in Chelsea
Come dine with me 24/7
Boots


MISS;
NZ milk,
Good steak
NZ babies
Normal butter
Daylight after work


HATE;
Wet ballet flats
Packed tubes
Frozen faces and frozen hands
Dry skin
How i am begginning to think Uggs are acceptable
- degrees
Lime in the water

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

A Real Winter Wonderland

Tuesday 4th of December was yesterday, it was also mine and Ben's 2 year anniversary, we celebrated by going to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

Now I am not going to lie, this is kind of the most amazing magical place I have ever been too. It's an all you can eat, all you can play, all you can ride fairy light covered heaven.

We had such an amazing time, I talked Ben into going onto one of the huge scarey rides, we ate all sorts of delicious food and played a few games- all rather unsuccessfully! The highlight was by far the ice skating.

We spent an hour skating around and around in a circle and it was a pretty amazing hour I must say! I was pretty impressed with our skills as neither of us fell over! Of course Ben had some pretty sweet tricks, but I held my own.

I fall in love with this country more and more every minute! I have never had a white Xmas, and boy have I been missing out! It's all so festive and exciting, you can bet I'll be in an amazing wooly Xmas jumper for the next few weeks!

It snowed this morning, albeit by the time I woke up the rain had melted it all but this just puts the cherry on top! The forecast is for more snow tonight so here's to a real white Xmas. Snow angels here I come!!

Just so you can see the amazing-ness I am surrounded by here are a few pics from last night.

Love this country, love this season, love you Ben you have given me the best 2 years of my life! 

 

WINTERWONDERLAND!!
 
Snow Angels Market
 

 
 
 
Little Babushka stall


Our Ride Tokens
 



The ride I talked Ben into coming on with me.

 
 
 
 
 



Trying to win me a Teddy



 
 
 
 
Having a skate!


The awkward penguin!



So so fun!


Love him <3
 
Me Ol' Mate
 
Churros!!




Friday, 2 November 2012

London Life.

Days like this I think moving to London was the best thing ever. The best decision we ever could have made.

A few exciting things have happened since I last posted.. which isn’t a surprise considering we have been here over three weeks now and I only posted once! How slack!
 
It's not like there hasn't been anything to update you with. We have gone to some amazing bars, eaten amazing, and disgusting food. Gone to dress-up parties and done pub crawls.
 
Ben and I had a wonderful two weeks together before work too, shopping, exploring and finding our feet.
Ben went to work after those two weeks were over, that was when my job search really started. Luckily I got a call from a recruiter on Monday afternoon regarding a position I had applied for earlier that day.. she wanted to see me the next day - success I thought, the ball is rolling.

On Tuesday I tottered off to my interview in a fancy new outfit. She thought I would be in with a chance and slotted me in for an interview later that day, they certainly don’t piss around here!

Anyway the interview went well, and I got a call for a second interview for the Tuesday week. It was for a security trading company in Mayfair.. The offices were beautiful and the area was amazing! I was getting excited at the prospect of earning money and being right in the heart of the city, overlooking the gorgeous Hyde Park.

Success I got a call one hour and fifteen minutes later from the recruiter saying I got the job and would start on Monday! Yuss I couldn’t believe it had happened all so fast.  Now I could relax for the remainder of the week before getting into my new administration duties!

Later that day I got a call from Ben, his work needed temps for a week to help them as they were snowed under and did I want to earn some cash.. brilliant I thought, get into a routine before I start my job, get my brain working again after an eight week holiday!

I started Wednesday (for 3 days)set of on my way going in with Ben.. how cute I get to go to work with the man I love. After two days I get called in for a meeting which blew everything out of the water. They wanted me to stay.. they offered me a career, more money and a permanent role.

After consulting Ben, and deciding we could make working, living and hanging out together work I accepted the role on Friday and had to call the recruiter to tell her I wasn’t going to start on Monday- NOT happy!!

So today it is the last day of my first week as a ‘Regional Compliance Leader’ and I can honestly say that I feel like I am getting somewhere, after doing crappy retail and reception jobs, I finally have a real job.. one in which I am responsible for other people and the work we all do.

I am one happy little girl. I get to travel to and from work with a buddy, I get to work with amazing ladies and I get paid a decent wage so can afford to holiday and shop!

After going to the travel show last weekend and booking a nine day tour around Egypt, booking Sail Greece for summer next year, Xmas fast approaching, and our Thames cruise new year’s night. London is looking pretty bright!

Now just to find a beautiful home that’s nice and close to work (and clean), join the gym and book more holidays.

Thanks London for being amazing… And thank you Ben, without you I never would have had the balls to do this, and there is no one else I would rather be here with.

Monday, 15 October 2012

We Made It.


So after an amazing month in Auckland, seeing family and friends before we left, it was time to board the plane for our 26 hour journey to London.
The flight was not nearly as bad as I had expected, but boy was the jetlag something. Took me about 3 days to start sleeping at night, and acutally feel like I was alive again.
Now having been here for a week I have come to the conculsion that I absolutely love the place, Ben and I have had it pretty easy.. we had a home to move into and Ben has a job to start next week, so all the normal stresses weren't there.
So our first week was really amazing, On Tuesday we took the tube to Oxford Street and later in the week we went shopping and did a bit of sight seeing (sorry Phoebe and Libby, we forgot little bear but were going around next week so will be sure to include him!)

There are the cutest little houses in the cutest little streets. I just love all the brick the old buildings and the history.. here are a few photos so you can all pretend you are there!
 

         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                    
 
                                    
 

 

The Queen's Pad

 (Excuse my wonky photos, i tried for too too long to stop them jumping around!)


London has been wonderful so far, we have been out and experienced the good old house party, which I am sure there will be many more of.

We have seen foxes, the beautiful creatures of the night.. I just cant wait to start working so we can start planning trips and I can continue to shop!

Our next trip should be Amseterdam, and onto Berlin for new years!! Should be a wonderful next few months!