New job!

I've had a slow autumn applying for lots of jobs and not hearing back from any of them and was actually starting to loose a little faith in myself. 3 weeks ago I finally got an interview, and then a follow-up interview and then I was offered the job! All in less than a week.

I started my new job a week after the first interview and have now done 2 weeks. It is so nice to be back in the rhythm and get a change of scenery every day. 

Unfortunately I don't have as much time to knit anymore, but at least I get to spend my days surrounded by yarn, needles and patterns. I am really enjoying my new job and my nice colleagues.

Mr A gave me a gift for getting a job, which arrived with great timing on the day I started the job. Two skeins of merino/silk 80/20 fingering in Metallurgy from Northbound knitting, absolutely gorgeous! I am thinking a shawl and lots of garter stitch, it is going to be fab!

Language - so much more than words

Speaking a language is not just knowing the words and what order to put them in to make other people understand what you want. Language is cultural and historical. A lot of expressions that makes sense to all the natives could be gibberish for a newcomer, even though the newcomer know the words.

I've come to accept that I won't get all the cultural or historical references in English. If someone tells a joke and everyone around me laughs, I'll smile politely and try to remember it so I can ask someone later. I won't ask in a group, that will give me too much of the spotlight and make me too self-conscious. But I'm not embarrassed to ask a friend what something means when we're alone. Friends help each other and I sometimes need help with this foreign language they speak in my new country.

Last Friday we went to see Spamalot. Even though I know the story and am fluent in English I knew that some jokes would be lost on me through language barriers, both cultural and in pronunciation. I was right, I got 95% of what was happening on stage, but every now and then a word or a reference would fly past me without me realising what it meant.

The show was still highly amusing and I don't feel like I missed out on the lost jokes. The same goes for the stand up comedy show we went to a couple of weeks ago, I had to ask A on a couple of cultural references, but I didn't feel like I missed much. The part I understood was hilarious!

My hood

I thought I'd post a few photos from the last week. I've been to an interview at the Jobcentre Plus to apply for a National Insurance number, I've taken walks around Brixton and Herne hill to get to know the area where I live. I love living next to a park and it feels like spring in the air.

Urban wildlife in the park

First hayfever of the year after capturing this bumblebee in the tree

I'm wondering how much time I spend underground in this place?

Suitcases

When limited to just 'what I can carry' while moving it's tricky to choose what stuff to bring. Some things are necessary and just have to go in the bag, some things are necessary for making one feel at home, but not essential for existence and has to get a lower prio. Some things are just too loved to be left. Clothes, makeup, boring paper and shoes are of course essential, as well as knitting needles, crochet hooks, yarn, patterns, buttons, ribbons, gauge ruler, scissors, pearls, sewing thread and needles...the list goes on...

We now have an empty shelf in the living room where my stuff should've been if there had been space in my suitcases to bring them. Hopefully the postman will have a package to deliver to me soon so I can feel at home.

Meanwhile I have knitting to do, podcasts to listen at, a park to wander around in and a city to enjoy. And of course A doing his best to make me feel at home :)

Part of the stash that needs some sorting

Hello London

Snowdrops in the park

I've now been in London for a week. I feel lost, confused, excited, curious, all feelings at the same time. The contrast was striking, from 20 cm of snow, overcast and a couple of minus degrees to 8-10 degrees and sun, I've even seen snowdrops! I know it's warm for the season but I can't help but feeling like spring is on it's way (but we could just as well get snow here as well)

Me waiting for the flight to London

Monday we went to IKEA and survived both 3 hours in the warehouse AND assembling the furniture afterwards. Yes, you read furniture, me and A bought furniture together. Exciting, exciting!

The week has been spent trying to figure out the best way to store our stuff so that it feels like we're both living here. It's not the easiest thing when one of us has been living here for years and I had 3 suitcases with all my belongings coming here. I have managed to occupy the living room with yarn and needles without any loud protests from A though, so far so good.










Since I haven't got a job yet I have to make use of my days.
Monday I joined a test knitting of a lovely cowl pattern, I'll post photos and link when that's released.
Tuesday I went to Liberty to check out their yarn and crafts department. I must admit I got pretty excited in there and had to be strict on myself. I came out of there with only one ball of yarn, intended for the test knitting.
Wednesday I went to a knitting group at a pub nearby. Lovely bunch of people who meet every week to chat and knit. Actually there's a few people there not knitting, they still go to the knitting group and have a chat. I really enjoyed and my Wednesday evenings are now sorted.
Thursday I was ill and slept most of the day, I tried to knit but ended up having to correct mistakes half the time.
Friday I knitted on the tube to and from the city. I got a smiles of approvement and the ride was rather enjoyable. I also sneaked in a visit to John Lewis' crafts department. I started to get very tired late afternoon, otherwise I could've spent a veeeery long time there. Lots of nice yarn and also fabric and other crafts. I found some Lumio reflecting yarn that I intend to knit a hat from. Perfect to wear at night when out and about and wanting to be seen by vehicles.
Friday I also visited my local yarn store, small but nice yarn.

Trafalgar Square

Lord Nelson and the Blue cock

Almost empty Trafalgar Square

Countdown

The new year has just about started and the countdown for my move to London has hit T-27 days. My flat is being packed down into boxes, everything I own is sorted into bring, storage, charity, trash or 2nd opinion. The first bag of my stuff just landed in London, the remaining bags are on the floor in the living room, waiting to be filled. The hardest part will be to choose what yarn, needles, patterns and various yarn related tools to bring along.

This blog is intended to be about my adventures in London, mainly yarn related but also dancing and exploring a great city and being an expat and possibly other exciting things coming my way.


Checklist

A place to live - check
Letting the flat - check
Flight booked - check
Temp leave from work - check
Pack all stuff - in progress
Find a knitting group - check
Job in London - searching

On my needles
Sprig sweater
Snow white entrelac headband