Settling In

So, I have been spending the last week before I am off to work (I know, a nine to five - scary, right?) hanging out with my cousins and helping them move from Brighton to Brixton. So, on Friday evening, I went down to Brighton via the National Rail (love it) and we had dinner right on the seaside at this great little restaurant. Hung out with them for the rest of the weekend - we went and strolled through Brighton on Saturday afternoon and then had a picnic on the beach on Sunday with some of their friends (which was fun but windy and I was not prepared for that type of weather - though it was great fun trying to fly a ginormous kite!). Went home via National Rail Sunday afternoon which was what everyone was doing it seems and got home to relax for a bit.

Monday I finally heard from the HR with a firm offer or at least, more details about the salary and I am quite happy with the proposed amount. It is enough to go looking for a place in a nice area of London and still have a little something for bills, savings, and going out. And travelling - looking forward to exploring the rest of the country and Europe. So, they asked me to come in and start next Monday (i.e. the 10th of September) and I had to wrangle some things - like a National Insurance number (think social security). Luckily, I got an appointment for nine o'clock the next morning. Not so luckily: the tube workers decided to strike that day for about three days. So, I had to find my way to the south-west of London (way way SW) by two different buses and then two seperate DRL trains. Did it but I left my house at six-thirty in the morning and still could not make it there for nine a.m. appointment. Got there, had an hour long interview, and then was free to while the time away.

Decided to go help the cousins again as they had moved into the London house but luckily, my cousin Rea was able to grab me from Heathrow (closest point we could both get to easily) and then I helped with the unpacking etc. Not surprisingly, since the tube strike was raging strong, got stuck in London with out planning to be stuck there but it was fine to "rough" it. Went home Wednesday evening, spent the night there, and then came back to the cousin's house to help some more - where I have been for the last two days putting my organizational skills to use and bumming some wireless webbing (yes, this is how you finally hear from me!).

I am excited about starting Monday and I think that I will be able to rock the job - I love the job and where it is located and I really think the group seems made up of good people - always a plus to have good colleagues surrounding you. Plus, I am going to be in London! So weird to think that just a year ago things were so different. Yes, I knew even then that I was planning to be living here at this time, but I really did it despite all the setbacks and all the things that have happened in the last year or so. And I am still looking ahead - I want my own apartment in the city by early November; I really would like to go back to Miami with the family in December and I really want my doggie to be here. I miss her so much - I miss also having a reason to be out morning, noon, and night. Much love and more later.