Sometime in 2009, I had a vague inkling that went something like this:

Hmmm...wouldn't it be dandy to live overseas for a while??

A few months, and a visa application later, and it was decided. I was off to London for 2 years to seek my fortune/meet Hugh Grant/travel to Europe/escape study for a while. My poor parents. Will they ever have a graduate? (Emily! It's up to you!)

Since April 2010 I have been living in Golders Green, London. I have experienced the exquisite transition from winter to spring. I have enjoyed seeing 100 white londoners 'sunbathe' in 16 degree weather, and genuinely become happier when the sun is out. I've watched England cheer on their football team in the world cup, and swear as only English people can. Bollocks! I have wandered past the room Fleming discovered penicillin in, and gawked like a geeky tourist. (Ditto for Pearson's house. As in the coefficient.)

I've done my weekly market shopping at Portobello Road in the west, Brick Lane to the east, Borough Market and Brixton Market to the south and Hampstead Market to the north.

I've zipped off to Wales, Latvia, Florence, Chianti, Corsica, Sardinia, Oxford, Bath, and love it that you can zip to places like that from London, and be back in time on Monday for work. (or in my case, not work. I have looked, but not very hard. Can you blame me?)

I'm becoming poor, my wallet is becoming lighter, and my savings are becoming smaller, and I am eating many more pulses and grains than I ever have in my life, but my god. London is making me feel rich in sights and experiences.

It's great. I can't wait for more.