It’s been a massive change moving to London, far more even than when I moved to Glasgow City Centre from my rural town home in Cheshire.
I am thoroughly enjoying myself and I feel like I have just got used to travelling via the tube rather than just by car, bus or walking. I even quite like the contactless payment that is prevalent down here. Even though it’s a nightmare to keep track of every penny that I’ve spent here and there . There are hundreds and thousands of people of all nationalities in my new home. It’s a very enriching environment. I thought it was going to be daunting but it has taught me to be really aware of each other.
I enjoyed observing a grown man (security officer might I add) kick a bunch of leaves with great childish gusto the other day, only to miss them all except one. Our eyes met and we shared a giggle. I would have joined in but I was being the stereotypical busy local marching along the pavement as fast as my little legs could take me to class because the district line tube was held at a red light for ages. (I’m improving my patience too!).
I still can’t believe that when I leave school I can always see the glorious Albert Hall and beautiful Hyde Park is just behind and lovely to explore.
It is nice to do so much walking, and be a tourist sometimes. So whilst I’m busy with my studies and working hard I would love to hear about moments that have made you smile this week, or perhaps challenge you to be mindful, to make time to enjoy the little moments that cross your path in this coming week.
In my yoga class this morning my teacher asked us all to think of one moment this week that has made us smile. He said it didn’t need to be a huge achievement or lifestyle change. His was the feeling of holding a freshly brewed cup of tea and enjoying the heat flow into his hands and body. So as I drink my tea I wish you all a merry week and I hope exciting things are to come for you all, even if it’s only something that puts a smile on your face. After all, Christmas and the festive season is nearly here as the shops so kindly remind us and the super ice rink by the Natural History Museum allows people to have a bit of joy as the winter weather chills them, I loved listening to all of the laughter and people having fun. Glitz and glamour to come!!
These pictures were from a recent visit to Kensington Gardens adjacent to Hyde Park after a busy morning’s practice.
Thank you for tge run down Charlotte.
I hope you’re settled in now. I’ll send a message before Christmas wishing you all the best. Love
You’re most welcome John, it’s been a bit hectic as you can imagine getting used to a new regime, teachers, coaches and living area but yes I feel that I’ve settled in now thank you, speak soon.
Best wishes
Charlotte
My moment was seeing our Boxer dog lying in the sun. She was so happy to be able to stretch out and enjoy the warmth. Your stay in London sounds marvelous. The last time I was there was in 1993. I did enjoy it. In fact, I stumped a cabbie with the question “Who were the British fighting that gave rise to the memorial ay Trafalgar Square?” (answer Spain) have a great week.
What a lovely picture. So much to do in London I barely know where to start with the bit of free time I allow myself. I didn’t know that John I thought it was a French battle, my brother is the history buff, he and my Grandad did a history tour of London together while we all went shopping .
Best wishes
Charlotte
🙂
What a glorious experience! I loved going to the London museums and bookshops and theatre. The people were friendly and helpful in finding places. One woman changed her direction entirely to escort us to the British Museum. Enjoy every moment!
The museums are fabulous, we are quite spoilt for choice. My favourite is the Victoria and Albert museum, I saw a costume event there once and it led on to me doing a textile design course, at least I can sew on a button and make a hand repair.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Sounds very much like it that you have settled in nicely to life in London. As you say there are so many wonderful places to see. What has made me smile this week! Well I had the pleasure of attending a concert in Worksop on Saturday evening and performing were two of my favourite artists, Rebecca Newman and Danielle Thomas. Beautiful live music and song will always make me smile 🙂
It’s lovely to hear you’re keeping busy Kevin and enjoying your concerts. Let’s hope this mild weather continues.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Enjoy London!
Thank you Benn I will, I have a list of things I’d like to tick off over the next year.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Setting aside the hard work knowing you can to enjoy yourself is reassuring Charlotte! Continue to thrive there in London. x
It’s been strange starting again to build relationships from scratch but I’m settling in a treat now and everyone is very friendly and encouraging here.
Best wishes
Charlotte
That is just wonderful!!! x
Enjoy your new home, Charlotte! ! Wish you all the best. Love & hugs Janice
Thanks Janice, it is starting to feel like home now.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I am happy for you. There’s no place like home wherever you live. Blessings & hugs xx
Lovely pictures Charlotte. London sounds busy as always, but you seem to be enjoying the challenge. Lots of love and hugs xxx
Lots of new challenges it’s very exciting I hope we can catch up at Christmas.
See you soon
Charlotte x
Thank you for sharing your London life. It sounds like you have a great time there and so much fun!
I’ve put a photo of the ice rink on the post now for some reason the link didn’t work. It’s a very busy City, lots of fun but also you have to be really careful on pedestrian crossings as some car drivers just don’t want to stop.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for sharing the photos, Charlotte. I hope to exhibit my artwork at The Brick Lane Gallery in London next year as they’ve shown interest in my Collection. I’ll see. Happy you are well…
I hope you do get to exhibit your work in London Eric I can go and maybe take a photo for you of your art on the walls.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful pictures Charlotte and the move to London looks like it is going well for you.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving in America, I smile when I think of you and how the Lord has blessed you. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. Keep the studies up and school will go by fast.
Thank you Rev Tim, I’m pleased to raise a smile, I have lots to be grateful for and I appreciate my blessings.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Kicking through leaves… what a terrific memory for me and now for you too! <3
I like to notice people doing something they enjoy like this. Have a super week Annette.
Best wishes
Charlotte
NIce, thanks for share Charlotte – I have to say I’m lucky to have cats and kittens at home, so my days are full of little smiles of sunshine – The little scene as you described, the looks of strangers crossing and giving a smile, ‘One that holds a doorway for you, a sparrow on the edge of a fountain, is like a dose of energy in the day to erase the fatigue of the day. – Have a great week, full with little smilles 🙂
I’ve seen your photos of the cats and kittens they’re very mischievous. I love politeness likes doors being held open too. Keep smiling.
Best wishes
Charlotte
My big smile moment this week was falling upon a set of five swans overhead, all headed for an unseen lake nearby, all forming a perfect triangle in the bluest of morning skies. Wish you many more this week!
I love watching birds in formation like that but swans are special. One of my blog friends Paul had a picture of a swan with only one wing this week so that’s two posts mentioning swans.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I am glad you’re enjoying London. My big smile moment of the week was seeing a grey seal swimming in the Great Ouse – even for a tidal river, which has much more in common with the sea than an ordinary river this is not a common sight!
How wonderful I’ve only seen a seal in captivity, it must be great to see them in their natural habitat.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Yes – it is.
Cosmopolitan London is a far cry from Kansas. I like London, but give me the country life.
You need some red shoes for travelling 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Seeing your photos have given me my joyous moments for today. Been indoors for a three day university diving meet. Looking at outdoor photos makes me happy, especially gardens! Thank you, Charlotte
Aww thank you Darlene, sounds interesting a diving meet. Have a lovely week.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I am so in love with your red dress! Where is it from?
I think it’s a Lipsy one from a couple of years ago, they have some great new styles in this Christmas.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Great post! I like you asked us about our week. Quickly, I thought of the little picture of my son at age one (my sister gave me an old Christmas memento I’d given her). He’s holding up his finger after I’d asked him how old he is. It’s so cute and now today he’s nineteen! Impossible. 🙂
I love looking through old baby pictures at home, my Mum has lots of photo albums. I love that I popped that memory into your head, brilliant.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hello Charlotte,
I love the Albert Memorial–every time my sister and I go into London, we either go to or walk past Royal Albert Hall, and it is so lovely just to look across the street at that glorious monument. Queen Victoria knew how to say how much she loved her husband!
I just got both your CDs and listened to them, Charlotte–glorious! I especially loved the Kidling’s Dance from Haughtassa–I think I may ask my teacher if I can start learning it, once I pass my Grade 8 exam later this month. I have no time to focus on any other music right now!
All the best for the upcoming Christmas holidays to you, too, Charlotte. It really is the most wonderful time of the year!
Best regards,
Cate
Hi Cate, I love the gold on it glinting in the sunshine. Thank you for supporting my studies by buying my CDs that’s very generous of you I hope you enjoy them. The Kidling’s Dance is a great one to learn you’ll enjoy it. Good luck with your singing exam.
All my best wishes,
Charlotte
You are so lucky, Charlotte, to have such wonderful places to run off energy and free your mind between studies. I do love London – will be there myself at the end of June.
This week has our Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, and since my daughter and son-in-law have moved back to North Carolina, my fun time this week has been planning the Turkey Day menu, knowing we have family here to celebrate with!
Brilliant that you’re visiting the UK and the exchange rate is so good at the moment. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with all the family that sounds perfect.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a lovely post. I’m so glad you are enjoying the glorious mix of people and personalities in London. I always feel very at home there, having spent all of my twenties and my Art College days there. Keep enjoying it.
I love London, other than the car drivers that seem intent on mowing me down on zebra crossings! I will keep enjoying it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
“…only to miss them all except one. Our eyes met and we shared a giggle.”
A ‘loverly’ moment, a perfect haiku instant. I shall commit felonious theft and steal that moment for a novel someday.
My week’s smile is not so grand. I received a trade review of a quality to make me blush. Almost.
Steal away 🙂 I’m glad you feel inspired to write. How wonderful an excellent trade review blush away with excitement I’m happy for you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I always loved working in London and enjoy re-visiting it whenever I can. I am so pleased you are having fun. Your photos bring back good memories!
Best wishes, Clare 🙂
It’s nice just to take a bit of time to enjoy this moment in time. I’m glad they rekindled your memories.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely photos Charlotte, and it’s so good that you can strike a balance between working and being a tourist.
Thank you Chris, my phone camera worked ok 😀.
Best wishes
Charlotte
So beautiful photos and so nice reading your news Charlotte ✨🎀
Thank you my friend 😀🙋🏼. I loved your Christmas discs 💕.
Best wishes
Charlotte
If I have the chance, I’ll definitely return to London for another visit. So much to see and do. So glad you’re thoroughly enjoying yourself there, Charlotte. 😉
I’m trying to make the most of every day Arti, time is passing really quickly. 😊. I loved reading about your London visit it gave me some great ideas.
Best wishes
Charlotte
How wonderful!!☺ I hope you have a fantastic time there 😀
Thank you Mithai 😊🙋🏼.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you❤❤
Lovely photos!
I haven’t done these lovely places true justice, you’d do such a fabulous job with them, thank you 🙋🏼💕
Best wishes
Charlotte
My moment was to see your post’s title and couple of first lines. It reminded me of the time I moved to London… bitter sweet memories! Enjoy the city, inhale it’s unique athmosphere and love one another. Wish I could be there too. Here’s one of my posts where I write about my time in London https://dentalrevelations.com/2016/07/09/my-take-on-the-brexit/
You’re right I’m happy to be given the opportunity to study here. I’m meeting the most amazing people all the time.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I love walking around London too! So much to see. Certainly wouldn’t own a car if lived there, far easier using tubes and buses. So pleased you are enjoying your time there, perhaps one day I’ll see you at the Albert hall! 🙂
I wouldn’t like to drive down here Michael 😳 it’s busy in the evenings and at weekends, you take your life in your hands at every zebra crossing I really must remember cars don’t stop if you start walking on the crossing down here!
I just love to sing 🎶 Michael, it’s nice to catch up with you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I wish that our world was filled with people like you. You’re a superb artist, but you’re also modest and kind and empathetic. That’s wonderful.
Aww thanks Dan I love meeting people it’s that simple really 😀🙋🏼.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful London. One of my favorite cities. Enjoy.
I will Dianne, my big brother has really settled down here now it seems like I’ve been down here much longer than two and a half months.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I used to love walking through all the parks and gardens to Oxford rd, and find a cafe in the back roads there, before going to the Wigmore Hall to see what was on there. I could have caught the tube, but what glories one misses by doing that.
Lovely photos 😊
Reblogged this on Kimberly Townsend Palmer.
Hi Charlotte – glad you’re enjoying the big smoke. A different life tempo, eh?
If you’re interested in getting to know a jazzier crowd do come down and see us on our Wednesday night residency at Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Bar in Kennington (details via my blog).
Merry whateverfloatsyaboats to you and yours.
Lovely Pics¡ I adore London knowing that there are women like You¡ You’re Yes.
Beautiful pictures! Loved this post, Charlotte. I’ve only been to the city once but am so intrigued by the idea of London in the fog after seeing a Monet exhibition in Basel!
LOVE you in this collage at the top!!!!!