My weekend took me to London, visiting some of my bestest friends in the whole world. As a result, I’m absolutely shattered and have had so very little sleep over the last few days. Monday came much too quickly and I’ve had to plunge back to work with deadlines and conference calls and all matters of life in the work place taking priority as it sometimes does.
There is something so special about this city. A much, much larger version of Manchester with it’s host of street vendors, bustling for your business, a clashing of cultures and diversity and languages.
I’m not a tourist here, really. Or at least I don’t feel like one. Living only a train ride away for 8 years before moving to the North and visiting every couple months or so, I’ve spent far too much time pounding it’s streets to consider it a strange city anymore.
It’s funny trading my car for my Oyster card for a few days, both on buses and on the tube. There’s a strange sense of freedom not worrying about parking, not worrying about how you are going to get home, not worrying if you’ve stayed a little too long in the pub.
One of these days, however, I’m probably going to have to accept that I’m far too old to laugh loudly with my mates in posh restaurants, to dance in the middle of their living room, to stay up until 6am talking and drinking wine and swapping stories and laughing and laughing until my sides hurt, until my eyelids can fight no more, until the birds alert us of the dawn.
But I’ll never be too old to appreciate the fire this city provides inside of me and the organic sprawl of old and new, of traditional and cutting edge sat happily side by side on nearly every one of its streets.
Perhaps that’s part of the reason I like an eclectic mix in interiors. There’s just nothing quite like seeing beauty in the simplest juxtapositions.
I’ve linked this post to Happy Homemaker’s Around The World in a Day party for expats. Join the party here.
All images via we heart it.
Agreed – i love London, its the first city i fell in love with, and the first city i also fell in love in ;-) I work here everyday and never get board of its diversity. As the saying goes – when a man is tired of london he is tired of life… <br />Lovely Post!<br />Rachie xo
I hope I'm *never* too old to chat and giggle until 6am!!! It sounds like the most perfect weekend. I'm so gald you had such a brilliant. time.<br /><br />Sarahx
Ooh, I love your post about London – I feel just the same! It's such an amazing city – and I'm probably too old to dance around till 6am, but I still get tempted to try – Melissa xx
Ah you're making me miss London! I lived there for a few years, before moving to Nottingham for a job. Nottingham was <i>supposed</i> to be temporary, but then I met a man and fell in love…….. it's funny, he comes from a little village so to him Nottingham is huge, whereas Nottingham is the smallest city I'll ever go! Maybe one day, or in a parallel universe, I will live in London
Beautiful writing. I think you will always be young, you have that kind of outlook. I think you are never too old to do that stuff with friends. It really is the best.<br />I really miss the cultural mixes in the UK. Despite some problems with racist idiots, I find the UK more tolerant of diversity than here. <br />I know what you mean about the juxtapositions. It makes everything much more
i love your photo with the street sign in focus…just dazzled me, sunshine.<br /><br />can't wait to visit that city someday. know i'm gonna be in love. keep up that gorgeous writing. and as your cheeky chic 45 yr old bud, lemme make it clear you are not old. <br /><br />michele :)
Well if you are coming all the way to our fine shores to visit London, you might as well plan a trip to Manchester as well ;)<br /><br />Maybe not physically old, but good god this week I am feeling about 85! ;) xx
I think you are probably right Tracy – when you are with good friends, you lose all sight of acting like an adult ;) As well you should too!<br /><br />And thank you so much for your lovely comments, you are a total sweetheart and pretty bloody cool as well! x
I find it strange that for as much time as I've spent there, I've never lived there. Perhaps like you, it'll have to be in a parallel universe (where I make lots more money hahaha)…<br /><br />x
I found the wine certainly helped ;) xx
It was fabulous but wow am I paying for it this week! ;) x
I came for the first time at 20 years old and I've never stopped loving it :)
Hey there, saw you over at the Expat Linky Party…I love London…but I've only been there once this past Thanksgiving. I still need to post about it, but I have other trips I'm working on in between. I blog about my family's life in Spain. I'm your lastest follower…I look forward to finding out about Manchester, as I have never been there…nice to meet you!
I agree that there is something magical about London. I wouldn't want to live in the city (I'm too much of a country girl), but I absolutely love visiting. Love love your photos. <br /><br />Thank you so much for joining my Linky Party! It wouldn't have been the same without you :) XOL
Oh, I love your pictures. They really capture the movement, sights and feelings there!<br />Stopped over from Around the World in a Day hop. Have a great Sunday!<br />http://texagermanadian.blogspot.com