What a crazy two months it's been! Time has absolutely flown and our poor blog has been slightly neglected!
Let's try and catch you all up, shall we...


PLAYING THE TOURISTS...
Since arriving, we have been so impressed by the amount of things to do as a tourist
in London. So far, we have explored:
-Trafalgar Square: Bustling place with huge lion statues & beautiful water features. Lots of street performers & protests here too.
-National Gallery: Situated at Trafalgar Sq., this gallery has so many famous works of art by artists like Monet, Van Gough & Picasso. While
entry is free, a cup of coffee will cost you a week's wage! And don't even consider purchasing a pen or magnet (you can buy at a 99p store around the corner!)
-Big Ben & Houses of Parliament: so much more impressive than in photos. Covered in intricate gold detail, this is one impressive clock.
-Buckingham Palace (costs to go inside but fantastic just to look around the outside & watch the guards on patrol).
-National History Museum: This museum is so huge and there is so much to see so it's worth following your map to make sure
you don't miss anything. The highlight of our day was seeing Cleopatra's mummy.
-London Eye: At first we were reluctant to pay the extra nine pounds for a fast track ticket, however it was worth every penny when we sauntered past the
queue (apparently a two hour wait) and walked straight onto our capsule on this giant ferris wheel. Needless to say, views were breathtaking.
West End theatre: So far, we've seen Les Miserables & Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Both were fantastic, so easy to get discounted tickets!
Football (or soccer according to Jess!): While missing AFL, Mark is making the most of football in England. So far, been to two games and watched lots over a pint at the pub!
National Wedding Expo: Mark was really keen to attend so Jess reluctantly tagged along...:-)
Mudchute City Farm: Plonked in the middle of Canary Wharf (the banking district), Mudchute City Farm is a little English farm with lots of different animals and allotments people can hire to grow their vegies in!
Not what we expected to find in the middle of the city!
Other highlights have been Camden Markets, Soho & St. James Park & Lillywhites (giant 6 story sports store with lots of stairs)
We agree with Sam.."If you're tired of London, you're tired of life"- Samuel Johnson.

We have also ventured out of London & headed to Brighton for the weekend. While the seaside at Brighton doesn't resemble an Aussie beach in the slightest,
it's got a fun carnival atmosphere and the biggest seagulls we have ever seen..Will definitely be a place to see again once the weather warms up.

EVERYDAY LIFE IN LONDON...
Thankfully we both managed to find jobs pretty quickly, Jess working with kids in a community health centre in Greenwich & Mark working with carers of people with
learning disabilities in Balham. We are slowly getting used to catching the train every morning, and are enjoying getting to know our colleagues.
The mornings are getting easier now that spring has arrived, and we are starting to see lots of squirrells, foxes and birdlife.
We are renting a very small but cosy studio apartment with amazing views of Millwall Dock & we are only a few train stops from London Bridge so it is easy
to sight see on the weekends.

WHAT'S COMING UP...
We are excited to have booked some trips in April. We are off to wales for Easter, and the following week we are heading to Norway for the long weekend (the Royal wedding is
a public holiday here!).

All in all, we are missing home terribly but loving being in London. It's definitely a fantastic city, clean and spacious & not as expensive to live in as people say.
We hope you enjoy checking out our pictures!
Mark & Jessie xxx