Shopping around

I am blogging over at wordpress but you may see changes here as I tinker with layout formats. Blogger is offering a lot more since I left so just seeing my options.

Merry Christmas

The year is ending and I don't know about you but I've been mentally over 2010 for a few months now. As the year is ending so is my posting on this site. I will continue over at word press. I've been changing formats here on Blogger multiples times (sometimes daily) to find something more streamlined but nothing fit for me. So I've been looking to other sites to find themes more to my liking.

I'm going to give word press a chance and see how it works out. To those who have read and commented you can find me here. To the newbies come join! I hope to be more diligent with my posting this coming year and responding to comments.

Tis' the season

Rose coloured glasses

When I first moved to London I couldn't help comparing almost every aspect of living here to home. It's natural of course. Over time I really started to love it here and the tone of the comparisons changed. I no longer was thinking or saying well x is cool but at home it's wayyy better.

Well things have changed even more. I was home for over a month recently. I was happy to be home and enjoying myself - then my boyfriend came to visit. Suddenly I was seeing everything through his eyes, he didn't criticise anything but it was interesting seeing everything for the first time again. Public transportation isn't as good, there is a lot going on in Toronto but it can't compare to London. Traveling here is much cheaper and London is a good base to head out to many destinations. I love being at home but when I started to think of our lifestyle (walking/using public transport and having no car) and how it would change if we did move to Canada I started to appreciate my set up here a bit more.

En-Ga-Land!

En-ga-land is how the football fans pronounce it, yes really.

World Cup 2010 is upon us and my intention was to go through this period and not think about football. Not that easy when everyone and their mother has put up a flag on their house, their car and themselves. Also not easy when your boyfriend cares to watch all the games.

However I may be slightly converted after watching the England v USA game on Saturday at the HMV Apollo. It was definitely an experience. England football fans are known to be rowdy bordering on belligerent so I didn't know what to expect. I got there with 2 friends and they were handing out flags and hats. The theatre filled with excited fans an hour before the game. One fan was so excited that he got up on stage and dropped his trousers and had on England pants (underwear). He started jumping up and down and the crowd loved it until security put an end to it. It was pretty tame there after. I forgot my camera so I was only able to take a few pictures on my mobile. I'll make sure to bring it next game!

Are you watching the World Cup and who are you rooting for?

Fool me once...

I've been duped, apparently. A few weeks ago while at the hairdressers these 2 women came in selling makeup. Usually I wouldn't pay anyone selling anything at the hair dressers any mind, but I did this time as it sounded like a good deal - £20 for a bunch of product that was apparently worth over £100. When I got home and was telling friend about it I went to the Internet to find the site, it didn't exist. However, in my search I discovered a post on a blog talking about the same products. Although I've been 'scammed' it doesn't feel like it. The woman on the blog said that the products were of poor quality and the real scam is in how they market it. Saying that the line is made by this famous make up artist in the US who will be launching a UK line. So that isn't happening (UK line launch) but I don't feel particularly scammed since I have a decent product in my hands. The brushes are shit but the make up itself is fairly good quality (drug store brand at least).



Moving on to scam number two. Thankfully I wasn't scammed in this instance (well it was very obvious) but I'll share it with you since it happens a lot in London. It concerns the private renting market, more specifically my search to find decent priced housing as I'd like to find a place on my own. I was on gumtree a week or so ago and came across an ad that I knew had to be too good to be true, and it was. However I sent a reply to get back information. I did this for another ad as well, also kinda too good to be true. This is the email I was sent:

Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hear from you.I am Nicholas Thomas,the owner of the Flat you are making inquiry of.Actually I resided in the Flat with my family,presently we moved away due to my transfer from my working place,my Flat is Located at 24, Rosary Gardens, South Kensington London, SW7 4NT and presently my Flat is still available for rent for 350 GBP per month including the utilities like hydro,washer,gas,internet, cou ncil tax and one secured parking Space,it is fully furnished but we can get it unfurnished for you if you prefer that..Now, I went for a Crusade in the West Africa and i will like you to get in touch with my wife in the United states for more details & pictures of our flat as She is with the keys and the documents to the Flat.Please, i want you to note that i am a kind and honest person, also i spent a lot of money on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this Flat and want you to treat it as your own,I hope you understand that.I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i eventually come to London to see how clean it is and will try to do that some day...Where are you located? let us know how soon you are willing to move in as we are deciding very soon on who to take our flat.Email my wife Tracey, on (traceythomas90@gmail.com) she will attend to you better. Thanks for your interest. Best Regards, Nicholas Thomas
Then I got a similar email for the second place:

Thanks for your email and it is glad to Read from you.I am Richard Callaghan,the owner of the flat you are making inquiry in 24 Rosary Gardens South Kensington,London SW7 4NT . Actually I resided in the flat with my Wife before and presently we had Moved out due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in West Africa,Nigeria and presently my flat is still available for rent for 350GBP per month including the utilities like Hydro included,Hardwood Floor , Air Conditioning , Utilities included , Dishwasher,Fridge , Stove , Assigned /Secured parking , microwave , Washer , Dryer , Cable /Satellite , Internet connectivity , Storage locker,Fireplace,security is fully furnished,More so Now, i went for a Job transfer and i will like you to get in touch with my wife in New Jersey,USA because she has an accident two months ago,she's using a wheel chair,it also affect her ear drum but we thank God for still keeping her alive for more discussion and Pictures as She is with the keys and the document to the flat.Please i want you to note that I am a kind and honest man and also I spent a lot on my property that i want to give to you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintained of this flat and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken ? it is not the money that is the main problem but i want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for check up which i do once in a while and give 1month notice before i come for check up.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word. Pets Allowed Special Notice : Pls note that there's none of us to show you the flat,as we would have to send you the keys through DHL COURIER SERVICE ON A NEXT DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME and move in asap.. A refundable deposit is require ( 1st month and security deposit which is 350GBP is refundable when you are ready to move out of our flat and if you pay two months you will get a month free ).if you are OK with this pls Email my wife Mary on ( marycllghn@gmail.com ) and she will attends to you better.

I've reported it and got a response back from someone at Gumtree. Thinking back on other times when I've come across shady posts I've just passed them on but now I will definitely report them but at least it appearls others do as the ads for these places were down the next day. I've recently been asked about finding accommodation here so I will do an updated post on that shortly!

More intensity!

Yesterday I tried Bikram Yoga (aka Hot Yoga) for the first time. As I've done yoga for years now it was nice that all the poses we did were familiar. But of course while it's basic yoga it is in a sauna type setting.

INTENSE is all I have to say. But then I adjusted pretty quickly to the temperature and it was quite enjoyable. I wanted to detox a bit for spring and this is perfect. I can't recommend it more if you've yet to try it.