MAKING HISTORY

IT WAS LOCATED IN SHOREDITCH - BEFORE SHOREDITCH BECAME SHOREDITCH

With my second beer rush I am preparing for tonight’s adventure. And by preparing I’m sitting with a huge towel surrounding my hair in my robe whilst reading blogs. The last couple of days have been busy - for fun reasons, that is. The sad thing for this blog is that the days I actually have time to blog, are the sad times. At least that’s been the situation for the last week. When I’m having a good time I don’t usually have the time to blog. So I’m making time - in between the Fashion Festival that I’ve been to, before going to a pre-party at a friend’s flat later on.

But first, let’s back up a few days and catch up. On Thursday I had plans with an old friend of mine. We’ve been friends since we were what – ten perhaps? Since we lived in different parts of Norway we kept contact by sending each other post cards. How adorable isn’t that! So now when she is living in Kingston and I’m in London, this is the closest we’ve ever lived to each other, which is super fun. We went to see the Christmas lights being lid outside one of my favourite places in London – National Portrait Gallery. When we got there I was so amazed to find out that the tree was NORWEGIAN. Even a Norwegian ambassador was there and we sang the Norwegian national anthem. Apparently, that was the reason why we went. Of course, I had no idea! Never the less, it ended up being a very fun night with some rosé and cocktails.

Also, I would advise anyone around Shoreditch to go to the East London Design Show. I’ll write more about that tomorrow, and the Fashion Festival I’ve been to today. But now – hair and makeup needs to be done. xx

Picture from today. Tune in for more tomorrow!

CUP'A'TEA

As the ultimate season for hot drinks are upon us, you can’t do anything but enjoy it. I’ve just figured out that Starbucks actually makes great Chai Latte’s. I would probably be better off not knowing – but well, to late now! These days I am a bit sick and tired of no contacts and fun events to attend, so instead of staying in bed and feeling sorry for myself I took action. I pulled my ass out of bed and went to the open day at College of Fashion and Design. Was it worth it? Ha-ha, no! Not even a little bit. We were placed in a small and rather ugly room in something that didn’t even look like a school. It was really not for us, but we tried at least. And gonna keep on trying. Cheers with a cup’a’tea to that.

And with a cup of tea in bed, my Wednesday morning starts. After rushing down the stairs to the window after a text from S saying it was snowing. I couldn’t see any white and went disappointed back to bed. Apparently the snow didn’t really get to the ground. Booh. Not my lucky days just now. Yesterday evening I was bored and seeking attention. I figured I would run upstairs and literally jump in bed. I didn’t get very far, as the first thing I stepped on, was a scarf I had mislaid. I slipped and fell with a big boom. It resulted with burned knees and a broken iPhone. Just my luck! Fortunately it went all right with some chocolate.
It always does...

THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE

     F*ck, I’ve moved to the wrong city. No, who am I kidding. It’s almost illegal to say London is the wrong place to live, but when the calendar has just turned over to the most amazing month of the year at the same time as it’s snowing back home, I can’t help but to miss it. I shouldn’t really complain about the weather though. Today the sky was perfectly blue with just a few clouds decorating it. Even so, I’ve spent the day inside the stone walled building that is City University. I have a psychology test tomorrow and it will be so much fun.  Sad face. I just have to get myself a calculator first. Before leaving home, I sold my old one – just out of principle: I am never doing math again. Look where it got me. Who knew psychology was all about statistics? Not me, that’s for sure.
But over to something more positive: Yesterday! Best day in a long, long time. It was unexplainably (catchy word, huh) amazing. We went to Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park. It almost made up for the lack of snow. It was so much fun. It included heaps of candy, carousels, 1 litre beer, muddled wine, Jägerbombs and Santa. What more is there? For the occasion I had put on my finest ice-princess dress and frosted it with a beautiful cotton-candy-ish skirt.

The best thing about December is that it brings everyone out of their autumn depression. Every morning I have the best reason to wake up! This morning (on a Sunday, I might add!) I woke up at 8am, just to open the presents before falling back asleep. The last part was unintentionally, I might add. A double pleasure on a lazy Sunday. Tomorrow I have to wake up way to early if I want to open the present with S, which I do. We’ll see if I think it is just as worth it at 6:30. Sleep tight, cupcakes xx 

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So as the last autumn leaves are falling, or actually being crushed to the ground by the heavily overwhelming Tuesday morning rain, winter is getting closer. A factor my non-functioning-brain-before-10am didn’t realize as I walked the 30 minutes to get to uni* in Levi shorts and a leatherjacket with some sort of cottons arms. When I arrived at uni the road workers actually stopped their work to laugh at me. I didn’t take it as a good sign, as I arrived in class with glasses, foggy as hell and drenched from top to toe. Stupid Norwegian girl thinking (hoping) this country didn’t know what proper rain and cold was. According to the weather forecast the next couple of days will actually be cold, and by cold I'm talking about 3°C. On the other hand, when I’m looking at the temperature across Old Street Square is actually shows 8°C, which isn't bad at all. 

On my way home I realized that I wouldn't make it all the way in one run, so I am currently camping out at Shoreditch Grind, where I’m trying to get back the colour in my skin with a large cup of Cappuccino. If that doesn't work, I have a pain au raisin, just in case. Even though the windows are so foggy it's almost impossible to see through, I couldn't help but notice the man who just drove past me on his bicycle. Male, approx. 50, bright blue jeans and --- wait for it --- yellow hair. On days like this, London steals my heart.

I would much rather prefer the weather to stay like this when I'm walking to class. 

*University. I know uni sounds completely and utterly lame, but that’s what everyone calls it. You’ll get your head chopped off, if you say school. 

WE ARE TWELVE BILLION LIGHT YEARS FROM THE EDGE

So as the days pass, we all get older. (Speaking of which I just turned 20. Happy b-day to me!) We get new experiences and a few new wrinkles. Since we last spoke, I’ve learned something new, so I thought I might share the wisdom. Note to self: Never ever leave your boyfriend alone with a bottle of fake blood while you’re out celebrating Halloween. I learned it the hard way. I still find “blood” around in the apartment. In addition he posted a photo on Instagram of the toilet after “I had my period”. He thought it was hilarious… Guys!
Last week I got to experience the more luxurious way of living in London. As my parents were vising, we finally ate out. Yes, it’s cheap to eat out in London compared to Norway. But still - for a student budget, it’s much cheaper to eat in.

Ever since I moved here, I wanted to visit Vertigo 42, which is a champagne bar at floor 42 known for its incredible view. Needless to say why I wanted to go. When we got there we realized this was the enormous building with commercial that we could spot from out apartment. We also went to the building next door. Sushi Samba. Approximately same floor and view. Just as amazing. I would recommend both places. With relaxing music, delicious drinks or bubbles served with some cheese and crackers. For my future awesome life, this will definitely be the perfect Friday afternoon.

As I’ve already given a few recommendations, I’ll just as well give you the full brief. We went to a restaurant called Hakkasan. It’s known for their long waiting list and amazing food. Despite the fact that I woke up with a rash, I would still recommend it. Another night with delicious food, great wine and comfortable atmosphere. I wouldn’t mind getting used to this, but just as well. Now we are back to chicken, pesto and pasta. If I have to – I’ll live of a box of noodles and Vogue. (No I wouldn’t!) 

 

LOVE ON A STICK

Written 16 November

Okey I know! What is the purpose of creating a blog if your not actually going to blog? Yes, but life happens, and I’ve decided not to apologize or making excuses for my absence. I just looked back on my previous blogs and one of them was overloaded with apologies for not blogging. Not interesting, what so ever! So I’m starting fresh. Learning from my mistakes. And trying to sit still on the chair and controlling my excitement. Silly me is just as excited for Christmas as I am for tonight when my parents landing in London. But I can assure you, if you had my parents, you would be just as excited. My mom and I are really a dream team when it comes to conquering the streets of London, so it will be interesting to see how it goes when the guys tag along.

The weather is really foggy and scary, which leaves only one thing to do. Lid all the candles you can find and pour yourself a glass of red wine. I’m trying to plan the weekend. I’ve been in London for two months now, and I really have not used the opportunity as I should. When I look back at the six weeks we had in Australia we experiences an enormous part of the country in a shorter period of time. But I’ve gotten settled though. I just have to do more. Explore more. And still keep up the schoolwork, which has a lot of potential for improvement. I keep blaming the gap year, but I should really get back in the routines by now.

So in my most desperate hour, I just caught myself typing “what to do this weekend London” on Google. 

TAKE TAKE TAKE IT ALL, BUT YOU NEVER GIVE

Yesterday at Selfridge's I overheard a conversation that really threw me off. It might be because of my situation as a student with very little money, or it might simply be because it is just wrong. Okey, so I was strolling around at Selfridge, minding my own business and trying not to drool on any of the purses. I was just entering Chanel’s department when the saleslady was showing the customer a little grey, fabulous and classic purse. Then I overheard the lady looking at the purse. “Oh it’s lovely. It’s her sixteenth birthday, so I want to get her something nice”. I hate to sound American – but oh my GOD!

That’s not normal is it? Buying a Chanel for a sixteen year old? For my eighteenth birthday I bought my first Mulberry and Marc Jacobs. But for one, that was with my own money, and second, I can look far for a Chanel! As you can tell I have my opinions about this subject, and I’d much rather write a 1200 word essay on this subject, than on the repeal of taxes on knowledge in the mid 19th century and how that lead to a free press, but I don’t get to decide – now do I.

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PINK ROSES AND A BOTTLE OF ROSÉ

Oh Saturday. The finest hours of the day of the week. Every time. I've spent this day with some me-time as I had the apartment to myself - for what, maybe the third time since we moved in.  Unfortunately I’ll have it to myself way to much in the follow week, considering S is working crazy hours. So I did what I always end up doing when I’m alone. I Skype. Alone you said? I had a two-hour Skype session with my lovely mother. 

Now I'm at my favourite café - yet again in my favourite knitted jumper, surrounded by people writing, scratching their heads or looking pointlessly out of the window. All for different reasons, all at the same place. The table keeps moving as any of the two strangers at my table moves. The music sets the atmosphere and the walls are decorated with clothes in frames while there are art hanging from the ceiling. Envy me? For anyone who suddenly got curious, I am at The Old Shoreditch Station // No it is not a station, if any of you didn't get that. 

The ultimate place in Shoreditch for people-watching. With pink roses on the tables and candles to set the mood, I think it's safe to say, a lot of good ideas originates from this room. I am still waiting for my big epiphany. But not to worry, this is probably not the last visit for the following week, considering it's reading week - which means - no lectures. Even though I am seconds away from booking a flight home, to Oslo, Kristinsand or Copenhagen - I think I'll stay put. For any spontaneous souls, come visit me instead. 

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPE WINE

I wish I could write that all was well and school was fantastic, but that wouldn’t be telling the truth. And my mother taught me to always tell the truth.  Okey, drama queen! Everything is well, we’re healthy and ATM very sport., and I’m not going to make a huge cry-me-a-river post on my miserable London life. But f*ck this is hard. And by this, I mean school.

I enjoy it. Some of it at least. Like when the lecturers refer to us as “ladies and gentlemen” or “my lovelies”. But the language is much harder than I expected. Not talking to people in general, but the 100-year-old book English. And the history of journalism reading list, which consists of 29 books, is hard. And the politic part. But that’s probably because I really don’t have a care in the world for politics.

So be it! No whining (just some). Yesterday we celebrated Halloween, which was very fun. I went to a pre-party with a good, old friend of mine – and we had heaps of fun, even though there was a fire and some drama, but it all worked out fine. I was a dead, but happy bride, and much so because I actually managed to fool some of my friends in believing I was getting married. Can’t a girl own a wedding dress? O.M.G.

Nevertheless, I’m not getting married any time soon - just to get that cleared out.  I have now escaped the 23 squares that is our apartment, and I’m now crawled up in a corner of the closest, most cosy café in not more than two wool sweaters. Yes, the cold has arrived London as well. Last night I was an ice cube on my way home and if the night bus had arrived 10 minutes later I would probably have gotten a cab home. Good thing I didn’t – I couldn’t really afford it. Hah, the big international student problem.

But Q – when I’m studying journalism in London: is it right to be more inspired by a random café than any of my lectures? I wish I had more time to experience the city instead of being overloaded with books to read, but I guess that’s university. I haven’t been to Tim Walker for Mulberry or The Little Black Jacket for Chanel yet. Not National Portrait Gallery or Tate either. Some fashion friend, please come find me.