Unexpected Places: Why I Fell in Love with E14, London

When I was searching for a place to live in London, I looked all over, you name it, I probably saw a flat there. It didn't really matter the neighbourhood, but I did still have a wish list that I was desperately seeking. At first anyway.

As time wore on, I had very much overstayed my super generous welcome with some extraordinarily kind, dear friends, and that wish list became almost none existent. I now searched for anything in zone 2 that wouldn't have me to dipping into my savings each month for the pleasure of living in the shoe box sized room. That was the criteria. Cheap and hopefully cheerful.

Finally, I found my home. The flatmates were nice, the place was clean, my room was big with a large mirrored wardrobe (better than I could have hoped for!). The area was Langdon Park in East London (never heard of it? It's east of the cool East London bits you're thinking of) a few minutes walk from both the DLR and Bromley-by-Bow tube stations.

At first, I wasn't a huge fan of the area, although it was zone 2 (only just) it was very suburban, meaning not much going on, on the surface, but as I began to spend time in and explored the area, I discovered some really great things about my little bit of London. I discussed some of the things I loved to do in my Staycationing in East End post a while back, but here are a few more of my favourite things from the E14.

Chrisp Street Market

Based on the many markets I've visited, it's no secret that I'm a fan of a market stall, especially one with a little history. Originally, the area was a Victorian Street Market, then in 1951 Chrisp Street Market became the first pedestrianized shopping area of its kind in Britain. 

Today, the food is fresh and cheap. Want some garlic? Here's 20 cloves for £1, Bananas? Here's a dozen for £2! The local shops that surround the market are diverse and interesting; my favourite bit being the Idea Store located near All Saints DLR. I could pick up my next tube reading material and dinner fixings all in one place.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 

In Stratford, roughly a 20 minute walk  from my door (maybe less now as the redevelopment is completed) exists beautiful green walks, a North American-styled shopping mall and great restaurants. The former home of the 2012 Summer Olympics has been reinvented and continuing to be used and enjoyed by the public. Although I never got a chance to go up the Orbit or have a swim in the London Aquatics Centre I liked that they were in my 'neighbourhood'.

House Mill

I love a bit of history me, and the House Mill along the River Lea had just that. Around the corner from my local Tescos is a grade 1 listed 18th century tidal mill (the largest left in the world) located on a pre-Doomsday site (1086AD). It produced grain for flour and a gin distillery and only ceased existing as a working mill in 1941 when the area was bombed during WWII. 

Today, it has a lovely little cobble stoned cafe along the River Lea, has facility hire, and the occasional special cultural event. They currently have a campaign to bring the machinery back to working order, redevelop its education programs and to produce hydroelectricity for sustainability. BIG things happening here!

Canals 

The canals were my most favourite thing about East London. Full stop. The fact that I had canal access close to my house tickled me. The first time I came across my canal (yes, MY canal) I gasped and was giddy with excitement.

I went for a run along it every chance I got, heading up toward Stratford or down to Limehouse. On real adventurous days I would make it all the way up to Victoria Park via the canal path.

Walking along the canals took me out of the rush of the city. I had a little piece of nature beside me and I could watch the birds, fish, and other urban wildlife doing their thing and listen to the waters movement. Not to mention the houseboats. Life on a houseboat fascinates me! I loved peaking in through the little windows and greeting people on board including the furry, four legged ones.

Galvanisers Union Pub

When I first moved to Langdon Park, all the pubs in my immediate neighbourhood were OMP and not to be ventured into alone. The better ones were just a bit to far out of my reach to be considered my local. This remained one of my grievances with the area until The Galvanisers Union opened in the spring of 2014 and it immediately become my local.

I could often be found there enjoying quiz night, a cheeky pint after a night out before heading home, a Sunday roast, or just a plain old, big night close to home. It was designed shabby chic and kinda hipster, but I didn't hold that against it. The gastro-pub food was good and they always had a yummy scrumpy on tap.

Moving back to Canada, I miss my local most of all.

Langdon Park, a.k.a. my London home was an unexpected place for me. I had visions of what living in London would look like and this place was not it! Despite that, I grew fond of and eventually even loved my little home in Poplar, Tower Hamlets, East London.

At the beginning of each month, I like to take part in the monthly travel link up hosted on the incredible blogs by Angie, Jessi, Emma,  and this month's special host Carolann. You can join in too by leaving a comment below, checking out other posts on the link up, or adding your own post to the widget now until June 7th.

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How to be an Expat Returned

On this day, one year ago, I was on a plane returning to the Great White North. A few days after landing I tried to express some of the feels. A couple months later I wrote a sort of love letter to London and then made a decision to be positive about my return. I still have a ton of feels about my return to Canada, but I feel like I'm coping a bit better. If you are an expat about to transition into being an ex-expat after a long period abroad, here's a how to:

1.No stuff. Make do.

 If you were like me, before heading abroad gave/trashed/traded/stored all the knickknacks and stuff that made up my worldly possessions, only taking with me essentials and minimal clothes. Returning home means, most of those things are long gone. But it's just stuff, and you've survived without it so far. Take a moment to lament the old stuff and then remember all the things you were able to do because you let go of that stuff to travel and then smile because you're awesome.

2.Keep in touch

 I hung on to my UK number for an embarrassingly long time. It was my wireless cord to my friends abroad. But really, I needn't have stressed, we live in an amazing time of technology. Now there's an app of your choice to stay in contact with friends all over the world without spending a cent. What's App is a favourite in Europe, not as common with my North American friends I've discovered though. But there are a whole bunch more, not to mention social media helps me feel part of my friends lives even when I'm a great distance away.

It's okay to remember the past, just don't get stuck there. These can be life long friends with a little work on both your parts.

3.Seek the fun

 One of my favouite parts about living in London was all the activities that were happening everyday. Returning home I've had to make a conscience effort to say yes to adventure but it has helped me with enjoying being back home. Nothing's going to be like it was in London, but I'm certainly going to seek out the fun.

Keeping busy keeps away the 'expat returned' blues, especially in the beginning.

4.Make connections

 Join a group of some sort, find a job, volunteer for your community, make friends. Making these kinds of connections will make you feel part of a bigger group. Staying home and binge-watching all the American shows you missed out on while away is fine enough to do every once in a while but feeling connected to your community helps you feel important and that you have a purpose. You're awesome, you need to share that awesomeness around!

5.Dogs make life better

 This is a general life rule. Dogs are great. Mine is the best. Occasionally the "expat returned" blues will sneak up on you even with doing the above things, but it's nothing a good dog cuddle can't cure.

Pretty Hats and Pretty Horses: A Day at Royal Ascot

I've been wanting to go to an English horse race ever since I was a child. I grew up reading Dick Francis books, thanks to my grandfather's love of the author, and wanted to experience the settings described in some of the books for myself. And having an excuse to buy a fancy hat and a new frock for Royal Ascot made it all the better.

Royal Ascot is known for it's pageantry and fashion as well as the racing. It's a fun day out in the sun (if you're lucky, this is England after all) where you can pack a sophisticated picnic with bubbles and bet a few (hundred, if you're so inclined) bob on a pony to win. There were so many pretty dresses, hats and men in suits. I love a man in a good suit!

I had purchased tickets to the Silver Enclosure, which I think only exists at this time of year because this has become such an event. If I were to go again I would probably splurge on the Grandstand tickets where you could actually access the Parade Ring and the band stand. If you're lucky you can register for a spot in the Royal Enclosure  and rub elbows with the queen.

We arrived just before the opening parade of the Queen, who wore pink that day if you're interested, and the first race. We quickly got our first bets in and a pitcher of Pimms.We watched each race from a different vantage point making the most of our time at the track.

The afternoon flew by and before we knew it the singalong with the band had begun and we dashed off to the train station pub where they were having a festival with a much better band, I might add. We waited for the crowds to deplete slightly before catching the next train back to London. My little group was sunned, watered, fed and a little bit poorer, but happy with our day.

I would highly recommend a visit next year.

Wednesday Wanderings

St. Katherine's Dock, London

Fun travels!

Being an Expat...

Being an expat means adventure and excitement.

Being an expat means doing things that sometimes make you uncomfortable.

Being an expat means growing and discovering just what stock you are made from.

Being an expat means being so far away from home and family.

Being an expat means being absolutely helpless when you receive news of a gravely ill uncle.

Being an expat means not always being able to fly home to be with family in times of need.

Being an expat means not feeling guilty for the choices you've made that have gotten you where you are now.

Love you, Terry.

To Market, To Market: Cambridge Market

I do consider Cambridge home. Home in the sense that it is very familiar and comfortable and I don't tend to get lost in the winding streets. When I first arrived in England it was one if the first places I stayed for an extended period. (After Glasgow and before Woking, I have such great friends!). It was at a time when I had no job, but all my savings, and when I still calculated how long I could afford stay in England with remaining said funds. I was on the edge of everything, where every opportunity was still within my grasp. I was still determined to get a museum job, I was still convinced things were going to be simple and still not entirely sure I'd made the right decision in leaving Canada and all I had there.

Because of this history Cambridge and I have, it means that I've had a hard time writing about the city and all it's charms. Like London, it's close to my heart, but unlike London it's not as gritty and I just can't encapsulate it in a few strung together sentences. However, it's time I attempt it. 

First stop: Cambridge Market

I just love this market. Every time I find myself in Cambridge I make a beeline for the city centre to browse the stalls of the open air market and get into the hustle and bustle of this great city. It's centrally located on Market Hill and surrounded by shops, restaurants, the Lion Yard, and colleges. You could easily visit this market and get all your errands done in one go; from a gift for Aunt Sally, produce for the week, a cool old record, flowers to decorate the flat, and of course a little sweet treat for you after all of your weary work.

I have made a few purchases from this market over time, but I can never resist fresh made fruit juice. (Excuse the mitts, these photos are a couple months old now). Best part about this market is it's close proximity to everything else; like the River Cam, King's College, and Fitzbillies to name a few. Makes for a lovely day out wandering the teeny tiny cobbled streets making it easy for one to imagine themselves in Medieval times.