Notting Hill Carnival in London is believed to be the biggest street festival in Europe and the second largest carnival in the world, behind Rio de Janeiro. This year, I feted my first London Carnival and it was certainly a day of learning for me. I’ll be honest and say I was skeptical about the…
I lay down and it felt like my heart was in my ears. I used its tempo to even my breathing. I closed my eyes and relaxed under the blue sheet. I finally made it to the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park to see Montenegrin performance artist Marina Abramovic. I heard about it from two co-workers…
In April, I became the first person to take advantage of the company’s Cycle to Work scheme. Biking has truly improved my quality of life. It sounds trite, but I’m serious. Here’s the story and how you can make use of your Cycle to Work scheme: Why I Decided to Cycle to Work The thought…
There is so much more to the Southbank than the (overrated) London Eye. The Southbank Centre is a often just a place that people just pass through in order to get to the more “interesting” tourist places (I give special dispensation for the Tate Modern!). For those in the know, the Southbank actually has a…
Hi Alyssa! Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed message. I didn’t expect it but greatly appreciate it. I do realize London is very expensive, even by Vancouver standards. I have been and stayed there a couple times before. Even the hostels were pricey. How long do you think it…
I’m writing this because living in London has its ups and downs. I also just came back from holiday in Spain and I LOVED IT, so I have a bit of the vacation blues. I wrote a similar article about Toronto last year when I returned from Martinique, and it really helped me fall in…
Wow! It’s been a year since I came to London to see my partner, meet his friends and family and so on. It’s also been a year since we weren’t sure whether we could go on. I’m happy I made that decision, because one year since that visit and here I am, living and working…
For regular readers of my blog, you may have noticed that I love food. As a result, I’m open to different cuisines and I love checking out new restaurants and concepts. So, if someone told you about a hairdresser set in ramshackle building, that provides amazing service at…
If there’s one British word I have yet to start saying, it’s ‘cinema’. Cinema, to me, requires erudite discussions of motifs, archetypes and referring to films by their directors rather than the most famous actor in it. It’s the difference between “Let’s go see that new Cameron Diaz movie!” and “What did you think of…
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m sure you’re sick of seeing all of your friends lovey-dovey Facebook statuses and Instagram photos of the dozen roses they got with an antique filter on it…so I’m going to change it up a bit. Do something a little unconventional, I’ll tell you about the place I love. Every time…
