Getting a lay of the land...but still no Halloween here...

Now being in Londres for a few weeks, I'm starting to find my way around, especially within relation to my immediate lil' 'hood, Colliers Wood, where I'm even making friends with the local shop owners. I think I made a really great decision living in this area, though to be honest, I don't even know how it came about. I suspect it started during a conversation with Julian about living "south of the river" and then moved to the option of Wimbledon and the surrounding areas within the SW19 post code, as I'd found on RightMove. Or maybe I just got desperate and took the first place I could after the one flat deal fell through last minute and I started to freak out that Star and I would be homeless wandering around Piccadilly.

In any case, Colliers Wood is a relatively unknown little pocket in South West London. One can name Tooting (just slightly north) or Wimbledon (just slightly west) as landmarks, but say Colliers Wood and you're likely to get a tilted-head, confused look, akin to Star when I pose philosophical questions to her.

There is a nice park, Wandle, just a few blocks from my flat, where dogs are allowed off the leash to run around at will. Star and I enjoy a short, leisurely walk behind the high street to get there, smiling at the quaint little row houses that line the back streets. (Well, I smile. Mainly, she just sniffs.)

While I wasn't sure how our little StarBar was going to do with this off-the-leash bit, I gave her the opportunity to try. Perhaps it's best for me not to note here that it was when I was a bit perturbed with her having ripped open the garbage all over the kitchen. "Go! Find another home, then!" I said, as I took off her leash. She looked at me quizzically (yes, tipped head), as she's never known such freedom before. A few tentative sniffs and then she was off, running around, returning back every few seconds, and sitting in front of me awaiting a head-scratch in approval.
Since then, Star has proven herself worthy of the free-run-of-the-park...and I love it. She prances and chases squirrels, all of the while not (thank goodness!) attempting to bite children. I think this is what has finally made her happy to move here.

That said, I was again none too pleased when last night she decided to jump into the river Wandle whilst playing tag with a dalmatian. Sigh. Wet, stinky dog = not fun.

I'm also loving the local pub, The Colliers Tup. It's very reminiscent of my ol' Al Mike's or even my Selwyn Pub of yesteryear. Akin to Cheers, it's a place to meet up prior to catching the tube downtown (or to Central London...whatever) or just to unwind with a couple of drinks and laugh-y conversation, where you're guaranteed to always find a smiling, familiar face, both in its staff and patrons. Love it.

Trivia question of the day: Without clicking on the 'net, what in the heck is a "tup"? Yeah, it's pretty clear from the sign. I took a survey, however, and only one of the group answered confidently. Who knew? I then learned yet another English word. This whole vocabulary change has been fun..."I don't know her from a bar of soap" was one expression used the other night. And words like "minging" (adj. "dirty") and "nick" (v. "to steal") are now starting to enter my personal lexicon...mainly 'cos I just think they sound cool.

For example, I received a ring from my downstairs buzzer on Wednesday morning. When I asked who it was, I was told, "Royal Mail for delivery." Indeed! I, little ol' Andrea, was receiving Royal Mail? How absolutely fabulous and regal I felt...

I flew down the three flights, opened the door and signed for a package from the parents. Realizing the importance of the upcoming Halloween holiday, Mom and Dad sent me the most fun of care packages, filled with candy, a spooky electric ghost candle that glows, and some other treats. Hooray! A pic is to the left, of course, where one will clearly notice that Mom has yet again won another Peeps battle. Grr...

Wait, Mom. Just you wait. I'm certain they have an English equivalent to Peeps and I will have Her Majesty's Service delivery them personally to you across the pond! (winks)

Dogs drink, too..?

Last month, Red's dog, Roxy, celebrated her 10th birthday. Being the good mom that she is, Red sent out evites for a party in Roxy's honor at The Dog Bar. This is a super-cool establishment in Noda, just outside of downtown, in which you can bring your pup to the bar.
Now, it must be noted that on the Web site it clearly welcomes "all dogs of shapes and sizes...as long as they are 'well-behaved.'" Mmm-hmm...Thus, for the past two weeks, I've been debating as to whether or not my dear sweet StarBar would be able to join in the festivities. Star has never been referred to as "well-behaved," that's for sure. Rather, she tries to bite both people and other dogs. This could've been scary.
Red suggested that she really ought to be given the chance. She was right and the four of us (Red, Rox, Star, and I) drove on down prior to the party's start time to The Dog Bar.
Star did better than I ever could've imagined. There were only a couple of people she tried to bite, which, with as many as were in the small place, was phenomenal. There were two dogs that annoyed her, but it seemed they annoyed the other doggies, too...kinda like the bullies in elementary school. (Oh, wait -- I was one of those.)
Red brought out Roxy's cake about halfway through the party, and I'm still amazed that she has all ten fingers after doling it out to the doggies.
It really felt like Vegas with all of the overstimulation--a crowd stuffed into the small establishment, people talking loudly, dogs barking eve more loudly, cocktails, birthday parties, Great Danes...whew. I think I slept as well as Star did once we finally arrived home.
Great place, though. Since Star handled herself like a true lady, we'll be able to go back. Hooray!

Back to work...

I think everyone was groaning a bit this morning with the realization that today marked a full (gasp!) workweek. Yikes, yikes, yikes. Meh, at least we shared a bunch of laughs at work today.

I think I didn't realize just how many people are Facebooking these days. The funniest part is that quite a few people responded and inquired about one tiny, little, one-line post on my FB: Andrea has joined the group "Moving to London." Who would've known that one 8-word line would've raised so many eyebrows, including three at lunch. First the doubters ("Mmmhmmm" and "The question is when?"), and then the shocked ("I saw that. Are you really planning to move? You just got the new job."). Crikey!

Yes, I'm still hoping and planning on it. My only concern is Star-dog. I seem to be having an awfully difficult time finding search criteria for flats to let that allow dogs...and I'm not exactly keen on searching through the 5,397 listings in London. Oh, but she just has to come with me. I can't leave her behind. With a face like hers, how could anybody?