Tuesday, November 07, 2006

London/Stockholm 1-0



















Dear Marc, I know it makes no difference to you, but it seems I'm moving to London with my family for 6 months. Since I know nothing about this town other than that they have the best Indian and Pakistani food this side of Bombay/Mumbai, I'll treat any information like morsels of gold.

Where is a good place to live with two little kids? Should one opt for the suburbs or cling to the city with all the museums and cafes and stuff? It seems A's office will be located in London SW. This means nothing to me. Perhaps you know?

Finally I will get to try plum pudding for real. With brandy butter. And browse the stores, broke, but in no rush. Oh, the luxury of watching what others will get to wear!

love
-e

ps. Don't you find it peculiar that the Queen wears a watch? Isn't she time herself? Surely everyone waits for her? Surely her assistants could keep track of the time? I like the watch on top of glove look though. Will try it myself, perhaps that's how it's done in London. Also, I just noticed that she's standing in front of a Canadian flag. Can we pretend it's the Union Jack? Thank you!

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Maybe it's a novelty watch that simply says, "It's always happy hour somewhere!" or something equally witty.

Anonymous said...

Ohhh, London - my previously adopted and now abandoned ex-home town! I will have to say that West is best... Notting Hill is the way to go - so many cute cafes and shops and always the feeling of being smug you live in the best place, plus good to get to SW London for working! Oh, and you have to go to Liberty - the best shop in the world...

Claire said...

oh, oh is all i can think of at the news that you'll be writing yourletters from here...I'll ponder your housing question too!Briefly: central: only if millionaires prepared to live in garage, suburbs: don't do it! Somewhere in between the two is best!

Anonymous said...

I would opt for Fulham (SW), lots of Swedes, nice parks, close to the city, only a short walk away from Kings Road.. Oh, and don´t forget to visit Battersea Park, just across the Battersea Bridge, a stonethrow away from Kings Rd, heaven for families!

Anonymous said...

Oh I'm a Londoner born and bred (now living in Paris and missing London still) with three kids - absolutely don't live in Notting Hill if you want to meet people, it's for expatriate multimillionaire bankers only and others who don't share our planet with their 4x4s crossing London every day to take children to snobby schools...I totally disagree with Hester that it's the best place - far from it, to those who really know and love London it's an overpriced hellhole. And Selfridges I suspect is more your bag that Libertys, though that's nice too. But I digress...go for north London, anywhere from Canonbury to Islington to Kentish Town to Tufnell Park - places full of character, great ethnic food, lovely green spaces like Hampstead Heath and Highbury Fields, real, friendly people and good local schools. email me natashalehrer@pobox.com and I'll answer any questions and introduce you to my friends!

Olivia said...

How exciting! I have spent the past few days pulverised with laughter over the notion of 'breast warts' and the dancing meatballs video. Can't wait to see what you'll make of charming and cheery old England. If you bring a basket of cinnamon buns with you, I'm sure even the fabulously grumpy Londoners will quickly want to be your pals. I certainly will - I've been obsessed with those buns ever since being tragically parted from my Swedish au-pair!

Anonymous said...

You'll like it here! I agree with Natasha, North London is great. Primrose Hill is to be preferred but it costs about 1 arm and 12 legs to live there...

Anonymous said...

i am natasha's semi-swedish friend and would most definitely agree with all her suggestions. you must meet emily! i have family in sweden and know and love stockholm well, but living in london will be fantastisk for you!

emi guner said...

Olivia, perhaps I can be your next bun baking, Swedish au pair.

And Jenny, I will look for Emily everywhere!

emi guner said...

I love both Selfridges and Libertys and all of you. thanks for helping me!

Anonymous said...

could u make me a favor? its is such a dream for me.... go to harrods in xmas season and enjoy it, take the children to the toys session and just freeze their expression of happiness and tell us after all the details?

love from brasil

Denise

Anonymous said...

Fabulous news! You're going to have a fun time in London. Well, I've never been there myself but I HEAR that it's a fun city. One day when I finally land in London, I'm going to order me-self some mash. As for the Queen in front of the Canadian flag... I'm betting that she actually stood in front of a blue screen and off to the side of the camera were a room full of former-colony flags? Whaddyathink?