A Hunting I Will Go

Tonight I fly to London to perform As You Like It in Hyde Park.  We performed in New York on Friday night to a full house (in playroom speak thats about 60 people) and had a great show...if you missed it, too bad for you :) Not only will I be performing but I will also be meeting up with some people to look at flats and meet with potential flatmates.  It's all becoming so real!  I have 2 definite meet ups and 2 that I am still in the process of scheduling.  Although we have a full week of things to do I'm sure once I am there it wont be a problem.  Of course it would be so easy if they were all in Central London but being that I can't afford to live in Zone 1 right now I have to venture out a little further. The furthest I am going is right on the border of Zone 2 and 3 so it's not too far but I will be all over the place this week...as well as enjoying a fun week with my cast.

I wanted to keep you in the know, I'll keep you posted on the flat hunting and keep your fingers crossed for me that I come back with a place to live! 

The Hardest Part

When I began thinking about moving across the Atlantic Ocean it was way back in August and next Summer seemed like a lifetime away, but it's now mid May and July is right around the corner. The closer it gets to me actually moving the more I think about what I will miss most when I leave and what kills me is thinking about moving away from my nephews. If you didn't know I have 3 nephews, Seamus 6, Braden 6 and Cameron 3 and these 3 boys are my world! Obviously I will miss my whole family when I move, I mean I talk to my mom at least 2 to 4 times a week and I talk to my sister almost daily, while I don't talk to my brother all that often I know he's still only a phone call away. They'll still be just a phone call away, but a more expensive phone call in a different time zone. However not being there to actually watch my nephews grow up makes me sad. Granted I haven't lived in the same state as any of them for the last 3 years, but I have been able to go home pretty much whenever I want and hang out with them. Well my brother lives in Indiana so I don't see Seamus as much as I see Braden and Cameron but I still see Seamus at least 2 times a year and talk to him on the phone.
These boys are just so funny. Seamus is a mini version of my brother and I am convinced that Eric and Nikkii had him so that he could drive me crazy like my brother did when we were kids. One Thanksgiving my Mom, my aunt and I went out to Indiana to visit and we all went for a ride. At the time my brother was driving this big ass of a truck that fit all of us, but I had to sit in the 3rd row with Seamus. I got wet willied, tickled and poked and prodded the entire ride. The one difference to him not being my brother is that I am actually bigger than Seamus so I can over power him unlike when I was little and had to deal with my brother being bigger.
Braden I helped raise pretty much. Pretty much from the moment my sister had Braden I think I was at her house every day. The weekends were spent being picked up by my sister in the morning around 9am, spending the whole day with her and B then her dropping me off at home around 10pm. Any free moment I had I was with my sister and Braden. He was like my little doll, I would dress him up in different hats, scarves, jewelry wigs which is probably why he loves wearing costumes (although now his costumes are of super heros and not wigs.) I also used to say that when B grows up he is going to say he has 2 mommies, a mommy mommy and an auntie mommy I was that involved in his childhood.
Cameron is my little buddy. My sister swears she had my children and I can probably agree that Cameron could have been my spawn :) Not only does he look like me but he has since taken on the nickname that my father fondly referred to me as...The Demon. I love all my nephews equally but I have a soft spot in my heart for the Cam Man b/c he his the baby and I was the baby. I watch him run around and want to play with the big kids so badly but b/c he is the baby the wont always include him, which is what I dealt with growing up. I was always being left out of playing with my sister, brother and my brothers best friend so when the other boys are trying to run away and hide from him or not include him it makes me very mad and sad...it's actually been known to bring me to tears when they leave him out.
These kids are my world and it makes me so sad to think that I am going to miss out on so much, even if I am gone for only 6 months! Growing up I really only knew my aunts and uncle on my moms side because all my dads siblings lived in Europe. To me it was always weird to know that I had 4 aunts and 1 uncle that I had only met on a couple occasions when I was really young. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I started developing a relationship with them. And I know that I have a closer relationship with my siblings than my father did with his so I know I wont be some stranger who lives in a foreign land. But sometimes I can't help but think that's what's going to happen and that's what makes moving to London so hard sometimes.

Progress

It's been a while since I had any updates on the London move.  Since it's not happening until mid July I'm sort of at a standstill with things.  However, I have made some progress in the living situation and the banking situation.  I might have a roommate flatmate who I am meeting in June when I am over there for my show.  I joined a website called Spareroom where people put up profiles to advertise a room or to advertise yourself as a potential flatmate.  I have found a couple great places but many of them are available now so the time line is off, but I was contacted by someone who I have been emailed pretty regularly and I am keeping my fingers crossed as it seems quite promising.  The area in on the border of Zone 2 & 3 in SW London near a park and about a 10 minute walk to the Tube or Rail.  Its a brand new development where he is buying a flat and need a renter to help pay the mortgage.  I'll be sure to keep you updated on this.

Also, I find out a way to open a bank account while here in NY.  Thanks to my uncle Frank who helped me out immensely! Now all I need to do when I am over there next month is to go into one of the many branches with my identification and it will be opened for me.  I am so glad that hassle is over!  It's all slowly coming together and I am so excited about it.

Oh and lastly, I have been posting on Facebook that I would like 2 free tickets to London...well I found 1!  My mom is going to give me some of her frequent flier miles to help me get my ticket! If I haven't said it before, I'll say it now...My Mom ROCKS! She truly is the best mom in the world!

Bank Accounts and Volcanos

Two things have got me thinking today, the fact that I need to figure out how to open up an UK bank account AND that little thing called the Eyjafjallajokull volcano that's been causing all sorts of traveling issues in Europe. Lets talk about the bank account 1st.

It's all one big catch-22 really. In order to open a bank account over there you need to provide the bank with not only proof of identity but proof of address too. However, in order to be able to find a place to live you kind of need to have money in an account to show as well as pay for the place. Now tell me how to get around that? I do have a way to get around that as my friend Lisa was so kind to offer her address to use if I need it. I might take her up on that offer, but first I am going to look into the international banks here in New York to see if I can open one before I go. Wish me luck!

Now onto the volcano. Of course I am obsessed with this ash cloud that has been looming over Europe for the past week and have been searching online for any information and updates. Granted I just found out that the eruption took place in March but it wasn't until just last week that the ash cloud caused all these problems. I'm lucky I got back before all this happened...God could you imagine if I had gotten stranded in London, what would I have done ;) I would have gone broke!

Anywho...back to my new obsession. In my "research" I have found out that the ash cloud is starting to clear up a bit and the air ways have started to open up. The first flight into Heathrow from New York landed about an hour ago and they plan on sending out a bunch more flights tonight. But I also read that there is another ash cloud forming that could cause more delays. I don't know when that cloud will blow that way shutting down the flights again, BUT I also have been reading about the Katla volcano that had been known to erupt in tandem with the Eyjafjallajokull (yes I did cut and paste that) and Katla is way more intense. They have been calling Eyjafjallajokull a dress rehearsal before the big opening. I really hope that this doesn't happen. I think I need to look further into my research and find out how often Eyjafjallajokull has erupted and in the last 80+ years b/c I know that Katla hasnt erupted since 1918. The reason I have been thinking about all this is b/c I don't want it to screw up my plans! Not only do I not want to have the move messed up, but I also don't want my week in June to get all screwed up too!

I'm going to have a little chat with Mother Nature to make sure this all gets cleared up; not just for my sake but for everyone who is stranded (although I am sure there are some people who really aren't minding, like the ones stuck in tropical paradises) and for everyone who has upcoming trips planned. I think we should all send Mother Nature some love because SHE IS PISSED! Between the earthquake in Haiti, the earthquakes and floods in South America and the volcanos in Iceland "something is definitely a-foot at the Circle K" (to quote Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure) So lets send Mom N. some love!

To Share Or Not To Share

My newest decision that I need to make about my move is if I want to flat-share of if I want to get a place of my own right away.  Originally my only thought was to get my own place but the more I think about it, as time gets closer (and money gets tighter) I'm thinking maybe I want to share a place with 2 or 3 other people.  The biggest pro about moving into a flat-share is that I will save money on rent and bills than if I lived alone.  The biggest con being zero privacy.  Another pro is, although I know a few people over there, if I move in with people I wont be completely alone once I am settled in.  The options I have been weighing seem to be that flat-sharing might be the best thing. I'm thinking about doing it for about 6 months, then I will be able to save some money and look for my own place.  If I really like it I also have the option to stay.

Just curious, what do you think is the best idea?

All I Want Is A Room Somewhere

Eliza Doolittle knew what she was talking about when she sang this little ditty and I know exactly how she feels. Right now I am trying to find myself a place to live when I move and it's proving to be rather difficult. I found it was pretty daunting trying to look for a place to live in New York when I was living in Massachusetts and that was only a couple states away. Here I am living a whole ocean away from where I am moving and this is proving to be almost impossible. I know it's not going to be and I know I will find a place but I'm stuck and I want to know that I'll have a place to rest my head this summer. I have been searching on Craigslist, but most of the places that are within my budget are scams OR want someone to move in right now. I've been told about this website called Gumtree which is sort of like Craigslist over there and I have been searching but again it's all the same...scams or ASAP. Also on Gumtree I find a lot of the places are further out than I want to be. I did find this one company, London Relocation Services, that if worse comes to worse and I can't find anything I can go through them. It's sort of like finding a place here in New York and you use a realtor, you have to pay the realtor fee as well as paying the landlord 1st months rent and a security deposit. I wish I could get around that but if I am desperate I'm going to have to go that route.

I would really like a 1 bedroom b/c I like the idea of having my bed separate from my kitchen. I know I don't really cook, but if I did I don't want my sheets smelling like food. I also like the idea of having the place where I sleep separate from the place where I sit and watch tv. If I had a tv in my room I might never get out of my bed! I also would really LOVE a bathtub. In a perfect world my London flat would have a bedroom with a queen sized bed, a dishwasher, laundry, a bathtub and shower and a back yard or balcony...in a perfect world remember. I know I will find something great but I kind of feel useless right now b/c I can't look for something. Keep your fingers crossed for me, oh and if any of you know anyone who can help me out...pay it forward please!!!                                                   

Ugly Betty

I don't watch Ugly Betty regularly but I have put it on on occasion, but last night I decided to watch it since it was the series finale.  I also decided to watch it because I was on set for one of the scenes (long story short, my friend Julia is America Ferrera's personal assistant and we briefly met up) when I was in London a couple weeks ago. So being that I was there and I wanted to see exactly how the show ended I flipped it on.  I have to admit, I cried!  The last few scenes really touched me b/c I too and leaving my family and friends to up and move to London.  It hit a little closer to home since Betty is leaving Queens to move to London...which is exactly what I am doing.  Sure I don't have some big glamorous job that will but me in designer duds whilst I traipse around the city, but only time will tell!

I have to say though that I really enjoyed the finale episode since it did hit so close to home.  Thanks Betty!

Just the Beginning

A few friends have said to me that I should blog about my move to London...well, here it is! In just a couple months I will be packing up all my belongings and shipping them off to an as yet to be determined flat in London somewhere. It's going to be a crazy fun, super scary adventure I am embarking on. As of right now I am interested in looking to live in Islington in North London or Waterloo on the South Bank. I just got back from a trip over there where I looked a those 2 places as well as a being told about a few other places like Barnsbury, Shoreditch, Stoke Newington, Hoxton, West Hampstead and Swiss Cottage. I have to do much more research about the cost of living in all of these places but I hope to have a place by June.

Besides finding a place to live I have SO much more to do, I need to open a bank account (can't get a place to live if I don't have one of those,) get a mobile (cellphone) number, find a job! I can't do anything if I can't find work. I do have a couple leads on the job front which is good but I still have to ace interviews in order to get the job. Thankfully I wont be alone over there! My roommate here in New York, Caroline, is going to be coming over in August to go to grad school and she will be in the same program as Ina, a girl I also know from my acting studio. I do have a couple friends there as well and some family, it eases my mind that I wont be alone.

So here I will keep everyone who's interested up to date on what's happening before I move and then I will keep you all abreast of my life in London! I hope I keep you interested...