38 Things I've said to myself since moving to London

We all have high expectations for our life here...In London! All I can say is... Don't! Don't have any expectations... You will figure it all out when you get here. Everyone's experience is different, we all come for different reasons and we are all different people so this experience will benefit you differently to Jo from the legal team! Be brave, live in the moment... Every person in London is fumbling through it just the same. Making mistakes, having fun and I dare say you will be a different person when you return home... If you ever do!

I said a lot of things to myself before I came but thought it would be interesting to see how that has turned out for me since arriving. Since this place does turn your life upside down and back to front within a month. Take a look at my list of things I have said either to myself or out loud since arriving;

- I want to live here for ever
- I won't fall asleep on the tube
- I don't think I can last 2 years
- I have met so many people
- Where the @&*% is everyone in this town
- I will never walk slow in a high traffic area those people are so annoying... Sees something shiny... Stops
- I will learn to drink beer, it's cheap.... Next minute, "I'll have a Gin and tonic thanks"
- I am so proud of myself
- Wake up on a Sunday... I regret everything in my life
- This is a once in a lifetime experience
- Why am I here
- I love it here
- Damn you weather, I actually brushed my hair today

- Oh yeah, I can walk there
- Where the @&*% is this place
- What a great day it is
- Woah I look a mess...
- I must invest in an umbrella
- I'm too poor to buy an umbrella
- Does everyone want a shot?... My shout
- I'm not the partying type
- No I don't sleep with snakes and swim with sharks
- I want to party every night!
- I won't end up fat
- What even is bed time!
- Who's up for pizza and beers!?

- I won't take on the accent... Those people are pathetic
- What am I doing with my life?
- The tube is so great
- You Right!? *accent included*
- It's way too hot on the tube
- Please don't steal my wallet on the tube
- I'm going to meet so many British people
- Why are there so many tourists here
- I'm a local now... Move out of my way
- Geez I've lost some brain cells
- I need to rest my body tonight
- Where are we going tonight peeps?...

There it is! It is worse than I thought... 4 days of compiling my inner thoughts and outward embarrassments and there you have it.

In case you were wondering I am loving London! I am still fresh to the whole situation but embracing it as much as I can. I have travel booked for every month until Christmas which makes the whole experience that much better. I spend my weekends eating at markets, looking for sunshine and drinking with friends at many pubs... Of course among writing for the blog and building our website. My job is going well and I will update you all shortly on my experience so far.

Speak soon

C x

Tips and tricks for those moving to London (Part 3 - For Nannies and Au Pairs)

Hello again! Happy Friday! Continuing on from our “Moving to London” series (see part one for before you leave here, and part two for when you arrive here), I’ve learnt lots of different things from finding work as a Nanny, too. If you are coming over to be a nanny, or an Au Pair, here is a few tips specific to you.

1 - Who, What and How

Applying with an agency is the best place to start. You will need to send a copy of your passport, blue card/police check, First Aid certificate, any qualifications, visa if you have it already, CV (make sure this is done right, it will be important), drivers license and a photo is a good idea also. Agencies are a very helpful resource and will guide you through the major parts of the process like contracts, interviews etc. 

2 - Specifics

Send your information to as many as you can, just google agencies in London and they will all pop up. Some agencies will say thank you but we don't take internationals, others will say they will want to meet you when you arrive and some will accept you via Skype. Agencies that are specific to your nationality will always accept you as an international who is moving over. I used KiwiOz London and they were great for me. It really depends what you are willing to do, if you can afford to come over with no job, then go for it you may have a better shot at some positions in this case, but if you want a job before you arrive that is possible too.

3 - The live in live out debate.

As I mentioned before it is hard and expensive to find a place in London but it is all part of the experience. I am in a live in position as I wanted somewhere to live before I arrived. I was very lucky and found a job that gives me my own space in the basement with my own entrance so I still have my own life here. Its nice to be comfortable while getting your bearings instead of being thrown in the deep end. Well it was for me. It can be disheartening otherwise. Live in jobs are easier to get, if you want a live out job you will be competing with people who have worked in London before, are residents or who are already in London. Again it depends if you want a job before you arrive. You will get more pay when you are a live out however you need to compare the wage to what you will spend on living.

4 - Pay

Live in positions as a nanny will get paid between 300 and 450 a week (max 60 hours) after tax which takes into account you living in and eating their food (huge benefit). You will get more benefits from the family if you live in. Live out pays about 12 pound an hour on average so your pay will depend on your hours. If you are an Au pair (younger, older and/or have no experience or qualifications) you can expect to get paid 130-180 pounds after tax a week, you will live in and have all expenses paid, but I would recommend making sure you have money behind you for travel as the money you make won't go too far.

5 - Get Insured

You will need insurance, you can get this through Morton Michel. This is super important, it is your public liability which protects you on a legal level if anything was to happen to the children while they are in your care.

6 - License

If you have an Australian license you do not need to change it as you can drive anywhere in the UK or Europe with this in any rental car (If you are under 25 it will cost you more due to insurance and some companies may not rent to those younger). However if the family you work for want you to transfer it to the UK they will pay for this.

7 - Interviews

If you are going to be doing Skype interviews make sure you are prepared. Ask the agency for tips if you want them, for any information on the family you don't have or just read up on the position have any questions ready for them. People love when you ask questions as it makes them feel you are more committed to the idea of working with them. Also just be yourself. Experience is important but they really need to know if you fit into their family so put your best foot forward. Do not lie or bend the truth. Are you a quiet person? Tell them. They need to know these things. You may loose an opportunity or gain one that isn't for you if you don't.

8 - Contracts

You will receive a contract, if you don't you need to get one. If you are going through an agency (which I recommend) they will have a contract for you, don't worry you are not signing your life away or signing yourself up for a lifetime. If you find a job from another means, you will be able to find a contract template online that you can follow. It will need to state holidays, extra pay, penalty rates, overtime, weekend and overnight pay, living arrangements, hours, expectations, probation period, notice to leave periods, length of contract etc.

9 - Hours and Holidays

It is very normal to work Monday-Friday 12 hrs a day if that is what the job spec has said. You will usually have to babysit at night two times a week if stated in the job spec also. Some families would like you to work a Saturday on occasion but they will specify. You will get 4 weeks paid holiday a year, all bank/public holidays unless otherwise asked and sometimes sick leave. If you work for a family who travel and they don't want you to go they will pay you as per normal, for the period they choose to go away, as it isn't your choice not to work, it is theirs.

C x

Tips and tricks for those moving to London (Part 2 - When you arrive)

Continuing on from the previous post, here are some tips for when you have finally reached your destination (see part one for before you leave here).

6 - When you arrive 

- Hopefully you know someone in London and can stay with them even for a night while you deal with jet lag but if not book into a good hostel, Wombats Canary Wharf is my suggestion for comfort and facilities or The Klink 78 and 26 have a great atmosphere and are in a great location in Kings Cross.

- Now you need to invest in a good pair of boots, a jacket and some gloves. Don't underestimate the cold. If a londoner tells you its been hot, then put on a scarf, jeans and jacket! Although if it is summer you won't need so much. Jeans and a T-shirt will see you through.

- You need a bank account, Lloyds bank will give you an account without an address. You need to take with you, your BRP card (collect this from the post office you allocated) and your passport or if you are using a UK passport take this.

- Get a phone. You need one asap if you want to start looking for work. Head over to 3 and get a 30 day sim, it costs 20 Pound and is unlimited. This will get you by until you know what you are doing.

- You need to get a National Insurance Number this is your UK identity and link to the UK tax system all rolled into one. Head to www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number . They will ask some questions over the phone and send you an application form. This whole process takes about 4-6 weeks. If you have a passport for the UK then they will want to interview and question you so get this organised ASAP to organise it around work or interviews.

- NHS or the national health service requires you to register with your closest local GP. It is easy to do and gives you more benefits than any other health system in the world. Make an appointment, let them know you are not registered and they will set you up in about an hour (exam from the nurse and paperwork). You cannot see the doctor without one (there are a few walk in services however I wouldn't push it that far) so ensure you get one organised before you actually need it. Find a doctor under the NHS scheme near you or learn more at www.nhs.uk 

- Using the tube is easy; you will need an oyster card. You can load money on and touch as you go for use of any public transport inside London. Don't worry about buying one before arriving. There are machines at each station that you can purchase them from and load money onto. Just pay as you go until you know what you are doing, but once you are working and know where and when you will be going buying a weekly or a monthly may be worth your while. Buses are 1.50 regardless of the trip you go on and tubes range from 1.50-5 pounds all dependant on the zones you go through. Take a look at the tube map, it is easy to figure out once you have caught it a few times and if you get on the wrong train it doesn't take long to get onto another and head in the right direction.  Be aware of the zones you are using as it will end up costing you a fortune if you catch the tube for 2 stops if you can walk in 45 mins instead. Walking is always a good idea when you spend most of your time drinking beer and eating mash potato too!

- Walk! Get used the area and get your bearings by walking as much as you can to start with. The tube is great but you pop up in all sorts of places and won't get to know where you really are unless you walk for a while. Download the app City Mapper, this is your new best friend, it will tell you how to get everywhere. Buses, trains, walking. It will give you directions, times, tube lines, stations and directions to travel in. Super easy to follow. Just remember to take a screen shot before you head underground as there is NO reception down there.

- Jump on a few Facebook pages Aussies in London or the one relating to your nationality are always good. If you don't know anyone you soon will, you can find rooms for rent and you will see plenty of events you can attend.

7 - People

If you are not a social person this may be hard but put yourself out there. There are so many people here in the same boat and are all looking for a new friend. Join a local sporting club, go on a pub crawl, mingle with people you meet and their friends and their friends of friends. Everyone needs people especially in a big city!

8 - Holidays

Most people come to London to travel, it is so cheap and so close! Just make sure you stick to this. Too many people get stuck in London and never leave. You don't want to go home without seeing as much as you can. Have Aussie dollars behind you to use for some travel as most of the time your pounds will go to living and fun in London! Make a list of places that are important to you and plot them out. The best thing for me was being able to slowly cull my bucket list! Being so close you will be able to get to all the major events and festivals like St Patrick's Day or the Sangria Festival! Oh and don't forget the wonderful and famous Oktoberfest.

(Travel tips)

- Flights are cheap, keep an eye out for specials and grab them when you can. Easy Jet and Ryan Air are good places to start. Sometimes you will get a return flight for 21 Pounds! Use the app skyskanner to keep an eye out, select everywhere and no dates and you will get some great deals. Its not often you will fly out of Heathrow when you get the good deals so be prepared to travel on a train to the middle of nowhere to use the Luton, Stansted or Gatwick airports. Just be aware of the travel to and from an airport when booking super early or late flights. Totally worth it for a cheap weekend getaway!

- Tours are a great way to see multiple countries and go to festivals. Top Deck, Travel talk, Bus About, Fanatics are all groups that I would recommend. Your choice in company depends on what you want to get out of the trip. Bus About is a very freely run tour you simply use it for travel but they don't offer a lot and Top Deck are comprehensive in what they offer but more expensive.

- Do a bit of both; summer and winter travel that is. Make sure you see all of the wonders of this side of the world while you are here!

- Hostels are cheap and easy, check out the rating of them before you stay in one as some can be pretty awful. If you are alone you will be sharing a room with someone else however if you are in a group you can pay a little extra to get a room together with a bathroom. Your other option is Air BNB its great if you are with more than one other person!

- Travel insurance! Absolutely get this every time you leave the UK it is cheap and important! (before you move purchase travel insurance to cover your first few weeks in the country just incase) 


Up next I have a pile of things learnt from finding work as a Nanny here, so if you are keen to move to London into a Nanny or Au Pair situation, stay tuned! [Edit - See part three here!)

C x

Tips and tricks for those moving to London (Part 1 - Before you go)

London! It’s Lovely! Cold! Wet! Pretty! And full of opportunity! Ever since I can remember, running away somewhere unfamiliar has been a distant dream. As I got older and started working with children and my friends took the plunge, that dream made it's way closer and closer. And now! It is real! Here I am sitting in a cafe in LONDON! Yes London, cold, wet, happy and lovely, writing this!

Before I get into a few essentials I wanted to admit something. We all paint the idea of moving overseas as exotic, exciting, accomplishing. And it is. But most people leave out the reality side or maybe once they return home they have forgotten that side of it. It is hard, it is cold, and it is still life as normal. Granted life as normal is in another city, one in the UK, a really big one with plenty to do and travel around Europe is cheap. It just isn't all parties and smiles. One weekend I was travelling to Europe, only 2 hours away mind you, for drinks, exploring and frivolity, full of parties and smilies. The next I was curled up in a ball, home sick and felt like I had no where to turn. I am what you would call a 'total mush' person, I have plenty of emotions and lots of love, so for me not having 'my people' was a hard thing to overcome. I am confident and have made new friends, great ones, but sometimes you just need 'your people' surrounding you although they may not be next to you. 

Now that's out of the way, here are some tips and tricks that I have learnt along the way (in only 4 weeks). It's a whole new world and these little bits and pieces may help you to stay on track once you arrive.

(Your first step in the process is figuring out whether you can actually come over to the UK. You will need a working visa (must be under 31 years old) or the use of your ancestry for a temp visa or passport. Every visa has different guidelines so jump onto the www.gov.uk website and see which one you can get.)

1 - Be realistic

Why do you want to go? If it is to make money, think again. The best reason for moving overseas is definitely for the experience. It is a big thing moving this far around the world! If you are running away from something at home, must be aware that this is a hard way to do it. Know that you will feel lonely, scared, cold, confused and so many more emotions at one point. Not nervous? , that's great but you will be at some point I am sure of it! Now I sound like a crazy lady, sorry! Just trying to be honest. On top of all the hard and scary things London is amazing, you will love it and you may never want to leave. Total roller coaster I know, just trying to prepare you! Now, everyone will tell you different things, don't listen to any of it, just know that you will soon figure it out for yourself and it will be great or not!

2 - Jobs

The best thing you can do is line up a job or at least some interviews before you come over. The Aussie dollar (sorry if you are based in another country, check your exchange rate as it may work in your favour) doesn't go a long way so you really want to be earning pounds as soon as you can. If you have no qualifications or experience be honest to yourself about the kind of work you will get. Agencies over here are wonderful and there is just about an agency for every person! So find one and get onto them ASAP at least so you know where you are headed.

3 - Time of year

Choose right! If you are used to the heat and decide to move over to the cold try not to leave home in summer and walk into this winter or you will be driven home and go mad all at once! London is always on the go, so check out what is on when you arrive to get you into the groove of it. Shows, festivals, there are endless options!

4 - What you need

Pack light. You will want to buy a few things on arrival. Like a jacket. They are great over here and you will really be dressing for the weather then, if you are from Queensland they don't really have many jackets to suit London cold. If you are coming in Summer you can always wait until it gets colder to buy a jacket. You don't want to have to spend your Aussies (other) dollars as I said before they don't go as far so try not to spend it on pointless things.

5 - Home away from home 

Living in London is expensive and hard to manage. You will attend too many room inspections to count, be stood up by lots of people and most likely fight someone for a room! Of course some people have it smooth sailing and find the perfect fit straight away. You will be living in a share house unless you have won the lottery. So be prepared to pay around 800 pound a month for a room and a shared bathroom with a minimum of two others. Ensure you have about 1300 pound aside for a bond before you look for a place to live.  Short term lets are a great way to get to know which areas you like and where you want to live (London is massive and you may like some places more than others), it is always a way to have a 'home' while you look rather than living in a hostel (which is expensive and uncomfortable). www.spareroom.co.uk is a good place to start. Be prepared for anything and get started as soon as you can. Having somewhere to go home in a big city is something I am sure most of us take advantage of. 

[Part two for when you arrive HERE, and Part three for Nanny's and Au Pairs HERE]

C x