Bill and I have been extremely busy for the past three months but finally there are some good news to announce -

 

I'll go back to Beijing for my cousin's wedding from 10th to 25th June and would love to catch up with some old friends!!

Bill just got a new tech consulting job offer and will move back to central London in July :)

 

Good news always come in two isnt it?

Didn't realise I haven't written anything for more than a month?! It was a month full of everything, depressed, desperate, worrying but free. Really like Luly said the heart was like a helicopter, I've been very up and down. Life in London suddenly becomes so different, wondering around the Regent's Park during the day, walking from Waterloo back to St John's Wood and watching cooking programs on a Sat morning. I finally have time to sit down and ask myself lots of questions...What do I really want?

 

But I need a break in the break!! Here is the five days trip in Paris to visit a French friend met in New York. Seems the five days break dragged me out of my normal life all of a sudden, driving along Champs-Elysees at night, passing Moulin Rough at 4 in the morning, going clubbing at the Maxim's as if I was still a carefree student, joining an aero club with friend and flying all over Paris despite of getting sick afterwards, appreciating the amazing art and history in Paris, etc, etc...

 

在回伦敦的路上看着相机里照片，真的是一下子思绪涌了上来，回忆过去几年学习，工作生活的地方，身边的朋友，居住的城市，一切有太多的改变。最近身边的好多好朋友都提到努力去做自己想做的，make a choice,生活有自己的选择，既然做了决定，它就是最适合你的。这个选择我一直在做，我的身份也不断在变，一旦开始就停不下来，也不知道会走向哪里。离开巴黎的最后一晚跟当地的朋友看他的老照片，听他讲过去的故事，一下子睡不着觉，脑子里也在想我过去的故事。原来的朋友现在都在做什么呢？前两周突然联系到失散好久的初中同学现在在上海，刚回到伦敦就接到了煜彤的邮件，说她跟老姚要结婚了，真替她开心啊 :) 有点意外，也是意料之中。

 

回到伦敦开始了新的生活，每天忙碌的上班，心里想着还有不到一个月就要回家了，虽然只待几周，还是很期待。

Dissertation

Right before finishing the dissertation, I got ill, high fever, headache, sore throat and blocked nose. Couldnt rest properly it lasted for the past two weeks....Reminded me the night before finishing the work, coming across a quote ' the average thesis is nothing but the transference of bones from one graveyard to another' How true it is!

 

Weekends

After a great weekend with Bill and his family, it's the ending of my three month dissertation. Last Sunday Bill and I cycled from Kew to Hammersmith and this Sat we cycled again from Kew to Richmond. It was an amazing experience when you were passing the river in the sun, having a drink in the pub by the river, sitting near the Kew Garden and looking at the gooses and swans. Truly feel London is much more laid back than New York. Havent had such fresh feelings for a long time.

 

But it was such a busy week and busy weekend. Just finished the thesis I went straight into a new project related to the London Fashion week and 100% Design exhibtion at the Earl's Court. Even this weekend Bill and I both felt exhausted. All we wished to do is to sit down with a bottle of wine and have a chat, but couldnt believe there is no time for that?! Friday I've been working all day in the West End, exhausted when I finally left Radisson Hotel. We met up in St John's Wood and had a nice meal in the Turkish restaurant Sofra. I really fall in love with the Mediterranean food after living with Alma for three months. Cycled along the Thames river for a few hours on Sat morming, we spent the whole afternoon on the next two events - buying birthday gift and wedding present. Cooked some really nice mushroom risotto we rushed to Helen's bday party on Sat night. I was really happy to meet one of her friends from Royal Academy of Music, a nice talented pianist and cellist Taiwanese girl been here for almost 11 years. She did remind me of Irene. I met so many great friends here. But friends met here come and go, this is indeed a sad thing. Bill and I went to my ex-boss's wedding reception on Sunday at a bar called Tugga in Chelsea. I can still remember the groom proposed to my ex-boss when I just started work placement there, and I went to her engagement party in Feb this year. Finally now is the wedding. 

 

Dunno why I feel like as if I had a very long dream, just woke up and found myself here, though what 'here' is is something I never discover. I went back to King's last Thurs and saw lots of new students there, but my student card will be expired in a week. Just realise I am no more a student, but since when? Existance is something that happens to us, and remains a mystery...

After back to Lonon for two months, I moved house again! Yes. I definitely make a record this year: 4 times house moving in less than a year. Busy with dissertation and lots of other stuff, I was reluctant to spend too much time on looking for a place to live. Recommended by friends I went to the notice board in the Japan Center in Leicester Square (on the first floor, walking through the book shelves till the end). I was lucky enough to find some suitable adverts there and finally made my decision on the one at St John's Wood. Moving house is not simply moving to a new place; it's about moving your heart as well. When can I move to a place where I call home?

 

Life back to London becomes very simple, just dissertation, dissertation, and dissertation. But why I was so easy to get confused recently? I thought before I knew what I wanted to do and did all I can just to hope when it's the time, I'll be fully prepared. But I forgot perhaps our world was no more permanent than a wave rising on the ocean. There is never a time you can say I'm ready. Whatever our struggles and triumphs, however we may suffer or enjoy them, all too soon they bleed into a wash, just like watery ink on the paper. One month to go. Where is next?