A happy and sad week

This is an exciting week for me but also a very sad one.  The week marks our first wedding anniversary, as Mr B and I got married this time last year in Brisbane.  The past twelve months have flown and it is also really special, as we met here in London.  We both grew up in the same area of Brisbane but met five years ago at a mutual friend's house in South London. 
 
This is also our last week in the UK before heading back to Brisbane.  We are excited about returning home to spend more time with family and friends, however I must admit my heart feels a little broken and I feel I will forever be torn between two countries.

This was my wedding dress -  Jenny Packham.

Swarovski crystal beading on the

front and the dress also had a lovely open back.

 

My wedding shoes - Jimmy Choo  

Red suede with snake skin.

 

I never had any intention of moving to London, however it was very difficult to get a working visa to France at the time, so decided to give London a go.  My mother lived in London for a few years when she was in her twenties and always encouraged me to live in Europe.  I remember going for a walk around Clapham three hours after landing at Heathrow and having a very strong feeling that I had finally arrived home in this foreign city.  It felt familiar, as if I had lived here before and I instantly fell in love with it's history, style and energy.

Australia has many fabulous qualities as well and it will be great to be around the people we love, visit the gorgeous and varied landscapes and to see the sun a bit more.  

Here are a few of the things I will miss most about living in London:

 Being able to pop off to Paris, even just for the day - we did this

a couple of times and it was fabulous to be able to experience the beauty of Paris, even just for a few hours.

Winter Wardrobe

  I will miss being able to wear these clothes or make snowmen.

Buses and the Tube

 I love public transport, I know a lot of people don't, but I do,

especially London's red buses.

Sun Appreciation

I will never forget the joy of having the sun on your face and skin, even just for a few minutes, after months of not seeing it.  I have never felt serious sun-love as much as I did on this fine March day.  This is me on the top of St Paul's, refusing to walk down as I needed to sun bathe. 

Clapham Common
Where we lived for five and a half years.  

Champagne

I will miss slightly affordable champagne.  Champagne is never cheap but I loved being able to have it once every couple of months.  At Australian prices, it will be a very special and occasional treat.  I will always love Pol Roger and Gosset Rosé!

Real Christmas Trees

I have loved being able to walk down to the corner of our street to buy a Christmas tree every year.  We had many fun Christmases in the capital, which I will always think back on fondly.

Favourite crisps in the world.

I generally focus on eating really healthy foods, however you have to live and for me, my vice is crisps.  They are still an occasional treat, but these will be missed so much.  I might need to see if the Tyrrell's UK farm does international deliveries.

Our dear friends

You can't see them all, but they are all around this table.

However we are very lucky to have the option of moving back to another beautiful country and these are the things I cannot wait for...

Family

 

This is me with my Mum and Dad when they came to visit last Christmas.  

I am really close to my parents, as I am an only child and I can't wait to see them more.

Prawns

The perfect meal

The Beach

This is my last post from the UK, however I will keep blogging from Australia, as I am sure I will continue to find fabulous things to share.

 

Fifi