Seeing Red.

This week was all about spooky, scary and red.

First of all I want to say I am very sorry Mum......
Today I went back to red hair! Lets say it is nothing like last year when I first got off the plane from Europe, and it is a lot more red at the ends from where it used to be blonde which makes it look super cool.


Leytonstone kept up to his creditability and reputation by being the creepiest and dodgiest place to live in London.

Walking home at 3am on Tuesday  night was a experience I would like to never be in again.  
First of all I was harassed by a bunch of guys doing rail work at the tube station. They were just being idiots thinking that their sleazy pick up lines would make me interested in them,  but eventually that lost interested and stopped following me.
As I headed up the street a black car drove past and then came to a sudden stop and reversed back to where I was walking. At this point I was close to having a heart attack and I was convinced I was going to die. It got worse when the creepy man with no teeth told me to get in his car then Quote; "Come here I won't hurt you I just want to talk to you" 
I could see the headlines in tomorrows newspaper reading "Stupid Australian girl walks home in Leytonstone on her own and gets herself kidnapped" Anyway I did manage to get home safe and sound and just ignored the guy then used the line "No it's ok my dad is waiting for me at the door" did the trick and he drove away.

Apparently this kind of stuff happens all the time to the girls I live with, on their way home from work but you get used to it and realise it's just weirdos who have nothing better to do. 

This night wasn't all bad because I had just spent the night with the lovely Rosie a friend I met in Sydney and her gorgeous friends at a place called The Roxy. Which I will defiantly be attending again soon, the music was awesome with a mix of Joy Division, The Smiths to The Klaxsons. 

A quick little visit to Westfeild was also made during the week. Not sure how safe it is being 2 stops from my house and a 5 minute train ride. Anyway as a present from the Richardsons I brought a cute red, vintage 60's dress, that I will probably end up wearing till I can no longer get anymore wear out of it cause it is so amazing and very me.  I also had to get the most amazing high heels to replace the ones James brought me and I lived in till they literally fell apart. They are deep red suede, and really high, just the way shoes are made to be.

I also experienced my first house party here in London. I was un aware that this house party was to held at my own house until I walked in the door from work at 9pm and heard The Artic Monkeys blaring from our lounge room. 
The nights you are not in the  mood for a drink or party always end up being a big one, and this night really was! 
It felt like I was back at Petersham house with; Weird things laying around the house, shoes on the kitchen bench, doors were broken, glasses broke, shots of Jager bombs in Brookes room, couches taken outside of the house, my bathroom can no longer be used without showering with the door open, (For those who were at schoolies with me. I was tempted to put up one of our famous signs on the door but it defeats the purpose when no one understands what it means, and instead think they are living with a weirdo)

So things were broken,  a lot of alcohol was consumed, people were falling down and up our many flights of stairs...some how or another I wasn't one of those people. At 5am I found myself back in bed trying to get to sleep over the loud music, then woke up pretty late Saturday morning only to do it all again for Halloween and Hughs pre birthday party.
HALLO  WEEN!
I fell in love with Halloween this year. Mainly because so many people got into it, not like in Sydney. The one thing that made me love it even more was that you hardly saw any girls dressed as a naughty nurse, cop, or school girl. People were genuinely dressed in scary and really good costumes. I dressed as a Vampire, and headed to Camden which I felt was defiantly the place to be on Halloween.  
Caught up with the lovely Hugh and Peter for drinks, then continued to party with the roomies until some of the girls wanted to head home and I wasn't prepared to walk home solo from the bus station after my experience on tuesday night and my new heels also didn't permit me to walk any further, so the night ended fairly early.
There were some very interesting people out including one girl from Essex who wasn't a fan of us Australia's coming to London to steal  her men, her jobs, and also couldn't possibly understand why anyone would want to come to London. This is a girl who thought Paris was shit, The Tate Modern shit, London shit, and had nothing positive to say about the city. Remember she did say she was from Essex and was friends with the cast of "The only way is Essex"........ That is all I am saying.

London wasn't all about partying and drinking this week, I also need to pay my rent and so I had work training at the W hotel in Oxford circus, just one of the hotels I work at. 
Those who know me, know I am REALLY clumsy, fail at carrying food, pouring drinks and walking in general as gravity and I don't get along. So when you think of posh silver service and working in 5 star hotels you wouldn't really think we mixed well and that I belong.... Well sadly I don't, but I still have to work there.


Unfortunately my job is in hospitality and the concept of carrying three plates at a time to guest who pay hundreds of pounds and are sometimes celebrities scares the S**t out of me. 
At the Hilton hotel we have to serve using a fork and a spoon placed in our hands like tongs, sounds easy but it's not when you are trying to serve someone peas and only capable of grabbing one pea at a time. You have under 60 seconds to pour and give someone their drink, serve alcohol by showing off the label and holding the bottle from below and elegantly lean over them and pour it into their glass while NOT touching their glass. 
Apparently there is all sorts of cutlery that I didn't even know existed, and the spacing between them when laid out must be exactly one inch!

Before we enter the hotels we meet our manager at the train station so he can check over our uniform and if one single thing is wrong or missing he will send you home and get someone to replace you. For me this is a struggle, as I am someone who has always worked in retail and used to turning up in some of the most ridiculous outfits that people would actually come up to my mum in the street and tell them how unusual my style was. 
The only thing besides the fact that I need this job to survive here in London..that makes me want to go to this work everyday is that celebrities are frequently in the hotels and we have to serve them. Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge groupie. 
My room mate was working on room service and had to deliver fruit to Orlando bloom while he wasn't wearing a shirt and had a conversation with him. Last year the girls got to go around with Sarah Jessica Parker and carry her bags for her while she shopped and apparently we can expect to see the likes of Alexa Chung, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Boy George and Colin Firth.... Knowing my luck the whole 2 years I will be working here the only celebrity I will see, is someone off Big Brother or I will freak out and embarrass myself like the girl who fell over on her face in front of Madonna, or their is the creepy girl who kept all of Johnny Depps cigarette butts and napkins.
Thanks to my dearest mummy I also have some work as a Photographers assistant at a amazing photography agency. Will have some new  photography photos up within the next few weeks. (Apparently for this job I need my licence) Not looking forward to learning to drive in London, seeing as a I failed at doing so, learning on the Northern Beaches.


Some exciting news is that it looks like I could be off to New York early December, just for a cheeky little get away and to do some photo shoots, seeing as the airfares are so cheap over here to travel to America, and to be there for Christmas has been one of my dreams since a little girl! So for my dearest friends who can't make it to London to visit come to New York instead. Please. I beg you. I dare you.


Last of all I want to say that despite my efforts, my love life sucks and can not seem to find any normal british guys like I had expected to actually be here. 
Plenty of Australians from Brisbane, and a lot of Irish but where on Earth are the Tonys and Chris from Skins. The hot musicians, and artists, Harry and Ron and most of all Pete Doherty! 

I am missing you all like you wouldn't believe. Can you all seriously save up and come over and stay with me. Thank god I get to see my other half Anya soon. I don't know how I have survived so long without seeing her. 
Love you all. 
Ps I am buying a cheap phone tomorrow to put a international sim card in so I can text and call you all for really cheap. Seeing as you family and friends are lazy at skyping/vibering me.

Skype; reneew21

Ph; +447770790295

By the way, It is the 1st of November today which means Christmas is very soon. Feel free to send me presents even though I am on the other side of the world. Just email me for my home address and I will be more than happy to give it to you if i get some love from Australia in return. 
Pps; This Christmas I intend on buying the most ridiculous Christmas sweater I can possibly find and wear it all day... and probably in the lead up to Christmas. The hunt has begun to find something amazing like this. 

THE GHETTO

Ok so first of all I want to tell you all that I live in the Ghetto.

Like I literally live in a East London Ghetto where walking down the streets it's not unusual to have big gansta guys yell out "Oi shake ya white booty assss fo me" Yep it happens. 

Then there is the guy in the big white house who makes dog or cat noises when anyone walks by. My flat mates and I are convinced he is a drug dealer and these animal noises are some sort of drug lingo that we are not familiar with. There is always just a smell of marijuna that seems to linger in the air everywhere you go within Leytonstone.

In saying this Leytonstone does have a lot to offer such as; the local internet cafe lets me print my resumes for free, and the local indian place has on offer SO much food for only 3 pounds. This place seems to be so cool that it is even mentioned in the book I am reading and now a film One Day.
But the best thing of all about Leytonstone is my beautiful big house! With my new Australian family + the 2 token South African guys who live here and keep the bad guys out.

I am probably going into way to much detail about how strange and unusual this place is but there has been fun times this week such as the other night the girls and I adventured out of Leytonstone to Holborn .
Our friend works on the door at a really cool club so we headed there first but the drinks were way too overpriced so we left and went to some seedy bar around the corner. By this stage I realised it was a really bad idea wearing heels out in London because most of the streets are cobblestone (high heels worst enemy) no wonder why so many girls walk around wearing  Ugg boots.

I also discovered that British boys are very forward unlike Australian guys they speak their mind, and generously hand out drinks left right and centre. 

When they are drunk it’s nearly impossible to understand them with their strong accents. I constantly found myself laughing and saying to people “I am sorry but I actually have NO idea what you are talking about or what you just said I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU “

Before I forget I want to mention that immature Renee seems to be the only person on the train who finds the suburb on the Piccadilly line, called Cockfosters HILARIOUS. Every time they mention it on the loud speaker I giggle to myself and look around to see if anyone else finds this as amusing as I do but.
Awkwardly no one else does.....

Moving along....

This week I also discovered the new Westfeild, which happens to be two train stops away from my house, conveniently, and unfortunately, as there is a M.A.C store, Top Shop, Kikko Make up, Oh god there is just every shop possible in that place. I also got to check out where the Olympics are going to be held. Kinda cool I suppose.

What is also really cool is - Cider. I thought I would never say it but I really like it, my twin introduced me to it, now I am addicted. But the fussy person I am I only like the brand Kopparberg especially the strawberry and lime flavour.

I also want to mention that right now I am watching The Steps Reunion, for those of you who are 90’s pop band fans. It’s pretty good they are yelling and fighting with each other. Some reunion!

This week I also spent the day in Bethnal Green. I sliced my hand open it was bleeding a lot and I cried. 

I almost fainted, the girls in the house and I thought it would be super fun to "donate" blood for medical research. The idea was great for everyone else who got 70 pounds for going through with it, but the baby Renee, chickened out went white in the face and told them I'll come back next week.... Probably not going to happen, I'll keep my blood thanks

My creepy land lord walked into my room without knocking while I was naked about to get changed.

I fell in love with the singer Ed Sheeran and seeing him and Example in a few weeks in Hackney.

I saw a squirrel and a fox on my street (This was very exciting for me) 

I got a brand new bed!

Some lady walked past me wearing the same perfume my mum wears and it made me cry for a very long time (Wow a lot crying this week)

And now I say weird words like Hiya, and call ATM's Cash machines and pronounce Dooona a Duvet!

That's all from the land of cold.

Txt.Call.Skype.Viber. Send Love

xoxo

Here look at some pretty photos I took on my day exploring Fulham.

THE FIRST WEEK.

I am not going to deny the fact that the decision to move to London and leave my entire life back in Sydney did freak me out ALOT! I remember leaving my family at departures almost wanting to turn back in the fear that this could be the biggest mistake of my life.

But the moment I arrived in London I couldn't stop smiling and I knew this was the best decision I have ever made. From a young girl I alway imagined living in Europe, and I have always wanted to live so much closer to all my friends in Italy. Now I have the chance and the next 2 years to make the most of it.

In saying this, leaving everyone behind was difficult and saying goodbye to your family for the 4th time at Sydney airport while you head of to Europe does not get any easier.

London, where do i start there is so much to tell you already and come tomorrow it has only been a week since I left sunny Sydney for this miserable and cold place that I now call home.

The flight over was surprisingly quick and good I didn't have the love of my life sitting next to me like i was hoping for. But instead a blank seat which is even better. 

Things were going great besides the body search at Sydney customs, I was on time, getting some sleep on the plane watched great films... All until I walked into the mens bathroom in Abu Dhabi. This will scar me for life, and i have no idea how it happens as in Abu Dhabi the image with a person wearing a dress also means Female bathrooms.  I am actually very surprised they didn't send me back home there and then. 

Once I arrived in London, I don't know how but i managed to drag myself and my bags to my hotel in Earls Court, I stupidly never printed off a map of where this hotel was located and so I was running around Kensington with a fluro pink bag and another massive 3 bags asking everyone where my hotel was.

That night to avoid going to sleep too early I decided to adventure off to Camden in the hope that on my first night in London I would find Pete Doherty, or Noel Fielding wondering the streets of Camden Town. So far no luck but it is early days.

I was at this hotel for a night in Earls Courts and then the next day it was off to inspect my house out in North London, and do boring things to settle into London, and get prepared for living here this filled up most of my day, until the evening when fortunately for me I was given a room at the Westminster Park Plaza, by a family friend. To say this place was amazing is a understatement, and staying at this place for one night made me realise that the rich and glamourous life is one I would defiantly like to live. 

With views of Big Ben, and The London Eye down the street to the right it was a great way to get to know London and fall in love with the city.

That night, I meet up with my Uncle Ces, Brad, and Justina.

I was taken on a small pub crawl to some beautiful places along the Thames, then over the bridge to quirky little pubs in alley ways you wouldn't even know were there. 

Then it was back to the hotel for the best sleep I have ever had.
The following morning I woke up super early headed for the streets (which wasn't far a left the hotel and walked straight onto the Westminster bridge) Because it was so early and  cold I still had my pink long john pj's on while I took photos of the sunrise at Westminster bridge. London is notorious for being the home of some weirdoes, so I fitted right in to be honest and no one except the door man questioned what I was wearing. 

Then it was back to the hotel to get dressed and head to the Tate Modern. If i could visit this gallery every day I would, It is by far one of my favourite places in London, and I advice anyone who comes here to visit it. 

After this it was shopping at Oxford Circus and lunch with my uncle. 

Then back to the lovely hotel for a rest (cause I clearly had such a hard day) before I was to head back to Earls Court I spent nearly 2 hours watching "Made in Chelsea", which is similar to the American MTV reality show The Hills. I am now so hooked on this show and advice you all to not watch it because it is a joke of a show but so addicting to watch! 

Tuesday afternoon my twin Hannah Gore arrived, but before that I spent way to much time in Primark on Oxford street buying who knows what! That place is hell and heaven all in one.
Twin reunion was a lot of fun!
It included; Trying and liking Cider. Indian at Bricklane. Being harassed by Indians. Dying in the freezing cold. Being given wrong directions from the locals and getting lost. 100 pound taxi ride. Sleeping head to toe in a tiny single bed. Moving house from one side of London to the other (Probably the worst experience of my life) London Towers. Hide and Seek with Starbucks. Slug & Lettuce cheap dinners. Fights with the shower. Teasing londoners on the tube and so much more.

Twin had to go back to Leeds, to her real life and I had to settle in to my new home in Leytonstone. For those who do not know, there really isn't much here and most people do not speak English. I do have a Primark, Tescos and a 99p store within walking distance, they have all become my favourite places to shop. There is also a college/uni but I am yet to see any evidence that people actually attend because there has been no young people in the area besides me and my flat mates.

So my house is huge I don't actually know how many people live here I am going to say somewhere between 8 - 12. All girls and two boys, and one person is possibly moving in tomorrow which means I am no longer the new kid on the block.
If you watch Next Top Model, you can get a idea on what my house is like, it's random messy, old, loud, quiet, creepy all in one with a lot of "Friends" watching.
When i first opened the door to my room I went to check out the window which apparently leads onto a roof. I was pretty excited at this idea and had visions of me and friends sitting up there drinking. This idea was gone in 2 seconds the moment i saw the USED condoms spread across the roof.  Clearly Johnny the previous tenant in my room had different ideas on how he spent his time up there.
Besides that my room is lovely and spacious. Pink, Black and White themed and has a heater which is the most valuable thing you can have in this house.
As you can see below I have become inventive with the way I now wear my clothes to try keep warm.

Outside my new house.

So that is about all I can tell you for now.
No I don't speak like Kylie Minogue or Elle McPherson yet.
Have not had a cup of tea with the Queen.
Yes! It is very cold, but what else would you expect from London.
And of course I miss you all. Feel free to send some love my way. Txt. Call. Skype.
xoxo