Reflection on the water

My photo this week is one of my favourite photos from all my time in France. 

I was exploring the grounds of a castle and stumbled upon this old boat drifting on the water. I loved the colours and the reflection of the sky in the water.

I loved this photo last year and I still love it now!

Whenever I look at this photo, It makes me stop and reflect on things. I think about exploring France and discovering new places. 

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The end of my London chapter

Since 2011, it was always my dream to return to London and completely immerse myself into the wonderful city.

And then, at the end of 2015, I was finally able to do it.

I was a bundle of nerves, excitement and pride. Proud to be able to tick off another life aspiration.

For weeks, I was giddy with excitement of the new place to live, love and discover with my Frenchy.

And then my new relationship bubble burst... Hard.

London is a beautiful city to explore... As a tourist. But as soon as you start working and living in London, the novelty begins to wear off... FAST.

After difficulties opening a bank account and a struggle with homesickness, I was finding it difficult to appreciate the city I was living.

The crowded trains, the busy streets, the long commutes, the long working hours, the expensive restaurants, the rent that drains more than half your salary and finally the unpredictable weather. After a while, it becomes difficult and draining on your soul. 

My Frenchy and I were living London life for almost 10 months before we decided it wasn't a place for us.

I have met some wonderful people, ate some delicious food and will forever hold the memories of my time in London.

But for now, it's time to turn the page and start the next chapter.

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A Year Abroad

Twelve months ago, I was a bundle of nerves...

And stress...

And panic...

And "oh my god, what am I doing?"

Twelve months ago, to this date, I packed a small, ok, very large suitcase and hopped on a plane with a man I'd known for a mere 9 months and disembarked on a journey. While I was scared, nervous, sad, stressed and panicked, deep down I knew it was the right thing to do.

I remember saying goodbye to my family, the feeling of sadness and loneliness wash over me instantly. I remember the panic I felt saying goodbye to my friend at the airport. But most of all, I remember the resentment I felt towards my Frenchy for taking me away from them.

Once I stepped onto the plane, I felt empty. I didn't know what I was doing, where I was going and how I could survive without my family and friends.

It wasn't until our final descent into Paris, that I finally started to feel excited. Excited to see Paris again, excited to explore more of France and excited to see the home town of the man I love.

I was fortunate to be welcomed into the life of my Frenchy. I met all his wonderful family and an endless stream of friends, but I felt like I belonged. Despite the language barrier, it felt right to be there. Over the months, I improved my French, explored many places and had the most fun I've had in a long time. 

And then the money train ended.

After an amazing 4 months of exploring, relaxing and eating French cuisine, it was time to start working again. So, we packed up our stuff and got on the next bus to London. Within a week of arriving in London, we both had work, somewhere to live and a new place to explore.

Over the months, we explored the top tourist spots in London, hunted for the best coffee in London and enjoyed our time together. But then the London life took over. We started seeing less and less of each other, working too much and slowly lost our energy to explore the finer things in London. 

My twelve months abroad have been amazing. I've explored many places in France, discovered Barcelona, drank beer in Munich and met so many wonderful people along the way.

What I've learned from my year abroad:

1. Appreciate every moment with your family because you'll miss them as soon as you take off.

2. Enjoy the small things in life, because sometimes they turn out to be the big things.

3. Don't stop exploring. The minute you do, the inspiration will stop.

4. Money isn't everything. As long as you have someone to love you, a roof over your head and some food in your belly, everything else doesn't matter.

Where to next?

After a quick stop in France, it's time to get back on board a plane headed for Australia. It's time for my Frenchy to explore the rest of Australia (with me of course) and it's time for me to see my family and friends again.

The power of shoes

Just the other day, I remember looking down at my shoes and thinking, how far I have come wearing these shoes. As a person I have evolved, matured and progressed. I never thought travelling would hold so many life lessons and experiences.

Once upon a time, a not so long ago time, I was a shoe addict. I am not at all cured of this addiction, I have simply found a way to tame it. For the passed 6 months, I have worn the same ONE pair of shoes almost every, single day. For me, this is a rarity. I have over 200 pairs of shoes in my wardrobe back home, some of them never being worn. So for me to wear the same pair of shoes around the world is astonishing.

Upon reflection of my 6 months away, I realised that my trusty, once white trainers have carried me to so many places. I have been to Singapore, Paris, Angers, Moliets, Vannes, Nantes, Nivillac, Montpellier, Toulouse, Argeles, Barcelona, back to Toulouse and Paris again. They also carried me to Munich and now London. They are a well loved and well travelled pair of trainers!

My value for shoes has now increased immensely. Once upon a time I was attracted to the way a shoe looked. The way I felt when I wore them, how sexy they were and of course, who made them. But now I look at my shoes as an investment. They protect my feet from the harsh environments and they are comfortable and durable for exploring different places. I have run up and down many stairs, carrying my heavy suitcase. I have dragged my suitcase up and down many cobbled streets, run into many rain puddles (thank you London for the miserable welcome!) and even climbed some mountains wearing them. 

My now mud covered trainers hold the story of my travel.

What's your shoe story?

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Upcoming:

Check back on Friday for my #UltimateVegasOutfit

How to cope with homesickness

I've been away from my family now for 6 long months. 

And sometimes it gets really hard to stay away from them.

Travelling is amazing and exploring new cities is something that will remain with me for so long but I've had to deal with homesickness for far too long. Over the time, I have had to come up with ways to not let my separation overpower me.

So I thought I'd share them with you.

1. With technology these days, you can see your family whenever you want it and no matter where you are. All you need is Wifi and a camera phone. It's important for me to FaceTime my family as regularly as I can. When I see them on my computer, it makes me feel like I am sitting in the living room with them.

2. Take sometime to explore the city. While you are exploring new places and discovering new things, it takes your mind off your homesickness. By appreciating a new place and learning new things, it gives you a reason to be away from your family, which makes it easier to accept.

3. Take sometime for yourself. Do the things that make you happy. Read your favourite book, drink a glass of wine, take a bath or listen to music. Whatever your passion is, do it regularly. If you have significant you time, you'll appreciate your time alone.

4. On days you miss your family or friends the most, look through your photos. Just simply seeing them or reminiscing of when the photo was taken will give you joy. When I'm on the Tube or enjoying my coffee, I flick through my Family Album on my phone. It gets me through to the next FaceTime session.

5. And finally, reflect on the reason/s why you decided to travel. By remembering why you chose to travel, it will make you want to keep going.

Be strong and enjoy the places you discover. There is a reason why you wanted to travel, don't let the emotions get in your way.

What are your tips for dealing with homesickness?

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A year in review

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you have a very wonderful and prosperous 2016!

Welcome to my first post of the year... And I thought I would kick it off with a review and reflection of last year! It's better late than never, right?

2015 was a big year for me! My shoe collection took a hit as I jetted off from the land of Oz to Europe with my Frenchy. I have learnt many life lessons, experienced the highs and lows of travelling and I have seen some wonderful places.

So what were my highlights for the year?

Firstly, I collaborated with a close friend of mine to produce a series of popular shoe posts.

Images ny Jordan Swioklo of Precision Film Editing services

Together we had so much fun, many outfit changes and locations to showcase my latest and favourite shoes! During my time away, it has made me miss my shoe collection and I love to review these photoshoots frequently! 

A little leopard never hurt nobody

Hello Sailor

Block it out

Foxi and Fabulous

Arm candy

Fullforce

Autumn is here

It's a jungle out there

Next I prepared myself and planned my travel into the unknown!

The 6 must have shoes for travelling overseas was one of the most popular posts and well read posts from all around the world! 

For the remainder of the year, I got to travel and explore France. I got to experience French food, the french language and explore nearing countries. Read My Travel Diary to see where I've been on this amazing journey.

Finally, I finished the year off in London. Experiencing, exploring and working in this wonderful city. For more information from London, head to my London series for everything I have discovered so far.

2015 was an eventful year for me and I look forward to see what 2016 has to bring!

What was the highlight of your 2015?

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Winter Wonderland

London during the festive season is beautiful. 

All the streets in Central London are covered in lights and there is so many things to see and do. 

It truly is spectacular.

Just before Christmas my Frenchy and I decided to explore London by night and see how beautiful this city is. We ended up at Winter Wonderland.

Located at Hyde Park, there is kilometres and kilometres of things to see and do at the Park. So where to start? It's nice to stroll around the different markets so why not enjoy a hot cup of steaming mulled wine while you do?

Mulled wine is a traditional European drink enjoyed during the festive season. It's made from red wine and seasoned with spices. For me, it was an acquired taste! It took a few mouthfuls until I started enjoying it. As it was cold outside, I chose to enjoy my mulled wine, steaming hot!

Once you have your mulled wine or other beverage of choice, it's a great time to explore the markets. Here you can find gifts for yourself or even your loved ones. Now that Christmas is over, it's nice to treat yourself. There is lots of unique jewellery, handmade leather goods and much much more. You'll be sure to find something.

There is also so many activities to do at Winter Wonderland. You can play sideshow games, go ice skating, explore the ice kingdom and for the adults, you can go to Bar Ice for a chilling drink. Some activities require pre booked tickets so plan ahead.

After the many activities, it's time for some food. Upon exploration of the Park, there are many food stands to choose from. You can have your pick from German sausages, burgers, fries and for the sweet tooth, you can enjoy waffles or French crepes! There is even a bon fire where you can enjoy roasted marshmallows!

Winter Wonderland is a great place for everyone. You can enjoy a romantic evening walking around the park with your loved one and even the whole family. All this fun is only a short 5 minute walk to Hyde Park Corner tube station!

If you haven't explored Winter Wonderland yet, you definitely should! But be quick, they close the doors on the 3rd of January!

To see more posts from my time in London, follow the link here.

Top 5 things I'd love to change about London

I've been in London for officially one month now and while I am still in the honeymoon stage of our new relationship, there are some things that I'd love to change about London.

So I've compiled a list of the top 5 things I'd love to change about London, to make sure we have a long and happy relationship for the future!

1. This is one seriously expensive city. And when I say seriously expensive, I mean, it's really, really expensive. If you are planning on moving to London to work and save (like me!), don't expect the saving part to happen right away. Whilst, I still love this place, it costs more than 10 pounds a day, to travel into Central London and rent costs almost your entire pay cheque, it takes some serious work hours to make ends meet.

2. You will feel like a tiny little ant when you are in Central London and you will be forever getting out of the way of crazy shoppers. There are so many people here. It's a highly populated place which is permanently hustling and bustling. If you are someone who hates really busy places, London isn't for you.

3. You will never, ever get a seat on the Tube during peak hour. Now as a young person, I know I shouldn't complain about standing on the tube for 20 minutes but when you work on your feet all day.... It's nice to be able to sit down during your commute.

4. You will work many, many hours in this city. While you may work a traditional 9 hour day, it will feel like an extremely long day when you add your commute to and from your work. If you are like me and can't afford living in Central London, you may be based in Zone 3 or 4, which makes your working day feel so much longer.

5. The city goes dark by 4pm. The first day in the city, I was in shock that the streets were in total darkness before I had my afternoon coffee! Seriously, why?

So, while I am super excited to discover a new city, I can see this being one of those love/hate relationships. 

Check back next week for more on the London Series.

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5 months away...

My holiday is well and truly over now!

I've been very fortunate to spend 4 months in France, travelling around the country and living in my Frenchy's hometown of Angers. While I had an amazing time which I will forever remember, it's nice for my life to have more structure here in London.

Since the age of 14, I've been working. I worked casually while in high school and University and then full time once I graduated. And during my 11 years of professional experience, I barely took any holidays.

So for me to take an extended holiday was a shock to the system! 

It was difficult for me to have no structure or purpose to my life. But now that I'm in an english speaking country, working hard, I feel more like myself.

So what is next for me and my Frenchy?

While it's our goal to work hard and save some money, we still want to travel and explore new places here in Europe.

Our next destination will be somewhere I can see and feel snow. Living in Australia, I wasn't lucky enough to experience snow. The only time I saw snow, I was 4 years old. I have a few pictures and a short video of me in the snow but I was too young to remember it and properly experience it. So, after Christmas time, we will save our money and plan our snowy escape!

For now, I am settling into my new position as the Clothing Specialist for a busy London store, our future aspiration is to take mini vacations around Europe, while continuing to earn and save our money.

For us, we have no time limit on London. If we love it here and find a successful work/life balance, we will work hard towards our future careers while enjoying much needed vacations in between.

To follow my 4 month vacation in France (and surrounding countries) click here for the full details.

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Top 5 tips for finding work in London

When I decided I wanted to live in London, convincing my Frenchy wasn't as difficult as I thought. I started searching for work, while I was still in France and found SO many job opportunities.

Upon our arrival in London, so many people told us London is a great place to progress in the workplace. There are so many job opportunities here, so you'll be sure to find something for you.

So where do you start? 

1. Work on your resume to tailor it to the positions you are applying for. Your resume/cv is the most important tool to assist you in your employment success. Make sure it is detailed, professional and easy to read.

2. Submit your resume to a recruitment company. They will help you find the job/career you want, while you can focus on the move and settling into the city.

3. Don't put all your eggs in one basket! Apply for a few positions before you get to London. If you are successful, hopefully you will have some interviews lined up for when you arrive.

4. Prepare some common interview questions and responses before your interviews. Also, remember to familiarise yourself with the Company, the more you are prepared, the more confident and professional you will sound. If you haven't had much experience in interviewing, you can always find some coaching professionals to help!

5. First impressions are very important. Make sure you are professional. Arrive to your interview ahead of time, wear appropriate interview attire, be well rested and calm. This will ensure you perform at your optimum capacity!

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail!" Benjamin Franklin

Head to my previous post for more tips from London

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Top 5 tips for finding somewhere to live in London

I have to admit, London is an expensive place to live. Especially when you have foreign currency and need to exchange your euros and Australian dollars in pounds constantly.

However, once you start earning pounds, it makes the place more affordable.

My Frenchy and I have been looking for places to live since we arrived. And I have to say, it's not easy. There are hundreds and thousands of places you can live but how do you know what is the best place for you?

So here are some of the tips that we have found useful since being here.

1. Like I mentioned in my previous post, Airbnb is one of the best places to start out. Find somewhere a little further away from Central London. It's much cheaper in comparison to a hotel room and it's much more comfortable than a backpackers. Also, you can stay as many nights as you want (depending on availability) without needing to pay too much upfront.

2. Figure out roughly how much you will earn per week against the cost of living. This will determine how much you are willing to spend per week or per month and how much you can save. It will also make the search easier if you have a minimum and maximum filter on your search. Like I said, there are so many places to choose from!

3. The next important think to consider is the different Zone options. The further out you live, the more money you will spend on travelling into Central London. So think about where you are going to work and find a suburb close to transport and within nearby Zones.

4. It's important to find a selection of properties you like the look of and schedule an appointment to view them. You don't want to move in without looking at the place first. Make sure you feel comfortable and it's in a great location, close to transport.

5. And finally, don't settle for anything unless you are completely sure. Most places will have a 3-6 month minimum stay and you don't want to agree on it unless you truly love it.

Check in next week for more tips from London.

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Sunsets...

During the last four months, I've had many people compliment me on my travel pictures (thank you to all you wonderful people!) but some of my favourite pictures have been captured during sunset.

I never truly appreciated the setting sun, until my first date with my Frenchy. We sat on the beach, getting to know each other, talking in broken English, while the sun begun to set. 

This memory has made me truly appreciate the setting sun.

Since our first date, my favourite time of the day, is when the sun sets, casting beautiful light on the world. I thought I would share with you, some of my favourite sunsets...

The sunset from our first date in Perth

The first sunset over the Loire river in Angers

More sunsets in Angers

A sunset over the city of Toulouse

One of my favourite sunset pictures from Les Ponts de Ce

A Summer sunset

Enjoying the sunset on the beach in Penestin, France

Angers city before the night falls

What's your favourite time of day?

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Top 5 things to do BEFORE moving to London

My Frenchy and I decided to move to London.

I was missing the English language and I found so many job opportunities online so we made the move. 

We were fortunate enough to have a great Airbnb host and housemate who told us all the important things we should have done BEFORE we moved.

So to save you the trouble we went through, I thought I would share my top 5 tips to help make your move easier.

1. Find accommodation for longer than a few days. It's going to take a little bit of time to find accommodation and check it out before moving in. I suggest Airbnb as a great place to start. You can find some nice, affordable locations, while you look for another place. Here is a link to the Airbnb we stayed. It's a great location and the Host is so helpful.

2. Book your accommodation a couple of weeks in advance. Build up a rapport with your Host and they may be able to help and give advise, leading up to the move.

3. If you are planning on working, call ahead to the National Insurance company to secure an appointment to receive the next available appointment. Ask your host if you can use their address as it is a requirement for applying for a NI number. I booked for an appointment when I first arrived in London and I had to wait 2 weeks.

4. Plan an appointment with a bank provider to make sure you don't have to wait for the next available appointment. Schedule the appointment a couple of days after your NI number appointment. The bank won't give you an account without a permanent address or a NI number.

5. Study the transport in London. Make sure you know how to get from where you arrive in London, to your accommodation. Also, upon your arrival, get yourself an Oyster card. It makes travelling so much easier instead of buying tickets all the time. Also, the more you travel on an Oyster card, the more money you can save.

Be sure to check back soon for more tips from London.

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The next chapter...

I've been away from Australia for a long four months now.

I miss my family terribly. I have a beautiful niece and nephew who change every time I speak to them on FaceTime and it makes me miss them more and more.

Sometimes it's difficult being in a foreign country, not understanding what people are saying and it's hard not feeling secluded. But still, the (occasional) loneliness is nothing compared to discovering new places, sampling local cuisine and meeting new people.

I've spent most of my time in the hometown of my Frenchy, Angers France. I've spent time with all his wonderful family and friends. We've also spent a bit of time exploring other places in France, Spain and Germany.

But it's time now for the next chapter of our story.

The holiday is over and it's time to start working again. And our next destination...

L O N D O N

I am extremely fortunate to have dual citizenship. My parents were born in the United Kingdom and I am excited to explore the country of my heritage.

I've been to London once before and I loved it. 

Since 2011, I dreamed of living in London. I wanted to explore and experience a new city. I love the architecture, landscape, the hustle and bustle of the city and of course the fashion. 

I'm incredibly excited to be able to speak English again (while continuing to learn French!) and spend some time exploring a new city with my Frenchy.

Head to my Instagram and Facebook page for more travel pictures.

Where my shoes took me: In the streets of Munich

I was lucky to experience Oktoberfest.

And it's based in one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited.

* M U N I C H *

When I wasn't enjoying the festivities at Oktoberfest, I was exploring everything Munich had to offer.

I went on a city walking tour to see the city centre and learn some of the city's history.

We started in Marienplatz and walked around for 3 hours. We learnt how the city of Munich was built into the city it is today and the history of the people who built it. It was rather fascinating. 

Things to do in Munich:

• You definitely should enjoy some traditional beer in one of the many, many beer halls. If you are not much of a beer drinker, you'll get over it and learn to enjoy it! 
• After enjoying your beer, you should head to hans im glück for the most amazing burger!
• Walk through the parks and gardens to enjoy the nature and serenity
• You can climb the top of the church in the city centre for just 2 euros! You'll climb about 200-300 stairs but the view is worth it! 
• After climbing the many stairs, you can enjoy a German pretzel! I had two favourites, sugar pretzels for the morning and cheesy pretzels for an afternoon snack! Definitely worth the 1.80 euro!

One thing to know when travelling in Munich, no shops are open after midday on Saturday or all day on a Sunday! So don't leave grocery shopping to the weekend! We spent close to two hours walking around the city centre trying to find a shop to buy some toilet paper and chocolate! Weird combination right? :) We were lucky to discover a small convenience store at the train station.

If you have the chance to be in Munich during Oktoberfest, I highly recommend it but Munich is so beautiful to explore... Anytime of the year is a bonus.

3 months in France...

I still can't believe I'm in Europe.

Every month goes by and I am still in shock.

Ever since I was 21, I always wanted to live abroad. I love Perth and having all my family close by but I always wanted to experience something different.

And now, I finally get to achieve it.

12 months ago, I was lucky to meet someone special. We dated and got to know each other but after a few months, we had to decide if a relationship together was possible. Right from the start, we knew a relationship together would be difficult. A French man and Australian woman, how could that possibly work? I mean, we don't even speak the same native language!

But naturally we couldn't stay away from each other.