Home Sweet Home

I thought this day would never come but here I am flying the nest and moving to London. Ever since I started university four years ago I fell in love , dreaming of the day I could call it my own. In the last four years I never had a permanent home to call my own and moved six times, this being my seventh. There was tears and mishaps along the way but today is the start of a new dawn. I can forge a new beginning and start afresh, away from the memories of a past best forgotten. No longer will I cower before the people who betrayed me nor will I be stuck in the past like a broken record on repeat. Instead I will stand tall and bask in the warm glow of London, a multicultural haven full of colour and life. I grew up in the rustic beauty of the countryside but my travelling, dare I say ‘wandering’ soul was restless throughout the years, craving a world that existed outside of my reality. Eventually that moment came and at the age of 17 I went to university in Strawberry Hill, famed for its connection to Victorian culture and world famous Rugby grounds. It was like I had entered a new world, there was a delicious blend of urban and rural culture and it suited me down to the ground. At least for a time I was happy but it wasn’t long before I moved from place to place, seeking a new haven to call my own. I wanted to live in London, with every fiber of my being I craved to be in the heart of England, surrounded by the things I loved and craved in equal motion. But it wasn’t meant to be, at least not yet. I got sick and unable to work, too sick to fulfill my dreams.

I was so sick that I thought there was no way out of my desperation so I began fulfilling the one dream I had wanted since I was a teen and that was to become a blogger. My friend Vanessa over at Vanessa Writes had told me how she took the plunge to start blogging and it inspired me to do the same. Life had denied me so many dreams in the past that it was time to take control and start blogging to deal with the emotional and physical pain I was going through. And it worked, I started small at first, writing for publications for free and building a portfolio of posts on my blog. But to my surprise people actually listened to what I had to say. For the first time seeing comments validating my strengths as a writer and a blogger made me feel blessed that I had chosen the right path in life. As I got better I began working full time alongside my blog and my dream of living in London became one step closer to becoming my reality. And the time came but finding a home was not without its misfortunes; from expensive properties to sexually inappropriate landlords I faced a series of challenges and obstacles but eventually nearly two months later I have moved to East London. The tiniest of rooms, it is the very definition of a box with no space for even a wardrobe but do you know what I don’t care. I have a room in the heart of London, where I have my beloved street art on the doorstep and don’t have to get up at 4am every morning for work. I can feel closer to the things I love; museums, art and good food, without worrying about how I can get home. For that I am truly blessed and no matter how small my room is and how many sacrifices I have to make- throwing out clothes, books, paperwork ect- moving to London was the best decision I ever made.

I may be financially destitute and be left with no money in my account for the majority of each month but instead of letting it bother me like I once would have done instead I am looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel, which will reward me for all the sacrifices I have made over the years. I have given up a lot to get here and I will give up a lot more if it means that I become one step closer to my dream. There is so much to see and do in London that even with no money I can get lost in a city steeped in culture and history. From my favourite museum ‘The British Museum’ to architectural wonders like ST Paul’s Cathedral, all these sites of historical and cultural interest remain open to the public all year round without incurring costs. What other city would offer you so much versatility in one micro-hub? No other than London of course, which is why I am proud to call it my home, sweet home. I have felt like an outsider for so long that for the first time I have a real connection to a city and it has stolen my heart. Yes I had homes before but I never fell in love with the area as much as I have fallen in love with London. Yes it’s a big place but that’s why I love it because you can get lost in the hustle and bustle and no one will look twice. You can be free to invent a new persona or challenge yourself to do things that are outside of your comfort zone. London is expensive some may cry but you don’t have to pay a fortune to call London your second home and I look forward to exploring an alternative London that lurks in the shadows, waiting for a chance to be featured in the spotlight.

Have you ever dreamed of living in London?