So here I am, round three, ding ding!!

The third and final stage of my journey to become a qualified Occupational therapist has begun! Yay!
I am on placement from 3rd September until 7th December. I am to work as part of a children's team in a health centre in East London, and to live in 'greater London'/Essex.

The journey up here wasn't as bad as I had expected, and I was lucky enough to be assisted by my lovely Ben. And Given a lift to the ferry by my wonderful neighbour Sheila! It would have been quicker to go from Southampton, but given the bag situation...
I may have almost cried on the Tube, but I coped.

On first inspection of the flat I was in tears and ready to turn around and leave. Ben's gentle attempt at convincing me it wasn't that bad, was sweet, but fell on deaf ears. My room is a cupboard, a cupboard with a sink....a very warm cupboard with a sink. And I cannot/will not open the window any more as I am on the ground floor. The Kitchen is disgusting. The bathroom not much better. But there is a bath (that will need cleaning before I use it), a separate toilet, and a separate shower. It is a 20 minute walk to the station, and there is very little around, a Tesco and a few local shops.  This Pictures do not do justice to the layers of dirt and grease over everything!!!!

This was the mess I was presented with on arrival...It hasn't changed since. 

The dirt and grease on a chip fryer left on the table. 

A pan left with utensils, oil and bits of food. 

Layers of grease on the kettle.

My commute in the morning will consist of a 20 minute walk, a 10 minute train ride, and a 15 minute walk the other side. Sounds relatively straightforward? I have to factor in paralympic traffic, but only for a week, thankfully!

Sharkies!!

So far I have explored the fact there's nothing to do here. I've mooched around, and got lost in the Westfield shopping centre, navigated the Stratford centre, nosed at the Olympic park, and been for an odd, and impromtu evening out in Stratford.

Today I ventured into the Tesco, met up with a friend of Ben's, who took us on a tour (of banks), we had a nice lunch, took in the sites and went to the sea life centre.

I've met some of my flatmates, to use the word unique would be kind...

I think I may cope, just. It's only 14 weeks. And at the end of it I am going on holiday, yay.

So thank you to my mummy who helped me pack, and to nanny (and Kim, in directly for giving her the idea) for suggesting the vacuum bags, to my lovely friends at home for listening to me rant and panic about my placement, to Ben for travelling up with me, Liv,  Sammi, Jac and Michael for the texts and to G for his very unique tour of London today!

Over and out.

xx