I moved from Trinidad to live in London now for just over 10 years. That’s a really long time huh!? Surely I should be an expert on all things British. Right!? Wrong!!!
I spent all of those glorious years at a desk, behind a computer in Accounts, as a Purchase Ledger Administrator. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my job with a passion. That was the problem. I loved it so much that I forgot that I was in a beautiful country.
I was a self confessed workaholic. Unfortunately for me, my body couldn’t keep up with the demands of the job as I fell ill and decided it was time to take a break. Spend a little time on me. Something I found really weird and hard to do since I’ve always worked. What on earth would I do with my time? Even on the weekend I’d be busy with my house work; washing, cleaning, running errands… Even then my mind would be on work; Don’t forget to call… Don’t forget we need to pay…
Surely I should be an expert on all things British. Right!? Wrong!!!
One day I had lunch with a friend and she’s telling me all about the lovely places she’s been to in London and I’m sat there with this dumb look on my face.
These places exists in London!?
I must’ve said that out loud because she looked at me like I just grew another head. “You’re kidding me right!?” After I sheepishly explained my ‘workaholism’, she gave me a great idea of what I should do with all my free time; “Experience London! Also, why not write about it and share your experience. I was a bit skeptical at first because there are so many articles out there about London and plus I really hate going anywhere alone. Then scrolling through my emails I saw it; ‘Thank you for choosing Euphoria Carnival for your Notting Hill Carnival experience…’
‘Thank you for choosing Euphoria Carnival for your Notting Hill Carnival experience…’
My friends have twisted my arm into joining them this year in participating in the Notting Hill Carnival. My ex-husband is a DJ and he usually played on a music truck for carnival, so again, I was busy working trying to make sure he had things in order, doing crowd control and never ever really enjoying the experience. So that’s what I’ll do. Try to enjoy it and experience it as a real masquerader and give you all a little insight on what it’s like. Since this a culturally diverse magazine, why not start with one of the country’s biggest cultural street festivals!?
However, the carnival isn’t just about the costumes and parade, there is a whole lot more to it than that and I’ve got front row seats! Well… More like access to the events I can afford to go to. Remember I’m on a budget now I’m no longer a workaholic.
And thus, begins my journey…
