REASONS WHY LONDON IS FUCKING RAD

OK, So a little about my background. I was born in Cape Town to an English mother and a Portuguese father. I lived there until I was 18 before fleeing to England like everyone did in 1999. Many said I would be home by Christmas...I was gone for 6.5 years. I returned to Africa for a small stint before finding home in Australia, where I have resided for the last 2 years.

Whilst in London I became what is known as a 'whinging pom' and yearned for the days of beaches, blue skies and familiar faces. But as they say, the grass may be greener on the other side, but you still have to mow it. It seems it is much harder than one thinks to get the 'Big Smoke' out from under your skin. I plan to make a pilgrimage back there next year and I fear it may be slightly harder to leave this time, and this is why...

BRICK LANE AND EAST LONDON - Fuck the cheap incense and bongs in Camden Town and the over priced rags on Portobello Road, this is where it's at. Banksy, Absolute Vintage and Beyond Retro keep the black skinny jeaned masses amused here. Also the Greek style coffee shop where I forget the name but it kept me fed many a Saturday afternoon. Sure you get your scenesters and nearby Shoreditch wankers, but there is a vibe on this street that is hard to replicate. The 24 hour Bagel shop is also a must.

BECAUSE YOU CAN BE THE PERSON YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE - No one cares about how you look, speak or if you want to get beautifully wasted on a Sunday afternoon. Coming from small towns you often find yourself moulding to the image that people are expecting of you. You find yourself in 'scenes' and being part of a claustrophobic environment of bumping into the same faces and doing the same things every. fucking. weekend. Sure this can be comforting, but it can also feel like those familiar walls are closing in on you and one can feel like you are being restricted. Anonymity is underrated.

THERE IS ALWAYS A CHILL BAND TO GO SEE AND YOU GET THE REAL DEAL - So I went to see the Dead Kennedys and Dinosaur Jr and partied with punks who had safety pin nose rings and stage dived from the balcony. As it should be done.

YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS WILL BE BECOME MORE MULIT CULTURAL AND DIVERSE THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED - Alot of your prejudice views (everyone has a few) will be broken down, and your mind will be broadened.

ST PANCRAS STATION - You can get a train to Paris from here. How is this a bad thing?

BESIDES TOKYO, THIS IS WHERE STREET FASHION IS THE BUSINESS - French, Italian and even American Vogue will show Haute Couture and it is visually so very beautiful, but the Brits know how to take it onto the streets and will team Vivienne Westwood and Converse with gusto.

THE NO.11 BUS - If you need something to do and you have no cash hop on the no.11 - especially at night time. It will take you past the houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Embankment, the fabulous stores on Sloane Square, The Kings Road, Fulham Broadway, Chelsea, Charing Cross, Victoria, Trafalgar Square and Liverpool Street. It's a little secret thing I used to do. Not so secret anymore.

BOROUGH MARKET ON A SATURDAY MORNING - This is possibly the best effing food market that ever lived. Italian families selling their homemade wares, Cockney fruit and veg sellers and so forth. Banksy art is all over the place, and you really shouldn't be getting your Saturday evening dinner party ingredients from anywhere else quite frankly.

STREET DRINKING IS THE DONE THING - I love that London shrugs and lets people get on with their fucking lives.

THE VIBE BAR AND THE BIG CHILL BAR - For the Summer time chill and it's just near Spitalfields Market to boot.

MEANWHILE BOWLS - In Westbourne Park. As the ex girlfriend of a very keen skateboard rider, I spent many a weekend here. The sexy skaters take their tops off in the summer. But besides that, its an achingly cool skate park.

HOLLAND PARK - The Japanese Garden with the koi in the ponds, the rabbits and peacocks that stroll around freely and young loves having picnics in the rose gardens. Plus I once saw Stella Mcartney and Gwyneth Paltrow taking their kids for a walk. If you're into that kinda thing. I am.

THE HUMMINGBIRD BAKERY IN NOTTING HILL - Because they do red velvet cupcakes in a chic environment.

BECAUSE NO WHERE ELSE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THIS MUCH FREEDOM TO JUST BE YOURSELF. - Yeah the weather sucks. Yeah it costs an arm and a leg to live there, but as the great quote that my new wonderful friend Jerome reminded me of over the weekend goes, when you are tired of London then you are tired of life.