Commuting is not so bad, first few weeks were awful, then I kind of hit a wall (or maybe broke through one?) and from then on it's been ok - landslips in Croydon and signal failures aside.
Building a new friendship circle - much more difficult than I imagined, particularly when you want it to not be alcohol based; I have however joined (and left) a Dining Group, joined (and stuck with) a Conversation Group, a Book Group and a Cinema Group; set up my own Coffee Group; done some internet dating and got a lodger. Early days!
On the home front - I have moved twice, first into a mate's house for two months then finally in May into my own house. I have gutted the lower floor and garden and ripped up nasty laminate floors and changed restored fireplaces in all rooms. Starting to come together now, before I reconvene on the bathrooms in the New Year.
Community - only met one neighbour so far (poor show on my part) and I'm not thrilled to be living on a student street - I'm more 'early riser' than 'party animal'. I have successfully had an extra skip bin installed on the street and complained about rats on my walk to the station, in a less 'angry from Tunbridge Wells' style I have also become a school governor.
Moving to culture, the Book Group has got me back into reading in a big way, which is great - I'm reading books I would never have chosen myself; the cinema group is similarly broadening my film viewing habits. I've joined the Regency Society and have completed the Kemptown Blue Plaque Tour.
Finally my perceptions - Brighton is fun and quirky and I love the architecture and coffee culture; but I'm not so keen on the shabbiness and litter problems.
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