While I'm sure this challenge was set to encourage me to approach random strangers, many of the people I have met so far this year have sort of fallen into my life. I'm a firm believer that the people we encounter are sent to us for a reason, which is why I felt compelled to tell the stories of two of my friends in London who found me in some strange circumstances.
The first is my housemate Ben. Ben and I moved into our four bedroom flat on the same day as we are both subletting rooms. However, I was not the first candidate for my room: a Canadian girl was all set to take the let when for some reason she decided to leave the UK and go back to Canada, putting me next in line to move in. Little did I know that my sublet caused issues with another housemate who subsequently moved out too. As a result, Ben moved in and here we are!
The strangest part to this story actually started while I was still living in Melbourne and working in a stationary shop called Kikki K. One day, only a couple of weeks before I departed for London, I was reading through an instruction booklet outlining how to put up the new window display for Valentines Day. As I flipped through I was amused by the main window display, a large heart with the words 'Dear Ben, I'm so lucky to have you. Love Ellie'. Despite not knowing a Ben, I thought it was pretty cool to have my name on the shop window so I took a quick snap of the picture on my phone. I had completely forgotten about it until one day I was sitting with Ben showing him some photos when we stumbled across that one...
Although Ben and I have our different views (mostly on whether Vegemite is better than Marmite) and spend most of our time engaged in banter, I am very lucky to have him. I have heard horror stories about living in share houses and Ben has made my move to our new home very easy. Any housemate who sends messages informing me that Haagen Dazs is on special or outlining which Ben and Jerry's flavours are at the supermarket is more than ok in my book.
My other serendipitous encounter was with Andrew, a fellow Teacher's Aide at work. On my first day at my new job I got quite lost looking for the school. The area was flooded with primary schools which made it increasingly difficult to find the one that I was supposed to be working at. After seeking the assistance of a very friendly lollypop lady, I finally located it but could not seem to find the entrance. A little panicked that I was going to be late on my first day I managed to let myself into the yard where I saw a door open to a classroom. It was Andrew that opened the door and saw me wondering around looking confused. I explained who I was so he let me in and escorted me to where I was supposed to be.
I can't help but think that it is fitting that Andrew was the one to find me that day as he has become a very close friend at work. I always look forward to our lunch time chats and Tuesday afternoons where he and I get to take a reading group together. Apparently our closeness has been noticed by one of the children who has decided that we are a couple. This is particularly amusing as I am without a doubt, not his type. Perhaps if I resembled Ryan Gosling a little more? Regardless, he has decided to play up to the role by putting his arm around me whenever the girl passes by and I reciprocate by calling him pet names. While I may not have found my future husband when I introduced myself to Andrew, I have managed to land myself a fictitious gay boyfriend!
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