Preface

Do you ever feel inspired to create a blog because you have read a book, or read another blog? No? Oh well... I have. I've been pondering whether I should continue on my other blog.... But there are personal thoughts there, and I also use if for quotes or if I come across anything interesting.

This blog, however, will be used for something different entirely. It shall be used to document the ups and downs of moving to another place, getting to know the place and the people, and basically to talk about anything related to settling in.

For that I shall be using the characters of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, in which I am Penny, only that I am not blonde. I cohabitate with Sheldon and Leonard. Now, in the show it is Penny and Leonard who form a couple; in my reality, it is Penny and Sheldon. Leonard is on the constant look out for love.

Also, there is a book that has inspired me to take this step (more on that later on). As much as it may be chick-lit, there is always a book you read at a certain time in your life and you think: that is me. No? Well you are weird, my friend. In my case, it is "The Cupid Effect", by Dorothy Koomson. The sole name of the author remind you of "Somewhere over the rainbow". That or "There's no place like home". Or, "This is not Kansas anymore, Toto". Either way, Dorothy made me think of that place, way up high, where troubles melt like lemon drops... Now, I don't think you can go much further up than Newcastle, and my troubles might not melt like lemon drops, but there are certainly drops. It rains oh so much.

Like the character in The Cupid Effect, A few moments later -or maybe it was months- I was headed for Leeds clutching a one-way ticket. Because that's where my heart's desire was (making reference to Oprah). Supposedly. Two hundred miles away from everything I knew and loved.

And that's what I did. I left everything I knew and loved in Barcelona and decided to come here, to Newcastle, because here is where my heart's desire is, my own Sheldon. And, of course, because I love the place. I first fell in love with the city 4 years ago, when I came as an Erasmus student. I have been coming back to visit Sheldon and friends since then, and now, when I got all my ducks in a row, I decided to take the plunge and hope for the best. And so, this is how I blame Oprah begins.