I remember arriving here in London in early May. The British summer had also just arrived and as we took our first stroll through Hyde Park, I noticed with amusement many groups of locals in their bikinis and Speedos, desperately trying to suck up some sun. I didn't quite get it. I know the feeling of the first day of summer when you can lie at the beach and bake in New Zealand, but I didn't see why you would be so gagging for sun, you'd strip down to next-to-nothing on your lunch break.

Now, two weeks before the official start of winter, I already get it. It's cold in London. I knew it would be, of course, but coming from Auckland and having never spent time in a truly cold city, I didn't really get what cold could mean. Now I don't leave the house without my woolly hat, my gloves, my (already overused) black coat. I think about covering up every inch of my body, and my poor nose still looks like Rudolf when I walk to and from the tube each day.

And it's not even December. My English workmates tell me (with little smiles on their faces) that this is 'nothing' but I really can't imagine it getting any colder. This weekend it felt like full-blown winter with the temperature staying below five degrees. It was a short, sharp shock stepping out into the beautiful clear-blue day on Saturday morning and realising it was so cold, it really did take my breath away. So what do you do when you're faced with months of not-so-pleasing weather reports? Well you either like it or lump it as my mum would say.

My boyfriend and I decided to like it, which I realise might get harder as the months drag on. We went online - for the Internet surely solves all your problems - and investigated all the great things you can do in London when it's bleedin' freezing and when drinking in a warm pub all day doesn't tickle your fancy - although I'm sure that will be our solution more often than not.

Luckily the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Festival had just kicked off, which promised fun rides and Christmas-themed everything. We took the tube down for for a looksie and were delighted to see an outdoor ice skating rink, with people falling comically on their behinds - hours of entertainment. There was German food stalls with delicious bratwurst sausages and mulled wine, lame rides which were good for a giggle and stalls selling delicious winter woollies and kooky Christmas costumes.

From there we decided to make the most of London's many museums, which we purposely didn't do as much when first arriving in London, knowing we had to save something for the winter months. We visited the Natural History Museum, a really astounding building, where there was another outdoor rink full of people falling over (more fun!) and a fantastic Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition being held.

That afternoon we went to see a play because of a recent 'ticket for a tenner' promotion where you can get tickets for... well, a tenner. You've got to be quick as just like any tickets in London, they disappear like lightening. We saw a play called 'Fat Pig' which is a hit from Broadway in New York and has been getting great reviews since it opened in London. The theatre scene here is pretty cool. To use a cliche, there's something for everyone and you can almost always find a good deal.

The rest of the weekend was spent drinking in warm pubs, playing with our new board games (an essential winter purchase) and hiding out in cosy movie theatres (or the cinema as the Brits like to say). Upon returning to work on Monday, the cold kicked in even deeper and the recently purchased thermals came in handy. This London winter malarkey is going to be no walk in the park (too cold!) but it's all about the power of positivity. That and turning a blind eye to all stories, photographs and memories of the beautiful, glorious, much-missed New Zealand sun.


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