Sleeping Beauty and Camden Town

Well, here we are. six months later. life has been unexpected, eventful, and full of wonderful people and i am so incredibly grateful for the time i have been able to spend in this city. i've been spending a lot of time this week just looking back over the last half year and realizing how truly blessed i am. i can truthfully say that i have probably had the best and the worste times of my life here. i have learned so much about life, about friendship, about responsibility, and so many other things. i now know what it's like to have a five pound note in your pocket, and nothing in your bank account, and then what it's like to truly appreciate the benefits of hard work. i've made new friends, and cherished old friendships. explored the city with roommates and also been able to share my city with visitors. i think this has been one of the most important things i've ever done, and i can't imagine six months of life being spent in any other way than here in london.

these past few weeks have been especially rich. with street being able to come and hang out for a week, and now having a whole week off of work i've been soaking it all in. street and i had a fabulous time and i am so grateful for the time we were able to spend together here! it felt really nice to spend time with someone who really knows me and with whom i'm so comfortable and relaxed. we romped around town and i showed her all the best parts. she had to entertain herself for the three days i had to work; going to museums and what not. but then we had 4 and a half days to enjoy together. we went to the balet and saw "the sleeping beauty", ate good food, danced, shopped, talked, and laughed. it was a great closing to my stay.

street headed to chalon on tuesday afternoon, so i rode with her out to the airport. since then i've been happily spending my free time during the days with relaxing and soaking up my time. i've not felt much need to run around frantically fitting every last thing in, but have been feeling really laid back and just doing what i would normally do. on tuesday night i met my friend kristen for indian food in brick lane, wednesday i went in to harrods one last time, yesterday i went to spitalfield's antique market for some bargain shopping, last night i met up with friends from work for drinks one last time, and today i'm hanging out around the flat, working on packing and organizing my life into suitcases. i'm not ready to go. but i know that whatever comes next i will be ready. i am ready to be cared for by my family and friends, and be at home, don't get me wrong, but i just don't feel done here. i'll be back london.

i'll see you all soon. love

Friends!

Well i am so happy to have miss emily street here visiting me for a week! she got in yesterday morning and i went to meet her at the airport. we came back to the flat and she was able to take a shower and what not before we headed out for a little bit of sight seeing before it got dark. i took her to lunch at one of my favorite little cafes in primrose hill then we walked up to the top of the park and looked at the view of the city skyline. then we hopped on the tube down to the river and walked down southbank to the tate modern. we had about an hour in the museum before they closed, which was pretty much the perfect amount of time to see everything. we then crossed the river and walked around st pauls and tubed it back up to chalk farm and went to a pub where andy was meant to be having a gig... though that didn't end up happening. oh well. then we came back here at about 9 and i put street to bed because she was super tired. now we're off for another fun day arond town. we're going to try and go see a ballet tonight! talk to you all soon!

Down Time

Hey everyone!

Well the past week or so has been SO much fun! Amanda got in last friday and was here all week through to saturday. On wednesday my friend Paul riner from harrisonburg got in with his mom and aunt and they were here through to monday morning. It was really great to get to spend time with amanda, and i was really happy because we actually got more time together than i was expecting. we did all of our usual markets and walking about and went to our favorite pub and everything. we even got to go see our favorite band play on thursday night!

it was also really fun to go and do some sight seeing with the riners over the weekend. it's been a while since i've looked at london from a tourist point of view. it helps me appreciate it even more that i get to live here! we had a wonderful thanksgiving meal at an american style diner in soho, went to the changing of the guard at buckingham, the keys ceremony at the tower of london, took a train to windsor and saw the castle and eton college, ate loads of good food, and just enjoyed the city!

this week i have some down time, back to the normal routine of work and hanging out, then at the beginning of next week, Street gets here!!!! she'll be here for a week on her way to be with her family in chalon for christmas. i am SUPER pumped to have her here, we're goign to have a blast. she will be here for my last week of work, as i've given in my notice that the 13th will be my last day. then we'll have a few days together before she has to leave. then i head home the following monday...

i'm ready to be at home for a bit, but at the same time... i don' feel finished here. i still love it here just as much as i ever have, and would love to find my way back here again. i guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.

alright i'm off to do a little christmas shopping and then to post a parcel home full of stuff that i won't be able to fit in a suitcase!! love you all