As I am sitting here writing this, I just found out that it's a snow day in Tdot. It's 10 degrees here with overcast skies that are threatening rain, although it's supposed to be a dry one today. Feeling very far from home right now indeed!
I'm going to begin where I left off, rattled and distraught from my customs fiasco. David picked me up at the airport and drove me to the house where I'm staying this month. David and Jules recently purchased their own house hoping that it would be ready in time for my arrival, however there was much more to be done than originally anticipated. So instead we're all staying in his family home, located in the same neighbourhood of Sidcup, a quaint British suburb about 20 minutes east of London on the train. I feel incredibly spoiled to be here, the minute I stepped into the place I felt right at home. It looks like it could be in House and Home--- beautifully furnished and cozy at the same time. Not to mention David's mom Christine is the most chivalrous of hosts. I'm sitting in the living room as we speak, near a bay window with my new boyfriend Charlie, the 12 pound Bichon-Cavalier hybrid, curled up beside me. Such a handsome boy, but no pup could replace my li'l bee boy!
Christine gave me soup and a sandwhich which satisfied my intense longing for variable food groups - all I had before the plane and ironically on it as well were blueberry muffins eughhh- so I broke my fast by scarfing that down, got settled into my new digs, then David and I left hurriedly to fetch Julesie 45 mins away from a training she had been at for 3 days out in the middle of nowhere. We had a great reunion, although I was insanely tired so the ride home I slept the whole way. We arrived to the home fires burning literally, the cozy livingroom filled with David's extended family - his sisters, neices and nephews are frequent visitors. Fam is very important to them much like how it is to me, and Christine had already cracked a bottle of red open, so Jules and I gladly accepted a glass (or 5) of wine, i
t was a S
aturday night after all. We had a great catch up and ended up hitting the hay around 1.
Sunday we decided to hit up the most amazing little pub in the countryside called The Chaser for lunch. The drive is about 20 minutes from Sidcup and it made me sooooo happy to be driving the winding roads through the famed Brit countryside. It's hard to get used to the way people drive here, roundabouts are in the place of stop signs and it takes effort to resist screaming at pedestrians on the roads to get out of the way. Jaywalking is risky here... don't worry Mumsie I'm constantly looking left and right :) haha. So we arrived at the pub, located in the middle of bright green country hills next to an old church that makes one feel like they've gone back in time. SO my kind of place. Everywhere you turn there's so much history.
Random - I have to throw in that right now "Somebody to Love" (Queen, not Justin Bieber) just came on the radio for the second time today. What is it with this song here!? It's not like it's top 40 material these days...
I feel like I'm writing wayyyyy too
many details so I'll try to move this along.. we're still on the first day. At the pub we ordered some vino, I had to have some fish and chips to feel one with the Brits, and Jules and David had burgers to feel one with the "Americans" as they say. I've found that here, my 'accent' is my best accessory, especially in the boy department. However I've resorted to wearing a Canada scarf to avoid confusion, Brits take more kindly to you after finding out you're not American. Anyway, we had a great ol time at the pub, which was packed-- it's a very popular spot. Afterwards, we left and checked out the church-- there's a very old cemetery on the Church grounds that overlooks the countryside and it's soooo picturesque, very Pride and Prej.
We came home and Jules and I went for a walk with Charlie to see their new pad. It's about 10 minutes from Christine's house, such a cute spot, I'm so excited for the two of them to be homeowners - a concept that's SO far from where I'm at in life. We then took Charlie to a local park and got some good exercise, which was very needed as I later found out we'd be having fish and chips for dins, hahaha, after which I was officially deep-fried and battered out. We came home to more vino, chats, and tastey food.
Monday, Jules and I got up early to head into the city so she could show me the ropes bef
ore making her way to work. We grabbed the 9:30 train which took us right to London Bridge station and took a scenic walk across the Thames (on a bridge of course, I'm not Jesus) to the North part of London where we got to view London Bridge, The Tower, the Eye, and St. Paul's cathedral to name a few. It's amazing that Londoners are surrounded by such beautiful history all the time, when you are you can't help but end up taking it for granted I think. Anyway, Jules took me on the tube and got me settled, then left me to do as I pleased. At first the subway system's a little daunting, but everything's so clearly marked and there are helpful signs whereever you turn so it's hard to get lost. I made my way to the Canadian Embassy in Trafalgar square at Charing Cross station to discuss the meaning of the stamp the customs wench embedded on my Passport. As my luck would have it the Embassysi closed this month for renovations. I let out a surrendering chuckle and made my way to the National Gallery where I spent the next 3 hours checking out the Caravvaggios, Vermeers, and Constables to name a few. Thankfully I love galleries and museums so I'll be able to independantly entertain myself for days on end.
I grabbed a bite and headed to Oxford circus where I did some (window) shopping and got lost in Top Shop. I ventured home around 4 and came home to finally unpack my bags, eventually installing myself by the fire with Christine, David's sister Deb, and the two kids Abigail and Joshie where we had some wine and discussed a vast array of topics, from the kids' extra curriculars to suicides on the tube. (When Jules and I got into the tube station that day there was the following announcement: "Due to a body on the tracks, there is a delay on the central line" to which I let out a shocked gasp and those around me responded with annoyed groans as if they'd heard of a minor technical difficulty. Londoners are descensitized to the loss of life on the tracks as it happens ALL the time apparently, and the transportation ppl aren't afraid of telling it like it is.) Jules got home around 9, David around 9:30, then we all ate a late dinner and headed to bed.
Yesterday I had a VERY late sleep in, woke up at 1pm, had some lunch, and headed into London around 3:30 where I went to the National Portrait Gallery in Traf square and spent most of the time in the Tudor gallery. LOVED it. Around 6 I made my way on the tube to Bank station where Jules works. I will NEVER complain about taking the subway in rush hour in TO again after facing the most horrific tube ride in London rush hour on my way to Bank. It was like herding cattle and I was glad to get off the train. I ended up searching for a while and finding a great little pub where I had two pints and read my book while I waited for Jules to finish work, surrounded by men who had just finished work. I felt right at home ;)
I got the call from Jules and headed to her office where I met her boss Jenny. We then went to Mc D's and got some ice cream, then headed home to Christine's "death row" mac and cheese, deemed so as it's the last meal David would request before being executed -- it's THAT good. Mmmm I may come home a "healthier-looking" woman, as Julia Roberts says in Eat Pray Love "I don't want to be obese, but I'm through with the guilt". However, I'm trying to get as much exercise as I can to combat the dreaded potential muffin top.
ANYWAYYYYY I feel like I rambled on way too much and am now distracted by the prospect of curling up with my book. I'm meeting up with Paul who I met on the Carib cruise tomorrow for drinks at Leicester square, and have a busy amazing weekend planned as my bday is approaching.
Will post again soon, not sure who's reading this but I hope you're all doing well back home.
Love KT xx
ps- pictures to come, just figuring out how to post them
I'm going to begin where I left off, rattled and distraught from my customs fiasco. David picked me up at the airport and drove me to the house where I'm staying this month. David and Jules recently purchased their own house hoping that it would be ready in time for my arrival, however there was much more to be done than originally anticipated. So instead we're all staying in his family home, located in the same neighbourhood of Sidcup, a quaint British suburb about 20 minutes east of London on the train. I feel incredibly spoiled to be here, the minute I stepped into the place I felt right at home. It looks like it could be in House and Home--- beautifully furnished and cozy at the same time. Not to mention David's mom Christine is the most chivalrous of hosts. I'm sitting in the living room as we speak, near a bay window with my new boyfriend Charlie, the 12 pound Bichon-Cavalier hybrid, curled up beside me. Such a handsome boy, but no pup could replace my li'l bee boy!
Christine gave me soup and a sandwhich which satisfied my intense longing for variable food groups - all I had before the plane and ironically on it as well were blueberry muffins eughhh- so I broke my fast by scarfing that down, got settled into my new digs, then David and I left hurriedly to fetch Julesie 45 mins away from a training she had been at for 3 days out in the middle of nowhere. We had a great reunion, although I was insanely tired so the ride home I slept the whole way. We arrived to the home fires burning literally, the cozy livingroom filled with David's extended family - his sisters, neices and nephews are frequent visitors. Fam is very important to them much like how it is to me, and Christine had already cracked a bottle of red open, so Jules and I gladly accepted a glass (or 5) of wine, i
t was a S
aturday night after all. We had a great catch up and ended up hitting the hay around 1.Sunday we decided to hit up the most amazing little pub in the countryside called The Chaser for lunch. The drive is about 20 minutes from Sidcup and it made me sooooo happy to be driving the winding roads through the famed Brit countryside. It's hard to get used to the way people drive here, roundabouts are in the place of stop signs and it takes effort to resist screaming at pedestrians on the roads to get out of the way. Jaywalking is risky here... don't worry Mumsie I'm constantly looking left and right :) haha. So we arrived at the pub, located in the middle of bright green country hills next to an old church that makes one feel like they've gone back in time. SO my kind of place. Everywhere you turn there's so much history.
Random - I have to throw in that right now "Somebody to Love" (Queen, not Justin Bieber) just came on the radio for the second time today. What is it with this song here!? It's not like it's top 40 material these days...
I feel like I'm writing wayyyyy too
many details so I'll try to move this along.. we're still on the first day. At the pub we ordered some vino, I had to have some fish and chips to feel one with the Brits, and Jules and David had burgers to feel one with the "Americans" as they say. I've found that here, my 'accent' is my best accessory, especially in the boy department. However I've resorted to wearing a Canada scarf to avoid confusion, Brits take more kindly to you after finding out you're not American. Anyway, we had a great ol time at the pub, which was packed-- it's a very popular spot. Afterwards, we left and checked out the church-- there's a very old cemetery on the Church grounds that overlooks the countryside and it's soooo picturesque, very Pride and Prej.We came home and Jules and I went for a walk with Charlie to see their new pad. It's about 10 minutes from Christine's house, such a cute spot, I'm so excited for the two of them to be homeowners - a concept that's SO far from where I'm at in life. We then took Charlie to a local park and got some good exercise, which was very needed as I later found out we'd be having fish and chips for dins, hahaha, after which I was officially deep-fried and battered out. We came home to more vino, chats, and tastey food.
Monday, Jules and I got up early to head into the city so she could show me the ropes bef
ore making her way to work. We grabbed the 9:30 train which took us right to London Bridge station and took a scenic walk across the Thames (on a bridge of course, I'm not Jesus) to the North part of London where we got to view London Bridge, The Tower, the Eye, and St. Paul's cathedral to name a few. It's amazing that Londoners are surrounded by such beautiful history all the time, when you are you can't help but end up taking it for granted I think. Anyway, Jules took me on the tube and got me settled, then left me to do as I pleased. At first the subway system's a little daunting, but everything's so clearly marked and there are helpful signs whereever you turn so it's hard to get lost. I made my way to the Canadian Embassy in Trafalgar square at Charing Cross station to discuss the meaning of the stamp the customs wench embedded on my Passport. As my luck would have it the Embassysi closed this month for renovations. I let out a surrendering chuckle and made my way to the National Gallery where I spent the next 3 hours checking out the Caravvaggios, Vermeers, and Constables to name a few. Thankfully I love galleries and museums so I'll be able to independantly entertain myself for days on end.I grabbed a bite and headed to Oxford circus where I did some (window) shopping and got lost in Top Shop. I ventured home around 4 and came home to finally unpack my bags, eventually installing myself by the fire with Christine, David's sister Deb, and the two kids Abigail and Joshie where we had some wine and discussed a vast array of topics, from the kids' extra curriculars to suicides on the tube. (When Jules and I got into the tube station that day there was the following announcement: "Due to a body on the tracks, there is a delay on the central line" to which I let out a shocked gasp and those around me responded with annoyed groans as if they'd heard of a minor technical difficulty. Londoners are descensitized to the loss of life on the tracks as it happens ALL the time apparently, and the transportation ppl aren't afraid of telling it like it is.) Jules got home around 9, David around 9:30, then we all ate a late dinner and headed to bed.
Yesterday I had a VERY late sleep in, woke up at 1pm, had some lunch, and headed into London around 3:30 where I went to the National Portrait Gallery in Traf square and spent most of the time in the Tudor gallery. LOVED it. Around 6 I made my way on the tube to Bank station where Jules works. I will NEVER complain about taking the subway in rush hour in TO again after facing the most horrific tube ride in London rush hour on my way to Bank. It was like herding cattle and I was glad to get off the train. I ended up searching for a while and finding a great little pub where I had two pints and read my book while I waited for Jules to finish work, surrounded by men who had just finished work. I felt right at home ;)
I got the call from Jules and headed to her office where I met her boss Jenny. We then went to Mc D's and got some ice cream, then headed home to Christine's "death row" mac and cheese, deemed so as it's the last meal David would request before being executed -- it's THAT good. Mmmm I may come home a "healthier-looking" woman, as Julia Roberts says in Eat Pray Love "I don't want to be obese, but I'm through with the guilt". However, I'm trying to get as much exercise as I can to combat the dreaded potential muffin top.
ANYWAYYYYY I feel like I rambled on way too much and am now distracted by the prospect of curling up with my book. I'm meeting up with Paul who I met on the Carib cruise tomorrow for drinks at Leicester square, and have a busy amazing weekend planned as my bday is approaching.
Will post again soon, not sure who's reading this but I hope you're all doing well back home.
Love KT xx
ps- pictures to come, just figuring out how to post them
LOVERLY pics!!! So fab! :)
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