Friday 15.01.2010
Flight from Jersey to London with BA at 10.15.
No delays.
Daniel and I were running late because it took
longer than we expected to clear the flat of our bits and pieces. This meant
that we flew out of the flat without saying goodbye to what has been a petty
great home, although I did manage to take a quick photo of the place in its
skeleton state. We arrived at Claire and Andy Follain-Metcalfe’s just after 8
am as Claire had kindly agreed to ferry us to the airport and the angel was
making us pancakes in the kitchen when we pulled up. What a lass! When we
arrived at the airport much time was spent running from one end of the terminal
to the other with Helier, Andy and Claire’s little boy. Pam and Maurice came to
see us off which was really lovely.
Arriving at Gatwick was smooth sailing until I couldn’t
lift my rucksack from the shelf on the bus and had to get help. Having finally
put the thing on my back I dropped my round the world book. Bending down to get
it I had a sudden rush as I realised I couldn’t get up again. “Daniel” I whispered
loudly “Help, I can’t get up!” “Seriously” he replied. “Help me!!” I tried
again and put my hand out so he could pull me up. Hoping that no one noticed I struggled
to my feet and prayed for a quick exit and stronger thighs.
So Daniel and I made it to the big smoke for a
4 day emersion into sardine can living after the goldfish bowl that is
Jersey. We have been catching up with
old friends, Daniel’s being older than mine (hee hee) and my brothers Owen and
Oliver were both in London over the weekend. We have been staying in my parents’
flat in Wapping in London where Oliver lives. I was surprised to see that there
was food in the cupboard and most importantly the Earl Grey I bought last time
I was over is still here. Hurrah. I have been warned that the thing I will miss
most (after friends and family I assume) is tea. I was going to pack some but
decided that if I am going to embrace life as a traveller I will need to learn
to go without more than my daily Earl Grey.
I was also excited to meet Emma, Owen’s girlfriend,
for the first time on Friday. Daniel’s Aussie mate Matt Worner (aka Wally) who
has the best job at Apple, Daniel and I ventured
into Covent Garden, my old haunt from law school days, for dinner and met up
with Owen, Emma and Oli at Belgos where we had a great night. We were right at
the back in a low ceilinged bunker area. Maybe they heard we were from once
occupied Jersey and wanted to make us feel at home in concrete bunker style
conditions. Emma was lovely and we spent the evening nattering away happily as
if old friends. Good food, good chats
and good beer (Matt and Daniel went for Satan Gold while the rest of us were
happy to try the recommended Cristal).
Saturday 16.01.2010
The next day Owen and Emma met Oliver and I in
Wapping and from there we crossed Tower Bridge on foot and had lunch at Hayes
Galleria. We all got soaked in the rain and poor Emma had a
hole in her boots so her feet were wet and cold. A nice bottle of red warmed us
all up though and then we headed to Borough Market. Emma and I clocked the
stall with Mulled Wine immediately and grabbed ourselves some while the boys
walked ahead. From there we decided we needed a pub. Daniel and Matt have a favourite in Covent
Garden called Cross Keys so we decided to go there but it’s near this cool
vintage store that everyone got waylaid in. After a short detour we landed the
corner sofa and got the first of many pints in. Matt told the story of the time
he managed to run himself over with his own car, which Emma found hilarious. If
she had met Brad Pitt in London that weekend she would have been more eager to
tell people back home that she met this Australian who ran himself over. Very
good afternoon.
Daniel and I needed an early night having spent
the last few weeks running around like crazy people. Unfortunately our good nights’ sleep wasn’t to
be. The fire alarms in the building started going off at 4 am and eventually
stopped when two fire engines arrived but even after their valiant assistance
with what turned out to be a faulty alarm the stupid thing persistently rang
out every 10 minutes or so until about 8 in the morning.
Sunday 17.01.2010
The plan for Sunday was to have lunch at Chris
and Joss Aldridge’s in Putney with Amy Benest. Joss cooked the most amazing
meal. I had seafood pie while the others all had steak and Guinness then for
desert we tucked into the most incredible homemade ice cream I have ever tasted
in my life...yuuuuum and a gorgeous homemade strawberry cheesecake. Delish. I
am still full. People keep telling me I need the calories to cycle Vietnam but
I think I should be losing weight in preparation for our big adventure, not
putting it on!
Monday 18.01.2010
On Monday Daniel and I went shopping. We needed
some bits and pieces and most of London was still on sale. The main problem
with still needing things is that I don’t have any room for another scrap of
paper in my rucksack, let alone new padded cycle shorts and a long sleeved,
mosquito repelling, UV ray stopping shirt.
We met Matt at lunch and got some fresh sushi
which we ate in the canteen at the Apple offices. Yum and wow. I love all
things Apple.
Daniel and I read a letter that Claire gave Daniel and I to read on the plane to Thailand. I couldn’t wait that
long as I was scared I would spend the flight in tears so we got it out to look
at. The envelope reads Moley Moley & Balloooon. These are the names we are known as by her son Helier (I am moley moley due to the mole on my neck which Helier thought was a nipple and Daniel is ballooon because we keep buying Helier helium balloons), although the other day I did progress to "Anna Anna Anna Anna Anna Anna Anna". We read through
the letter on the verge of tears but holding back so we could actually read it.
I won’t say much here but WOW, thank you guys, we really appreciate all the
love and support and we feel exactly the same. I have a few special
items with me I have been given for this trip (none of which will be left
behind, no matter how full my pack is) and this is one I will be reading at
least once a month to remind me why I am here and how amazing this all is.
Also HUGE congratulations to Elliott Hughes (my
cousin) and his lovely girlfriend Julie who had a little boy on the 18th
of January who they have named Leo. Oliver was excited to think he had his
first nephew and was looking forward to being an Uncle until Owen and I pointed
out that Leo is a second cousin and that none of us will be aunts or uncles
until one of us gets round to having children.
Tuesday 19.01.2010
Daniel got an early morning delivery on
Tuesday. Within a day of being in London he wiped something important from his
computer and Claire had to post it to us in Wapping. I can’t believe we are already asking Claire for more favours! Anyway, the package
arrived and there was a note saying “it’s not too late to change your mind and
come home”. Sorry guys...missing you already but can’t come home before we have
a tan!
Today Daniel and I went our separate ways, only for a few hours mind as I went to find a Millets and Daniel was meeting Matt for lunch. Unfortunately on my way back to the flat the Central Line, which to me is the main blood supply of the London Underground, was suspended so I decided to walk from Marble Arch to St Pauls where I caught the 100 bus back to the flat. At 6pm I left Wapping to go to Amy’s new pad in Finchley Road. Stunning! We had a delicious vegetarian Thai curry and some bubbles, good girl Amy. Amy had told me about her new place but it was great seeing it before my world tour. One of the first things she told me was that there were some foxes at it in the garden on her first night there. I gather foxes make some very strange and almost human like noises when they are being friendly and it scared the pants off Amy and her flatmate Nicky. Then I saw a fox crossing the road on the way home. Never thought I would see that in Central London.
The first thing Daniel told me when I came in was that Claire had been on the phone and apparently Helier had seen our car in the drive and went up to it saying “Anna’s car” and gave it a hug. Awee.
Wednesday 20.01.2010
Well today’s the day. Departure day has finally arrived, we are leaving the UK on a Qantas jet plane. I also received my final pay cheque from Ogier and our bank balances only go down from here on. Eek.
Bangkok here we come.
I have also just heard from mum that my
granny is definitely going into a home, which is very sad and I am upset that I am
not going to be with her for this difficult transition but she is being well looked after
by my parents and my sister Suzy. Nanna has asked me to send her text messages while i am away;
I think she means e-mails as she doesn’t have a phone but then she doesn’t have
a computer either. I am sure mum and dad will be reading these posts to her
wherever she is. Lots of love granny! I will send you some Koala teddies very
soon.
Lots of love to all, will post again as soon as i can xxx
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