Well, I’m sitting here at 7:20 a.m., my time, of course, all packed up, cleaned up, thrown out…basically, all ready to go. The room is almost as bare as it was when I moved in, though not quite so bleak-looking to me now. Not that I’ll really miss it, mind you, but still, I did live here for a quarter of a year, so it has become a sad little home away from home.
I’ve said goodbye to only two of my flatmates, really, which is perfectly fine to me (And which probably sounds really jerkish to you.) Tim is the only one here with me now, and if I haven’t woken him up by me repeated forays into the hall/kitchen/outer world, then he’s still asleep. Maybe. Aisha left this morning, and while I was saying goodbye, I really did regret not knowing her better. Hopefully we’ll really keep in touch, like we say we will.
All of the girls have left or are leaving–Elizabeth on this coming Wednesday, Jill and Liz on Saturday, and Missy today, though she’s probably already on her plane. She left uber early.
And I’m just waiting to get the hell back home. I’ve missed it a lot, and even though I really adore London, I think I adore NYC just as much and it has the added advantage of home being only an hour and a half away. I think I could manage living here, except for the being so far away from home thing. ‘Getting away’ is not really something I’m interested in. I’m sure Mom will be pleased to hear that! But I do love this city, and I want to come back. Soon. And take people I love with me to show them this fabulous place.
The last two days–my last weekend in London–have made me want to come home. Isn’t that sad? I should be sobbing and clutching the door while Tim and the taxi driver try to detach and deport me. But I’m not. It’s been gray, gloomy, rainy, and generally miserable London-y the last two days. That shouldn’t surprise me, because usually whenever I leave a place, it’s rainy and miserable. I like to think it’s because the place mourns my leaving. It’s better than any alternative. But these last two days have been very blah. First of all, its the holiday season, so everyone is ambling about hand in hand with somebody they love. And I’m not. (No, not a boyfriend crisis. I just miss the family. Promise.) Second, it’s the holiday season and I decided to take a jaunt through Oxford Street and Regent Street on Saturday, after my incredible visit to the Wallace Collection. Talk about a mood killer. There I was, all happy about the incredible things I’d seen, and it was dark and raining and cold outside, and tourists and Londoners alike were mobbing the streets, trying to stab me with killer umbrellas, and generally make my life miserable. Well, prob. not, but they can be downright vicious when sales are involved. Third of all, I went to Greenwich yesterday, which is one of my favorite places in London. I managed to get Dad a present (yay!), plus other little somethings for other lovelies in my life, as well as a massive hoard of chocolate. I also went up to the Royal Observatory, which was cool. Did the Prime Meridian thing, which isn’t quite such a big deal as my overactive imagination had puffed it up to be. You don’t feel different standing on either side of that brass line on the ground. Just angry because the tourists all around you A. don’t speak a drop of English, B. are as aggressive as pit bulls in the Philadelphia suburbs, and C. are mean, nasty individuals who glare at you for being in there way when they step into *your* ‘look, my feet are on either side of the line!’ picture! And yes, I did take one. I would have asked someone to take my picture in front of the Prime Meridian sign, but, um, nobody spoke English and the tourists kept thrusting me out of the way.
I mean, I know I’m a tourist, but gosssssh. Pushy American? I think not!
So, really, I am extremely glad to be going home, and everybody keeps asking me, which is funny, because I think that’s been my answer for the past month. So, it’s about 7:45 now. Half hour more, and I’ll be heaving/pushing/kicking my bags down the steps, returning my keeps, and hopping into a cab. Keep your fingers crossed for my timely arrival, lack of difficulties checking bags/picking up bags/going through customs, which for some reason I am profoundly nervous about. Yes, profoundly. I’ll see you all soon!
Much love (and the last love! Oh look! If I thought hard enough about leaving, I could probably squeak out a tear.) from beloved London and horrid, horrid, abominable Flat 14, Creed Court, Westfield Way, East Gate of Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NY.
I <3 London (but not exactly my circumstances in it!). P.S. David and Goliath has the BEST I <3 London shirt! Too bad it’s 20 pounds, which is $35 USD, which is freaking ridiculous!
Again, with love from London, Britt.
xox.
<3
