Weekend in London

OUR WEEKEND IN LONDON

We had a wonderful weekend in London. Although the weather wasn’t the greatest…we didn’t let it stop us. On Saturday we got up early and went down to Leiscer Square to buy theatre tickets. If you buy them the same day you can get some really good deals. We decided to see Blood Brothers, which is a British musical about Twin brothers separated at birth. It has been running for 27 years here. It had been recommended to me by a couple people, but non of us had ever heard anything about it. The production was absolutely amazing, we all really enjoyed it. After we bought the tickets we waked through the parks, starting at St James park and Buckingham Palace and ending in Kensington Park at the Princess Dianna memorial. It was freezing that day, but we had so much fun walking around the parks. They had a Christmas set up in Hyde park with a skating rink and lots of little rides for the kids. We then walked back to Piccadilly Circus for dinner and then went off to the Theatre. It was a really long day, but it was so much fun. We were all exhausted by the time we got back to my flat. Mom liked London so much that she decided not to go to Paris. They decided that they would rather stay here and see more of London. I was really excited because it gives me more time with them! =) On Sunday we slept in and relaxed at my flat in the morning. It was poring down rain in the morning, so it was nice to stay inside in our PJs and relax. It rained off an on all day, but in London you can’t let that stop you from going out. So in the afternoon we went down to Richmond and walked around the little shops there. I wanted to show Mom and Joanne the area around where I live, so that they could get a feel for my town. They really liked the downtown Richmond area…Mom said that she approved of me living here. After Richmond we took the train down to Westminster Abbey for the Sunday evening Organ Recital. On our walk to Westminster we saw Big Ben and the Parliament…it was absolutely gorgeous at night. We got to the church early and Joanne mad friends with an older chap named Rob who took us around and gave us a nice little tour. It was kind of eerie walking through the dark halls in the dark and rain with tombs and grave stones all through out the halls. But it was amazing to see how long ago the tombs dated back to. Rob said that there were grave sites that dated back to the 13th century. After we walked around the church we went in for the recital. Every Sunday evening they feature an accomplished organ player who gives a 30 minute recital before the Evening Service. I can’t describe the feeling you get when you sit in the Westminster Abbey and the echoes of the organ ring through the Church. It was breath taking. We didn’t stay for the service because Mom didn’t want me to be out too late since I had to work in the morning….At least that was the excuse that she gave!!! =) I let her use me as an excuse!

Here are pics from our weekend. Hope you enjoy!

Friday Morning - Just arrived into London waiting for the Bus to my flat.


Friday Night at Picadilly Circus

Picadilly Circus - Christmas lights in the street

I told Mom to do a funny pose...and she told me to pucker up!!! We were laughing so hard we couldn't pucker...and almost wet our pants!

In the Tube station...acting silly!

Saturday - Our journey through the Parks....

Waiting for the Tube

This is a Militery building in St James Park. We watched the changing of the guards.

Buckingham Palace

The gates at Buckingham

Green Park

A weird looking bird in Green Park.

Hyde Park - Christmas Fair

Crossing the Bridge to Kensington Park

Joanne and Mom and the Princess Dianna Memorial

Sunday - Richmond....This is my neighborhood


Sunday Evening - Big Ben and Westminster Abbey

The Parliment

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Back to London

My first blog since being back in the UK.

It was really hard for me to leave home, but once I got here I felt better. It will never feel like home here…but it felt familiar and good to be back. I miss everyone so much already, but I am now feeling like I don’t have a lot of time left here, so I am trying to make the best of being here instead of focusing on all that I miss about home. I think it is easier because my Mom and Joanne are here this next week and then Michael comes 3 weeks after that. So I won’t be alone the whole time! =)

Work has been really busy, I have been assigned several new projects, a couple really fun creative projects. So I am looking forward to working on those. It is nice to get back into the routine here. I really love working here…it is going to be hard to leave.

My birthday in London has been wonderful! This morning I picked my Mom and Joanne up from the airport. It was cold and drizzling…it was great welcoming weather for them! It is suppose to snow on Sunday…so they are in for a treat! I’m not sure they realize how much it means to me to have them come out here to visit me. I am really looking forward to having them here. It would have been very difficult to be here alone for my b-day and Thanksgiving.

When I got to work they had a little party for me…they even bought me some Gluten Free, Lactose free cakes…they tasted pretty good too! It was so sweet of them to do that for me.

This is me with my cake

This is Dawn

Marcus with his doughnut (they didn't eat my glueten free cakes)

This is Tom

Mel and Simon feeding Dom.

This is Stuart presending to pose with Miro who was out on vacation. Stuart and Miro are our engineers and you usually don't find one without the other.

After work I came home and Mom, Joanne and I went out to Picadilly Circus for dinner. We walked around for a bit to take in the London night life and then went to a steak restaurant for dinner. It was such a wonderful day. Thank you to everyone for the calls, cards and gifts, I really appreciate everyones thoughtfulness. You have all made this a birthday that I will never forget!

I will update with more pictures later...my camera is charging right now!

I will continue to fill you in on my adventures this week with Mom and Joanne, I’m sure we will have loads of funny stories to share!

Love You all!