Does Santa get airsick?

And so my trip to England began quite early; we were up at 2:30, and got to the airport by 5. Dad was trying to park and so did not see me off. With all the dire warnings of Security being hiked, we thought I should get through the gates as soon as possible. Got on both planes without a hitch, except the ride from Chicago to London was a little... long. I got very hot and queasy at about the last hour, but survived without having to use the airsick bag. :P When I finally arrived at the airport, it was hot!!!! Walked round and round through lines to get first through customs, then through baggage pickup, and finally it was off. Had to stay at a hotel the first night; it was late and the next day we did some sightseeing of London.

Driving in London is a "bugger"...

There were no places to park, the roads were crazy and we drove round and round trying to find Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge. You don't even want to know how long we drove about trying to find these places, and we even had a map in front of us. Nick hates London with a passion, and I hate the roads but it would be lovely if one was taking a tour bus. Basically, the roads just go with no real direction, not like roads back in US, and the signs just end, and you have to find them again. And they drive on the wrong side of the road. Glad I wasn't driving!!!!! I had several scares when we turned into the "wrong" lane, and of course then I realized it was not the wrong side (for England, anyway).

Buckingham Palace, when we did find it, and found an open entrance, was lovely. I got quite a few pics and some guys offered to take my pic by the queens statue (Nick was still trying to find a parking spot, and was rather unsucessful). I got a treat when the Palace guards came marching by, all smart in their uniform. Got a pic of that, it was quite cool. :) Nick pulled over on the side of the street and I ran to get back in the car and had a bobby come up in the car with flashing blue lights and tell me to "move along" (add a heavy accent), which she had to repeat cuz I couldn't understand her at first. Then we moved along and Nick was glad to escape London finally.

England has lots of very old and fantastic buildings; they have lots of character, its very neat just to drive through town and see it all. I couldn't possibly get pictures of everything here; its all so fascinating. I will try to get some pics tho. :)

Then it was off to an old castle to tour and explore and I used up two rolls of film just there! It was tons of fun, and I really enjoyed myself. There was alot of walking tho.

Then we got home, and watched "Meet the Parents", and then I finally crashed and went to bed. I think I am used to London time now, but when I get back I'll have to get used to it all over again.

I've just had a pickle and cheese sandwhich, it was quite good actually, but not the pickles we have back in the US. Then Nick asked me what I wanted to drink and I said I'd have an iced tea, and he thought it was the strangest request. You don't ruin tea, by putting ice in it, I guess. :P I also had black pudding and it was edible but not all that impressive, since I know what its made from. Don't ask.

Nick's dog is huge; makes my puppy look like a mouse. She's bigger than I am, and probably weighs more, and I wouldn't want to incur her wrath. She's very sweet though, and alot like my old malamute, Loyal. :) Alot bigger though!!!!

Stourbridge is quite hilly, and the houses all quite close together. The roads are very interesting as well, and a foreigner navigating these streets would get quite lost. Not as bad as London, but confusing for a Yank. :P He's got a nice little house, and he's got it easy with the backyard; its a gravel lot, so he never has to mow. He's a very good housekeeper; which dispels forver the myth of bachelors. :D I am duly impressed.

We are going to attempt grocery shopping - I brought my microwave cookbook. So it shall be another adventure, I'm thinking - Nick doesn't like to cook. But take-out and going out to eat every night will be (would be) atrociously expensive, did you know that 2 bottles of pop here is £1.75, which, Nick informs me was a sale. In US dollars, that would be roughly $3.25, or so. Well, when I exchanged money in the ATM, I paid $107 for £60. So its about $175 - $1.85 exchange rate; it fluctuates.

Oh and I HAVE to rub this in; It was 50 degrees (yes farenheit) when my plane landed, and it was too hot for my coat. While it is a bit cooler today it still much warmer than at home, AND the grass is still green and that is unheard of in December at home. So I'm having fun. :)

Got to run, will catch you later.