A long time coming…
I have had such a good weekend, especially because it has been a 3 day one. It is always nicer to have that extra day, it makes such a difference.
My friend came to stay with me this weekend – only this wasn’t any normal friend – I haven’t seen this girl in 5 years! She was my best friend when I lived in Portugal and since leaving in 2007 I haven’t seen her once. We were always to disorganised, but she got in touch at the beginning of last week to say that she was booking her flight and heading over to England for the first time ever. I didn’t quite believe it until I met her at London Bridge.
She hasn’t changed at all! So much has happened in the last 5 years and we have tried to keep each other updated but we slipped into talking just like we used to. Being Dutch of course her English is impeccable (doesn’t everyone else in Europe speak perfect English?!) It puts me to shame really – I don’t know a single language and she can speak fluently, or at least have some knowledge of at least 5.
I made pie and mash for dinner (typically English!) and then we went out that evening with some of my friends, we took her to a pub and made her drink pints of cider – she struggled saying that our glasses were far too big, I don’t think anything of the size of them but I suppose they are quite large if you are used to always drinking halves as standard. We went out to a club afterwards and got home at about 4, bloody knackered!
On Saturday I had tickets to see the Dr Who Exhibition with a certain other blogger who I may have mentioned meeting before – see boys and girls, you can make friends on the internet without them turning into rapists/serial killers etc. etc. Leigh came along, as did my friend (who had no prior knowledge of Dr Who and who actually had a really good time despite not knowing a thing!) We got to ride in the Tardis, although only children were allowed to fly it – much to the dismay of the male company (do men ever stop being big kids?) We stopped for lunch afterwards, at of course a pub, which was very pleasant after all the football fans had left.
We went shopping in Oxford St in the afternoon, I swear I want to just punch everyone who just stops dead in the middle of the street. It is a nightmare on a Saturday but we persevered and I came away with a few things (loving being rich for the moment!) Off to the pub again to meet some more friends and we were so tired by the time we got home. I made some pasta and we watched Dr Who – my friend’s first episode and she loved it.
Up again the next day – full English Breakfast of course – and then off on a site seeing tour! We walked around London all day stopping at Buckingham Palace, Big Ben (which thoughtfully chimed just as we walked up to it) Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, The Thames, The Globe Theatre, and St Pauls (along with the massive eye sore of the tents set up there.) It was really lovely to go around London with somebody who has never seen it before – it made everything seem new and exciting for us as well. We went back home and I cooked a Roast Dinner complete with Apple Crumble.
Last day (yesterday) and with Leigh back at work, we decided to go to have (another) pub lunch, I had scampi and she had a massive burger, I was going to suggest a Sticky Toffee Pudding to finish the English food weekend but we were both stuffed. We then went to The Globe again and took a tour which is something that I have never done. It was lovely to see how the theatre would have looked and I fully intend to go back when there is a play on and be a ‘groundling’ standing up and getting involved. Shakespeare really was ridiculously talented!
We then rushed over to the airport and had a huge hug promising not to leave it 5 years again. I bloody hope not or I will be 29 and that’s quite a scary thought!
I am now ready to collapse – who needs the gym when you become a tour guide. I’d love to know how far I walked this weekend! Still it fully made me appreciate that London really is bloody brilliant J
xxx
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