Things in England are going very well. I’ve been doing a lot of cycling and walking, which is great.  So far Megan and I have only gone running once, but here’s hoping for tomorrow morning!  We’ve been very busy, so I haven’t had time to write in my blog every day.  Plus, it seems like we’ve been staying up very late to do things (I think I was up until 1ish or 2ish three nights in a row!).

One night (I have no idea which night…. Friday, I think) we went out for Sushi at Zen.  It was fantastic.  Megan and Mac thought I was silly for taking pictures.

Saturday Megan and I went to an Indian Mela Festival downtown.  We both had delicious food, but mine was WAY too spicy.  I can see through time.  We also went to a mini health fair where we had our BMI, Blood Glucose, and Blood pressure taken (mine were all excellent - Megan is close to death).

After the fair, we had to run over to meet some of Megan’s work friends.  They had free tickets to the Southampton Saints football (soccer) game versus the Amsterdam Ajax.  It was the first time Megan had ever been - and talking with her friends, she seems to be the first to go!  Oddly enough, back home I have a scarf for the Ajax that my friends Sean and Anniek from Amsterdam gave me.  Good thing I didn’t have it with me.

I really like how the seats spell out “Saints.”

Megan, her co-worker Hannah, and Hannah’s husband, Dave.

At the game, they had security AND police officers protecting the fans of the other team.

Megan and I were both very surprised that fans weren’t allowed to drink on the field.  They had to drink their alcohol in the inside, where they bought it.  This is very weird for us, because at baseball games, they even SELL beer on the field.  There also were no vendors shouting “Hotdogs here!  Get your hotdogs!” or anything like that.

Sunday, Megan and I volunteered at the Big Lunch.  “Basically, it’s a party in your street, in everyone’s street. On 19th July we’re asking the people of Britain to stop what they’re doing and sit down to lunch together. Why? Well for lots of reasons really but mainly to put a smile back on Britain’s face.”  It was quite fun, and Megan and I met these two wonderful Muslim women.  Megan might tutor one of their four children, and we went to the other woman’s house for tea!  We were all talking about marriage, and sex, and she told us a lot about Muslim culture and religion that we didn’t know.  She was a Muslim woman, but was aware that in these days, her sons probably wouldn’t be able to wait until they were married to have sex.  She was very realistic.  It was a fantastic time, and we stayed and chatted at her house for two hours!

That night, we went to Hamptons where Megan’s friends were putting on Log Jam, which is a music and artistic improv night.  They bring all the instruments, markers, crayons, and paper, and everyone else can play music, and make art!  It was very fun, and a lot of her friends were there.

Barny drew this of Tom (he was wearing face paint), Megan (who looks Asian), and me.

Mac showed up a bit later wearing the Brew Fest shirt that I brought him.

Megan made this drawing for me.  It’s true!!!

On yesterday’s flight from NYC to London, the plane was only about 70% full.  The staff said that it was just an off day, but it made it awesome for most of us traveler’s, because we got to stretch out, and even lie down!  I was able to sprawl out on three seats, and actually fell asleep.  It was fantastic.

I took an earlier bus from London to Southampton, so Megan and Mac came to get me a bit earlier than midnight.  I met a nice chap on the coach, and he let me use his mobile.  He was very nice, and when the call didn’t go through, he said “Send her a text!”   He was saying he couldn’t wait to get home and have his last cup of tea, and I giggled, and said, “That is SO British!”  And he said, “It is, isn’t it?”  It was great.

After we got home, I unpacked my one mini suitcase that had loads of food in it.  I gave Megan all of her things that she had asked for, and gave Mac the Brew Fest t-shirt I got for him!  After unloading everything for Megan, I had an empty suitcase!  Then, we set up my bed, and rearranged the furniture a bit.  Megan and Mac’s flat is a disaster!  It is mostly Megan’s fault because she has a load of crap everywhere, and Mac keeps trying to get rid of a bunch of things.  I told Megan that I would help her clean up a bit, and she said “We can do a Clean Sweep!”  Clean Sweep is a TLC show where you take out EVERYTHING from the rooms that are cluttered, and put it on the lawn.  Then, you make three piles:  Keep, Toss, and Give Away.  You’re not allowed to have a ‘maybe’ pile - and usually the people only end up with 50% of their things!  Then, they have a huge yard sale, so they can pass on their crap to others.  I don’t think we’ll empty her house, but she has a lot of organizing to do.

My internal clock woke me up this morning at 7am, even though Boston time it was only 2am!  Megan and Mac are both at work, so they’ve left me here with my computer, a map, house keys, keys to Megan’s bike, and well wishes.  I’m still kinda tired, but after I wake up a bit, I’m going to grab the map, her bike, and my messenger bag and hit the streets!  Megan suggested that I ride over to the common to practice riding, and I said “yeah, cause I really need to practice riding a bike.”  And she agreed.  Then, I had to say “Megan.  I don’t need to practice riding a bike!”  She asked when the last time I rode was, and I told her that when Mike was here for the Longsjo, we were all riding our bikes around.  Sure, I wasn’t riding IN the Longsjo, but I don’t think I need practice riding a bike.  Megan said that I was free to “give it a go”, and just remember to ride on the left side of the road.  That won’t be too hard, because I’m used to running on the left side.

I’ll be sure to take photographs!

I leave for England bright and early tomorrow morning.  I have to be at the airport for 5am, because my flight leaves at 6am.  Somehow my 9am flight got moved to 6am, and instead of London, I’m now heading to NYC.  But that’s ok, cause I only have to be one hour early for a domestic flight, rather than two hours early for an international flight.

I’m debating whether or not to go to the midnight showing of Harry Potter tonight.  The pros:  I will get to hang out with Jessica, and get to dress up, PLUS see Harry Potter.  The cons:  I won’t get any sleep, and will have to try to get crappy sleep on the plane.  I will miss inflight movies because I will be trying to sleep.

I’m leaning towards not going - because getting 6 hours of good sleep is better than 6 hours of really crappy sleep in the middle of the day.  Plus, I can still dress up for the 7th movie.

This is not the first time I’ve been to England (many people have asked that) - I believe this is the third time.  I went and stayed at Megan’s old house, where she had many roommates, and then I was there last summer when she got married.  So I believe this is the third time.

I should be packing and getting ready - but I’m just spending time on the internet.  Now I’m going to make lunch and eat outside while reading.  I am 90% done packing, so that’s a good start.

That is my itinerary for my summer trip to England this summer.  Last August when I went, I blogged that I wasn’t there long enough.  Well, this trip is FOUR WEEKS long.  That’s plenty of time!  Megan and I are planning on going to Paris, and also to Belgium.  The only reason for Belgium is because I looked at a map of Europe and looked at what was physically close to England.  We could also go to the Netherlands, but I’ve already been there!

What else is awesome about this trip is my flight.  The other times I’ve been to England (three times now, I think), I always left at about 6pm, and got to England around 6am.  Everyone was just ready to start their day, and I was exhausted and wanted to go to bed.

This time, however, I leave at 9am, and get to England at 8:45.  I’ll probably arrive at Southampton (where Megan and Mac live) around 11:30 or so, which will be 6:30 my time.  Since I’ve been traveling all day, and probably had to wake up early, I’ll probably be ready for bed soon after I arrive.  Then, I will go to bed with everyone, and wake up refreshed with everyone.

Then, on the way home, I get to spend the afternoon not rushing to the airport, and perhaps can wander around London (or not, since I’ll have my luggage).  Then, I’ll arrive in Boston at 8:35, and home to Fitchburg by 10:30, where I will be exhausted, and again, going to bed with everyone else.  It is the perfect trip, time wise.

Before booking the flight, I asked my parents “Now, I don’t have anything to do this summer, right?  Nothing I’m going to miss?”  After all three of us decided that there was nothing we could think of this summer, I booked the flight!  $717, and my parents paid for it as my early graduation present!  Now, I just need to start saving up spending money so Megan and I can travel while I’m there.  I want to start doing more babysitting, and possibly more hours at Macy’s.  I also talked to Megan about babysitting for one of her friends in England while I’m there, to earn some pounds while I’m there.  I wish there was something I could do for part time work while I’m there, but I don’t think there is.

Now that I’ve booked my flight and I know when I’m going, Megan and I can start to book our trips very early.  That way we can save money!  I’m also going to get a young person’s rail card so that way I can save money on taking the rail.

I am soooo excited!  I also just found out that a family friend’s daughter (who is 15) is going to Europe and is going to be in London on July 15th.  On the 17th, they’re doing a Harry Potter tour.  I would LOVE to do that trip!  They’re going to look into seeing if I can do the trip too, and that way I can check up on the teen.  It’d be fun to see someone I know, PLUS, Harry Potter is my favorite.  If I don’t go with her, I will definitely do a tour some other time.

Their apartment is very small.  It has a living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.  There are two smallish hallways…. but they’re very tiny.  Here is the living room, which includes the futon where I will be sleeping.  I slept there last summer while I stayed at their house for their wedding.

That is the wine from their wedding, but this summer Mac and I will have our own awesome drinking collection.  Megan doesn’t drink so it will just be the two of us!

Hopefully it will be sunny, so we can wear sunglasses every day!