Okay, so I say this is my “day one”, even though classes have technically been done since last Friday (the 26th). But this is the first ‘normal’ school day (aka non-weekend) that we’ve had off class, and this is ALSO the day I’ve begun my journey for the next 3 weeks or so, hence I thought it would be appropriate to deem is “day one”. So there you are.
I planned to get up this morning around 7:30 to meet my dearest darlingest pal, Sima, for an earrrrrly early breakfast before she caught her plane to Lithuania for the break. What I did not plan was to wake up at 4:00am.
I went to bed normal-ish time, probably around 1am or so, and it took me ages to fall asleep. Thinking about the people I'm going to miss seeing over the next few weeks (and those I've been missing since September!); and thinking about all the work I procrastinated doing for the past weekend that I now will have to do when I get back from the break; and thinking about HOW FREAKIN’ EXCITED I was to start this trip!
Anyway, I barely got any sleep, but I still don’t feel tired, and now it is 2:30am…but more on how I got here later…
So I “got up” at 7:30, met Sima for breakfast, printed out my boarding pass at Johnston reception, since I didn’t bother getting a printer here (great choice!); and then I came back here, had a shower, and finished packing some last minute things. It was a good idea, because I had been awake long enough that my day seemed to last a good chunk before I had to really start freaking out about finally leaving! I called a cab, put money on my phone, picked up a thank-you card for the Robins family, and photocopied some homework to take with me (let’s see how much I’ll actually look at, though…). You know, just the last minute travel things.
Isabelle and Tugba, who have decided to stay in Aberdeen for the break, were kind enough to come to the airport with me . It was nice to have some friendly faces with me while I waited anxiously for my gate number to appear on the screens. My leg wouldn’t stop bouncing, and every other sentence would be “I’m so excited!”. After I checked and double checked that I had everything I would need (aka I assumed that I’d be able to borrow things like shampoo, towels, and hair dryer/straightener), I felt like I was ready to go. You know the feeling you get when you travel, when you think you’ve forgotten something? Yea, that feeling. That’s how I knew I was ready to go! Haha I always think back to what my mom used to tell me: Do you have what you REALLY need? (in this case, my passport, boarding pass, money/wallet, camera and paperwork). The answer to all those questions was yes. So, anything else that I may have forgotten, I could buy when I get there, if need be.
So Tugba and Isabelle hug their goodbyes and I check in through security and get seated on the tiny plane (probably capacity for about 80 passengers, but maybe only 50 on board). I chose an aisle seat, because although I LOVE looking out the window, I have the bladder the size of a golf ball and hate bothering people to get out of my seat to go for a pee. Honestly, that’s why I chose the aisle. But I was lucky today because there was no one in the window seat next to me, so it was like I got an aisle seat and a window seat in one! haha
So we left Aberdeen a few minutes late, and landed in Leeds/Brantford, our ‘via’ destination just a bit later as well, because there was massive fog/visibility problems. The plan was for the Aberdeen-Leeds people to get off, a few Leeds-Exeter people to get on, and us who were going from Aberdeen-Exeter would just stay on the plane. But nooooooooo. Apparently something went wrong, so we ALL had to get off the plane (into the pouring rain, might I add) and into a “holding room” –my thoughts went right to hostages…--and then we had to wait for our luggage to change planes before we boarded the new one. But hey, honestly, I shouldn’t complain. I’d rather know I’m safe than be wondering about whether or not I’m going to make it to my destination.
So we left late, again, and made it to Exeter safe and sound if not a bit tired (and the guy behind me was SUPER frustrated…maybe he had a gangsta convention to go to that he was missing or something…).
I got off the plane, made it to luggage claim, where I quickly spotted Anna and Heidi waiting for me! WOOOOO!! It had been 10 years (minus a few months, we worked it out today) since I’d seen them, and I was SOOOOO excited to be visiting them!!
We had a reunion hug, then started chatting away. My luggage made it alright and soon we were off to their place in Chumleigh. After a few hilarious mishaps with the parking payment (damn machines! Don’t take counterfeit coins! Who knew?!); Heidi’s hilarious driving (including parking diagonally between 2 cars parked like this ____ ------- ; an illegal Uturn, and going the wrong way on the motorway – which I wrongly interpreted as GOING THE WRONG WAY on the motorway, instead of going north instead of south or whatever. I tell you, after 6 months or so of living in Scotland, you’d think I was used to driving on the left. No sir, no I was not. I thought we were driving against the traffic…and I had a mini freak out….) Anyway, we eventually made it to where we were going with the help of Sean (the Irish nickname given to their GPS), and stopped on the way for some chinese takeout. Since it was about 10:55, it was one of the only places open, and Anna unintentionally scared the crap out of the lady working there (not literally, thankfully). Needless to say, I was laughing pretty much the entire way home. I don’t know if it’s the British humour or just these girls in particular, but I adore them already!!
So we get further and further away from the little quaint village where we got the Chinese food…and eventually we are driving through fog thick as molasses and with hedges surrounding the road on both sides higher than I stand. It was like we were driving through a maze, it was awesome!! Then we see in the distance, a little light shining on a hill in the dark “that’s our house there” they told me. Amazing!! We winded up and down hills and paths and roads curving all over the place, and we eventually arrived at the cutest looking house I’ve ever seen. Its exterior, difficult to really take in through the darkness, was only confirmed by the interior decorations. It was SO cute. Everything about it. And Jenny and Bev were there to greet me, and since their dining room has become a make-shift study, we ate on lap-tables in the living room on the couches, sharing about the past few months (this is the first time Anna’s been home since Christmas, too) and catching up on funny things.
Again, I was laughing so hard most of the time, it was amazing! I love it, love it, LOVE IT here! The house altogether is cluttered, but in the best way. You can walk down the hall and see toys from the girls’ childhood, to do lists from years past, little souvenirs from all over the world, and books ranging from well-read children’s books, to thick history volumes. This house has so much character! I can’t wait to take more of it in once the sun is out!
We finished supper, chatted on and on about much more, thought about what kinds of things we want to do for the week (the list sounds SO GREAT, I can’t freakin’ wait!!!), and then rummaged through a few boxes of things from when they were in Canada 10 years ago, and then watched some youtube videos (typical of my life, I know!! Hahaha!) Then Jenny and Bev went to bed, and I chatted with the girls for a bit longer before I decided I should go to bed (aka now I’m writing this and losing more sleep by the second….) Anna was kind enough to give me her room for the week, which is so cute, themed in pale purple and blue, with boxes labeled things like ‘Canada’ and filled with so many souvenirs, and things like her grandmothers’ gas mask from WWII and history volumes stacked on her desk. Her bed is comfy, and as I’m lying in it right now, I must say I’m getting sleepy.
I’m going to go for now, but still update again soon!
So far, so good! I am SO EXCITED for this week! Things on the schedule were a few heritage sites (aka houses, gardens, that kinda thing; picnicking; traditional English stuff like a pub meal, going to a whole bunch of nearby villages, going to the beach, supper with their grandparents (who know my Gramps!) and hopefully a trip to LONDON!!! SO excited, we’ll have to see where the week takes us! Must go though, I’m literally falling asleep typing this!
Until Next Time,
I planned to get up this morning around 7:30 to meet my dearest darlingest pal, Sima, for an earrrrrly early breakfast before she caught her plane to Lithuania for the break. What I did not plan was to wake up at 4:00am.
I went to bed normal-ish time, probably around 1am or so, and it took me ages to fall asleep. Thinking about the people I'm going to miss seeing over the next few weeks (and those I've been missing since September!); and thinking about all the work I procrastinated doing for the past weekend that I now will have to do when I get back from the break; and thinking about HOW FREAKIN’ EXCITED I was to start this trip!
Anyway, I barely got any sleep, but I still don’t feel tired, and now it is 2:30am…but more on how I got here later…
So I “got up” at 7:30, met Sima for breakfast, printed out my boarding pass at Johnston reception, since I didn’t bother getting a printer here (great choice!); and then I came back here, had a shower, and finished packing some last minute things. It was a good idea, because I had been awake long enough that my day seemed to last a good chunk before I had to really start freaking out about finally leaving! I called a cab, put money on my phone, picked up a thank-you card for the Robins family, and photocopied some homework to take with me (let’s see how much I’ll actually look at, though…). You know, just the last minute travel things.
Isabelle and Tugba, who have decided to stay in Aberdeen for the break, were kind enough to come to the airport with me . It was nice to have some friendly faces with me while I waited anxiously for my gate number to appear on the screens. My leg wouldn’t stop bouncing, and every other sentence would be “I’m so excited!”. After I checked and double checked that I had everything I would need (aka I assumed that I’d be able to borrow things like shampoo, towels, and hair dryer/straightener), I felt like I was ready to go. You know the feeling you get when you travel, when you think you’ve forgotten something? Yea, that feeling. That’s how I knew I was ready to go! Haha I always think back to what my mom used to tell me: Do you have what you REALLY need? (in this case, my passport, boarding pass, money/wallet, camera and paperwork). The answer to all those questions was yes. So, anything else that I may have forgotten, I could buy when I get there, if need be.
So Tugba and Isabelle hug their goodbyes and I check in through security and get seated on the tiny plane (probably capacity for about 80 passengers, but maybe only 50 on board). I chose an aisle seat, because although I LOVE looking out the window, I have the bladder the size of a golf ball and hate bothering people to get out of my seat to go for a pee. Honestly, that’s why I chose the aisle. But I was lucky today because there was no one in the window seat next to me, so it was like I got an aisle seat and a window seat in one! haha
So we left Aberdeen a few minutes late, and landed in Leeds/Brantford, our ‘via’ destination just a bit later as well, because there was massive fog/visibility problems. The plan was for the Aberdeen-Leeds people to get off, a few Leeds-Exeter people to get on, and us who were going from Aberdeen-Exeter would just stay on the plane. But nooooooooo. Apparently something went wrong, so we ALL had to get off the plane (into the pouring rain, might I add) and into a “holding room” –my thoughts went right to hostages…--and then we had to wait for our luggage to change planes before we boarded the new one. But hey, honestly, I shouldn’t complain. I’d rather know I’m safe than be wondering about whether or not I’m going to make it to my destination.
So we left late, again, and made it to Exeter safe and sound if not a bit tired (and the guy behind me was SUPER frustrated…maybe he had a gangsta convention to go to that he was missing or something…).
I got off the plane, made it to luggage claim, where I quickly spotted Anna and Heidi waiting for me! WOOOOO!! It had been 10 years (minus a few months, we worked it out today) since I’d seen them, and I was SOOOOO excited to be visiting them!!
We had a reunion hug, then started chatting away. My luggage made it alright and soon we were off to their place in Chumleigh. After a few hilarious mishaps with the parking payment (damn machines! Don’t take counterfeit coins! Who knew?!); Heidi’s hilarious driving (including parking diagonally between 2 cars parked like this ____ ------- ; an illegal Uturn, and going the wrong way on the motorway – which I wrongly interpreted as GOING THE WRONG WAY on the motorway, instead of going north instead of south or whatever. I tell you, after 6 months or so of living in Scotland, you’d think I was used to driving on the left. No sir, no I was not. I thought we were driving against the traffic…and I had a mini freak out….) Anyway, we eventually made it to where we were going with the help of Sean (the Irish nickname given to their GPS), and stopped on the way for some chinese takeout. Since it was about 10:55, it was one of the only places open, and Anna unintentionally scared the crap out of the lady working there (not literally, thankfully). Needless to say, I was laughing pretty much the entire way home. I don’t know if it’s the British humour or just these girls in particular, but I adore them already!!
So we get further and further away from the little quaint village where we got the Chinese food…and eventually we are driving through fog thick as molasses and with hedges surrounding the road on both sides higher than I stand. It was like we were driving through a maze, it was awesome!! Then we see in the distance, a little light shining on a hill in the dark “that’s our house there” they told me. Amazing!! We winded up and down hills and paths and roads curving all over the place, and we eventually arrived at the cutest looking house I’ve ever seen. Its exterior, difficult to really take in through the darkness, was only confirmed by the interior decorations. It was SO cute. Everything about it. And Jenny and Bev were there to greet me, and since their dining room has become a make-shift study, we ate on lap-tables in the living room on the couches, sharing about the past few months (this is the first time Anna’s been home since Christmas, too) and catching up on funny things.
Again, I was laughing so hard most of the time, it was amazing! I love it, love it, LOVE IT here! The house altogether is cluttered, but in the best way. You can walk down the hall and see toys from the girls’ childhood, to do lists from years past, little souvenirs from all over the world, and books ranging from well-read children’s books, to thick history volumes. This house has so much character! I can’t wait to take more of it in once the sun is out!
We finished supper, chatted on and on about much more, thought about what kinds of things we want to do for the week (the list sounds SO GREAT, I can’t freakin’ wait!!!), and then rummaged through a few boxes of things from when they were in Canada 10 years ago, and then watched some youtube videos (typical of my life, I know!! Hahaha!) Then Jenny and Bev went to bed, and I chatted with the girls for a bit longer before I decided I should go to bed (aka now I’m writing this and losing more sleep by the second….) Anna was kind enough to give me her room for the week, which is so cute, themed in pale purple and blue, with boxes labeled things like ‘Canada’ and filled with so many souvenirs, and things like her grandmothers’ gas mask from WWII and history volumes stacked on her desk. Her bed is comfy, and as I’m lying in it right now, I must say I’m getting sleepy.
I’m going to go for now, but still update again soon!
So far, so good! I am SO EXCITED for this week! Things on the schedule were a few heritage sites (aka houses, gardens, that kinda thing; picnicking; traditional English stuff like a pub meal, going to a whole bunch of nearby villages, going to the beach, supper with their grandparents (who know my Gramps!) and hopefully a trip to LONDON!!! SO excited, we’ll have to see where the week takes us! Must go though, I’m literally falling asleep typing this!
Until Next Time,
Beckers
xxx
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