Well this is my last night in London before I head to Europe.  Les and Carmel have been such gracious hosts and have really looked after me. I haven’t posted much from this week here because I really haven’t done a lot except chill out and sleep! A few times I have thought that maybe I  need to get out and see the sights. Knowing that everyone  thinks that I am having a grand adventure and that I need to post evidence of this, almost felt like a pressure. However, the truth is, that I have had no inclination for adventure at all, and I have just felt the need for rest. I have hit the “sads” several times but they have just been moments that have passed. I don’t  intend to wallow in any negative emotions but sharing some of the tough times I’ve  had with Les and Carmel  has brought  a few tears…

It has felt surreal at times to be here in a different country with different weather and different faces. Walking the local shopping precinct is like diving into a bag of licorice allsorts with so many different cultures represented. Melbourne ain’t got nothing on London for cultural diversity! I love the fact that every shopkeeper you speak to wants to guess if you’re from New Zealand or Australia as if there’s some sort of prize for guessing correctly!  One lady even asked me to say “six” and “fish and chips”  just to check what my accent was!

It has been nice actually, to just be here as part of a normal family and their goings on and not be the tourist. Even the few outings I’ve had to the parks and shopping malls I have felt more like a local than a tourist. There was nothing really touristy about Chiswick House, where we went yesterday.  Yes it’s an historical house with an interesting past and owner but the surrounding gardens are really just a nice place for people to walk their dogs or lie in the sun. I did, however, love the size of the trees and the lush green foliage everywhere and walking down some of the overgrown tracks it did feel “oh so English!”

So tomorrow  I board the Eurostar early in the morning. I will cross the chunnel to Brussels. Originally I  had hoped to catch up with some of the exchange students I’ve had the pleasure to know,  but they are all away on holidays so I have decided to go  onto Bruges instead. I have no idea what i will do there but I will make it up as I go along…