Same same but different

Well I'm back in London. After 15 years absence. I got to thinking on the plane (at some point in my 24 hour plus journey) what the hell was I doing? Spending 6 weeks of my leave in the UK, much of which will be covering old ground. The trek to get here was as direct as nearly 17,000kms can be, But it is SUCH a long way. And uncomfortable. And more than a little scary.

BUT. Travel aside and less than 24 hours in the UK? I'm so pleased I have come. And whilst I last left London in 1996, and there have definitely been changes, everything is so so familiar. The tube. The busses. The hustle and bustle. The same old winding streets. The Thames.

I walked from my hotel down and along the Thames to meet up with good friends coming to meet me walking in the opposite direction. It was a beautiful walk along a familiar path and I wandered along quite happily breathing it all in. The sun was out, as were fellow wanderers, a few squirrels, Canadian geese, white swans. And 40 minutes later I was reunited with my good friends Lucia and Felipe. The smiles were broad, the hugs tight and filled with laughter. 15 years since we saw each other last, and it was the same as it always was.

It was a great first day.

It's nearly 3am here. I've been awake for an hour now. Jetlag of course. But with a few more hours sleep and a decent breakfast, I'll be out and about and checking the sights.

I will continue to blog as much as I can and stay in touch. I don't expect three will be many 3am posts after tonight though.

I definitely have to post about the guesthouse which is my home until Wednesday. It looks like a castle from the outside and more than needing a little TLC on the inside. And just a little bit spooky on my own!