U I vethed na I onnad.

It is slowly starting to actually sink in: I'm leaving here in six days. I've got six days left to be in the UK. To be in London. To be a stone's throw away from continental Europe. And while I've honestly missed everyone and missed New York and baseball - I feel like I just got here. Isn't it strange how that happens? I've been here for two months and some weeks, and I feel like I just arrived yesterday. I feel like I should have more time. But the worst part about leaving so soon? I'm GOING TO MISS THE PREMIER OF DOCTOR WHO SERIES 3!!! *sob*

On a side note, the Tally of Baseball Team Sightings as Seen in 10 Weeks.

48 50 Yankees caps, 1 Yankees tote back and 1 Yankees jersey.
4 Boston caps.
2 Tigers caps.
1 2 Mets caps.
1 Diamondbacks cap. (Hey, deviliknow: What in the good name of fuck is a Diamondback ;P)
1 Astros cap.
1 Dodgers cap.

And every time I've resisted the urge to ask the person wearing said cap if they were American. I think I deserve a pat on the back for my display of will power.

And finally: I have but two papers left to write, and one of those is half finished. I'll be glad when this is all over.

I have just been to see the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. Oh, it was beautiful. Naturally, the locking of the tower has been an issue since the tower was built - not least because it used to be a prison complex. Now, as the tower holds the Crown Jewels, it is no less important, but it has evolved into a formal ceremony for viewing. There is something quite ghostly about the timed stomping of the guards and the jangling of the keys coming towards you along a cobbled road, let me tell you. And so much better for it being 22:00 instead of broad daylight when the tower is crawling with tourists taking photos. There are no photos allowed during the ceremony, and silence is required of all viewers. I could go and watch it every night if I could afford the tube tickets. Simply wonderful.

A quick little thing to show you my bohemian life, ( in which you can see the evil that is the oven/stove thing. )

Well, I'll tell you the wind is blowing something fierce out there. This day alone the wind's been so terribly rough and howling it's pushed in rain, driven it back out to give us sun, and now it's driven in more overcast clouds though it remains dry. It's quite strong enough to knock a person over; I saw it happen just while walking back from the supermarket. It's enough to make a body want to stay safe inside one's flat, though I'd thought perhaps to revisit the V&A for pictures. Ah, me.

In theatre we've moved on from the Irish plays (The Seafarer and There Came a Gypsy Riding) and into Shakespeare's Twelfth Night or What You Will. We'll be seeing it on Tuesday, I believe, and I'm quite looking forward to it. And this Saturday I'll be attending the first of the concerts for my music class - featuring Benjamin Britten's Spring Symphony, which should be quite a treat. I'm also going to see if I can't find my way to Portobello Road for the street faire.

Today was sunny. Sunny. There was sun in the sky all day long - it never got covered even once while I was out. So tell me, have large cracks started appearing in the earth back home? Because I'm fairly certain this isn't normal.

Of course with it being so sunny, I had to go out. Vampirically pale though I may be, there was nothing short of disease that could keep me from exploring London without needing an umbrella and water-proof boots. So out I went after having toast and tea, and decided to stop at Starbucks for a treat (I've been really, really good - I've been once today and once for my birthday; nothing in between). Then I decided that I needed to re-visit the Victoria and Albert Museum (across the street from the Natural History Museum) and see if the exhibits that Grandma and I saw almost four years ago were still there and mostly the same. They were. But now there are gorgeous new exhibits that weren't open four years ago - Islamic and South Asiatic art, for the most part, and a whole series of European art from 1400 to 1600. My plan is to go back with my camera and take pictures of everything - because holy shit were some of these set-ups wonderful. Especially the European porcelain, primarily French and German with some Italian, and the furniture. The cafe is even something to gawk at, what with its main dining area matching the facade of the building and the rest of it being stark white. Not to mention the aroma coming from the bakery.

After wandering through the halls of the V&A for about two and a half hours, I decided that Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (which are really just continuations of each other) would be the perfect place for ambling through slowly. And was I ever right. They're so very huge and rambling and beautiful - rather like Central Park in many ways, but without the closed-in feeling that the sky-line can give you. It's all open, and spans a branch of river as well as having many big ponds. I walked the width of Kensington Gardens, as I wanted to see the Peter Pan statue and the Italian fountains, and then walked half the length of Bromley Road. The road is home to exhibitors displaying their original paintings, oils and watercolours, and occasionally jewelry and figurines. Towards the end of the road is another gate way which I entered so as to cut through the park and thus make my way home a bit shorter. And what did I do while I was there? I walked straight onto the grounds of Kensington Palace without even realizing it. You can do that, you know, and have tea at the Orangery - which I have every intention of doing next weekend. There is also a shop in the palace. Of course, I hear you say, there's a shop for every attraction ever; but this shop is quite tasteful. There are none of the cheesy little erasers and key chains and pencils that make up the wares of so many other stores. This one carries replicated tea sets and Christmas ornaments and ink-wells and lace coasters; all things that I'd buy in a second if I could afford them. I didn't stay to look at prices, so I shall have to go back and hope that something is within my budget.

So, I found out that there is a working microwave in the lounge. I thought it was a mini-oven. At least this means no more risking life and limb for hot chocolate.

Tomorrow there is a Russian Winter Festival from 11:00 to 18:30 in Trafalgar Square. It's the third one, so it's a fairly new tradition, but it looks like it's certainly a tradition given the pictures of the crowds from last year. They're going to have ice chess with human-sized pieces, so I have every intention of going. It'll probably be the most excitement I see all weekend.

I took a quick jaunt to the natural history museum today and spent two hours browsing through dinosaurs and an exhibit on the human memory. The human memory was far more interesting than the dinosaurs.

Also, I have determined where the Sherlock Holmes museum is and how to get there. I plan to go on Wednesday.

I may be going to Barcelona in early February. I have to wait for a confirmation from my parents before I get too excited about it, though.

And finally: My vacation pictures. You can get to the album of them via clicking on this picture. Beware. There are a lot of pictures.

(Follow the wannabe cut, follow the wannabe cut, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the wannabe cut)

Holy shit! Breaking news, people: There is sun outside my window - as in the clouds of England have parted overhead and OH MY LORD there's light!

That is all.

Except not.

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes. Considering there was no party and it was just myself and Dana at a bad Italian-wannabe restaurant, it was a really good birthday. My parents got me the Rat Pack collection DVD set - it has the original Ocean's 11, and Robin and the 7 Hoods and 4 For Texas. I'm very excited about this ♥ They also got me Fargo - which I can honestly say I'm not sure why. I've seen the movie, but it's never been a particular favorite of mine.

My school also switched the schedule around, not because of me but because of professor conflicts, and so though I normally have class until 5:45 on Monday, I didn't have it at all, making my birthday celebration possible. Quite nice of them ;)

( movie meme )

Huzzah for London, for I am here!

I have no idea why I just wrote that. Anyway. Moved into what is to be my new four-story-walk-up home; at least for the next ten weeks. I'm not on the fourth floor, at least. ... I'm on the third. And there's a small mezzanine. And I had to carry my two bags up, and my laptop, and let me tell you I'm going to have some fantastic legs by the time I walk out of here.

The room is rather like a hostel room, as I have a bunk-bed even though I have no roomate. There's also a closet tucked into a corner by what used to be a fireplace (now it's blocked off), so only one of the doors opens fully. I've got a mini-fridge, a microwave, and a sink, and enough dishes for one person. The laundrette prices are fantastically ridiculous, so I'll wind up having to either wash half my clothes by hand or hope to get a job. Similarly I have to either eat out or cook for myself. Hello Mac n' Cheese.

Before I can start putting pictures up, I have to find an electronics shop and buy a proper adapter - the one I have doesn't fit the plugs in the room. Hopefully I'll find that within the next week, as for the next two days I have orientation, and classes start on Monday. Currently I'm in the computer room, listening to something that sounds kind of like coins dropping or a high-hat. It's a bit annoying.

Not much else to report, so I'll finish here. 'Till later.