I’m winding out the last of my European adventure in London. Luckily, one of Jim’s neighbors has generously (or ignorantly) left their wireless point completely open. I’m trying to take the opportunity to catch up on uploading photos and possibly post my last blog entry from Europe. Here’s the last photo of me that’ll probably be taken from Europe – this was at the Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland.
My visit to London will only be two days long by the time it’s over, but I will hopefully be able to see most of my friends here, including some new acquaintances. Tomorrow I’ll be hanging out and staying with Sarah, who I met at KAT in August. And, I’ll be trying my best to meet up with Christina, if only for a quick cup of coffee in the afternoon. Today I met my old chap Trevor at the National Gallery and we had lunch and strolled around the British Museum for a few hours. I had wanted to try to see the Terra cotta warriors exhibit, but it was sold out. After we’d had enough culture for one day, we went to the Museum Pub and had a pint. It was great to see Trevor once more and say goodbye. I hope it’s not the last time I’ll see him, but he is old and I don’t know when I’ll be back. We’ll stay in touch at least.
After that I headed back on the tube and Jim and I went out for a tremendous meal at a local restaurant in Chiswick called FishWorks. The food was great – we had a whole baked sea bass and misc. starters and sides. It was yummy, and after a day of missing breakfast and a late lunch, I really enjoyed it.
My last day at Greenhill Farm was good. Mary’s father Bob showed me how to stack the peat turf neatly for storage (following the peat tossing/loading from the day before). I packed a couple 15 Euro vegetable boxes for pickup and helped harvest for an order delivery. It was great, but I probably would have enjoyed it even more had I not been excited and nervous about leaving in the evening. I had a little bit of stress trying to figure out where I was going to stay in London, though. I had called Trevor to arrange a stay at his place, but in the end I wouldn’t have been able to get the connections right to hop on the tube to get to his place. Luckily Jim (old room mate from Seattle) came through again and let me crash on his couch for a couple nights. His excellent girlfriend Michelle is coming into town tomorrow, so he’s obviously kicking my out, and I’m willingly leaving, so they can have some alone-time.
The journey from the farm all the way to Jim’s went well, though. Getting from Stansted airport to Jim’s was probably the closest I’ve ever been to stranding myself inadvertently – I just made it on the train in time from the airport, and I just made it in time to catch the last tube to make the last connection out to Turnham Green on the District Line. It was all just in time, and Jim was even waiting for me on the sidewalk near the underground station waiting for me.
John and Mary were very excellent and generous wwoof hosts. They even stuffed a few pounds in my pocket as I was about to leave. Shannon, their 11-year-old daughter even waved 20 Euros at me just as I was leaving, but I had to refuse. They really took care of me there, and the farm was such a great learning and inspiring experience, it was difficult to leave. I will say it was easier than I thought it would be to actually leave, but I think it’s mainly because I have an important flight to catch and I’m looking forward to being in the states … yes, I said it … I am looking forward to being in the states. I have a great idea of what I want to do, and I am really looking forward to doing it.
Anyhow … it’s late and I’m not thinking the best about what to say. It seems like this post is a bit discombobulated because of my fatigue. Everything is cool, though, and other than getting to the airport on-time for my flight Sunday, I’m all set. Lynnie is picking me up from the airport! Check out my flickr page for hopefully all the latest photos.
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