my personal site and travel log
I’m back, almost exactly one year later …
I’m a bit tired, a bit shocked and a little overwhelmed with where I go from here. But, regardless, it is good to be back in Seattle. I’ve really missed this place.
Later, I’ll post more about my better experiences in Florida, with adventures thereabouts. I just can’t right now. Must rest … more jetlag … ugghhhh.
A bit jet-lagged, yes. A bit culture-shocked, definitely. Glad to be back? Yep, so far … 
But I could have easily stayed.
My brain and energy and enthusiasm are still in Europe. I’m a bit overwhelmed with the transition, I think, and have moments where I really don’t know what I’m going to do next. My bank account tells me I need to pick up some freelance work immediately. My travel bug tells me I need the next new adventure. But all I can and want do right now is relax and rest and readjust. I’m not in a hurry to do anything. So much has changed and so much it going on, it’s hard for me to do nothing with people to see, places to go and life to live.
I’m staying at James’ house, and it is a great place to veg-out - high-speed internet, plenty of dvds, music, beer … it’s also not near anything and without transportation here, I’m going nowhere fast, which is ok for now.
I had a great last day in London. I left Jim’s place about 8:30 Sunday morning and made my way further west to the Brentford area to stay with Sarah, who I met at Kerry Alternative Technology in Ireland. She graciously offered to put me up for a night! We ended up hanging out most of the day, chatting, eating chocolate croissants, cooking stir-fry, etc. She had a penny-whistle lesson/course to go to in the afternoon, and I chilled out at her place while she was there. Then in the evening I met her in Hammersmith (on the way I encountered some interesting flooding) and we headed to South Bank to meet up with some friends of hers.
I had a great time with them, and it was a nice way to spend my last night. We walked along the Thames, stopped off at a bar near the Globe Theater for a drink and then had dinner at a great Turkish restaurant called Tas Pide. Good stuff!
After eating, we all walked a bit more along the Thames and came upon a rave of sorts. The tide was out and there was quite a crowd out enjoying themselves. Quite a cool scene. We joined them, only taking in the scene briefly, as Sarah and I had to run to catch the last train from Waterloo to Brentford.
We chatted a bit more, had some tea and I showed some photos from my wwoof adventures. I wish I had more time to spend with her! She’s beautiful and interesting and I think we have a lot in common. I had to get up early the next morning to catch the train to catch my plane. Which, I did without a problem and even got a free train ride because I couldn’t buy a ticket! All the automated machines take only chip and pin cards. I did find one cash/card machine, but it only accepted COINS! I’m guilty of dodging fare - come get me! ha ha … It was only 9.30 GBP, so I didn’t skip out on too much.
The flight was smooth. I ended up sitting by two cool people. Ruth is an almost 30 web designer from Scotland and Mike is a teacher from Embry Riddle in Daytona Beach, FL. Virgin Atlantic is such a great airline! They keep you well fed and well hydrated are very attentive and the entertainment options are pretty good too. It definitely makes travel nice.
We arrived a little early. Customs was easier than expected, thankfully. There was a slight mix up with who was picking me up - I was looking for Lynn and Jeff and James comes walking up! A surprise, but good to see him and Sam, nonetheless.
So, that brings me pretty much to now. It took me most of the day to write this post. I started it almost first thing and got sidetracked so many times during the day and had to take a nap in between. I tried to join WWOOF USA, and did, I think, but their web site is pretty crap. I didn’t even get a confirmation email! I thought about offering to help, but I really am not sure if I want to do any web design at all. Maybe it’s just my jet lagged mood right now.
I’m off to my sister’s place in Minneola tomorrow and it will be great to see them and little Cam. I’ll be closer to other friends as well, Darin, Ryan and David, so it would be easier and quicker to see them as well. I definitely still need sleep!
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.