Around 8:15 it turns out I ended up asleep and was the last one awake, I lay in bed with mom and Eli in mom’s room while Eli read aloud the blog posts I had written the night before. We then hungrily and hurriedly, or not so hurriedly got dressed (dad took a shower) and ready to go to the market for breakfast. I had no idea there Saturday market was SO BIG! We ate and drank fruitfully we had smoothies, hot chocolate, apple cider, and juices. With a full stomach of tasters we began to walk along the river Thames there we saw Big Ben, London Eye, many bridges, and lots of boats.
We got to vendors who sold stuff from jewelry and watches to scarves and christmas tree ornaments on a higher level we heard a band and watched people, I started running out of patience for the people we were meeting when dad got a text they were on their way. we waited and I to played Cut The Rope on my iPod. They arrived there were two girls one a little younger than Eli her name was Emma the other was 5 months older than Eli, Exactly 5 months older. Her name was Abby. We ate at Wagamama then had a treat while we played on rock sculptors Over by the rock sculptors we had had fun sliding down on a hand rail, then went on a simulator Abby and Emma seemed to find it amazing, I found it OK, but I’ve been on a Smithsonian jet fighter simulator.
Then we headed to the Big Ben and London Eye, we stopped in a nook by the subway. Abby, Emma, Eli, and myself tried flipping pence, jumping off the steps, and just looking at the rivers murky waters. Finally we found a game we enjoyed-to a extent sliding down the bump infested railing. There were blueberry sized bumps on the railing to discourage sliding down, we make a game of trying to find a way down the railing without being hurt by metal bumps. Then it was time to go home we said good bye for now and got on the subway home.
It is probably my final update for the “night”. It’s still dark out and I think I am the only one awake. 6:25 AM for me is 8:25 PM for you so, nighty night
All the time now went the house is quiet I think I hear the jingle of Cali’s collar almost call her to me then I remember she isn’t there, and it’s just my imagination sad really. I MISS CALI!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is now 4:09 and I can’t sleep because I think of the nap I took in the Cub Quarters Hotel room I’m think of quietly going up stairs and having some left over pasta from last night Sorry I know this must be insanely boring but I need something to do
I love my dad but every time I hang out with him he just reads on his iPhone ! I had to do something, so I tested. I tested ignoring him, he ignored me. I tried asking him questions, he didn’t hear me. I talked to him and demanded his full attention, he didn’t give it. Them I found one that worked! I just bring my iPod and if it wasn’t busy take it out before he took out his iPhone and some sort of alert went out.
“I thought we were walking together!” He would say
I knew I had won! That walk his iPhone stayed in his pocket, my iPod in mine. Sometimes it was not to be, his iPhone was out as soon as we ordered in the busy NY cafe, I pulled mine out and got busy but his attention was not to be had. But during that time I often get unfinished work done, or read. 🙂
It is 2:15 AM and I have been awake for around 45 minutes I just can’t seem to sleep, I tried laying still\ just laying eyes closed, my retainer hurt so I took it out, I’m hungry but don’t want to scary mom and dad by going upstairs and I don’t know if we have any thing to if I did go upstairs. Finally I grabbed the laptop, checked and replied emails and posts. Unfortunately my room is the only room that doesn’t look outside, it only looks at the other windows and walls in the apartment, so when I tried looking out the window, something I did at out hotel in NY and back at home all I saw was wall and window. something strange I found was one of the light of a room was on and the blinds where not pulled. 2:25 now I still don’t know what to do other than write. hope 2 post again soon!
Leanne took first Eliana then Emeline down to see a bit of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. After I finally finished packing up at the hotel then set out for The High Line, a park built on a bit of elevated railway. On the way we got to walk through the cleanup process in Times Square, followed by a subway, a bit of really good pizza, a walk (and sometimes run) through about 15 blocks of the park, then subway back. We had a great time and I have to give Leanne all the credit on this one: if it had been up to me we probably would have been at the airport seven hours early instead of the 3.5 hrs we actually had. (And while that 3.5 hrs might seem excessive, a bit of fun & games trying to get more money on a prepaid debit card at TravelEx managed to use up a lot of the extra.)
At the airport it was my turn to be The Man. Platinum status meant we could check extra bags, take the express lane through security, board before the plebes, and pass Leanne a free drink ticket. I believe the girls were impressed by the demonstration of the power of affinity marketing programs; for me it was almost like take your daughters to work day, a chance to share something that has been a large part of my life but that they normally can’t see.
Most of my flights to London — and I’ve had over a dozen — have been from California, so flying from Newark at only about 5 hrs flying time seemed a cakewalk. Or it did until Eliana passed out. She passed out in the lavatory and came back (understandably) in tears. We comforted her and she slept laying across Leanne and I, a half-full flight allowing us the use the entire middle row. She was fine eventually but the first hour or so after she returned was the most nervous I’ve ever been in a plane.
On landing we had a long wait in the immigration queue then caught a taxi to take us into the city. Emeline hadn’t slept on the flight but in the taxi the excitement gave way and the girl slept. I dozed a bit as well while Leanne kept watch and watched the houses and fields and buildings and lanes and everything else roll by. On arriving at our hotel — which we only had pending our flat being available after 2 pm — my suggestion to have everyone go for a walk was soundly voted down and the family slept through the middle of the day.
Getting all of our bags from the hotel de jour to our flat was comical. We had not only the 6 bags we’d checked for our flight, our 6 carry-on items, but three very large duffle bags I’d stashed in London from a trip here three weeks ago. Somehow we managed to cram the four of us and the 16 bags into a black cab and go the 1/2 mile to our flat and begin making ourselves at home. After living out of my carry-on bag for the last three weeks I couldn’t believe all the crap I had in those extra duffles. Who knew I had so many socks? Does anyone really need 3 jumpers and a sweatshirt?
Stuff unpacked it was Leanne’s turn to be the hero again, taking advantage of the move-in food supplied by the servicing company to prepare our first dinner in England: penne pasta with sauce; choice of OJ, water or tea to drink; shortbread biscuits for desert. Not fancy, but very welcome.
A bit of relaxing time, a shared came of Puerto Rico, and now everyone is in bed. And though I’ll need to give them up in only two months, I have keys once again.
We made it we are here in London. It is a three bedroom apartment, two stories high (bedrooms and bathrooms down stairs, kitchen and living space upstairs) Eli and I have our own rooms, men is smaller and hers much larger, BUT when guests are here they get Eli’s room. For every bedroom there is a attached bathroom, and there is a half bathroom. The only problem with this lay out is there are no bathrooms upstairs so if during dinner you got to use the restroom you have to go down the steep stairs.
