Last Days In The L-Town (For Now)…

It’s been goin’ on 3 days that I’ve been back in the ‘Boro–and it feels almost as if I had only dreamt of London and the Worrell House…

But it wasn’t just a dream my friends, and in my last few days there (for now), I tried to live it up a little…

So Tuesday night, we (minus one) sat down in the back garden with with Tap-Daddy (as some were wont to call him) and his wife, enjoying fine conversation, wine, bread, and sticky toffee pudding (which is one of the most delicious desserts I’ve EVER tasted–I’m seriously making that this week)…

That Wednesday, we had our exam (not too strenuous), and afterwards, I decided to go out and about on my last full day (for now) in this marvelous city…First, I made my way to the Palace of Westminster (a.k.a. The Houses of Parliament), where I went on a scheduled tour of the inside of the building…Granted, this isn’t the most spectacular building I’ve ever seen, politics don’t interest me at all, and the whole systemic governmental nonsense my tour guide was explaining went in one ear and right out the other–however, it’s nice to say I’ve actually been inside the building, and not just taken pictures of Big Ben (once again, no pictures inside could be taken–but that’s why I love the Internet)…

After the tour, I enjoyed some afternoon tea (with an awesome piece of coffee and walnut cake)…Then, it was time to shop…Where exactly, you may ask???…

…Covent Garden Market!!…

For those of you who don’t know, Covent Garden is this area in London where there’s a lot of high-end luxury shopping–I’ve been in the Burberry, Swarovski, and Chanel stores there (sadly, I couldn’t actually buy anything [someday, Betty, someday])…It’s also the home of the other St. Paul’s Church, the eponymous market, and lots and lots of street performers…

…like this guy…

O.K., so I didn’t do that much shopping within CGM (read: champagne tastes with bottled water money)–rather. I limited my purchases to one store in particular:

…Lush…

Now, Lush is a U.K.-based cosmetics company that specializes in organic, vegan, non-animal tested lotions, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, bath and shower products, and facial products…They don’t have as many stores in the U.S., but according to one of the employees there, they’re working on expanding, opening I-forget-how-many stores a week here…And OMG, it is one of the best-smelling stores I’ve ever been in!!…

I got these two bubble bars…

They’re called “Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds” and “Dorothy”, respectively, and they’re supposed to give really Old-Hollywood movie-style bubble baths (I’m excited)…And, these little miracle workers…

Photos Courtesy of: http://www.lushusa.com/

These are Lip Scrubs, and I got one in Bubblegum and one in Popcorn…They’re exfoliants that you can actually lick off after you scrub them–and being the lip balm lover that I am, I had to have them…

Oh, and it was really nice playing with the eyeshadow/lip color/blush…

I ended up having dinner in Borough Market at this Italian joint…While the food was a bit lackluster, I discovered something amazing…

…The Bellini, a classic, classy Italian cocktail made of Prosecco and peach pureé…A fine way to toast off my last night in Europe (for now)…

Finally, Thursday came, and I had to jet out…Hence, after breakfasting on Thai food…

…stocking up on Cadbury to stow away in my suitcase…

…and enjoying my last (legal) alcoholic beverage until November 22 (some really good pear cider) and a Croque Madame sandwich…

…I flew out of Heathrow at around 5 p.m., back to The Old North State…

Note that throughout this post is the repeated refrain of the words “for now”…That’s to say, while I have left London, I know I’ll return someday (I don’t know how–I just know)…However, unless I come back as an assistant or dependent of a Resident Professor, it’ll likely be my last time in the Worrell House–which makes me quite sad…I’ll miss the libraries, the rickety staircases, the lush garden, and (perhaps most of all)…

…Jacki, our fiery, yet nurturing, Scottish-born housekeeper–she may be tiny, but you wouldn’t want to pick a fight with her…

However, while I may never live in Worrell again, as cliché as it may be, I’ll carry it with me always–after all, one can never forget their first time in London (unless there’s dementia)…

In regards to this blog, I have no idea when exactly my grand adventures will start up again–after all, I have my last year of college to finish first…However, you’ll be sure to be hear from me sometime (relatively) soon, whenever my post-graduate life adventure begins…So, until all that tosh is sorted out, deuces, my friends, :-)!!!!