A Tourist Again

And I'm back again - just as a tourist this time though, which has been good and hard all at the same time. 

January

My last month on student visa

• NYE and following days through off sleep cycle. Rubbish for days.
• Trying to figure out life, with all stress and no sleep.
• Finally bought plane ticket home, but learned it was on Jess's birthday... oops.
• So spent the month doing little things to celebrate her birthday every day leading up to it
• Then on her birthday I surprised her with the knowledge that I'm coming back in March
• More "hangouts" and such. Had first kiss with guy and then he decided we should just see where things go while I'm away and or when I get back. Bit tough but right call I think.
• Kew Gardens - beautiful. Wish I had explored it earlier, when we went we only had part of a day. Oh well.
• Other fun, lesser known galleries. Fun exploring with Molly and Karyn
• Molly moved back to DC, had a murder mystery dinner party thing very fun
• My fantasy football teams did rather well, 5th and 3rd places respectively
• Went "life drawing" with (Scottish) Karen and Jess - interesting experience. Think it was good for me though I'm not so good at sketching. 
• Lumiere in London, lights and fun. Too many people and we didn't see anything truly "spectacular" but it was a fun way to spend an evening with friends
• Oh, went to Cambridge again!
• Other fun adventures
• Flew to Long Beach, met up with Camilla's friend who was going to the temple, so I was very exhausted and just waited in the visitor's center, then over to Camilla's for two nights, friend and the beach. Best way to have to say goodbye to London I guess. :)
• Home again, family picked me up, there was some scare about a shooter in the parking lot but I didn't see anything, so could have been fake.
• Since then, I've been hanging out with my family, a few friends, and chatting with the guy back in London, and trying to both keep busy so I don't over think things, but also trying to figure things out, so far I'm just spinning wheels I think.

December

• Churchill Arms Thai food. Delicious.
• Cotswolds trip - amazing. Amanda tried to hide me in the boot of the car. Awesome story. Haha. Met a dog named Harvey. Beautiful place, wish I could have stayed longer.
• Back to London, had friends over a few times, enjoyed my little bit in London
• Helped take pictures at friends' wedding with Molly and Karyn
• Walked around Regent's Park. Loved it, as usual
• Had first real "hangout" (i.e., unofficial date) with guy from October, lunch in Chinatown
• Temple trip. Lost phone - but a guy from ward found it and drove it up to me from temple / zone 5/6 to my flat within minutes of me getting back from the train. Amazing blessing.
• Flew out to UT the next morning :(
• Surprised family! Brett helped me arrange it, well last minute. I didn't tell him till the day before/of
• Had lovely time catching up with family, Mom couldn't see / figure out that it was me for a bit, found out Tut may be going both deaf and blind
• T married J, I helped out some with photos. Was a good day
• Christmas was lovely, good to be home
• Bri's birthday - baking and made risotto for them to try
• Back in London for NYE, exhausted but good to be back

November

• After Spain, Guy Fawkes day, went to Greenwich and had a lovely time with friends
• Notting Hill for delicious hot chocolate, with A&C,
• Discovered {for self} the beautiful Holland Park. Never actually went back there but should have
• Went to Fortnum and Mason's for the first time, fell in love. First time felt a bit out of place but soon came to feel right at home. Now if only I could afford it...
• Christine went back to the States, she "owed me ice cream" - which she told me as she was running to catch the bus to leave me. Dramatic girl. :)
• Moved around a lot. Lost my little wire dinosaur that Brett made me before I moved. Very gutted about that still.
• Stayed with Vanya, though she went to Sweden for most of the time I stayed there
• Ran out on a party without getting caught - immediately sent a text but my friend didn't check her phone so after like 20 minutes, everyone panicked. Oops. Haha.
• Tough time in my life though.
• Lots of growth and struggle, good friends, walks in the park, helping film a student project in front of the BBC building, 
• Moved into Penfold flat at the end of the month
• Went to Cambridge for the first time. This is my place.
• Did "Thanksgiving" with Dixon and Louise, such a fun little adventure! 
• Copenhagen - very short but fun trip, stayed at a friend's house there. Loved the hygge and Tivoli, and wandering around in general. Beautiful place.

October

• We went to Iceland! That's right. Christine, John, and Karyn
• Conference... THREE new apostles were called, and I'm grateful to see the growth in the church.
• We had burritos in Hyde Park and it was delightful. 
• Bought watercolours and a calligraphy set, in order to try a new hobby and create something (since then, has been great for postcards and gifts)
• Had a mishap with garments and a broken washing machine... but eventually got it sorted. 
• Saw plays, the "Woman in Black" and "the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time"
• YSA forum thing where I hung out with one guy in particular most of the night and he "proposed" a couple times by giving me a {candy} ring... that I almost immediately ate...
• Got a new bishopric, which is cool!
• Helped friend with his business
• Taylor got officially engaged to Jenny, I heard about it sitting in the airport in Iceland waiting to go back to London

• SPAIN! with Christine - amazing trip. Loved Montserrat the most but Barcelona was so incredible. Had the idea for Hüg, we'll see if it goes anywhere.

September

• Christine Hill + Me lived on Abbey Road, up the street from the Beatles, with a black pug puppy named Norby
• We went on lovely adventures. Mostly camping trip friend time
• Louise and I climbed to the very top of St. Paul's Cathedral and it was so beautiful!!! I love St. Paul's and am so grateful I could have had it on my walk to school for a year.
• Moving in London on public transport... not so fun... but I made it eventually! 
• Oh! And we saw a play at the Globe at midnight and it was incredible.
• CORNWALL! Amanda and Christine - driving around for a week. Amazing. Go to Cornwall and thank me later.

Seaford, Dissertation, and Tube Strikes

It's been one of those months were at first I feel like nothing exciting happened, but as I start to reflect I see all sorts of amazing or crazy adventures mixed in with the struggles of writing my dissertation.

First - I went camping with some friends to a little place called Seaford. It was quite the adventure getting there. It was pouring rain, most people bailed the first night - but I wanted an adventure... so my friend and I continued on our way. We were on the train, about halfway there when we learned that our train had hit someone. The news shocked me and I had a hard time processing it. We continued to try to find our way to the camp ground, but after the shock, and standing in the pouring rain, and general confusion at the next train station, we decided to turn back and try again in the morning. So I went over to a friend's house and spent the night. Then we left early in the morning and got to camping. We set up, walked along the beach, and all the way up and over some cliffs to go see the "Seven Sisters" - we also helped my friend make a music video which was a fun experience, though I have yet to see any actual finished product. After lots of wandering and fun, we made our way back. Got groceries, made dinner, and got ready for the night. Then my friend and I went to take pictures of the stars, only to learn my lens is not quite adequate... but it was still fun. The next day decided to rain again, so we hurried and packed up, soaking wet, and went back to London. Adventure. :) Pictures are on FB!

Next, I've spent most of my time on my final research project - as would be expected. Mostly at home, I've got a nice desk and a big window, plus it's quiet. So I tend to focus for a couple hours at a time before needing a break. I've gotten really good at dividing up my time and setting daily goals, which has helped me not feel abnormally stressed about this project. Throw in the other stressors and I am borderline panic-attack some days... Ok not that bad yet, thankfully. But still. Almost there now as I write this, so much so that I've made progress on my CV and looking for housing- I get kicked out of here in just under a month... and no plans to go or stay anywhere. It's freaking me out. But it will come together. Probably. Haha - no it will. It just will be extra stressful for a while.

Oh! And there have been 2 Tube Strikes already, with 2 more planned, right over the time my dissertation is due. Great. I walked 5 miles one way, just to get to church/institute. I wish they could resolve their issues without this next strike... but it doesn't seem likely. There are a lot of mixed reviews but it surrounds the proposed change to make certain tube lines 24 hrs. starting in mid September. We'll see if it starts then or how it proceeds from here. Anyway - I wish people weren't so stubborn and or were able to resolve conflicts easier, but we're all just trying to find our way forward and sometimes that is really hard to do.

Anyway. Those are my London adventures as of late. Also looking for housing / work, is the worst.