A Stealth Visit

I have a confession. I was in the UK last week and hardly told a soul. I'm so sorry, but I found our last trip home super stressful. I saw lots of folk but didn't feel like I got to properly catch up with anyone. I was just a bad friend.

So on this work trip, I just went to work, saw the fam - on both sides - and the Kids in Crofton Park. I didn't stay anywhere for more than two days in a row, so it was typically hectic but at least I had some 'quality time' with a few people, so I don't feel so awful.

Here's the lowdown of the trip:

Food
As good as the food is here, the Vietnamese and Turkish food isn't as good as in London. Consequently, I had Vietnamese three times (pho twice). I only had Turkish food once, but the lamb shish I had lived up to expectations. The other thing I ate the most was good ol' fish and chips, which I had three times - fat cow!

A Small Town
My friend, S, is moving back to Oz and was due to come out dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve with the Kids and my sisters. Unfortunately, she was poorly so couldn't make it. Miraculously, we bumped into each other by Bank station the following day. How crazy is that? I hardly ever take that route to work, as it takes way longer than taking the orange line, but I guess it was fate. I also bumped into a couple of other folk, but that was by HOP so less interesting.

Literally a Small Town
The thing that really struck me going home this time was how small everything is. The tubes are small; the platforms are small; the roads are small. I was impressed by the skill of the London bus drivers as they manouevred their mega-buses through tiny gaps, but annoyed by how close people were standing next to me. (I appreciate that's because there's not much space).

But Then Again...
London is also a big town, most evident when I travelled from sister, C's house to sister, J's house on a 45-minute bus ride followed by a journey involving a replacement bus service from Clapham Common up to Old Street, and rounding the evening off with a bus then train journey down to Crofton Park. Aside from the bus and train journeys, all journeys on foot seemed to take 15 minutes. I'd forgotten how much time you have to spend travelling in London.

Working from Home
The purpose of my trip home was for an all-staff, two-day offsite in Limehouse. Most of my colleagues that also work remotely said similar things to me; we were struggling with being back in the office and interacting with so many people. I really struggled with the over stimulation and was relieved to have a few hours by myself at the gym. It might also have been because I was doing something normal and mundane that made me feel better. A little bit less like I'm a tourist or observer and a bit more connected to London life.

Final Day
I had a great last day, which was great and bad. I had a full English at a local café. The sun was shining and the Kids were all on form. Good food, good company, great atmosphere. It made my departure bittersweet.

So long London, I'll be home soon.