About to leave the land of Eng for the land of Fin

I had a fabulous time with Liz - once she'd had a chance to clean herself up from her long trip from India and got a wash on, we went shopping for the most amazing roast I have ever eaten.  Liz, you are a gem!  Beautiful roast pork with potatoes, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato mash, parsnip and very yum gravy.  i don't think I've missed anything... oh , it was delish!  We ate quite early, about 5, and sat up chatting until about 10.  By then, Liz was about to collapse, so I went and hit my sack - but was wide awake (I think it was the very full stomach) so finished reading Russell Brand's My Booky Wook - autobiography of a comedian who has been extremely self destructive with drugs, alcohol and women.  Easy and quite interesting read.  I'm half-watching celebrity big brother (I'm a wee bit tragic), and I've just seen my first Easter advertisement for 2009 - Jan 14, I guess that's not bad!  

In the morning, we rose quite late, about 10, and had a few cups of tea and lots of talking whilst Liz got ready for work.  It's been so fabulous seeing her, she's so lovely.  Overall, I have to say I am been very much enjoying this whole trip and catching up with so many wonderful, wonderful people. 

So, speaking of which, Liz dropped me at Oxford Station, which is near where she works.  It was the absolutely most delightful drive through the countryside from her place, and I had just enough time to grab a ticket and get on before the train left. A very scenic trip back to London, then several tubes/trains/buses to Chingford for one last play with Dylan and goodbye to Claire and Kev.  Then, in to Soho to meet Heather and Scott for a lovely Italian meal. Heather and Scott had not met previously, and extremely weirdly enough, they were one or two years apart at the same school!  Ha!  They got along very well, as I thought they would.  Nice people are just nice people.  And back to Clapham Junction.  I sat up watching telly with Scott and Marcus until they, saying goodbye as I won't see them tomorrow, went to bed. I stayed up a while longer.  When I went to bed, I couldn't sleep.  I was very awake, but feeling jumpy and edgy for some reason.  For a lot of Tuesday morning as I did some last final sightseeing and shopping, I felt a little feverish and hot, so I hope my cold is not coming back worse... fingers crossed!

Tuesday morning, I got up and pottered around, then headed out.  Went to Mornington Crescent for some photos, then went to London Bridge, walked through to Tower Bridge and around the Tower of London, then in to Piccadilly for a bit of book shopping and got a few silly souvenir type things.  Then, feeling a bit off and not great, I headed back to Clapham Junction to have  bit to eat, and have spent about the last hour sitting on the couch.  Dukes is expecting to be home about 7, I'm going there tonight to crash before heading to the airport in the morning.  It's 3:44, so I've got a little bit of time, going to check out accommodation in Japan and see if I can't arrange tickets for the Sumo wrestling whilst I'm there - awesome!   Not sure if it will match up with the fun we used to have at North Melbourne town Hall hotel, but I guess we'll see!