Christmas in London

New Years' Resolution: Update my blog more often...maybe!!?? Once again, sincere apologies for not updating the blog more often, I must do more travelling and sight-seeing so I can do more writing.

So, Christmas in London. I finished school on the 19th, with great relief and was looking forward to 2 full weeks of sleeping, eating, touring, and just overall enjoying my time off. On the 20th my cousing Erika came for a week. We had a great time and were able to see lots of London that I had not done properly yet. The timeline goes as follows:

Saturday 20th December: Erika arrived at my place shortly after noon. We had a great time hanging out and talking. I was preparing for a small Christmas party we were having that night as Charlotte (housemate) was going home to France for Christmas. We had a wonderful time full of great cocktails, great food, great friends, and a couple of interesting rounds of pass the parcel.

Sunday, 21st December: After sleeping in, Erika and I hit the tourist trail and began our adventures in London with a day at the Tower of London. While there, we went on the Beefeater tour which was absolutely amazing! Our guide was great, and the information he gave us was so interesting; it really humbled me as I realized that I was standing in the same place where the famous and infamous characters of history stood. We then walked around the tower environs for a few hours, touring the royal jewels, the torture chambers and everything else we set our eyes on before grabbing some Subway and some Ben & Jerry's and heading home. Once in Upminster, we met Matt and went to his family's church for the candlelight service. This was basically just a program full of carol singing, readings, and music. It was a really great way to put me in the Chritmas spirit.

Monday, 22nd December. Shopping. Erika wanted to do some shopping, so we went to Covent Garden and all over. As I had no money for shopping I tried to lead her in the direction of some of the major squares in London. Recognize this one?? That's right, it's Piccadilly. We sat just around the corner and had a bite to eat.

Tuesday, 23rd December. Today we walked everywhere in complete awe of everything around us. We started at the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben, then moved on to Westminster Abbey, through St James' Park to Buckingham Palace where we were in time to see the gaurds. Then we moved on to Hyde Park where there was a Christmas Fayre with a German style market. I bought a great hand bag!! Thanks Grandpa (I used the Christmas money he sent;)

Wednesday, 24th December. Today was a relaxed day at home. Erika and I just veg'd out all day, then got ready for a night out in Upminster. We (Gill, Erika, and I) started with a drink in the park - we were too early for the pub, so we got a drink and went and sat in the park till the pub opened. Then we went into the pub and met a bunch of friends for drinks. After that we went to a Chinese restaraunt for supper. Good food, good friends, what more could you ask for?!

CHRISTMAS DAY!! Today we went to Gill's brother's for the day. It was a really nice day, however this was a really hard day and I was incredibly homesick. It just didn't feel like Christmas without my family around me.

Erika left on the 26th and the rest of the holiday was spent relaxing and reading.