London

Got back from London just before 6 this morn, slept till about quarter to one!

So arrived at Victoria Coach Station at 7.20am on Sat morn. One way or another Kate and I didnt manage to get to the hostel till about half 9ish - instructions from tube station were rubbish and it was further than we thought so caught the 381 bus. Dropped off our stuff and tubed over to Olympia for 11. Went to the '12 question to unlock a foreign culture' 'Wine and language learning' and 'Spanish fiestas' talks (missed out on the yummy 'talian feast' one) Had a panino for lunch in a nearby cafe. Visited most of the stalls - language schools, translating companies, educational booksellers, TEFL institutions etc and around half 4 ish we caught our 4 tubes back to the hostel. Went to Chinatown for tea and then were supposed to be meeting Rhys Darryl Ruth and poss someone else for drinks round oxford circus. We went to The Argyll Arms and since the others hadnt turned up by midnight when we got kicked out, we were so tired and in need of a comfy bed and a decent no of hours sleep that we just went back to the hostel.

Up at half 8 yesterday morn to catch the end of breakfast (Kate left on the 9am bus so I was on my own). Headed to Olympia for the 10.45 talk on travel, working and abroad and using your langugaes from some guy from the lonely planet. Rhys et al apparently left on a bus around 4 but I didnt see them at all yesterday anyway. Entertained myself revisiting a few stalls and left there about one to find some lunch (jacket potato with chicken curry in a cafe just round the corner - yum!) Reasonably priced as well, I thought - for Kensington!

Headed back to hostel for a quick internet session before reading through the ridiculous amount of papers Id acquired over the last 24 hours and chucking away the pointless ones, while sat in the cafe/bar bit of the Hostel. Then decided to brave the sun avo tubes so briefly visited Westminster, Sloane Square, Hyde Park Corner (where got a dodgy cheesburger from a stand) Covent Garden (where got an 'award winning' cornish pasty for my early tea!) Walked from there to Piccadilly circus to catch the tube via a brief stop at London Bridge back to the hostel. En route around half 6 ish I got a text from Tony inviting me out dancing for an hour before my megabus. Given had been trying all weekend to get hold of him to no avail I was peeved to be receiving news on my way back to the hostel fo the day! Decided I could not face more tubes back into the centre to go for food with him as his later voicemail suggested before finding some scary London Salsa club. Didnt want to lug my case around any more than I had to, and Id already eaten anyway! So settled for a beer in the hostel bar while reading Simon's manuscript - hilarious!!!! Around quarter to ten I left hostel to navigate my way to the bus station, assuring Tony via Facebook as I had no credit that I would go dancing in 2 weeks time (Sun 18th) when I will also be in London!

So, yeah, this time I didnt manage to see Tony, Angie, Rui or Hels - so have to see them all in 2 weeks plus Mrie-Pierre!