My first trip to the UK - Saturday & Sunday

Yeah, saturday AND sunday.. I know, I'm falling behind again. Not my fault though.. I keep falling asleep the minute we get back to the house. Lots of stuff to do and lots of things to see and lots of people. My poor brain is not used to it so I get mentally exhausted. And fall asleep ;)

So.. saturday. Doctor Who day! ^^ First of we to a trip to London where we had some lunch and then went off to find the Who Store at Barking street. Love it! I really, really loved it. It wasn't huge, but they had sooooo much stuff! it was packed! I wanted at LEAST half of it! And yet they had very little Ninth Doctor stuff. But I did get some stuff, trying to hold on to my money.. but I did get some stuff ^^ And I found a christmas present for Michelle. Sometimes I feel sorry for Paul cause Michelle is the one who keeps getting pressies, but its so much easier to shop for girls, isn't it? ;)

After I was done with the shopping (I just HAD to buy the sonic screwdriver earrings!!) we went into the little museum behind the shop. And yes, it was very, very small but they did have a whole bunch of stuff. And I imagine that most of the costumes were very, very expensive. We were allowed to take pictures with a digital camera but they asked us not to post it online. Which I get, cause there wasn't a lot. worth seeing, and definitely not expensive, but if people post the photos online then no one is gonna wanna go and just buy the who stuff online instead. I don't know if that is the reason, but still..

After that we had some time to kill before we had to go back home so my chauffeur looked up if there were any Disney stores close by. I had to go there so that I could pick up some pressies for the kids and it would be a lot nicer to do that when I had access to a car compared to dragging it around London all day and then take it on the train. So we went to this huuuge shopping mall, we didn't even go through all of it. I found some nice stuff in a store called Dolly Rocker Kids, both for my nieces and for my sister who's going to have her first baby early next year. Picked up some gifts for mom and dad, and some tiny things for the kids in various toy stores. Didn't find what I was looking for at the Disney store, cause it was all sold out, so I had to make do with the next best thing. and to make it easier on everyone the girls got the same thing this year.

I also found my very, very favorite store; Victoria's Secret. Since I lost all that weight I've been having trouble with my bra's, so now I had a chance to get some that actually fit. Bombshells, of course ^^ Or false marketing as my mother likes to call it. I kinda like that description. And so did the girls at the store. Wonderful customer service as always, wonderful girls on the floor and a wonderful, delightful little thing in the fitting room. Turns out I have the same cup-size but I've gone down two sizes around. Yeay! I'm getting thinner!

After that it was time to go home and prepare for the new Doctor Who season at the local cinema in Uckfield. Some things were weird, like they were trying to connect him to much to the 11th doctor, cause there were a lot of comments and things that really wasn't necessary. We still get that its the same Doctor.
I am very happy with Capaldi, I believe he will be an excellent Doctor. I've never doubted that.
However.. What the hell has happened to the Tardis?!?!?! What did they do?!?!?! She just looks fake! The windows looks awful and the color.. The doctor got older but the Tardis got younger and faker. I really, really don't like the new Tardis! :'(

When we got back from the cinema after all the extras we got into bed and they set up the tv for me so I could re watch the episode, with english subtitles this time. Picked up alot of things that I missed the first time. Goddess, my hearing sucks..
See, they were smart enough to record the episode on the telly as well! ^^* Yeay, I'm stayin with smart people!
However, I was soooo tired that I fell asleep right before the end of the epiosde.. shame on me, I know..



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On sunday we got kicked out of the house cause the misses was going to entertain her mother so we went on a road trip! Yeay, road trip! A road trip through Sussex. At the speed of light. These Britts are such reckless drivers. I grew up in a country where there can be six different animals that jump out in front of you on your way between work and home. These people drive sooooo fast its freaking ridiculous!

But we did get there. and back. In fact I've spent quite a lot of time in a car since I came to the UK and I'm still alive.
I think.

We saw lots of pretty places and I took lots of pretty photos on our way to Brighton. Quite interesting city that one. And finally I got to see some shops that looked very british. We had lunch and walked around the Lanes for a while before we headed out to the pier. You know, that one that DIDN'T burn down. it was huuuge! freaking huuuge! They had carousels, two arcades (with minions!) and lots and lots of stalls selling sweets and food and just plain old stuff. I actually tried a crepe with strawberrys, creme and custard. (Of course I had to explain the Doctor Who connection to my driver, fish fingers and custards. Still need to try that.)

After a while we went back home, had chinese and watched Oblivion. Scifi movie with whats-his-face. Was ok, I guess. But I don't really like these new hollywood-scifi movies.

Of course I watched Deep Breath one more time before I fell asleep ;)

My first trip to the UK - Day Two, Friday

I woke up at seven but seeing as how I didn't have anything planned for the morning and the fact that I was on vacation I decided that I was going to stay in bed until at least 8 AM. .. At 7;30 I was really, really bored so I got out and started poking at things. My own things mind you. A pair of pants I had to make some improvements to. (AKA remove the Bling from otherwise perfect pants)

After getting ready we took of at lunch to go to Arundel Castle. Both Richard and Bryony came with me and it was really, really lovely. When we came to Arundel there was this huge festival (that I had read, and spoken, about) but Bry seemed to have missed it completely. so it was a surprise for her, a happy one I hope. We got some classic British Pub food, since Elin had insisted that I got that. It was all right. It wasn't as heavenly as Elin had made it out to be, but that was just one place and one meal. Next time I'll take something differently. well see.

After lunch we went over to Arundel castle, which Bry insisted on paying for -.-) and the first thing we see is this, kind of hot guy, standing on the grass with an owl flying around his head. For 2p you got to hold one of the birds and the money went to caring for birdies. I love birdies and these were quite wonderful. such beautiful birds. Bryony slipped me a 2p so I got to hold this lovely thing called Aimee. Huge, but not at all as heavy as I had imagined. only about 1kg. Though my arm did get tired after holding her up for a while. but soooo magnificent. After that we went into the castle it self. beautiful, I'll post some photos and let you be the judge yourself. You are not allowed to take photos in the castle, but you are more then welcome to take pictures in the Keep. I got some great shots of that.

After wandering around for a quite a bit my legs where seriously considering filing for a divorce so we sat down at the cafe for a while before we walked back to the car for a quick chat and then I left for the Shakespeare thing.

I say Shakespeare thing but it was quite, quite wonderful. I love Shakespeare but I've never seen a live performance before. It was Macbeth which is a first. I've never seen that performed, either on stage or on the screen. But it was really, really great. I didn't really appreciate how could it would get once the sun set. I should have brought my gloves, that I did bring to the UK just in case, and a blanket. As it was I had to get up and by a cup of hot chocolate between part I and part II. So it was rather cold which made me wish that time would fly by a bit faster, but the performance was so brilliant that most of the time I did forget to be cold. But then again, Shakespeare and his language have always had a very special affect on my brain.
So kudos to the GB Theater Company. great job guys. And I must say that Alex Gatehouse is a very, very gorgeous man. Sexiest Macduff on the planet ;)

My first trip to the UK - Day one, Thursday

I spent an awful lot of time preparing for the UK. far more so than Chicago. I had a special notebook with all the stores and castles and museums that I wanted to see. And a map. A map over London where I marked it all out. Green for stores and blue for museums. Bloody brilliant! That way I could plan what part of the city I was going to this time. So it was a very good idea. I gotta pat myself on the shoulder for that. An even better idea would have been to actually bring it with me.. Alas, it is still at home. All good though. I phones my mom and had her take photos of the list and send them to me ^^*
So there I was, on a plane to the UK, after only two days in Sweden. I cant say I'm looking forward to going back and heading back to work.. .

The trip was okay. I mean, it wasn't high class, it was cheap, that's why I could afford it. but It was all right. and it was only about two hours and 20 minutes. so it was all good. I got through security.. well, not quickly cause there was ridiculously many people trying to get in to the UK, but I did get through. and I got my luggage right away. Interesting thing about my luggage. I could actually fit basically everything except for my makeup bag in the carry on luggage. Which I then put in the suitcase. so all I really had to carry around at the airport was my purse. So much easier. and lots, and lots of room for the things I'm going to buy ^^

Rich asked me to send a text when I got my bag so that he could "stop snoozing over his coffee" and start looking for me. So that's what I did. "Wake up, dude. The bitch is in the UK." It seemed to work cause he was waiting as soon as I got through customs.

Crazy car trip back to Uckfield (Yes, I do agree with Elin. British people drive ridiculously fast) and I got to see Bryony again. So lovely. And I have managed to get by on my English pretty good. So far people seem to understand me most of the time. nice afternoon, some grocery shopping, talking, feeding the neighbors cat ;) Then it was time for bed. fairly early for me but I was rather tired. I have been quite busy the last week after all.

SGCHI Stargate Convention in Chicago Post-Con

The trip home was.. interesting. Once again, Cora and I ended up sitting right next to each other but now SHE was the one acting like a giggly five year old. Sometimes I almost thought that she was hiding a wine bottle in her bag or something. It was different, and extremely entertaining.

But it was still a long trip. A very long trip. Once we got back home, Me, Cora and the Ninth Doctor, it was time to say one last goodbye. Cora had to get on her plane to Frankfurt and I had to get my luggage and go home.

Which was easier said then done. I got my bag right away but I couldn't really get out of the airport. they rebuilt it and they apparently forgot to put up decent signs. I could get out of the freaking airport! Seriously! What the heck?!?!

So that went a little so-so.. But it worked out eventually. I found mom, get in to the car and got home, after a few stops along the way.

Once I got home it was about 11 am Swedish time, 5 am american time. I was sooo freaking tired. Tried to stay up but after a warm shower I dozed off on the couch. Woke up and let the kitty in, who was sooooo trilled to see me after five days, and then we both cuddled an slept on the couch until it was time to go to bed and cuddle there. It was quite clear that she had missed me, because she spent all night sleeping in the bed with me. Usually she sleeps in her own bed, but she had missed me.

The next day I basically spent packing for the UK trip. There was a slight hiccup and one of my friends ended up taking me to the airport instead of my dad. But it worked out fine :)

#SGCHI Stargate Convention in Chicago Day 5 Monday

I got up early, really early, in order to get the bedroom to myself so that I could see as many of my friends off as possible. I think I was down at the lobby at about 7:20-ish in the morning. The morning was kind of okay actually. I hooked up with a lot of different friends, talking about the weekend and so on.

and then.. THEN it was time for a trip on a motorcycle. Some friends of mine actually came to the con on motorcycles and one of them promised me a ride. apparently it is legal to ride without a helmet in some states but I definitely wanted one. So they were kind enough to lend me one. Now. I had thought that he was just gonna take me around the hotel but we actually ended up going for a real trip. it was awesome! Absolutely awesome! Afterwards I had four people staring at me in the lobby with huge grins on their faces because I was so happy and giddy and bouncy! I love it! I really, really loved it! We got some nice photos and then, unfortunately it was time for my friends to go home. Two of my favorite people, people I've known the longest, goes home on the same shuttle! Of course I started crying.. badly. and I hate crying in public. I hate letting people see me cry. I. Do. Not. Cry. In font. of People. Except at conventions apparently.

So there I am, trying to compose myself and I look over at two of my friends looking over at Me, looking a bit well.. uncomfortable. My thought is, "Brilliant. Big strong men getting uncomfortable because a girl is crying." That wasn't it.. once I'd gotten myself under control and went over to join them one of them starts with "I know you don't really wanna hear this but.." They're leaving too! What the?!?!

worst day ever.. after that I hang out with some friend and then my roommates decides to take me out to lunch. They let me stay in their room for free and now their paying for lunch.. really?! but they insisted.. -.-