These are the things that have to be done in order for me to get to London and be sane:
- DONE - Get Hair Cut
- DONE – Pay Bills
- DONE – Balance My Checkbook
- DONE – Do laundry
- DONE - Obtain a London Guide
- DONE – Pack for a week
- DONE – Figure out what I want to take on the plane with me or not
- DONE – Get some new jeans and warm(er) clothes (London is cold.)
- DONE – Buy my third niece anything that is Panda related (birthday coming up.)
- DONE – Buy my Mom something for Mother's Day
- DONE – ship Panda and Mom's gift
- DONE – Upgrade iLife on my Macbook (named Rufus)
- DONE - Get moleskin watercolor journal (the best for drawing on the plane.)
- DONE – Clean the house <– I hate coming home from a trip to slightly messy.
- Run by the bank (ended up not having to.)
- DONE – Run by the post office
- Possibly run by the office office for an impromptu meeting if Alan wants me too. (ended up not having to.)
- DONE – Go to the grocery store and get trial size stuff and other stuff
- DONE – Look forward to seeing friends and meeting new ones!
- DONE – Figuring out how to jam as much sightseeing in as I can.
- DONE – Remind everyone that my birthday is in 9 days (the 14th) ::: laugh :::
- Remind Madonna that I will be in town (she never responds for whatever reason) (it's a joke folks.)
- DONE – And of course pray: Pray for the meeting I am going to the first few days, for God's will to be done for the whole trip, that I can adjust without much jet lag and that I don't have long flight freakout.
And you know I will be blogging, twittering and facebooking as much as possible. Live blogging London? I don't know how live it will be … but it will be done .
Now, hasn't your life been dramatically changed for the better now knowing all this? ::: OFF TO THE RACES ::: MEEP MEEP :::
UPDATE 10:11 pm - Everything is packed except my toothpaste. I am looking forward to the adventure. I also added the picture of the Panda I got for my neice.
London is a bit colder than usual for May – certainly colder than Florida
But it’s a good time for crowds and site seeing.
Madonna might be out of town but her ex-husband’s “mockney” pub is still here – with Madonna’s photo on the dart board (only joking).
Great. I was told today by a family member that it is a GREAT time to visit London.
I think I will take a pass on visiting “mockney”
Hmm. I miss England. If you idn’t live about the same distance from me as you do from London I’d ask you to get me shortbread. Yumm. plus, if you havet he chance, you should try Asda’s ice cream (the kind in the cartons). It’s got a different texture than American, but it’s really good. Kind of like softserve. (You can get it from Tesco too).
You are the second person to mention Tesco. Alan was telling me to get “Digestive Cookies.” He said it was shortbread with a chocolate layer on one side.
. Everyone is recommending something there 
.
I have a feeling I am going to do a lot of eating.
England has really good food involving sugar. Other stuff, not so much (although it’s kind of comfort foodish, so I like it when I’m in the mood for it.) Actually, cottage pie (or shepherd’s pie if you prefer lamb) is really good. Stews. Potato items. Pasties (often pronounced without the long ‘A’). Fish and Chips of course. Plus those Asian kabob places with the rotating meat thing. Various meat pies. It’s ‘meat and two veg’ eating. Although I have to admit British food has improved loads over the last ten years or so.
Oh, and try roasted parsnips. And roasted potatos. And yorkshire puds if at all possible. See if somebody will have you over for Sunday dinner, or something.
My comment disappeared?
That sounds good to me. The only thing that freaked me out was learning that Blood pudding was really blood.
I will have to try and keep this all in mind ::: scribbling notes :::
I think I see all of them. All the ones I was notified of.
My whole browser (internet explorer until I get my laptop back) appears to have just had a bit of a hiccup. I had to restart the whole machine.
Digestive cookies is one of my favorite cookies. I think it’s also loaded with fiber which is why it’s called Digestive cookies. But they’re really good.
And also, sorry but … I forget which State you live in but I do remember that it’s one of the hotter places to live. It makes me wonder what kind of winter you have there.
I’ve never been to London but I have heard it’s beautiful there. I hope you enjoy your time there and that what you need to accomplish there will be accomplished.
Got a chuckle from the clean house thing. Don’t mind it being a little messy while I’m here but if I’m going out of town for a few days, want to return to a clean house. Especially with regard to the kitchen. Years ago returned from a trip to a sink full of dry dirty dishes. Never again.
Yep, every grocery store in the UK has a huge range of cookies (biscuits), chocolate and other sweet stuff.
The ‘traditional’ dishes aren’t always that good (unless you go to a more expensive restaurant or bistro pub). Fish & Chips is very hit and miss affair – KFC is a more reliable comfort food option! It’s always fun to try the traditional dishes though.
The most popular British food is Indian – but you have to head out of the main tourist areas to find really good restaurants.
You can always find superb food if you are willing to pay sky high prices!
I have been told by a couple of folks to go to the Crown & Rose … or is it Rose & Crown and get fish ‘n chips there.
I can honestly say that there is very little Indian food I like.
Sarah, I live in Orlando Florida.
Uh … yeah. Back in the old days I came home to find my two room mates had turned the apartment into something like hell. It traumatized me. I am not a clean freak by a LONG shot but … I just like things to be a little straightened up when I get home.
Get some Garibaldi biscuits!
Also suggest Busaba Eathai for Asian fusion cuisine on Wardour Street.
And, cute panda—your niece will love it!
One of my colleagues who handles our London stuff says the sun is shining and summer’s coming! So this should be a really nice time to be there—cooler than Fla., but still nice.
I just got into the city center and it is gorgeous here. Regents park is PACKED.