I am finally in London. :)
Felt so at home here, it is like I have lived here forever and just returned from a holiday. This experience is so different from the experience I had when I arrived here as an 18 years old, thrilled at the same time terrified.....cultural shock was huge....coming from what was known at that time as third world country into the first world. But, not this time. Woohoo!
Got a grilling by an immigration officer and it goes something like this:
IO: what is your occupation?
Me: retired
IO: What is your purpose for your visit here?
Me: visiting daughter and holiday
IO: WhT is your daughter's nationality?
Me: Australian (what do you think! )
Io: what is she doing here?
Me: working
Io: does she have a working visa?
Me: yes
Io: are you sure?
Me: her firm sponsored here (thinking aloud..sure I am Sure, ......)
Io: what is your country of resident?
Me: Australia (helllooooo!)
Io: how long are you going to be here
Me: 8 weeks approx but will be travelling in Europe for part of the time
Io: when will you be leaving for Europe?
Me: (beginning to think I am not welcome here and was tempted to say "listen mate....why this ** grilling...do I look like I intend to become an illegal immigrant!) I have to consult my travel itinerary.
Io: and I need to see your return ticket
Me: 19 June handing over travel itinerary
Io: that is approx 3weeks but you stated in your form 8 weeks (sounded somewhat menacingly and accusingly)....
me: well i did intend to depart from London)
io: well it is three weeks and you will be going through this again (so don't suppose you are going to get a warm welcome here look)
Me: sure (tempted to say reply in a cheeky manner but bit my tongue)
Io: is your country of resident Malaysia?
Me: I am just stopping there for a couple of days (duhhhhh! What makes you xxxxxx think that?)
Io: stamped passport and didn't say a word after that.
Me: welcome to Great Britain me!
Crickey! Do they welcome all tourists like that or only those that are Asian looking and disguised as Australians! Lol
Next time I will wear a t-shirt that says "looks are deceiving but I am a true blue Aussie"
Got a warm welcome from daughter which is the main thing. And, surprise, surprise, it was 18 degrees and the sun was shinning. Woohoo!
Daughter immediately said let's go for a walk (after dropping off suitcase). Shouldn't have bothered as everything was a blur to me as I was more interested in catching up with her. But, walk we did.
After a great night rest, daughter insisted that we go to The city. I said that I was happy just to be with her. But, she insisted but before we did that, we had to have a walk to Richmond park, then of course, stopping in the pastry shop for some well earned sustenance. Then, Off to do grocery shopping.
Met a tc which I previously met online at Richmond station and off we went to London city. We walked and we walked from Waterloo station to Buckingham Palace. Stood and gawked at the guards. Stopped in front of the gallery to watch the LSO rehearsing. Saw the protest march of the murder of Lee Rigby Nd felt like joining in except daughter wouldn't let me. We visited Leicester square and decided to buy the half price tickets to "one man, two guvnors". Laughs till my ribs ached. We managed to get two tickets for GBp 29.50 and one for Gbp 37.50. Divided the total price into three and have a lucky dip. Fortune shines and I won the lucky dip but to be honest the other two tickets were just as good. The pricer two seats next to me were empty and my daughter and J could have sat next to me.
After my recent experience with TCFH, one gets a bit wary with teaming up with a tc but with J, it was like we have known each other forever, three of us got on fabulously, had a great laugh. J and I are now planning to get up early one morning to queue for a GBP12.50 ticket to a west end show just for the hell of it. This is what you do in London right. Hope to dine on this experience for days, ie should we be lucky to get the front row seats. Lol
Resting today and yup, the true Brit weather is alive and present. Lol
Off to Windsor castle for us tomorrow. But, meantime, appreciating the quiet and peacefulness of the english suburb whilst munching on M&Ms for breakfast. My diet is improving by the minute. Gin & tonic for breakfast on Saturday, Almond croissant and apricot pastry for breakfast yesterday and M&Ms today. lol
