The Angel in Heels

Hello Dear Readers,

Last week was super busy as Chris's mother, aunt and cousin came for a more or less surprise visit (i consider less than a weeks notice a bit of a surprise). They stayed with his Cousin in Guildford for most of the time, but spend Saturday night at our place since all of our housemates were gone.

They came up in the morning and we took them out to Kew. Being typical Cypriot woman (and built for comfort - not for speed) we opted to take the Kew Explorer around which is a tram that takes a 60 min spin around the gardens - at 10 mph. We saw most of the highlights and managed to make it back to the train before it started raining.

Here they are standing at Kew Bridge before we got onto the train.

After that we took them to eat at their first foreign restaurant - the Slug and Lettuce, a little gastro pub chain that's on the high street. The London prices and London portions amazed them, as did the fact that no bread was served with the meal. How do we live here!

Laster that night they wanted to head up to Shepards Bush to go to the huge mall that opened up last fall as Christiana wanted to get some boots. This was annouced at 6 pm, and the mall closes at 9, and it takes a good 45 min to get there, but hey, they were guests. We narroly managed to get the 22 bus to Putney Bridge to get the 220 (note: Cypriot woman are not used to husteling, but the bus driver was VERY nice in waiting for them to mosey across the street). WE settled in to the top of the bus as it started to drizle and made our way up Felsham High street. 1.5 HOURS LATER WE HAD GONE 1.5 MILES!!!! TRaffice for some reason was at a standstill (later we learned that an accident had closed the A4, a major highway, and all traffice was divertey to where we were). After sittin g30 min and going literally nowhere, we decided to get off the bus and try to catch a bus back. As we got off the bus we could see the 220 goin the other way stopped across the street. I ran for it, but, well, as I say, built for comfort not for speed. No matter, we'd just wait for the next one. Me and 5 Greeks. In the dark. In the, now pourning, raing. For 1.5 hours. Again. I thought I would die there. I would never see my bed in Putney again. Finally an Australian girl arrived, fully decked out and dressed up to go out, waiting for the bus. We started chatting about our optinos. Try to run for it in the rain to the nearest tube station? no good, thte tube was too far, and anyway the line that ran to our apartment was closed that day. Call a cab? Someone else had tried 3 times and they were all out. Walk home? Not with 3 slow Cypriot women at night in the rain. Finally she managed to flag down a cab, YES! All 6 of us smashed illeglally into the back and the cabbie nervously took us to the end of our street, and the Australian Angel In Heels (her name was Lauren) went off to her house party in Clapham Junction. What a relief! I don't know what we would have done if she hadn't gotten that cab, because everyone was thinking well we have waited this long, another 220 must come soon, but I don't think it ever did. What a hellish night. Here is a picture of a wet and miserable me, yearning for a cup of hot tea and my bed!

Anyway, the rest of their trip was fine after that, and we took them into the city on Tuesday, did the British Museum, saw the Eye of London, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben etc. I have to say though that I was tired out!! I have had more relatives visit this summer than I have since I moved out of the house after High School! Yesterday though Chris and I took the opportunity of a weekend when I didn't have to work to go explore the historic city of Bath. What a marvelous place! I'll tell you about it later in the week when I'm more rested.

Cheerio!