I was already back to where I started before even reaching the half way point of my trip, but this time, I was met with familiar faces as I burst through the arrival gates, Nan & Aunty Theresa. The ride back to St Albans was filled with chit chat and a lot of traffic, but finally we arrived at Nan's little bungalow, my home for the next 5 days. Despite being 6 years since my last visit here, it was exactly as I remembered, the only changes a few photograph updates of new babies, family I had never met! After an extremely long and luxurious shower I felt cleaner than I had in months and was ready for dinner with my cousins. We pulled up to the Thai restaurant and I couldn't help but smile, I had been craving Asian food for months, they must have sensed it, after all we are family! Green curry was delicious, again not as good as home, but it definitely hit the spot. Emma informed me over our feast of all our family plans for the short time I was there and it looked like I would be a very busy girl, and for once actually see every member of the family (some I haven't seen since '97!)
A brisk walk with Nan started the morning, and I was hardly surprised to see she was still as fit as ever, only 3 years earlier, she could still do the splits! Emma soon came to pick me up and we headed into town for our girls day out! All the things I had been craving seemed to be on every corner, chai lattes, gluten free pesto pasta, flourless cake, new clothes, I was in heaven! Before we knew it, we had been in London for 7 hours which literally flew by, and with brand new outfits we headed home to get ready! Unfortunately, cousin chris had already treated himself to a beer or 20 by the time we were ready to go and was incommunicado, so we headed to Shoreditch with no clue where to meet him, dressed in a singlet and skirt in 10 degree weather #loveenglishsummer. Finally he checked his phone and we jumped in a black cab straight to Concrete to avoid the cold, only to be told no one else could get in. We were both so frustrated so I summoned my best puppy eyes and my worst bogan accent, and managed to convince the bouncer I'd flown all the way from Aus just to enter this club, and we were in. I noticed an extremely tall boy and an extremely drunk cousin sloshing his drink over the floor and realised I'd found them, Chris and Charlie, his best friend I'd shown around in Melbourne. Chris' state sent Emma home in anger but earned me about 10 free drinks and a good dancing partner so I wasn't complaining! Somehow in our intoxicated state we made it back to Charlie's and I awoke to Chris saying, What happened to Georgie? Clearly having no recollection I was sleeping on the sofa in the next room! Lucky I didn't get lost or I may still be partying in inner London with no way home!
Sleepy and thankfully looking significantly less hungover than Chris it was time for Sunday afternoon tea with the entire family, including my cousins six children, who I had never met! Gluten free goodies were in abundance and I think everyone thought I had been starving as I filled plate after plate, and Nan even gave me some money for my trip, clearly thinking I was broke and hungry (they don't know that I'm always hungry). It was so surreal looking around at the group of 15 people filling the back garden and realising these were all my family, considering its usually just the three musketeers, Mum, Pal & I at home, it was strange but lovely suddenly feeling like part of a big happy family. When we got home, even though I was full to the brim, Nan decided to teach me how to make her famous pasta sauce for dinner, and I was not about to turn down that valuable lesson. We made a pot each, mine without poisonous onions, and with Nan guiding me through I had soon made my own incredible tomato sauce, yummmm!!
Today was designated for bonding time with Nan & I, but she seemed so busy with th non existent housework she pulled from nowhere, I felt like an imposition delaying her from her washing, scrubbing, cleaning, sewing or whatever job she could think of! In the end she took a break from chores and took me to her favourite hang out, the garden centre at the end of the road. It was a nice garden centre but I have no idea how she could come here so regularly, I mean, it's just plants. But we had a coffee each and browsed the various plants while I smiled and nodded, gardening is definitely not my thing. We sat down in the evening and watched the daily soap routine, Emmerdale, Eastenders and Coronation street and ate giant bowls of pasta and cups of tea.
My final day in London ended up being another action packed day. After a big morning running around on the Tube I was back in Leyton, picking up my bag I left with Audrey and Jake. After a quick chat with Jake I was back whizzing under London and only just made it back in time for lunch with Aunty Roz, and my cousins, Tina and Angela. This is th family I know the least so it was nice to get to know them a bit more and that they made an effort to come and spend time with me, I hadn't seen Angela since I was 5 so I've changed quite a bit since then! From here I headed home to pack up all my freshly washed clothes (thanks Nan), dinner with nan th farewell drinks at the pub with th cousins. My time in London flew by so quickly, I wish I had longer there. After so much time travelling, especially alone, it was so nice to feel part of a family and at home.
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