I didn't I realize how tired I was until I crawled into bed last night. The flight was fine, and with the assistance of a pill and an empty seat beside me, I actually must have slept for a good deal of it. It didn't feel like that was the situation, but at the end of a six-hour flight, I hadn't managed to make it through one movie, so logic would dictate. I caught the express train into London and fell asleep on that as well. All was going smoothly- then the tube. I don't think I've ever come in from a London airport and had the ride go well; yesterday was no exception. Signals were out and lines, specifically the one I was to take, were down. With a little creative routing, I made it to Nottinghill Gate. I got up to the street and had that immediate and odd sensation one gets when returning to a place that in most ways is unknown, yet carries the incredibly familiar home away from home feeling.

After being greeted by two lovely retrievers, I was very happy to find not only my aunt and uncle, but also Tamara and baby Jack there. I spent the afternoon catching up and bouncing a very smiley baby around. Then Mara and I set out to do one of my favourite activities- random grocery store wandering! Roaming the aisles of foreign supermarkets has always brought me great joy, and when that supermarket carries the much beloved dairy products double and clotted cream…well…I was elated.

I spent an hour or two poking around Kensington High Street, returned for dinner, and then promptly passed out for the night at 8:30- well done me!!

It's a sunny morning, and I'm just finishing up my coffee. Since I have small things planned on most of my other days here, I'm thinking that today might be a good day for a little day trip. Cambridge or Oxford- I guess we'll see which way the wind blows me in a few hours.