I'm sitting at the Gatwick Airport and have had a hell of a time getting here! Apparently I wasn't the only one not wanting me to leave! My flight is very early this morning, so I knew it was going to be rough either way, but sheesh!! First, the Gatwick Express was closed because of track repairs. Then the tube wasn't open early enough to get to the train station. The website wasn't working, so I couldn't check-in online in advance, and when I got to the station this morning, my train had been cancelled due to "staff shortage"!! I finally managed to get a bus to the airport where I found out that the check-in desk had opened at 3, so I'm going to be sitting in a middle seat, ughhhh!! And now my flight is delayed and is apparently going to take two hours longer going home than it did coming here! I consoled myself with a yummy and disgusting breakfast at McDonalds, a breakfast wrap- bacon, sausage, egg, and a hash brown all rolled into one tasty package.

I know, I shouldn't complain, but this is the part of travel that I really don't enjoy!! As always, I love London and look forward to returning again soon, so let's focus on the positive. It was great to meet my new cousins, and see the family that I miss so much because of the distance. The weather was beautiful and the scenery excellent. I got to explore a new city. The snack foods always bring a smile to my face, and the handy painted signs on the road keep me from getting hit by on-coming traffic as I look the wrong way before crossing. My bag is loaded up with new boots, Worcester flavour crisps, Galaxy chocolate, and (fingers crossed that it doesn't get confiscated on arrival) clotted cream.

So despite the fact that I can't help complaining when I've been up since 3:30 in the morning and still have a long way to go, I really can't complain ;)