I arrived home from Martinique on May 12, 2013. Since then, I visited London; interned at a newspaper; reconnected with my estranged father; went to Chicago on a road trip; visited my aunt in Manitoulin Island; had my first cottage weekend with friends; took the first steps to move to London with my long-term and long-distance partner; I hiked with another aunt; created a website; and built my readership & following from 0 in June to over 500 unique visitors a month and more than 200 Twitter followers (okay, not amazing but I’m proud of the progress nonetheless – gotta start somewhere, right?)!
Right now, I’m on a plane about to fly to Iceland for a short visit (or a long layover, depends how you look at it 🙂 ) before I land at Heathrow airport in London. I’m probably nervous and excited, but I’ve been waking up at 5:30am for the past couple days so, I’m definitely going to be knocked out as soon as we’re at cruising altitude.
I just thought you should know: I am really happy right now.
That bench has a Jane Austen quote on it, and the 14 trees are a memorial to the 14 women slain in Montreal in 1989
To my mom and brother: Thanks for putting up with me all summer. I know you mostly thought I was just sitting on my ass all day, but I’ve actually achieved quite a bit. Love you lots – speak soon.
To my aunts, grandma, and cousins: Thank you for all of your support – moral, financial and otherwise. It’s thanks to you (you, too, mom and JJ) that I’m getting to continue living my dreams. I am very proud of everything you youngins are doing, by the way and I’m pleased I was able to see you this summer. Don’t be a stranger.
To my partner: You are awesome, and after months of you walking up and down hills, everyday – rain or shine – to call me on a payphone, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. You already know everything I have to say, but clearly I want the world to know I know you know.
I wish I had classier taste, but it was just awesome
To my dear, dear friends: Being so far away, I didn’t get to spend as much time with you this summer as I would have liked but I know that you’re all working on really great projects and I’ll always want to hear about them! If you’re in the UK, don’t you be a stranger either.
I can’t wait to see and experience what’s next for me – but who knows, maybe I’ll be home for Christmas?
Awe hope you have a great time of it living in the UK!
Thanks, Kirsten! It’s going to be a helluva ride.
Sounds like you had a great summer. Best of luck with everything in London! 🙂
It was a blast! Thanks for the good wishes. Can’t wait to hear your Alberta stories!
I can’t wait to see you! Have a safe flight and prepare for that awesome Sunday roast we’ll be having tomorrow…xx
I think free dessert and a bottle of prosecco was a great ‘Welcome to London’ treat! (Ignoring the insanely late roast)