Hanne, cookies, and Where did these books come from?

Monday, when I got back from Edinburgh, I sat in my room for about six hours just catching up on Internet stuff I missed over the weekend such as email and YouTube vlogs.  Then I took a nap.  Then I did some more Internet and worked on some homework.  Then Oscar came to visit.  We're going to Brussels later in November but we have yet to book anything, but we did agree on a Saturday morning to Sunday evening trip.  I'm also spending Christmas with his family (yay!!)!  He suggested having a few presents sent over from home so I don't feel left out when everyone else is opening theirs.  (Mom, Dad, preferably a few small things, so I can easily bring them back home.  Or edible things so I don't have to bring them back home.)

We went to hang out in his room and then Lynn, Denise, and Cieron came over because they were going to play cards in the common room.  They used my cards and we played Bullshit.  I left early because I was sleepy but Oscar's going to return my cards later.

This morning, I woke up before my alarm.  Which is unusual because my alarm was set for 7.45am which is actually pretty early and I didn't think I got a lot of sleep on Monday.  But anyway, I did and I got ready and complained about being out of milk (drat, I still have to get some) and delivered my very polite "Please put my dishes back when you're done" letter to the mysterious person who steals my dishes and puts them under the sink.  Then I left to print off some things at the library before class. 

Creative Writing was meeting at the Tate Modern today.  I got there a little late and couldn't find the group right away but I did find a few people eventually.  Did what I was supposed to and then met up with Monica (the instructor) and told her I was sorry.  She said to check my email better next time.  Yes, ma'am.

Wandered the non-touristy part of South Bank afterward where Monica pointed out a few things to us but she doesn't talk very loud so a lot of us didn't hear her.  We broke up after thirty minutes of walking.  I set off to get some lunch and meet up with my friend Hanne at her hostel. 

I met Hanne through Camp Onaway's International Camp a few years ago.  Earlier in the month, I had asked if I could spend a few nights at her place in Denmark sometime after Christmas.  She said yes and mentioned coming to London later in early November.  I asked if we could meet up, and she said yes.  We initially planned for a tea/coffee date at Starbucks, but then her boyfriend couldn't come with her so she had the day alone.  So I said "Hey, I don't have my internship class today.  Let's do something."  So we walked down Charing Cross Road in search of second-hand book stores.  I got a tiny book with Christmas poems and a science fiction book called Marrow by Robert Reed.  The first chapter was very interesting so I bought it.  Only cost 3 quid.  Then we wandered over to the Convent Garden market where we split a box of Ben's Cookies.  She ate all hers but I still have two left.  They're GIANT COOKIES I tell you.

Hanne and half a cookie.  Only HALF people!

We tried looking for a second-hand shop on Cheshire Street, but got lost and the tube strike was going to start soon.  So we parted ways and planned to meet at a Starbucks nearest the Primark on Oxford Street at 11a on Thursday. 

A few things happened.  One, when we first met up and picked up lunch at Tesco (cheap sandwiches = amazing), we were talking at a bus stop.  Someone came up and asked me where the British Museum was.  And I could point him in the right direction!  Also pointed someone in the right direction on Oxford Street, but that was because the store she was looking for was right behind her.  Still, it made me remember the guy who asked about the British Museum.  What's more, when I was looking for Hanne's hostel, I got lost.  Haha.

There's a restaurant in the Convent Garden markets that's a level below everything else.  But they've an open roof so passersby can look too.  There was a string quintet there playing classical music and doing funking things.  For instance, when a woman came to look at their CDs, ALL FIVE MUSICIANS went and knelt before her as if begging her to buy one.  It was soo funny!

Take it.  You know you want to!

I got two packages today.  The first is from Amazon.co.uk.  And because of this package, I moved whatever books were next to my bed to the shelving unit above my desk.  So now I have this:

Why, hello mini-library of Space Operas, Neil Gaiman, Harry Potter, and others..  When did you get here?

And if you're wondering where that all came from . . . that makes two (plus) of us.  And if you're wondering how I'm going to get that all home . . . I'm working on it.  There's the option of shipping it, but that's a bit pricy.  There's the option of leaving behind some clothes and bringing them instead, and that's looking promising.  What else can I leave behind? This will require some more pondering.

The second package was much more homey.  I got THREE BAGS OF HOMEMADE COOKIES from my dear mommy!  (Thanks, Mommy)  A giant bag of pretzel M&Ms (my favorite).  A loooong string of Christmas lights Mom assured me can stay in London (will buy plug converter eventually).  Two pairs of thin autumn gloves, and a wash cloth (because I need two).  

Dinner will be more pasta with white sauce.  It was delicious white sauce.  I want more.  I'm also eating an entire vine of grapes.  Someone get these away from me!  No, wait, don't.  They're quenching my thirst.  I luuuurve them so much! 

One of these days I will get Subway.  Because I walked by a few today and it smelled of delicious, delicious American.  Delicious.