final countdown

one week from today i go home :(

while in ambliscide, brother seely told me:
- Enjoy tonight, cause it's the last fun night of this program.
referring to finals starting etc.
Well, while this statement may have been a bit premature and I have managed a few fun nights since then, I may have at this point seen the last of them. becaues I don't think that I can leave this centre again, until it is with my bags packed and (HOPEFULLY!!) all my papers turned in. why do we have classes here? how is there so much due this week? why am I leaving early? and why have I put off sooo much stuff? oh yeah, cause I was having so much fun. worth it. don't regret it at all.
but quick recap on the last fun things of London:
I went to OLIVER last night and it was amazing!!! so so great. I kind of knew the story, though I admit, only from my vague recollection of wishbone, so I was rather unprepared. For one, oliver is not a spotted dog, but a little boy. Who is so cute and boy can he sing! and even more unexpectedly, it's hilarious! I didn't know that show was so funny. but i laughed so hard and tears were streaming down my face more than once. Faagan was amazing. and the music. ack. wow. I LOVED IT! ranked up among les mis, wicked, and finains rainbow, which are my long time standing top three. so, yeah. Plus I went with Chery and Sarah who really are two of my very favorite people ever. Chery laughs almost as loud as me... and funny fact: when she yells when we clap (like woot! kinda thing) she just sings a really high note and thought no one noticed. ha she kills me. the funniest.
also today was our last group day trip. I loved Tony our coach driver. he was mr. tour guide extraordinaire. today we went to Monks house (I loved it. so beautiful and picturesque, i want lamps and tables like that, and really who doesn't like virgina woolf?) Brighton (I waded out into the ocean, despite the rain and the fact that I was in rolled up jeans and got soaked... which made the rest of the day remarkably less enjoyable, though it was still worth it) and portsmith (i think that's what it's called, we toured around the ship the voyager and went to the cadbury outlet)all in all a really great day. too bad i stayed up til 3 last night chatting... cause now i'm in a state of panic.
I CAN DO THIS!
....right?

welcome august - how'd you get here so FAST?!

well we've been doing our very best to pack every second with as many cool things as possible, and I'd say we're pretty good at it!
saturday we were up early, went to primark - went crazy, again - went to portabello road, then went to greenwich where we went through the maritime museum and the planitarium. and, most importantly, stood on the prime meridian! and straddled it. and did the hokey pokey on top. and tiptoed down the line. etc. etc. etc. I feel very satisfied with my time at zero longitude.
we rode the boat back = very wobbely. left me a little sick...
we went to the rainforsest cafe for dinner, delicious (except for the surprise seafood in my dish which i thought from the description was going to be some kind of a vegitable - thanks sarah...)and remarkably expensive.
gelato mio for dessert. the most delicious thing on earth. by far.
watched persuassion for class back at the center.

sunday:
church! I love my ward.
then sarah and I went straight to the national portait gallery and did the life of christ tour that was an audio guide that took us to, and told us about lots of scenes of christs life - all the best artists. all the good stuff. Waht a great way to spend a sunday! after it was over we caught a couple reubens and Monets before we left...
last day on kitchen duty!!
best dessert hands down that we've had at the center - sarah and I stole a second and split. best sin ever!
fireside by singles ward here! 10 people came and shared their conversion stories. so great! they are awesome examples. and it makes me so0oOOo0 excited to serve my mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday:
really feelin sick today. went to class - took a test in austen on 100% baby :)
slept through tates class :( its the advil pm that lindsay fed me last night... made me real woosy
took a nap. i'm ashamed of myself.
went to hamstead heath! big park with a great view of the whole city. we all broght blankets and homeowrk and attempted to study. WE HAVE SO MUCH DUE THIS WEEK!! especially me, cause for some reason I thought it wouldn't be a big deal to leave eraly... so i have to do all my finals sometime too.... ack!
home late for dinner.
went to FHE at the hyde park chapel. we watched muppets in mannhatan... brought back happy childhood days, but kind of felt like I was wasting my precious time.
...which I'm now spending blogging? can't justify it. must do homeowork. or sleep - I don't want to feel gross and sick again tomorrow.

cause I'm sure we're going to PACK it all in tomorrow too :)



ps I LOVE LONDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!