How this year is just flying by....
So we got back from SA and it was time to knuckle down to some ‘school work’ yet again...I had an assignment due in 2 days (which of course I hadn’t started), my exam was in less than 13 days so I needed to make a start on the studying too...which after a holiday isn’t quite the easiest thing!
My mom was due to arrive in 7 days, so the spare room needed to be sorted out, so that it could be slept in (so the wedding presents which are still in their boxes waiting for the new house) needed to find a new home (the passage), and of course, to add to things, work was crazy busy! (so I had every excuse under the sun not to learn - not that it takes much!)
Before I new it, my mom arrived. I fetched her from the airport (a simple task, or so you would think). Getting there was fine...but in a hurry as I needed to get to work, I followed the TomTom on the way back and landed up in Hammersmith...taking the wrong exit, we landed up circling the Hammersmith bus station about 4 times...and of course traffic was crazy! Welcome to London Mom! And the start of many more adventures to come....‘Lost!’.
Monday dawned...not to mention it was the exam day (nothing like a double whammy BLUE Monday)...and I made my way to a college in Liverpool Street (Mom in tow). The hall was humongous and filled with at least 200 – 250 desks...I couldn’t quite believe just how many people were writing the same exam as me - and in all shapes and sizes...not to mention ages (and that was just one of the numerous venues)! For the first time in a while, I was probably one of the youngest there.
After it was finally over, I headed off to central London to meet up with Mark and my mom for dinner...supposedly to 'celebrate'. But unfortunately I didn’t feel much like celebrating...the exam hadn’t quite gone to plan (after a 78% average on my assignments...I honestly thought I wouldn’t do too badly). But I unfortunately I don’t have a very good feeling about it at all...but I’ll guess we shall just have to wait and see. At least for now it’s out of sight and out of mind... with the results are over 8 weeks away! (well probably about another 4 weeks away now)
Nevermind...moving on...we landed up at an awesome Mexican place for dinner that night – I can definitely recommend it! It’s called Wahaca and is near Covent Garden.
Before we knew it, it was Friday night and time to pack for the next chapter of the whirlwind adventure....Greece!
So we got back from SA and it was time to knuckle down to some ‘school work’ yet again...I had an assignment due in 2 days (which of course I hadn’t started), my exam was in less than 13 days so I needed to make a start on the studying too...which after a holiday isn’t quite the easiest thing!
My mom was due to arrive in 7 days, so the spare room needed to be sorted out, so that it could be slept in (so the wedding presents which are still in their boxes waiting for the new house) needed to find a new home (the passage), and of course, to add to things, work was crazy busy! (so I had every excuse under the sun not to learn - not that it takes much!)
Before I new it, my mom arrived. I fetched her from the airport (a simple task, or so you would think). Getting there was fine...but in a hurry as I needed to get to work, I followed the TomTom on the way back and landed up in Hammersmith...taking the wrong exit, we landed up circling the Hammersmith bus station about 4 times...and of course traffic was crazy! Welcome to London Mom! And the start of many more adventures to come....‘Lost!’. Eventually we made it home! I basically had to throw my mom’s stuff in the room, give her the low down of whats where, before heading off for the station to get to work, now an hour and a half late...when in actual fact I should have been able to make it in on time.
The first week passed by and my mom and Mark spent some quality time together while I tried to study in the spare room. Going out for dinner and getting Mark re-acquainted with her camera...
Friday (the start of the World Cup) I took the day off work...unfortunately not to get dressed in my SA gear, and charm the neighbours with my expert vuvuzela sounds whilst watching the opening ceremony...but instead to STUDY! And of course, the weather was perfect...which continued into the weekend, just because I needed to be indoors studying!
Sunday we ‘treated’ my mom to a ‘drink’ (AKA rock shandy) at the local pub! The Raynes Park Tavern, or as some know it as one of the most dodgiest pubs in the neighbourhood, to watch the first English football match. She wanted to experience the English football/pub vibe for real....and she wasn't disappointed. After half time, there was a rather loud argument from some drunk punter shouting at the Pub Manager, 
because he wasn't being served. After much colourful language he was kindly asked to leave, which resulted in yet more colourful language and a properly bruised fist, as he decided to punch the wall on his way out.
Besides the fact that my mom actually came to the UK to get away from SA during the World Cup hype (not to mention make use of the divine 5 week holiday the schools were given), the weeks passed and we pretty much watched all the SA and English games...well at least while Bafana Bafana and England were still in the competition).
The first week passed by and my mom and Mark spent some quality time together while I tried to study in the spare room. Going out for dinner and getting Mark re-acquainted with her camera...
Friday (the start of the World Cup) I took the day off work...unfortunately not to get dressed in my SA gear, and charm the neighbours with my expert vuvuzela sounds whilst watching the opening ceremony...but instead to STUDY! And of course, the weather was perfect...which continued into the weekend, just because I needed to be indoors studying!
Sunday we ‘treated’ my mom to a ‘drink’ (AKA rock shandy) at the local pub! The Raynes Park Tavern, or as some know it as one of the most dodgiest pubs in the neighbourhood, to watch the first English football match. She wanted to experience the English football/pub vibe for real....and she wasn't disappointed. After half time, there was a rather loud argument from some drunk punter shouting at the Pub Manager, 
because he wasn't being served. After much colourful language he was kindly asked to leave, which resulted in yet more colourful language and a properly bruised fist, as he decided to punch the wall on his way out. Besides the fact that my mom actually came to the UK to get away from SA during the World Cup hype (not to mention make use of the divine 5 week holiday the schools were given), the weeks passed and we pretty much watched all the SA and English games...well at least while Bafana Bafana and England were still in the competition).
Monday dawned...not to mention it was the exam day (nothing like a double whammy BLUE Monday)...and I made my way to a college in Liverpool Street (Mom in tow). The hall was humongous and filled with at least 200 – 250 desks...I couldn’t quite believe just how many people were writing the same exam as me - and in all shapes and sizes...not to mention ages (and that was just one of the numerous venues)! For the first time in a while, I was probably one of the youngest there. After it was finally over, I headed off to central London to meet up with Mark and my mom for dinner...supposedly to 'celebrate'. But unfortunately I didn’t feel much like celebrating...the exam hadn’t quite gone to plan (after a 78% average on my assignments...I honestly thought I wouldn’t do too badly). But I unfortunately I don’t have a very good feeling about it at all...but I’ll guess we shall just have to wait and see. At least for now it’s out of sight and out of mind... with the results are over 8 weeks away! (well probably about another 4 weeks away now)
Nevermind...moving on...we landed up at an awesome Mexican place for dinner that night – I can definitely recommend it! It’s called Wahaca and is near Covent Garden. The Wednesday that week, I had booked tickets for my mom and I to go and see Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall (missing the Bafana Bafana/Uruguay game...obviously they must have missed our support, as they went on to lose 3-0). The ballet on the otherhand was absolutely beautiful! It was the first ‘professional’ ballet I have ever seen and the Royal Albert Hall is just spectacular venue!
The rest of the week flew by, with my mom walking central London flat! She had brought her little step counter I had given her a couple of years ago (and never used until now). Wearing it everyday she went into Central London, the mileage she managed to clock up was unbelievable, averaging about 26km a day! Crazy!
Before we knew it, it was Friday night and time to pack for the next chapter of the whirlwind adventure....Greece!
Its almost one month later and hope that the exam results were positive. I suppose your mom is back in S.A. We might bump into her in Walmer Park sometime. The school teachers are going on strike from Tuesday. Wonder if your mom will also have some time off. Just after the soccer world cup had finished P.E. put up two huge signs across the road advertising the world cup. Only in Africa and the whole country laughed at P.E.
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