I’ve arrived, safely, though not on time. Not a lot of praise for United Airlines, or as I’ve taken to calling them, ‘Untied Airlines’. I think they’re coming apart at the seams. Like too many major corporations, and countries, the people in the day to day work continue to work hard while the people at the top continue to cut costs to enhance their own bonuses. This trip, that translated to mechanical failure on my first flight, delaying it by three hours. This caused me to miss the Chicago connection, not get onto the next two flights out, and spend the night in Chicago before loading up for Washington DC, then Heathrow and arriving 25 hours later than they told me they’d get me here.
This in turn meant both cancelling my first two clients in my new clinic, then also taking a taxi directly from Kings Cross station to the new clinic and beginning sessions right away, before even finding my new flat and flatmate. Clinic is near the Moorgate tube station; a new neighborhood for me, and is called the Light Centre, Moorgate...neighborhood shown. 
So, jet lagged, three hours of sleep, and a work day from 10—7 before getting another taxi to find my new home….which is lovely. I’m staying very near Islington Green, between Angel tube stop and Highbury/Islington tube stop, with a friend of a friend, Diego, who’s an artist. The flat is lovely and spacious and absolutely no complaints here! 
And he even gave me a sleeping pill on night two; one third of it knocked me out, and I’ve been sleeping 9—12 hours every night since arriving…no lag this trip! As you can see, this bedroom is spacious and friendly.
Tuesday morning up and at ‘em; made it to the Angel tube stop in time to easily make my 8 am appointment, only to realize I didn’t have my wallet! Panic. I ran home, about 8 minutes, and a cursory inspection didn’t reveal anything. Fortunately I had a handful of cash; I went and bought a single ticket, got to the clinic at 7:57 to find the first client was lost and didn’t arrive until 8:40! Fortunately also, I had no one booked in for the ten slot though the rest of the day was full, so was able to see her, work with her for a full session, and get things right again.
After work, I retraced my steps; the pub from the night before, the grocer’s store, and no wallet. Then, at home, there it rested in the pocket of the jeans I’d had on for an hour at the end of day one. So, all the panic for naught. I had literally decided I was a doddery old fool, and shouldn’t be traveling alone anymore; now I feel a bit foolish, but much better about myself. That evening another trip back down to St Paul’s for our first rehearsal for my last Messiah…good to be with the people again, and I’ll enjoy this one as much as all.
Wednesday, a full teaching day for Susan at NLSSM in what was for me a brand new space (they'd had open house three days before I arrived); arrived at 9 for the ten class; we couldn’t get my computer to talk to her projector, or her computer to talk at all, so taught without the powerpoint. There were nine very interested and interesting students, we had a marvelous day.
After, Susan and I went back to her neighborhood for a great Indian meal, then home to Islington Green. Wednesday night, twelve hours of sleep!
Thursday, an easy day for me. I took the bus into the Moorgate clinic, and worked for a couple of hours in a swap with Bev, my shiatsu practitioner/favorite colleague in terms of working together. Home, an early and easy evening with a few groceries and a light dinner in the flat. Friday I met student Lisl at High Street Kensington to pick up a key to her flat near Wimbledon…when I go teaching my II and III courses in Chiswick, I’m going to stay in her place. We had a quick lunch; then I walked, and walked….all the Kensington High Street, up to Notting Hill, tube back to Angel, then up that street to home, stopping to shop and window shop all the way, and happily, falling into a concert of classical music at the Kens High St church performed by University students...a great rest. Saturday, likewise taking it easy. After another nine hour sleep, I walked up towards Highbury/Islington, stopped in a breakfast café for a full English, found a thrift shop with an extra pair of jeans in my size, took the bus home, and am nearly in for the day. I’ve got to buy some groceries yet as I plan to cook for Diego and our friend Biliana on Sunday evening, but in general, I’m finally slowing down, and allowing these fairly free days to remain just that. Heaven!
Today, Sunday, was a bit of touristing...this week I've purposely missed Guy Fawkes night, other than hearing fireworks all over town from Wednesday until Saturday evenings. Saturday was the Lord Mayor's Show; a great military parade where the gold coach comes out of the Museum of London for the Lord Mayor to be displayed. I couldn't get energy for either, but....today is Remembrance Day, where all of England stops for a minute or two at 11 am and maintains a moment of silence in respect of those who served in the First World War, which is still called the Great War. I began the solemn day with a trip to the Tower of London to see the marvelous display of 888, 426 or some such number of ceramic poppies that pour out of the Tower walls and into the moat, nearly overwhelming it. Though the crowds were huge, it was well worth braving them to see this magnificent exhibit!
The poppies line the entire moat, even in the waters near the Thames and the Traitor's Gate down at riverfront...most impressive....
After circling the Tower to see the entire exhibition, I made my way to church at All Hallows By the Tower, in time for the Remembrance Sunday celebration there, which included the moments of silence, but also a great message about wisdom, respect for those who have served, and the need to create peace. It was nice to see Father Bertrand, an old friend from the Wren Clinic, who's priest at the church.
From here, a short walk to the Wren...to again enjoy the garden, 
peak into the interior, and see a sign telling us it will shortly become a parsonage and retain the chapel room. I hope Bertrand lives there! It was a true goodbye to the place, to see it empty inside, and I found myself grieving a bit.
But on to Brick Lane, for lunch, always ethnic, today Chinese, and a few souvenirs. From there a walk all the way up to Shoreditch High Street, a walk back across Bishopsgate Rd and picked up the bus back to Angel and a walk on home. Great day! Tonight I cook for friends Diego and Biliana, and tomorrow begins a busy, busy week. I'm settled, and I've lost a bit of the crankiness by sleeping so much!
