London, Centre of the Universe

I'M FINALLY HERE!


Not without incident, mind you.


I was packed and ready and at the airport when an over-zealous Airline staff member freaked me the hell out by telling me that I'd have problems entering the UK with only a one-way ticket. FUCKING HELL! I'd been so thorough in my research and pre-planning, I didn't think anything of this nature could occur, and nobody that I spoke to, including the Home Office, said anything indicating problems. 


So, I predictably spent a lot of the next 20 hours or so worrying about being denied entry and sent back to Oz forthwith. The flight wasn't bad - I did manage to get some sleep, and I bonded in an unspoken long-haul flight kinda way with the two gentlemen sitting next to me, finished my first Kindle book (ooh, I have a kindle!) and watched The Social Network (which was great).


I needn't have worried, because despite filling in my entry card wrong (oops!), the nice man at passport control gave me a stamp and sent me on my way. 


HUZZAH!


Then came the challenge of navigating the Tube to meet my friend Daniel, who I am now staying with. My stupid phone didn't have International Roaming on (stupid Optus, they are ruining my life), so I had to buy a vending machine SIM card, wait for it to activate, and in the meantime use the airport public internet to try to contact Daniel via facebook. 


So, lugging my luggage (oh wow, that's why they call it luggage) onto the Heathrow Express and armed with my awesome London Underground iPhone app, headed towards Kings Cross. I'd expected to have to change trains along the line, but definitely wasn't prepared to drag my (overweight) luggage up and down stairs. Omg, London - get some more lifts already.


Luckily I was saved not once, but twice, by handsome young Knights In Shining Armour. Yes, my friends, these nice young men saw a Damsel in Distress (me) and gallantly came to my aid. AND they were HOT. Sadly, they then disappeared into the night, but the experience (twice!) gave me hope that there are nice men out there, and apparently in higher proportions than in other places I've been. 


That was last night. Today I spent the day gawping like a tourist at the sights of London and wandering around aimlessly. The greyness of the day didn't bother me in the slightest, as I could happily wander for as long as I liked without fear of getting sunburned. Frostbite, on the other hand, was a distinct possibility. It is fucking cold in London right now. Going from 39 degrees to four is not the best of experiences, and I'm sure my body is going 'Um, excuse me, but WTF?'. 


Oh well. I can handle a bit of cold, dammit!