Dealers Choice

Today's letter is my choice!

*Curtsy*

Dear Queen Elizabeth II,

Are you alright? Let me start off by saying, thank you. I had such a wonderful time living in London. WOW. I never knew a human could fall in love with a city, but I did. My heart is still broken from our break-up. I know it's been a while since I've visited and I'm sorry. I'll be sure to make 2017 the year that I return.

You and I have a lot in common! I too love dogs, wearing pastel, extending my pinkie when I drink, carrying my purse on my forearm, telling people what to do, and a piping hot cuppa.

Congratulations on being the longest reining monarch. What a feat! In your face Queen Victoria! I had a great time at your Diamond Jubilee in Richmond Park. It was a little wet and rainy, but when you drove past me and waved from the inside of your very dry and assumably warm vehicle, well that was my crowning moment.

I have a couple questions for you. Now Bitsy, how does one become a Dame? Is there an application I need to fill out? What exactly do you carry around in your purse? A retractable sword for impromptu knightings, maybe? What are the names of your corgis? Are you mad about that whole 1775 thing or is that water under the Tower Bridge now?

I'm sorry we never had the opportunity to sit down for tea. I am happy to schedule something. I'll contact one of your ladies in waiting.

Anyway, your doing a great job. You should be really pleased with all the reigning you've been doing. As far as queens go, you are one bad ass lady and I have mad respect for you.

Forever your commoner,

(Dame) Susan

Susan "Her Royal Highness" B.

Around London Town

My trip back to London for graduation was magical. I have been missing London to the point that I dream that I still live there, only to wake up disappointed. When I first decided to move there, I never imagined that it would be a place that took up residence in my heart. I'm such a California girl and always look forward to going home when I've been away for a long time. Now I have those same feelings for London. It surprises me how quickly and easily the city sucks you in.

During my third semester of Uni, I realized that I would have to postpone graduation by one semester in order to complete all my classes. I went to my room and Skyped my parents, CRYING that I was going to have to live there longer. Now, what I wouldn't give to have one more semester in London! I don't know why I was so upset. My last week living there was filled with tears at the thought or conversation of leaving.

Going back for a week was just what I needed to recharge my enthusiasm for life.

 I went for a morning jog in Hyde Park on my first day back.

 Is there popcorn, popping on that tree?

The whole week was sunshine filled! It was as if the London Gods were trying to fool me into thinking the weather is always that gorgeous. I really lucked out that week. However, it made leaving that much harder. Well played, London. Well played.

I found the Tardis! My mom was asking me about this when she visited in December. I really thought she was making it up since in the two and half years that I was there, I had never seen it. After our graduation lunch, we were walking back through Earl's Court and low and behold, there it was.

 I tried to do and see things that I hadn't while I was there. I went to two shows that I had not seen. 39 Steps and 1984. I LOVED both of them. 39 Steps is an Alfred Hitchcock story. It is performed by four actors who play several characters. I thought that was going to be confusing. It was not! It was brilliant! 1984 is based on the George Orwell book. It is a dark, gruesome story. It was fantastic on stage! Also, I was tickled that I paid £19.84 for my ticket.

I miss seeing these guys. This man was in Covent Garden.

South Bank, Yoda was in.

 This guy posed for me on South Bank.

 I had lunch with a good friend and he took me to this hide away spot next to Tower Bridge. It was right on the river. You can see the city in the distance but all you hear is the water lapping at the edge of the river. It is so peaceful and I am claiming it my favorite spot in London.

 I had always meant to visit Shakespeare's Globe Theatre but never got around to it. On my visit back, it was one of the first things I did. It is not the original theatre since that one burned down in a fiery blaze. But it was still interesting to learn about the structure and the vision that Shakespeare had for the theatre.

 I spent time with Helen and Tim! I'm such a lucky girl to have two great friends living in London. They took me to dinner for graduation, Helen and I went to Abby Road and we sat together as church just like old times.

Abbey Road is another spot that I always meant to go see, but never got around to. There were a handful of other tourist there too. I tried not to stop too much traffic as I walked across the street while Helen took my picture.

Ever since high school, I considered myself a long lost Beatle.

"Come at me, bro! Come at me!" -David Lloyd George (not really, but that's what I thought when I saw his statue)

 The man. Winston Churchill.

 Looking up at Parliament.

I also said 'ello' to a few of the classic spots around London.

The Shard in the distance, towering over London.

  The same day I went to Abbey Road, I saw this street art at Trafalgar Square. It reads: "All you need is love."

This is my favorite square in London. Trafalgar Square.

South Bank.

The London Eye.

 I don't know when I will return to London. But I will. There is no way I can live, without visiting where I left part of my heart and soul.

Susan "I looked into the Tardis and the Tardis looked into me" B.

Good-Bye London

My last semester at Richmond came to an end much faster than I wanted. My mom flew out to help me pack up and move back to the west coast. We played tourist for four days and it was nice to be able to say good-bye to all my favorite spots and to see the city one last time before I left. I spent a good portion of the weekend crying and fighting tears. London is my home. It has been for more than two years and I realize how incredibly lucky I am to have had the experience of living there. As much as I disliked the weather, I loved everything else. It wont be the last time I'm there. I will visit as often as life lets me.

 My last run through Hyde Park. I will miss the colors and vastness.

 On her first night, I took my mom to Winter Wonderland where we ate dinner and walked around.

 We went on a tour at The Tower of London and had lunch which is where I first had a good cry about leaving. I hadn't realized how much I would miss it until I had to say good-bye. My first visit to The Tower of London was on September 16, less than 1 month after I arrived the first time. It seemed appropriate to visit again before I left to bookend my time there.

 I showed my mom Richmond University on the hill and we went past Richmond Terrace.

 The weather was so beautiful that weekend. The sun came out and it was only a little chilly with no rain.

 We did a tour of Kensington Palace which I had been wanting to do all semester. I took a lot of pictures though out the Palace but I decided to only post a few. When I took the picture of my mom I was looking at the sun. That's why Queen Victoria does not have a head. OFF WITH HER HEAD!

 Inside you could put together a placard and present it to the chair and then when you sit down, the chair announces who you are. My mom's was: The Invincible Queen of the Castle. I was: The All-Powerful Princess of Everywhere. My photo was too blurry to post though. They give you a paper crown to wear during your tour. As if a paper crown would suffice for the All-Powerful Princess of Everywhere. Please.

 Listening to secrets of the Palace.

 So regal.

 We also toured Westminster Abbey and paid a visit to Big Ben.

 We walked along South Bank so my mom could see Cleopatra's Needle.

We went to Trafalgar Square to hear the carolers and they had put out memorials for Nelson Mandela in front of the fountains.

I'm back in the states and recovering from Christmas. I worked on my resume and have it all ready to send out to the masses in order to find a job. I'm ready to start working and be a big kid again. I will never forget my time spent in London and all the adventures I experienced. I have been so blessed and am grateful for the opportunity. I will always consider London my second home.

Susan "parting is such sweet sorrow" B.

100th Blog Post!

This is a milestone, indeed! This is my 100th blog post since starting this blog in 2011. Thank you all for reading and commenting on my blog and to my 15 followers, my sincere gratitude.

These past three months have been hard in relation to my university life. I could not motivate myself this semester, but as of this moment I am 1500 words and one final away from being done with this semester. I am looking forward to going back Cali for a couple of weeks before heading to SLC to find a husband for my summer internship. I plan on taking lots of family and friend photos while I'm back in the states so look forward to that.

Last weekend, the sun made an appearance in London! Beck and I were so excited we rented bikes and rode them to Trafalgar Square for the day. We also sat outside a "Mexican" restaurant and ate chips with guacamole. It was magical. But the whole time we were riding around I kept thinking, 'I love this city. I'm going to miss it this summer.' Alas, I will be back here in the fall for my last semester.

Susan "I got 99 post, and Mitch is in one of them" B.

My Mail Box Is 113!!!!

Last night the school hosted a boat party that went down The River Thames. It was so beautiful. The night consisted of dancing and drinking. I took the opportunity to see some of London in a whole new way. The trip lasted about 3 hours. We got to mingle with students from the other campus. Everyone was dressed to the nines. Good times.
I am sorry, my mailbox number is 113! Don't send anything to 142. If you have already sent me something, let me know so I can intercept it. Please make a not of my box number for the future. Any package that are sent will be kept at the desk until I sign for them so no worries there.

On the left is The London Eye, the pointy building in the middle is Parliament and on the right is Big Ben himself.
I don't know what that building is. I thought this was a good shot from the boat.

Parliament of the left and Big Ben on the right behind the double decker bus

This is Alice. She is my first friend here at Richmond. On my second night of being here, she asked me to have dinner with her. I think that was the first words she spoke to me. I am very grateful she is so outgoing. Alice is British, although she has lived in more countries than I can pronounce. She speaks/reads/understands like 3 languages. She dresses like she is getting ready to walk down a runway. She is very sweet and very cultured. And she is 19.

Another boat party going on. Hey! Party over here! Party of there!

I don't know what this is, but I thought it was cool.

What's up Big Ben?

I know this is extremely out of focus, but it is the first and only shot I have of Westminster Abbey. Don't you fret, next Saturday I have a school trip here and I will get more (clear) shots.

I think this is call The English Bridge. It's really beautiful. The color is a pretty teal.

A little further back.
Susan "I'm on a boat!" B.