Feels like home every time...

London…my home away from home away from home.  Maybe I am collecting too many places that feel like home but then again maybe that is a good thing.  I'm lucky to have some many places with so many great people.  London still is the top of the list though so when I had a few extra days off stored up escaping to the most amazing city was the logical thing to do.  For once the border crossing was very uneventful and even a bit entertaining.  The guy who was checking out my passport and information asked me to evaluate his uniform, from a designers perspective, and tell him what I thought.  I gave a diplomatic answer so as not to offend the man who stood between me and that much needed entrance stamp on my passport and he just laughed and let me in.  Those guys must get really bored and need to liven things up every once in a while or maybe he was

The sign says it all

hitting on me…I am rubbish at reading those signs properly..but which ever it was I got my stamp and hopped my train into the city.  I got in a bit late that night and Lauren wasn't in so a fun phone call with a friend and heading to bed was the extent of the evening.  The next day consisted of a brunch date with Polly and then a new adventure.  Every time I head into the Westminster area time gets away form me and I have never made it into the Abby.  This time I decided to make a special trip there just to attend the evening song inside the abby.  Gorgeous can only begin to explain it.  The building itself is lovely of course but the choir was beyond words.  I did get a bit lost

Lunch and the Theater

following along with all the stand up, sit down and repeat now stuff but the singing and beautiful acoustics were lovely.  I followed up this event with a lovely dinner with Lauren and then we just hung out and caught up at her place.  That night felt so perfect.  We just flopped down in armchairs and on the bed and chatted about life and laughed.  At one point Lauren looked over at me and said "Look at you just snuggled up in Your bed.  It's like you are home now."  That was exactly how I felt.  Sharing a glass of wine and a chat with a good friend…feeling just as comfortable as if I was in my own place with people who have known me for years.  Man, I feel so lucky sometimes.  As always time was flying quickly so I had to pack a bunch of stuff into the next two days.  I had originally had plans with a friend who was supposed to be in town but unfortunately his arrival kept getting delayed so I quickly filled the time up with a stroll through Covent Garden, lunch at a pub across the street from a last minute theater decision.  Show of choice this time…Charlie and the Chocolate

SouthBank Street Art

factory.  Maxime and I had just finished reading the book together and it was a favorite from my childhood so I went for it.  It was really a cute show.  I wish it would have taken on a bit more of the dark side of this story but still was a good show.  I also ended up with an upgraded seat (from balcony to floor) which made it even more enjoyable.  My stroll to the tube station led me through the south back where I took in some art and then met up with Lauren and Claire at one of my new favorite spots in London Ales and Tails.  Great beer and really well done interior.  Good fun and randomness... As all my nights in London seem to be…was what this night included.  Great catch up with friends, a formula one test driver (fast cars and an accent…what more could a girl ask for) and a taxidermy fox at the

bar.  Have I mentioned I love London?  My last day led me to a walk through my favorite museum, the V&A where I stumbled upon some limited run fabric that was perfect to go with some of my new concepts.  The evening was dinner with Helly and a tour through her new home that she recently purchased.  It was so fun to see where her and Will were settling in.  Such wonderful people who deserve this amazing new stage in their life.  After dinner I headed back towards home but stopped for one last pint in The Pigs Ears.  As I sat there I couldn't help up think about all the memories I have been collecting on all my trips.  Some have been amazing, some painful and caused me to grow and think in ways I didn't want to but am grateful for now, also some missed opportunities that hopefully will come back around another time.  But that is what it's all about right.  Taking the time to create moments when you can, don't dwell on the ones you didn't get and look for another opportunity to make new and different ones.  Life just keeps moving and we have to get the most out of each second we are given.