Day 10 and 11

I haven’t gotten around to writing about Sunday because not a lot happened. I finally got to sleep in, and then decided to look up all the places I wanted to go and check on their hours and costs. A little later in the afternoon, Jamie and Marianne and I decided to head to Camden to get some cheap lunch. Once again we tried cuisine from around the world, and saw some cool little shops on the way. I bought a very cute new dress! From there we hopped back on the tube and went down to Green Park. There are four royal parks in London: Green Park, St. James Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington Garden’s. Green Park actually used to be home to a colony of lepers, which is why there are no flowers growing there. It’s said they lived there, died there, and were buried there. The park itself was beautiful, but I liked St. James Park better. Both of these parks were completely full with people wandering about, sitting on the grass all over the place, and just generally enjoying the beautiful, sunny day that England blessed us with. We wandered through the park, stopping to take pictures of the beautiful gardens and the ponds. A man name James Nash was the original creator of the gardens of St. James Park, and while the gardens there now aren’t his original works, they’re exact replicas based on his style of gardening.
From left to right: Marianne, me, Jamie

After St. James Park we caught the tube back over to Hyde Park corner and wandered into Hyde Park a little ways. We decided to just sit down under one of the huge trees and read and relax for a while. It was a perfect day for it! At about 5 we decided to head home so I could start on my paper that’s due Tuesday night. I had to go to the library to check out some books about William the Conqueror, and I spent a while working on putting together an outline for my paper. Unfortunately I haven’t actually written a paper in three whole semesters so it hasn’t gone well. Give me a business and I’ll write you a plan, but give me an essay… Not so good. I went to bed early thinking I’d get up early to hash it out.

Day 11

That wasn’t exactly the case. I woke up around 10:00 this morning and dilly-dallied a bit before starting in on my paper. I got it written out, though, but it took me most of the day. I was done around 3:30. I can’t say it’s my best work but I’m not sure how I can fix it. Either I have some serious writers block or I’ve forgotten how to formulate a good argument. At this point I think it’s both. I do hope I’ll be able to do a better job for my final essay. At 4 I decided to go over to Kensington Gardens and lounge in the park and read my book. It was a nice day out. It wasn’t a blue sky but it was warm and not raining, which is the best you can hope for over here. I didn’t really feel like getting on the tube and going anywhere today, I kind of just needed a day to relax and recoup. I came home at about 6 so I wouldn’t miss dinner, and now I’m just chilling in my room getting this done. It’s raining out. I figured it would rain today because it was unnaturally warm considering how cloudy it was. Tonight we’re planning on going out to explore a bit up towards Edgware Road. I’m not sure what’s there but that’s what exploring is all about! We plan on getting back home by midnight though because classes start up again tomorrow. I’ll be going to the Museum of London in the Docklands tomorrow for my History class, which is in East London, and then I’ll be going all the way to West London to tour Marble Hill House.

Love you guys!

Jaime

P.S. I can't wait for Lily! If I don't answer when you call send me a text and I'll call you back as soon as I get a chance! I want pictures too so there better be some emailed to me!