2011 Blogs

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD

05/18/2012

Welcome Sign on my Door!

After arriving back from Rome, I literally had one day to get myself together before my PARENTS CAME TO VISIT ME IN CANTERBURY! For some odd reason I was really nervous for them to come, super excited, don’t get me wrong, but nervous. Canterbury is like my little nook in the world that only I (and now my parents) have seen from home. You know when you keep a journal or diary and you don’t want anyone to see it (“Before you make those kinds of demands you should put a note on your door that says, ‘Do not come into my room, read my diary and wear my clothes.’ WHAT MOVIE?!?) because it’s your “special thing” that only you know about? Well that’s what Canterbury is to me. I wanted them to like my room and my house and the little city I have been living in for the past nine months. Of course they did, but still, I was nervous. I made them a welcome sign and put it on my front door and a welcome/Easter basket for when they arrived. I went to Tesco and bought all of my favorite British snacks and put them in the basket which I decorated. I even had the Queen there to welcome them into my kitchen! It’s a good thing I made them an Easter basket because they were starving when they arrived. I put some tea on for them and we had a little welcome tea party with the yummiest, most fattening treats! My parents also brought ME an Easter basket filled with American candy including my all-time favorite- REESE’S EGGS! They also brought me more Bath&BodyWorks lotion, magazines (obviously?) and a STAR WARS CUP!!! PLUS a mini-lightsaber! After my Dad showered and changed, I gave them a tour of my campus (which I don’t think they particularly cared for, I think they were bored. Ha!) Then we went into town, looked at the Cathedral but didn’t actually go in and then ate dinner at Deeson’s restaurant, which was SO good and SO expensive. I’m glad they paid! Ha! The next day we just walked around Canterbury and went into the Cathedral. I wasn’t feeling too well, I had the travel sickness (I always get a little cold within two days of traveling, but think about how many germs are on a train and airplane, it’s no wonder!) so I went home early that day and tried to catch up on sleep while my parents took a river tour and haunted river tour! Oh! But before I left, we had afternoon tea at the Moat Tea Room. It was beyond adorable, so small and quaint, and you order your tea, scones, sandwiches, cakes and whatever else you want and a little lady, who looks like a traditional baker with the hat and apron, brings you your food on a three-tiered stand and ugh, it was just the best. My parents and I also got to chat and catch-up a bit which I really enjoyed. I really like to just sit there and talk to them about things that are going on back home, especially when it’s over tea and scones!

Welcome Basket! Cute, right?

Afternoon Tea!!

The next day we toured some more of Canterbury and actually went in the Cathedral, which I think my mom really liked; she really likes castles and cathedrals, my dad, eh, he likes to try and climb up everything and sneak in places he shouldn’t. Haha. The next day we went to Leeds Castle and the weather was actually nice, for once! The entire time my parents were in England the weather was disgusting! But the sun came out for us that day! Yay! I have been to Leeds Castle before but it was nice to go back. It really is beautiful, PLUS Elizabeth I used to be imprisoned there! Ohhh yea. We ate in the restaurant there, which I didn’t get to do before, and it was delicious!  But we ate only after my mom bought me a replica ring that is identical to the one Elizabeth used to wear; we’re twins. Score!

My parents with the ticket guy on the train on our way to Leeds Castle!

Leeds Castle

Garden at Leeds Castle

Then on Wednesday we went to Dover castle which is certainly something little kids would love. It’s set up to be very child friendly with interactive displays and games throughout, but my parents and I definitely didn't mind. Haha. The weather that day was disgusting as usual, but the wind was crazy and Dover castle is on a steep hill which made the wind even worse! I thought I was going to fly away! One of the coolest things we did was go into the underground hospital at the castle which was actually used during WWII. You’re guided through the tunnels and there are nurses and people talking around you, and everything is set up like it would've been in the forties and there are even SMELLS! YES! In the bunks there’s a musky, damp smell, in the kitchen there’s a roast dinner smell, in the hospital there’s an ether smell and there’s one other smell but I have no clue what it is right now. Crap. Anyway, you’re in a tunnel with a group of people and the tour is a simulation of what it would have been like to have to work in the conditions provided. You’re kilometers underground, cramped with no sunlight, their light source was dim and horrible and it was dank and damp. I couldn't imagine. Could you imagine how depressed everyone must have felt? When the lights first went off I got really scared and yelped a little so my mom came and held my arm. Ha! It was really cool and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to go, especially with my parents. That night I stayed with my parents at their hotel since we were leaving for London early in the morning. They stayed at the Ebury Hotel and it was like a 5 star resort for me, especially compared to my house on campus! When I got there that night we had a tea party again and laughed as my dad was joking and being mean, hilarious, but mean. Hahah! It was so funny! What made the night even better was that I knew in the morning I would be on my way to the HARRY POTTER TOUR at Leavesden Studios, but I’ll catch you up on that later! Till next time-

Kels xx

Inside the Cathedral

My pretty parents! <3

Dover Castle

The lush getting his fill of mead RIGHT when we got there! Geesh.

My mom is SO over doing laundry...

Me stirring da pot. I had my own Medieval Cooking Show. It was actually good. Watch out, Giada!