London, you've been great

Written on the plane on Thursday the 11th

On my way back on the plane to Edinburgh, it's 23:41 at the moment cause the plane was over an hour late. I am so tired, early mornings and long days. I have already finished my book (that was what I kept myself entertained with during the wait), I did some colouring in my new therapeutic colouring book that I got at Tate. And yes colouring is FUN and super relaxing! Anyway, since I am too tired to read more I thought I would tell you about my holiday.

On Monday I arrived. Sascha and her gran came to meet me at the train station. Then we went home to their little house in this small village in East Grinstead. Sascha made dinner and we had a really relaxing night, just catching up, drinking wine and watching a movie.

Sascha was off on Tuesday so we went in to London! We walked past Buckingham Palace, Big Ben (Which I learned is actually not called Big Ben, the big clock inside is Big Ben but the tower is actually called The Elizabeth Tower, now you know that), across Tower Bridge and then we went for sushi at YO Sushi. We stacked up quite a few plates and we had two servings of the strawberry cheesecake mocchi, which is without doubt the best mocchi I have ever had! The chocolate mocchi didn't come far behind. We went to Tate Modern Art Gallery and tried to understand modern art, and trust me when I say that we actually tried. We stood infront of two different paintings trying to understand the meaning behind it but we turned around after three minutes and realised we didn't get a thing. I liked some of the art in there, other things was just giant poo on the floor. I bought my colouring book at Tate though, and postcards that you can make yourself. Paint or draw on one side and write on the other. Sascha thought I should bring them with me to Africa so I can paint what I've seen and send to friends and family.

When I booked my holiday to London I thought that it would be really good to see some old friends that live there. So I conntacted both my friend Matilda and Anna. And on Wednesday I met up with Matilda! Before I did I went to The National Gallery of Art. I spent around two hours in there admiring the art. I could easily get lost and spend hours and hours in there. Matilda and I met up outside and made our way to Covent Garden where we sat down for a coffe. It's been years since we saw each other so we had loads to cath up on! She took me to see Piccadilly Circus, China Town and The Ritz. We walked to Hyde Park and saw princess Dianas memorial ground, then we sat town at a cafè overlooking the lake. When she had to make her way to work I went in to Oxford Street for some window shopping. The stores are massive in London! Topshops first floor is like bag heaven, they even have a frozen yoghurt bar and a place where you can buy fancy cupcakes in the store.

I made Sascha and I miss the train cause I had to feed a squirrel, but how can you resist, they're so cute and I actually asked Sascha if you could have one as a pet. She said no..

On Thursday I went home to Anna for brunch, years and years since we last saw each other. So just as with Matilda we had a lot to catch up on. I met both her dog, a very cute and energetic pug named Watson and her fiance. So nice to see her again after all theese years. That day I went sightsing, I went on a bus tour and a boat tour. The weather was amazing, and the last couple of hours I spent in St James Park reading.

It was such a good holiday and I can't even describe how good it was to see my old friends and also to spend time with Sascha. Felt that that was just what I needed! I will defenetly be back, there is still a few things I want to do in London. Thinking that Stuart and I should go there for a weekend at one point. 

Much Love, Elin

Off to London!

At the moment I'm on the train with Sascha on our way to London. Going to see everything there is to see and do! So excited!

Much love, Elin

Just where I need to be

Arrived at Stansted airport this morning, what a trek to get to Saschas! Sascha live close to East Grinstead in a village called Forrest Row. It's a very cute little village from what I saw on the way to her house. She made a roast dinner for us today and afterwards we watched a movie and drank wine in bed. So nice to finally get to spend some time with her again! 

Tomorrow we're going in to London and she's going to show me around, we're going to go full tourist! So be prepared for loads of pictures (+ she has a selfie stick, don't judge). I'm just in bed now and I'm absolutely knackerd, might read a few pages of my book and just relax cause I'm finally away on holiday.

Much love, Elin

Saying good bye

Stuart is away. We said good bye at the airport today, a little sad but still so very happy for him. He is going to be in San Fransisco for the summer to work at a summer camp via Camp America, I have no doubt in mind that he will be amazing. Keiran and Lindsey are moving in so I will have some company, and Lindsey and I are going to do Yoga on the rooftop, we are going to barbecue up there aswell, make the kitchen area to a stage and have a fabulous jazz party. And that's just some of the things we will be doing. I'm going to London tomorrow, my cousin Mathilda is coming to visit, my grandparents are coming over and I will go on holiday to Sweden for two weeks in july! So I will keep busy, also planning to read loads of books and paint, go to the gym and just focus on myself. And then it will be August just before I know it and Stuart will come home to me again. 

Much love, Elin

Stuarts leaving party

So, last night was my last day at work before holiday! And I finished at 8 pm, how lucky am I?! So I made it in good time to Stuarts leaving party, even had time to go home and drop stuff off and have a drink. Then we went to Beer and Skittles to meet all our friends for drinks. We had a really good time and some delicious cocktails! Except for Lornas spicy 11 Bloody Mary.. 

It was a bit weird seeing Stuart hugging everyone and saying bye, for me it still doesn't feel real that he is going away. Maybe it will hit me tomorrow when I wave him off at the airport, so sad but so happy for him at the same time!

We're in the hotel next to the airport now, but Stuart is just away to get us some fish and chip (got to have that one more time before he goes). I'm just in bed watching tv and being lazy, what a great man I have that goes out in the horrible weather to get us food! 

Also I have started to only write in English and I have put a translate button at the top left, is it working properly? Haha. Feels like I'm saving so much time not having to write in two different languages, but only if it works ok. Well now Stuart is here with the food!!

Much love, Elin 

New cut and colour

This is the results from yesterdays visit at the hairdresser,

lightend it up a little and took a bit off the ends.

My hairdresser also took a bit off the weight to 

make the curls come out a little. Or something, don't

judge me if my explaining sounds absolutely ridicilous,

I am not a hairdresser.

But I can say that I think it looks fantastic

and I am very happy.

Much Love, Elin

94 days to Africa

It is 94 days until I go on my big adventure. For every little thing that I do leading up to my departure it feels more and more real. From sending away Visas, to booking appointments for vaccinations (ouch)and for buying my first proper backpack! I don't think anyone has ever been this excited about getting a new backpack as me. But it is not only buying a backpack for me, it is a step on the way for doing something I have been dreaming about a long time.

When I was younger I really wanted to volunteer, but it was so expensive and I never really got around to look into it properly. It was not until the beginning of this year that it popped into my mind again. Stuart and I were planning on going to America to work at a summercamp, Stuart got in but I didn't. I got quite disappointed but after a few days I realised that I could still go off and do something, something I had always wanted to do, volunteer work. Some off my collegues had travelled with STA before and recomended it to me, so I stepped into their office on George Street and started planning. First I needed to decide where in the world I wanted to go, and to decide that is pretty freaking hard since there is so many interesting and beautiful places to go. But I had always had Africa in mind so for me to decide my destination wasn't as hard as you would expect it to be.

It took a little while to get everything right with the program, due to them having to cancel the program I first wanted to do they offered me another one, which sounded even better. 

The program I will be doing is the East Africa Kenya and Tanzania. Since I had no idea what projects I wanted to work with this one is perfect, it is called "Do it all". I will work with wildlife/marine conservation and community and environment projects, I am eager to learn and to be a part of making the world a better place for everyone so I really can't wait! Reading about where the projects are located I can only imagine how stunning the scenary will be.

"Projects are located in the Taru Desert near Tsavo National Parks, around the foothills of the amazinf Kilimanjaro and a gorgeous beach camp on the Indian Ocean coastline of Tanzania."

I have saved up a lot to do this and some people ask me "So you are going to go to Africa to work for free?", "So you pay a lot of money to do this?". And for those two questions I will answer yes and yes. Volunteer work means "To do charitable or helpful work with no pay". People might wonder why it is so expensive to volunteer work and that is because it cost to run a project, you provide for the materials and training needed. There is also a cost to host volunteers, including accomodation, meals, staff to administer your activities and staff to run the programmes. 

The projects are a non-profit organisation that need financial support to keep going, so with the fee you are paying you are also donating money. And what better reward is there than to actually go there and work with the project that you have donated the money to?

I am planning to write more about everything leading up to my journey. Being in Africa I know I will have very limited access to internet, so I will go oldschool and keep a journal. I will try my best to post something on my blogg every once in a while so I can let you come along on my journey in Africa.

Much Love, Elin