Autumn 2024
August...
Having my mother visit England was one of the loveliest experiences. In other words, it was ‘such fun!’ (Only my mother will understand that). The trip consisted of five main stops and three places to stay. First up was meeting in Wimbledon and taking the overground into London. The first airbnb was out of a movie I swear. Up on the third floor we stayed and down on the sidewalk was my new best friend (a cat), whom I would greet each morning we’d leave and each night as we would return from our ventures. Walking was then the theme of the day. We ventured into all the main stops, had afternoon tea at Kensington Palace, took a bus across the London bridge and had dinner at a pub next to the water.
The next stop was a drive to Bath. Hills and hills covered the land as we drove through the smallest roads known to mankind. We visited the Cathedral grounds, No. 1 Royal Crescent, the Circus, The Holburne Museum to see Mr. Doodle’s latest work amongst the masters, and the Toulouse-Lautrec Exhibition. The following morning was August 11th—my darling Mother’s birthday and our third stop. The day went as planned; a morning walk around Stourhead House and Garden and the Temple of Apollo while sharing AirPods to listen to the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack. How else are we to romanticize this experience?
Stourhead was easily my dream destination to visit before going to the UK and it delivered. Nature exists differently there. What I wasn’t expecting was the surroundings of the Temple of Apollo, not to mention the hike it takes to get up to it. Though, I think it makes it more special being high up and secluded from the rest of the grounds, it’s truly something that cannot be written. Following this, we had tea in Bradford-on-Avon at The Bridge Tea Rooms. This was by far the most authentic original tea room I have been to, and don’t get me started about the view of the town from the second floor window!
A day trip into Oxford was next on the agenda and I will admit it was all my doing putting into light of my current Harry Potter obsession. We saw the grounds of Christ Church College, some of the Bodleian Library and Duke Humphreys library, New College, and gardens that beheld a cat who should most definitely belong in National Geographic. Moving locations, we arrive at the highlight of our trip. This stay had us in a chokehold and it is shocking that we made it out without kicking and screaming. We simply did not want to leave. Resting in the countryside, Rose Cottage is the most endearing guest house on an old farm. The animals and gardens had my heart equally in rain or shine. Our trip ended with Highclere Castle and a frolic through the gardens on the Castle grounds. In all honesty, I still am not sure whether it happened in my reality or daydreams.
September…
September was a simple month. A few trips into London, absorbing the forthcoming Autumn air and finding my way into more galleries. (Paintings shown in photos by Ruth Speer)
I fear I started to lose myself a bit this month. The ‘ber’ months will do that to a girl. However, if there is one thing to bring me back to Earth, that would be Earth herself. As I made my way back to nature, all felt right again. I began sensing my nanny days were nearing their end. I try to live in the present the best I can, but for some reason every time I begin glimpsing an end veering its way, I tend to disassociate with what’s in front of me as my mind starts placing itself in what’s to come. I blame my imaginative romanticist self on this doing. It’s uncontrollable, truly.
To keep me grounded in the present, I hold much of my gratitude towards my adopted English family. The kids I Au Pair for are in cub scouts so naturally, as cub scouts do, I was able to venture out with the lot of them to witness Grace (the 9 year old girl I nanny) swim around cliffs at the bottom of a cow field. Typical day in the life of an English 9 year old, I can confirm. If you know me, you are aware that I have a very strong admiration towards animals. Therefor it was quite difficult being told I should not go up and hug the cows. They did pose adoringly for my photographs though.
With only two months left of my stay in England, I began to realize that maybe I need a set plan for my next move. Being in the Autumn air, I thought that Ireland may be a good option for me. So my research began and although my irrationally unrealistic yet somehow manageable plans change constantly in my head each day, I think I may be getting somewhere.
October…
“Are they… Are they watering the grass?”
It is such a privilege moving places and meeting new people. You never know when they will make another appearance in your life, if ever. But with Jane, I am lucky enough to stay in contact with her lovely, contagiously kind being. And so, Edinburgh called to me as she did just the same.
Jane trained me to work at Disney World in 2019, and although she is from Australia, she has been living in Scotland for a few years now. What great timing for me! I took a trip up to Kings Cross and caught the four hours train journey to Hogwarts—I mean Edinburgh—where my most adoring friend was there waiting for me.
Here we journeyed through the ancient cobblestone streets where bagpipes took over my hearing and the October season decided to showoff with all the gold it has to offer. Ochre danced in the wind before making its final bow before me while the fog rolled over and through medieval architecture like setting a stage. I walked through graveyards, up to Arthurs Seat, and laughed myself to tears with a girl I hadn’t seen in 5 years. Though the city was hauntingly beautiful, the highlight of this week was the country side. After a 45 minute train ride out to the coast, I made friends with the local sheep, had a walk through some castle ruins, and somehow found more ridiculous scenarios to laugh with Jane about.
Halloween was upon us and I found myself back on a train making my way to my cousin’s house near Cambridge. I don’t think I had realized how lonely I was feeling until I saw her and felt instantly at home. I won’t hide the fact that she is my favorite cousin, she knows, but seeing her proved to me how much a sense of familiarity is important in life. I always claim I don’t need it. That I can live without the comfort of a routine or familiar faces. Until I find myself holding onto her warmth and being able to feel understood by someone who watched me grow up. She made me many coffees and we watched Practical Magic in honor of the season. As the movie came to an end, so did October, and may final full month in the UK.
To say where I’m off to next would be counterproductive when my record shows I’ll change my mind come due time.
