SammyGall's Journal

Well I just got back from my vacation to England. It went by SO fast it was crazy. I managed to escape most of those crazy rain storms that have been a torment to the Brits this summer. No wonder the landscape is sooo green.

It felt SO humid to me. I mean it was only as hot as about 70 or 75 at worst but absolutely NO A/C so it felt so sticky all the time. They describe it as "clammy" which is funny and definitely appropriate.

It was tough on my level of anxiety to spend so much time with my parents who bicker constantly. I simply do not understand why two people who so obviously can't stand the very sight of each other stay together and have done for almost 41 years. My observations of the two of them over the last 10 days has made me realize that this is one of the many reasons why I am serial marryier (my mothers term for me having being married 4 times by the time I was 36). It's like I must prove to myself after all those years of watching them - that I will NOT stand for a single minute of it. And I don't.

But getting married and then getting rid of husbands is obviously over-kill as far as reactions go. It's absurd actually so I have to check myself on that. Don't know how but I think finding something out about yourself is a good starting point.

But back to the UK - I went to my favorite places (well two of) - Durham and Whitby which is a my favorite sea-side spot in the North East and is close(ish) to where they live. About 2 hours or so. Small roads which are winding and hilly and make me scream in fear as people in tiny cars coming ripping up the road behind you to honk and swerve and 'over-take' you. I thought for sure I was a gonner quite a few times.

So Whitby - it's so tiny and the scenery is beautiful. There's an ancient monument - Whitby Abbey which stands more or less in ruins at the top of the famed 99 steps. It looks down proudly over the bay where Captain James Cook came in and out of during his time. It's a tiny little bay town with a million and one little shops selling all kinds of things including the fun things you can always find at the sea side in Britain. Tiny little willies (penis's) that you wear on your finger (like a ring) and suck (it's candy). There were little sets of tits and bums too but I just picked up the willies. What a laff.

I had fish and chips from the famous Magpie hotel which boasts the "best fish and chips in the country" which might actually be true. Wonderful! Then my dad decided to hand feed some of the many and annoying seagulls who were fighting over everyone's scraps.

They were careful tho - they swooped down and grabbed the scraps out from between my dads fingers without even pinching him a little bit! I took some great photos.

We went to the pub for a lager and lime and then again for another a little later. I splashed around in the North Sea (for a photo op) and almost froze completely!

The place was teaming with people, kids, adults, old and young. Everyone smiling and happy licking ice-cream and eating cockles, muscles and prawns all found locally. We stopped for a pot of tea and a scone and ate it outside at one of the little tables and watched the people go by........BLISS.

I did so many other things while I was there - a day in the City of Durham - so beautiful. A day drinking in Newcastle with sister - what a blast. My last day by myself wandering around my old town thinking my own thoughts and buying a few last minute things.

This is the first time since I moved here - 17 years ago - that I truly feel that THIS is my home! I was really homesick for the US. Finally - I can relax. I have real friends here now and you know what? That's what makes a place "home" to me.