Since my fiancee`/Skype-mate freed me to be “me” in-conjunction with my social media comeuppance three years ago, I post many things to promote our plans and seek self-sufficiency sponsors. The following are from our recent London rendezvous notes. I pray that you, dear reader, have someone in your life that you feel similarly for as I do Inna, who inspired this trip and travel.
Monday, on the way across the Pond
I am “above the clouds” (a song) again and this time on Virgin Atlantic airlines, bound for London, England to rendezvous with my fiancée`, Inna who is coming in from Ukraine. Wow! Long-awaited and incredible; I hope I brought enough “pounds”! Basically, we own the next seven days.
[Then, I did not write a note for the next five days, so consumed with my lady, Inna, was I…]
Friday, 9:40am London time
Just returned to our flat and it is lonely London now, having seen Inna to the plane at Heathrow, early this morning. I felt so bad because she was in no shape to travel since coming-down with a head cold on the flight from Ukraine which got worse during our stay in London. I crash to sleep now for a few hours before I have to go and find the Big Bus Tour office and retrieve my camera case that they have so luckily found and saved for me. Too bad the same can’t be said for our cache of souvenirs from Piccadilly Square that we left at the Bond Street Tube station yesterday. Oh, well, I filed a report; maybe someone or a Tube worker found them and will notify me. This chick came from behind me and helped me out of my tourist confusion at the Tube turnstile on the way back to our flat. She too was Russian, ironically. Maybe Inna sent her? lol I smelled Inna’s perfume everywhere in-public after she left as the London winds reminded me.
I am reliving the special moments like when Inna brought my laptop to our bed Wednesday morning so she could play me some music videos by Lana Del Ray. Priceless!
Friday, circa 2:30pm London time (at Shakespeare Pub)
It is very complimentary and flattering to have someone from London tell me that they like my “American (English) accent”, when it is their country who invented it! I am at “Shakespeare” Pub, dining on their version of London’s famous “fish n’ chips” – a dish that reacquainted my diet with an old childhood staple, green peas! Simple yet delightfully health when steamed.
I think that clouds hover around England – always – I believe.
It is truly awesome that a country like this – on a big island – became so powerful! I always read about it in school and I love that Nina chose this location for us to meet-up. Just another reason I love her and she came into my life at the right time.
Now my next move is to relocate to a hotel within the Heathrow airport vicinity…Inna and our personal cab driver recommended this.
Friday evening, after 9pm London Time at Flynn’s Pub:
(Thinking) What I really hate about cell phone “plans” from all of these “providers” like T-Mobile is UNuniformity. Especially when you travel overseas! They seem to know when you land in another country, but do not give you any benefits that you had where you came from. MY android did not work (was “locked” even though I bought a “sim card” in London) for four days!
London gave me a new meaning to the American slang phrase, “Gimme a POUND!” lol Here is a brief (short) video about how better to solve the whole “no smoking in restaurants” issue!
Day Six in London
Saturday is “solo Saturday” for me near Heathrow. Having detached from our apartment in West Ealing (a really great choice for us to base from) gives me pause for the first time thinking of the future – missing her companionship and dreading the return to the grind of work back in New York City. I am still technically homeless – and this is the next hurdle I must $oon leap over.
As my luck would have it, a “major Gale” (wind storm with rain) approaches London as I stage to leave tomorrow…in the nick of time.
I am at Thistle Hotel Heathrow, a massive and expansive hotel which smells of mold. Its saving grace for me is its lounge which overlooks the airport where you can see the (mostly British Airways) planes take off. I partake of a brilliantly delicious “rump of lamb” which I wish Nina was with me to share. Tasty, tender and really scrumptious.
Sunday, Day seven in London, 4:52pm Heathrow…
Flight gate to be announced at 6:10pm; Hoping to lift-off ahead of the impending storm.
Solo, the lone ranger again, I am missing the companionship and proximity of Inna.
“More Impressions upon A Café` Skype Journey”
I happened to speak to a nice chap while in my final hours in London, who understood my story, or some such gleaned his was similar in that his beloved is from Thailand and he in London. “Why is it so difficult?” he asked, “When you want to marry, they should grant her the visa at once!” He said. It is encouraging to know of others in a similar situation. It is the quest of “Café` Skype” to soon overcome these hurdles to our love and togetherness in the same postal code.
Aboard a Majestic Virgin Atlantic Flight back to JFK
When you fly at night and look up out of your window seat, all you see is the stars – much closer they look!
Aboard Virgin US25 on my way back to ill NYC, I am calmer than expected with new urgency to attract big finances soon in order to offer Nina a chance at togetherness and comfort in The States. Living our dream and not someone else’s.
I knew I would tear-up and cry at some point, and it was at the end of the “Jack and the Beanstalk” movie, “Jack The Giant Slayer” that showed on the seat in front of me on the plane in-flight.
When I saw Jack and Isabella clasp hands and walk like Nina and I did so naturally in London, well…that was it for me being “strong”. 
Pickhitt: I am now totally interested in any and all opportunities to live and work in London, U.K. Actively applying; hit me up, Mates, I’m flexible!
~ “Guv’na” Naphtali
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