5 days until 5 months!

The 5 month milestone. 

During my 5 months here I have managed to see.....

London

Ireland

Northampton

Bath

Leicester

The Peak District

Dorset

Arundel

Brighton

Chichester

Eastbourne

Winchester

Oxford

Bristol

London take 2

Southampton

London take 3

& Windsor & Eton scheduled for this weekend! 

So far I have managed to complete 6 1/2 of my goals for this year.....

5: I have interrogated several Nandos...... No sign of One Direction.

4: Visited Eastbourne..... Although there were no boats to let loose with the air guitar, I did do a little bit of Angus Thongs & Perfect Snogging soundtrack singing, which I think made up for it.

2: Time seems to be running short & a visit to Jane Austens home in Alton doesn't seem realistic, BUT I did visit her home in Bath & wandered around Winchester, close to her home town, where she is buried so I like to think of that as an accomplishment! 

1: The half comes from the Pride and Prejudice film location goal, as I visited Mr DARCY'S house, Chatsworth in the Peak District.

8: I think I have done well in terms of exploring in England. In another 8 weeks I will be able to check

Greece

Santorini

Mykonos

Rome

Florence

Venice

Nice

Cannes

Monaco

Barcelona

Paris

& even more of London off the list.

6: Ireland was the first of my exciting journeys with my paddywagon extravaganza! 

My 5 months have given me so many incredible memories and allowed me to explore places that I never ever thought I would see. England was always a dream of mine and sometimes it still doesn't feel like a reality. 

Yesterday I was particularly impressed with myself as I took on the train and tube by myself. 

I know I know it probably doesn't sound like a BIG DEAL but I remember how scared and apprehensive I was about the train and tube station when I first arrived..... I had never seen or experienced anything like it! But I just knew that I could do it and I didn't think twice. 

I know that being here is teaching me to grow in more ways than I recognise, but yesterday really made me recognise how far I have come and I will always appreciate this experience for giving me so much that I can't buy, that no one can buy, but things that just come from living & testing & thriving.