Dragging but safe

So I have arrived.

The flight was good, except that the flight attendant threw gravy at me. (she really didn't mean to, and she was really nice about coming back with a rag and getting the stain out.. but it was a bit hot) --and I had one of those enviable seats with lots of leg room but I'm one of those weirdos that prefer to be cramped against the window instead of having all my legs out for attendants to trip over, spewing gravy on unsuspecting fliers.

So after being cold (after the burning gravy had cooled) and donning the trusty sweater, and laughing out loud at a movie that only I was watching (this morning it was Horton Hears a Who) I got off in London.. or at least Heathrow.. and a maze of terminals and platforms and hall ways.. oh and customs almost didn't let me in because I didn't have a specific address to where I was staying in Nottingham...I finally took the train that took me to the train office to buy a ticket for the tube that took me to a stop that would be able to sell me a ticket to the train I needed to take to Nottingham--it was a lot of tracks and tickets--but I finally made it. Felt like I spent the first whole day of my trip underground like a mole...it was noon before I finally got to the Nottingham station.

But Mandy was there to pick me up after a little while in Nottingham. It was so good to see her even though I hadn't seen her before. She took me and my weary suitcase to her car and then to her home--fed me some croissants and tea and said I could either sleep or take a shower.. I did both, and finally felt a little more human.

She and her husband took me to dinner in a carvery--wow. Lots of really good food. Three kinds of meat, veggies--and amazing pudding (or dessert for all you yanks)

mmm. Then we went to the grocery store and got some stuff for lunch tomorrow, when I think I'm headed to York. (she has a busy day in the office tomorrow so I'm gong to do my office visiting later in the week).

So I am well.. very tired. I'm going to drink this cup of tea and then go to bed. With, I might add, a new book from an Irish author that isn't available in the states yet..woohoo.

I'll ponder pilgriming tomorrow as well. It's strange--you look at these places and you wonder if they really know they've been here for eons and eons?