I am one of those people who waited till they are on the brink of arthritis to travel. The wake up call to take the huge travel leap came when I saw myself speeding past the mature 20's and heading fast, head  first to old age or what is it called these days " middle age". To pour salt to a gaping wound, every family gathering I attended, I was cornered by the so called " old wise aunties" who endlessly interrogated me with questions such as" when are you going to have a baby?" ( as if  it is as simple as going into the grocery store and ordering yourself one, I can almost imagine the conversation between me and the sales assistant on this subject (" me: Can I have a baby please? Sales assistant: " would you like one or two... and a bag to go with it?) Very crazy old wise aunties, here is some news for you...you just dont wake up one day and have a bundle of joy, it is a sordid process which involves ovaries and sperms and you just dont get those from over the counter.Hello??????????

 Anywho I knew then that if  I dont throw caution to the wind and just go on ahead and make the world my oyster, I would end up a butt of these aunties jokes or worse,  in a cold hospital bed somewhere crying about fragile bones with a brand new friend " arthritis" to keep me company and  " no baby".

So I embraced the travel bug and it has taken me here to the wonderful United Kingdom. The minute I stepped off the plane, I could feel the change in the atmosphere (as in your body knows instantly that you have left the African skies behind you) and it succumbs to the million attacks of goose bumps which prick your every pore. Followed by a nagging fear or some annoying small voice inside, pestering you with this question " what have I gotten myself into?". Then all of this, happens while you trudge like an imported mass produced product, on your long walk to preconceived freedom. This " promised land" notion is suddenly thrown out the window as soon as you are given that landing card and you are confronted with fears of possible refusal to enter the country. I had the unfortunate experience with an Indian lad who was perplexed at my response to his earnest and standard question of how much money did I have in the bank at the time. To which I decided to save him the trouble and answer earnestly that I only had £90. To which he responded, totally gobsmacked I might add, " you are here on a 2 year working holiday visa, yet you only have £ 90  and no job? I said, that's correct sir bur you need not loose sleep over that minor fact, I will make sure I sort myself out.

I guess, it was my lucky stars because he rewarded my earnesty with an entry to the wonderful UK. And there just like that, I found myself right in the middle of a chaotic life and in the whirlpool of a tube.At 5am in the morning , I found myself struggling with a suitcase four times my own weight and  thrown from one station to the next. The infamous tube. what a nasty place to have a 30 kg suitcase in.I expected people to grumpy and smelly but to my complete amazement, the good Mesiahs kept coming from every corner with arms extended, ready to rescue the damsel in distress, me.After the tube, I got to catch a glimpse of London.Their houses, building etc and I must give it to the British, upholding culture is their strong forte'. Everywhere you go, you see old buildings and you find yourself wondering what century you are in. In fact it gets so confusing that  it wouldnt be a total suprise if you bumped into none other than the Don of Romance, Mr Shakespeare himself  and be asolutely gobsmacked at his an invitation back to his house for " some cuppa tea". Yes the buildings are that very old. The British people, in my obscure opinion,  are warm people (I think the fact that it is summer, has a lot to do with it) and even though this is a fact but dont be fooled, they are not generally forthcoming especially if you have a gift of gab. I am sorry lad, you will have to swallow your tongue on this one ( never mind biting it) and just let them warm up to you before cracking those jokes, you are so famously endeared for back at home. Not to say that they dont have a great sense of humour, (as some do) but to be safe, curb your enthusiam until you are absolutely certain your jokes and enthusiam would be well received.

I am in my fourth day here in Britain currently residing in the rural location of Chalfont St Giles..so my life is unravelling as we speak and you are the priviledged or to make it more spiritual, the Chosen one because you get to hear about it from the horse's mouth ( you have got to love the English sense of humour on this one)!!!