previously posted on my blog Abroad in London
as a weekly update for family and friends

Week of the Geek

Forgive me for the lapse but I’ve been busy here in London.

Last weekend I chose to attend a Star Wars Convention that was being hosted in London. What were the odds, right? I’d never gotten to go in the US because it was always far away… usually on the west coast. But within two weeks of moving to my new country I’d end up at the European Star Wars Convention. It was only by chance that I saw all the
advertisements along the tube walls for it. It was a 3 day extravaganza and I knew I had to attend.

Friday I had to work but after work I made the trip to the Excel Center (big London convention center) a little ways outside the central city. That night they were going to play A New Hope on a big screen in a courtyard to benefit a British charity. Introducing it was Ian McDiarmid (aka. Emperor Palpatine) from the Star Wars movies. The entire weekend was a hoot. Definitely a fun time for geeks all around. I graciously got to meet a group of Brits from a little island and I spent the 2 days going around the convention with them.

Monday night I continued my geeky trend… I went to see the latest Harry Potter movie. I went with a group of friends and we had an absolute blast at the movie. Check out the picture of the theatre on my gallery section. I only regret that I didn’t take a picture of the inside. It was a classic old theatre complete with red curtains and a balcony. It was really something to see (Odeon Theatre at Leicester Square).

Tuesday I took it easy when I bought the last Harry Potter book so that I might read it before the latest comes on tonight (Friday). I also finally purchased a fan. It’s too hot to sleep with the windows closed in London but I can’t sleep with them open either because of the noise on the street. I solved the problem and bought a fan. The room is much more comfortable. Also… I’m keen to point out… speaking of new gadgets… that last weekend we received our TV! Chris was quite brilliant and found someone selling it on Gumtree. We called them and the next day we had a gorgeous TV. Perfect… now we just need satellite.

Wednesday was the first pub meet I got to attend through Bunac (my Visa sponsor). Basically they hold them frequently and it’s a social gathering for the students here in the UK through Bunac. We meet at a pub and meet new faces. What a great night! I met several people who I adore already. I got 4 phone numbers and we’ve already planned to hang out since then.

Last night… Thursday… I got to hang out with one of the girls I met at the pub meet. Her name is Kate and she’s a mid-westerner but no one’s perfect! Back at home I joke about my friend Gisele being my twin… but if Gisele is my twin than Kate is our triplet. We get along famously and I’m thankful for that! We were together yesterday to pre-order her copy of Harry Potter because…

TONIGHT Harry Potter comes out. That’s why I’m writing this now – because I know I won’t be writing until that blasted book is finished. It’s a big deal over here… more so than in the States and heck… I worked at a bookstore the last time it came out.

I’m going with Kate, Michelle and Leigh-Anne (one of the folks I met at the pup meet) to pick up the book. It’s going to be a blast and I’ll fill you all in on that later.

So that’s what my busy week has looked like. The most amount of touring I’ve done of actual London was last night. Kate and I walked around Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square and the Strand. There are definitely some beautiful sites to see there but I only came out with a single picture (of a small monument for Oscar Wilde… how could I pass that up? He’s absolutely my favorite playwright and author!).