London 2024 Diaries
As I mentioned elsewhere, this month marks my first trip back to the UK in five years. (My last trip was 2019, do the math, etc.) I just got back late last night and spent a little bit of time in the evenings and mornings recording what I did. Because reader, it was a lovely trip, and just what I needed.
Big thanks to Mazz and Al, Dan, Liz, JC, Johnny, JJ, the Oxfam, Luke and Andy, and everyone who made me feel welcome during my time here. As I probably say somewhere way down there, you're all reminders of why I love this place so much.
20 October
Because I am someone who likes to have it all, I planned for my flight to leave after my Sunday D&D game. A couple hours' layover in NYC, then a surprisingly quick flight into Heathrow overnight. I stumped for World Traveller Plus because I've been saving up all year and could afford it. That just meant a little extra leg room, nicer dinner, and a drink on takeoff.
Usually I'm much more of a movie watcher on long-haul flights, but I just rewatched Addams Family Values and fell asleep to some episodes of Staged.
21 October
Arrived around midday and met up with the friends who are very kindly giving me use of their guest room. The cats also got reacclimated to me.
In another life I would have been desperate to see and do everything as soon as my feet hit the ground. Now, I'm more about taking it slow. I like to choose one or two things to do per day on these trips and spend the rest of my time being somewhere, anywhere, that isn't home. As much as I love home.
22 October
Today's goal: reacclimate to London. I've not been here since 2019 because things simply kept happening. I love this city, but getting used to it again after being a bit of a hermit for five years was going to take some work and I knew that.
So, Covent Garden. Bought a lot of tea. Had lunch at Chez Antoinette and dessert next door at Creme de la Crepe, watched some street performers, wandered, finished in the basement of Caffe Nero with a book and a drink. Plans were also made and dissolved rather quickly as I realized that going to Manchester or Bristol would take a lot more advance planning. Maybe next year.
23 October
Having failed to remember that the best holidays amount to 1-2 things per day plus relaxing, I ventured out into the city again. But most of my wandering was to kill time before going to see The Mousetrap. The show has been running for 72 years, and yet for some reason I'd never stopped to do the London thing of seeing it. Very glad I did.
For the uninitiated, it's an Agatha Christie murder mystery. Short version: a murder happens at a newly established guest house related to a very old (and very tragic) adoption case, and everyone present has a potential motive, a potential connection to the case, or both. Notably, theatergoers are told not to give away the twist (which I guessed, then second-guessed because there's lots of compelling evidence in lots of directions). If you fancy it, you can just find the ending on Wikipedia, but that doesn't seem sporting. The cast was great - Christopher Wren with his very Matt Smith energy was my favorite.
24 October
Two commitments today. The first was catching up with my old localization trenches buddy Jonathon Collis, who was in town to announce some J-Novel Club stuff at MCM. Four of us made a stop for a cake and tea buffet at Jack & Beyond. Which was excellent. (The pistachio and raspberry cake was my favorite.) I don't think JC and I have seen each other in person in nearly a decade. Always nice to catch up. Maybe in less than a decade next time.
Then off to the Hackney Brewery & High Hill Tap Room for Johnny Chiodini's game night. A very fab night of Bloodborne (I was terrible at it, but there were some absolute champs), pints, pizza, and new friends. Also Johnny's very lovely dog Watson was in attendance. (Johnny is also very lovely, but that feels a bit like a given if you've seen their streams.) If you ever get the chance, head out there for one of Johnny's game nights. It's a friendly, chill group. My one regret is that I live an ocean away; this would be a regular haunt for me otherwise.
25 October
Dan Long came to town for some sightseeing! He is the fella behind Insert Coin Clothing as well as being a fellow guinea pig owner. We looked at lots of animal skeletons at the Grant Museum of Zoology. Very weird, very cool. All praise the jar of moles.
Beyond that, it was casual sightseeing and buying a few little gifts for friends. It was a slower day than usual, mostly by my own design, since I knew I only had three full days left in the country and I wanted to ration out my energy a bit. One big plan a day for the next three days. I did eat something called a "monster whip," though. It was pretty good.
26 October
Today was a long-overdue meeting with Liz Evershed, with whom I worked on the City of the Saved anthology Stranger Tales of the City. (This also serves as proof that, if I miss you on a trip and say "next time," I will make it happen - even if it takes literal years.) Liz took me on a tour of the London Library, an independent lending library housing something like one million volumes. Lots of legendary writers would come here to do research and reading, and their photos are all over the place.
There's also a collection of every issue of the Times ever printed, so I searched out the day I was born. Turns out something kinda major was going on in England on that day, so color me educated. Lots of big regrets stacking up - much like I wish I was local to High Hill Game Night, I wish I was local to this. And had a membership. So many lovely little corners to hide in and read or write.
27 October
Today, you see, was the Halloween live for Mom Can't Cook, one of my two favorite podcasts. (The other is also two grown men discussing things they will probably hate, funnily enough.) Gathered with other fans beforehand and put a lot of faces to screen names. And apparently, even if I am not a famous author, "Kara Dennison" is known among Oxboxtra fans. Which was a thing to quickly sort out in my Negroni-addled brain. (In all seriousness, lovely lovely people, a friendly fandom I'm privileged to be a part of.)
The show itself was magnificent. The movie of the episode was Halloweentown High, which I squeezed in a watch of beforehand. (Once the recording of the episode has aired, I'll put a link to it here.) Luke and Andy were Halloweened up as Brink and Val from Brink! and performed a scene from it (twice). Also got to meet them afterwards and reader, they are lovely and gracious gentlemen. I've had experiences that make me very nervous about meeting my faves, but this was not one of them. I will be back for another live show. Even if the Christmas one is a bit too soon to turn around and travel again.
28 October
And woe, it is my last full day here. Met up with friend JJ (the one that lives in a castle) for a bimble around town. The rain, my bad ankle, and the fact that two things we wanted to visit weren't happening after all put a crimp in our plans. But we did find a nice ramen and curry place, do some Christmas shopping at Fortnum & Mason, and stop for tea and wagashi and gossip about The Old Days Of Anime Cons. (We also wanted to find the Monty Python foot at the National Gallery, but the line just to get in was all the way up the block.)
All that being said, that is truly one of my favorite ways to see London (or any place, really). Destinations are nice, but taking a slow wander with a friend is nicest. As much as I'll be glad to be home with familiarity, I am always sad to say goodbye to England - more so now that I've been back for the first time in five years.
29 October
And a final day of travel. British Airways was on the prowl at Heathrow for people who wanted to upgrade their seat for cheap and... after all, why shouldn't I? For cheap ish. Finally saw Argylle and then watched several episodes of The Traitors.
Being home is always weird. I'm back to the house I grew up in and that I've lived most of my life in, but it always seems both bigger and smaller once I'm home. I love traveling, and I love England. But also I love coming home after clearing my head.
Now, I plan for next year.
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