(firstly I’d like to apologise at the belatedness of these posts.. internet has been real slow and I’m starting to get over writing them after six months)

Haven’t seen them since the morning of the first of June. That’s a little over five and a half months. Sure I’ve seen them and spoken to them through Skype, FaceTime and Viber but it’s not the same as seeing them face to face physically.

Spent the night in The Royal Trafalgar hotel in Trafalgar Square with Mark the night before they got in as they arrived into London too early for us to get up.

Around 730am when we expected Mum, Dad and Tegan to arrive, I walked downstairs to the lobby and to mums surprise she saw me and gave me a hug before having a teary. Dad hadn’t told her I would be staying there the night. He told her that I would be catching up with them later on in the day, so that was a nice surprise.

They day they arrived, Mark left us that arvo after a leisurely stroll around Oxford St and a pub feed. Actually the four days they were here, we seemed to have a pub lunch every day. Mum and Dad loved them.

I was the tour guide for the four days as I started to know London like the back of my hand. And writing this I’ve realised at how poor of analogy that is as I don’t, as well as I’m sure, the majority of people don’t actually know the back of theirs hands very well at all. So dumb whoever started that little saying.
Anyway, I showed Mum, Dad and Tegan around to the what I thought were better parts of London being Winter Wonderland, Oxford Street, Carnaby Lane, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Westminster Parliament and Abbey, Notting Hill and Camden. We had Tegan’s mate Eloise Ramson – also younger sister of Nicole who I stayed with in Chelsea and through my sister and her sister Eloise is how our connection came about – better known as Elosqueeze. Was great being in her company as well.

The Ramson’s and Perks’ had family dinner at a restaurant called Swan on the Thames River. This restaurant is connected to the Globe Theatre where Shakespeare used to perform for any enthusiasts who may be interested.
A very expensive and boozy night, at family dinner we celebrated Chrissy and popped bonbons. With the prizes inside we played a type of ‘Secret Santa’ style game we usually play with the Ryman family. Too difficult to explain but a sinch to play.
Thanks Ramsons for enjoying a memorable night with us. We look forward to round two in Sydney!

The following has been another massive mark in my journey. And one I have not been looking forward to but it had to happen. I shaved off my beard. It is an indescribable attachment I’ve had with my beard not shaving it once since September. We have seen and done a lot with each other and to see it go almost brought a tear to my eye. I can only describe it as the same feeling of after doing no exercise and realising the only reason your boobs don’t look like a proper set on a lady is due to chest hair. Puberty saves the day once again! And hasn’t it just with my beard. As briefly aforementioned, the loss of my beard now makes this Battler look like a fourteen year old boy instead of a twenty-four to twenty-five year old man. Well, for better or worse it’s gone. And so I start my journey to grow another.

Leaving the hotel in London, I arranged my bed sheets and doona in a manner that looked like a dead body. Wish so badly I could have seen the reaction of the cleaning lady’s face when she first glimpsed at it.

As we make our way to the French Alps to go skiing for Chrissy and New Years, I say my goodbyes to England. It certainly has served me well over the past sixty odd days and I’ve enjoyed almost every minute of it. London, I thank you for having me on and off for about the past month. I have loved spending every minute inside of your womb and waiting to be born from a boy to a man. Although this hasn’t happened in a lot of instances, it covertly has in others.

Technically the backpacking has ended as now I have a wheely bag, although one of the wheels has kooked it, obviously reflecting how I’m going to keep battling at least until I reach Sydney .

The wind has completely changed direction but the horizon appears in the same spot. Overall not much will change in terms of my adventure except in reality it should all be much more smooth sailing from here on in