Monday; Day 21. Today is my last day in England and I'm back where I started on Day 1; Knightsbridge! ...My day is going to be pretty cruisy so I decide I'll spend the afternoon visiting the British Museum. I ran out of time last time I was here but had it recommended to me by many people. Apparently you need a full day in there just like the Natural History Museum but I end up spending all morning trying to work out my train ticket to Gatwick Airport ready for tonight...I end up on the phone to them 5 times with card troubles and all sorts but in the end I get there and have a ticket. The only inconvenient thing is that the last train to Gatwick is at 12.30 midnight and my flight isn't until 6.25am! I do have to be there by 4.30am anyway so it doesn't really bother me, I'll just be pulling an all-nighter and will rock up in Spain for my new family looking very attractive and ready to go!..

With that all sorted, I head to the station and catch a tube to Holburn where the British Museum is located. It's nice to be off exploring again by myself...

The museum is huge, of course, and as I walk in, I realise why everyone suggested a full day for it! It's currently 2pm and it closes at 5...I decide to start in the left corner on the ground level (there are 3 levels!) and just see how I go. I choose this direction purely because I notice it's the way to the Egyptian exhibitions and I have always been fascinated by the history and beauty of Egypt.

I end up spending over 2 hours reading and admiring the statues and figures of Egypt throughout the changing dynasties and centuries. I didn't realise how much stuff they would have here from Egypt lol. I also look at Greece and the Roman Empire before I realise how tired I am. I head up one level to the exhibitions of 'Europe' including the Medieval times up to the 19th century. By now, I'm hardly retaining any of the information even though I'm desperately trying! There's no point, I can hardly even make out what the words are anymore lol, I'll just have to come back next time I'm in London.

It truly is an amazing museum though.

I get some lunch and head back to Knightsbridge to pack and relax before my train. I end up having a nap and then spend the evening with Cliff's family, who actually feel like my own family now and we decide I'm going to call Doreen my Grandmother as well as Grandad Aubrey and Uncle Martyn and David!!

At 11pm, I reluctantly haul my backpack on and say goodbye to everyone, thanking them for such an incredible time. I can't wait to see them all again but who knows when I will be back in England. I really am going to miss them. I can't wait to see everyone else that I didn't have the chance to see this time round in England as well.

I head for the street and make my way to the underground, only a 5 minute walk but this bag seems a whole lot heavier than when I first arrived! (there's actually less stuff in it!). To reach the underground, I have to pass Harrods, which I've probably passed a million times whenever I've been in Knightsbridge, but never knew it lit up at night! It was absolutely stunning! Like Christmas in July haha! It definitely made my walk a bit more enjoyable...see the blog photo to see the lights :)

As I approach the underground, I see what every traveler dreads...the gates blocking the entrance; it's closed....great!!!!! I quickly call David before I give myself the chance to start freaking out and he tells me to just walk 200m further down the road as they'll be another entrance; the tubes are still open! Phew!!! ...

I arrive at Victoria Station and I see the train I am going to catch and wonder why they don't have trains running all night instead of just stopping them at the silliest time! This would take away the inconvenience of having to sit in the airport for over 4 hours! But hey, I've done worse! I remember in LAX airport a few years ago, we arrived in LA at 10am and our flight wasn't until 10pm so we thought we'd spend the day looking around Santa Monica! It was awesome but as we got back to the airport at about 8pm, we see that our flight has been delayed and they need to get a whole new plane in from San Francisco. The flight ended up being delayed until 3.30am hahaha! That was an experience if there ever was one but we did meet a couple of interesting people...

As I probably won't be getting any sleep at all tonight, I see who wants to Skype from back home and keep me company! I eat dinner on the train at 12 midnight and arrive into Gatwick Airport at 12.30. I don't think I've ever seen an airport so dead! There are a couple of people sleeping in a small area with those connected chairs but the only spot not occupied is half of a row (2 seats) next to another guy. (sorry mate!) I got in while I could before he decided to lie down and take up the whole row! I skyped with my friend Ellen from back home for a good half an hour which gave me way too much energy but it was amazing to talk to her and have a giggle :) ...a few more Skype chats and I was getting pretty tired as it was now 2am. I grab one of those cushioned stools they have at airports for people to sit on when they are at the wifi computers and decide it will be a good leg rest. The lights are bright, there's a TV infront of us blasting out all the latest breaking news and I'm looking at everyone snugged up asleep! But then! Lol! I suddenly think of a master plan and decide to turn around, so I'm facing the chair, lay back with my head on the stool and my legs up the back of the chair with my feet dangling on the other side...that really doesn't make sense does it! Either way, I put my woolen cardigan over me, and over my head; I put my iPod in and crank the volume, and then rearrange my legs so that I'm sitting like crossed legs but upside-down! (Try it!) it's so comfortable I don't know why everyone doesn't do this, especially because then more people could fit onto the chairs! ...after much fidgeting and trying to block out the noise, I think I manage a 1 hour nap... As I take off the cardigan, I see that the girl sitting across from me has mimicked my incredible sleeping position....and her legs are crossed..with a blanket over her head all the same hahaha! See, I told you it was a master plan! Trend-setting at it's finest!

Anyway, time to go get rid of my big bag at check-in and head through customs. For once, I don't beep, but as usual, my bag gets taken away to be looked at. Don't ask me why! My only weapons are my silver jewelry and my makeup! Into duty free, I buy a few drinks, some lollies and one of those puzzle books...(what! they're fun!) and walk up some more stairs to be greeted by a Costa sign...ahh Costa never fails! I head in, without purchasing a coffee (I know right!) and plonk myself at the back of the cafe. I've got an hour or so to indulge into my puzzle book!...wrong! I have a Skype call coming in from Mum and Dad (how dare they lol!). It's good to chat to them as I haven't for a few days; they note on how tired I look and I note that yes, this is true. And especially true as I find myself not watching the time until Dad spontaneously says, you should probably go to your gate now...should I? How does he know?!...thinking I've got ages, I go to check the board and it says to go to the gate! Ahhhh hahaha!!! I keep Mum and Dad on Skype while I walk through half of the airport acting like I've got my s*** together until I reach gate number 32! (It's never gate 1 is it!) Before I know it, it's time to board. I say adios to Mum and Dad but also adios to England. It has looked after me well and I am excited about returning, whenever that may be!

But for now, bring on Sevilla!!!