It feels like the whole world is freaking out a bit. The airports of the world, at least. The parents and brother left SD yesterday to fly to Edinburgh, but they're not due to land here for another two and a half hours. They had a layover in Arizona, in Philly, and if all went well, in Manchester right now.
I'm in my room. Pretending there aren't a bunch of things I ought to get done before they show up. (post office, clean room, do dishes, Christmas cards, caffeinate myself...)
I spent the night at Berlin's flat last night after spending the day in Glasgow with her and London. It was somuchfun. :) Even though (especially because?) we totally failed at the touristy bits. We wandered around the city centre for a while and ended up going into a mall (which, clearly, are exactly the same the world over. It reminded me a bit of North County Fair, to be honest, though it wasn't nearly so big.) We listened to some carolers then stopped at a cafe for some sandwiches that were not tasty at all. We wandered around a bit--couldn't find the exit, and couldn't go out the way we came in--then I steered us over to a particular shop I've had in mind for a few weeks to buy the Brother a Christmas present.
We didn't really have a plan in mind. London got directions to the cathedral, but he didn't understand them and was too embarrassed to go back and ask again (fair enough). We got everything clarified, but on the way we ran smack into the Glaswegian Christmas market, so we stopped for mulled wine and a ride on the giant swing... ride-thing. I spilled mulled wine down my sleeve. London spent the entirety of the ride shouting, "This is so much better with mulled wine!"
(London and Berlin outside the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art after we left the Christmas market--I'd forgotten to charge my camera, so this is one of the only pictures I've got of the day.)
We took a ride on the subway to a neighborhood that Berlin's flatmate had recommended to her, and the recommended bits turned out to be a dinky little street with pubs and American-style diners. So odd. It was pretty, though.)
I had haggis for dinner. Venison haggis and the tastiest mashed potatoes ever, to be exact. Not gonna lie--I was a little freaked out to be eating (and, I'll admit, enjoying) a deer, but I dealt with it. There was a lot of garlic. And it was tasty.
But venison haggis. Jesus christ.
We hung out at the restaurant's bar for a couple hours after dinner. Odd conversation topics, but we're kind of odd in general, so it fits. By the time we went, "Oh, it's getting kind of late. Maybe we should head back to the train station?" the subway had closed. We walked right by the entrance, then almost passed it again before we realized what had happened. Oops.
So we took a cab to the station, caught our train, and headed back to Edinburgh. We got off a stop earlier than I'd gotten on and went to Berlin's flat for a movie night. We curled up on her couch beneath one of the greatest blankets in the world with ginger cookies and pink-colored wine to watch The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo--I distinctly remember saying, "We could be watching Star Trek!" at one of the more disturbing parts. That movie is one big shudder.
I still almost fell asleep a few times. The only reason I didn't was because London and Berlin kept leaning over to see if I'd passed out yet. Yet! Pffft. So little faith.
But by the end of the movie, London and I were exhausted. Berlin, for some reason, was wide awake, but she was nice enough to let us crash at her flat for the night. Her flatmate was out and wouldn't be coming back for another day or so, so I got his bed and London got the big comfy couch.
I'm a little fuzzy on when I got up to say goodbye to London in the morning (he took a train home for the holidays this afternoon), but he definitely walked into room, took one look at me (asleep), and didn't recognize me. He went to get Berlin, completely convinced that her flatmate's girlfriend had come over during the night, sometime between five and nine-thirty in the morning, and kicked me out.
She didn't believe him, of course. I woke to them standing next to the head of the bed, whispering, "Look! That's not her!" and "Yes, it is! Of course it is! Look at her!"
I turned over and made a face at them. London laughed. "Oh, hello, there. It is you."
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