Had I not miss my family so much I would have had enjoyed my time in London more. The fact that I missed Mika’s 5th birthday apparently bothered me more than I care to admit. And for the first time during so many trips, I miss home more than ever.

Don’t get me wrong, I do miss home whenever I am travel. But the excitement of seeing and experience new things usually worth it. But this time it’s different. I felt sad. I felt that I was missed out. I knew that my kind hubby said that it’s just a celebration. It’s only clapping hand and blowing candle. No big deal. We love our children wherever we are. But to me, 5th (as well as 1st) birthday is a big deal. Anyway, I don’t want to dwell on that…

Apart from this continuous melancholy feeling, the trip was good. The meeting was brain provoking and it was always nice to meet your colleagues from overseas (and share stories, and gossiping, and shopping, and eating…)

In short, I arrived on Wednesday morning and we checked in directly into the hotel. Upon taking shower, we went directly to the new office and had 2.5 days working session and meeting. The new office was nice and I did meet some old colleagues when they worked in the region. Later on Thursday, we went up to the Eye of London and had nice dinner at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

I was quite surprise that I felt so much in tune with London this time (even that I did not have a map with me this time - thanks to Chandra who dashed out to Batam without passing it to me). Perhaps because it was summer and that it was my second trip. The weather was nice. Not too hot. Not too cold. It’s airy and it’s sunny. No jumper. No gloves. It was nice. I jumped in and out tube with my colleagues Siti and Hani. Walked through Oxford Street looking for rice and halal food. And had one helluva time shopping around. It was July 7, a year after a suicide bombing in Aldgate tube station, so we also spent 2 minutes quiet time in the afternoon to commemorate the victims. I had goosebumps thinking on how fragile life is nomatter who you are or where you are. It always was and it always will be.

I also meet up with the good old (but still young) Indonesian friends in London again. I met up with Djatu and Dedy at Piccadily Circus and after some really serious shopping where we nearly emptied the Lily White, we went to see Benny, Grace, little William, Lucy and Ronald at a restaurant in China Town. The food was super duper delicious and the atmosphere was good. I laughed a lot and eat a lot more. Had I not been too proud I would have licked the plate. And then Djatu and Dedy took me back to the hotel to collect the goodies. We chatted until 1:30 am before they left. I slept right away but nevertheless, it was a troubled sleep. I woke up 4 hours later and spent almost good 45 minutes on the phone with hubby. I was happy to find that everything was all right. The kids were healthy and our new baby sitter seemed able to coup with Pascal. Thank God.

Few hours later, I checked out from the hotel and went to Lucy and Ronald’s place to dump my luggage. And afterwards, Ronald took me for a walk to Marble Arch whilst Lucy continue her “morning rest” ;).

It was one of the nicest day I ever had in London. The sun was warm, the temperature was cool, the wind breeze gently, the street was quiet and the walk was pleasant. I walked through the Oxford Street again all by my self. Enjoying the athmosphere and once again marvel at the different languages spoken around me. I did some final shopping before my feet gave in. I rested my tired butt on the bench watching the hustle and bustle of people walking around in their “more open” outfit. More open then when it was in Spring. It was a real eye openner how considerable amount of skin was flaunting (and dangling) in front of you.

In the afternoon I met up with Lucy and Ronald again at Busaba. It’s a Thai Restaurant in Bird Street. Again, it was combination of nice food and right athmosphere. I love it. It was my 3rd time to Busaba and I love it even more. Djatu and her friends joined us an hour later. But by that time we had finished our lunch and my eyes felt so heavy so we returned to Lucy’s place. We stopped by to had a bite of ice cream (which was delicious!) before continuing our walk.

I had a catnap at Lucy’s not long after Djatu arrived. Benny and Grace arrived when I was asleep. They went to see theatre to celebrate Benny’s birthday and the computer at the theatre was broken. So the show was cancelled. We were speculating that Benny is jinxed but I am not at the liberty to comment as I never witness any of those unfortunate events.

After that short sleep I felt a bit more fresh. So I had cold shower, took some pictures again and dashed to the airport. The company sent me a very flashy mercedez bens with a chatty driver. So it was very interesting to hear him sharing stories about some company VIP “secret life”. It was so bizarre I found it difficult to be true. Anyway…here I am sipping latte in Kris Lounge, 16 hours to go to my warm and comfy bed…I can’t wait.