This morning, I woke up around 9 and spent the morning packing all of my things into my suitcase. I have been wondering how I'm getting all my cool stuff home, but I think the vacuum bags are gonna be the big lifesaver. I got the majority of my things consolidated and organized and had about half of everything in my suitcase before I got ready for the day and went downstairs for breakfast.
With the exception of Theresa, the girls wanted to walk back down to the Dr. Who experience again today, since it was closed the day before. I considered going for a bit, but I still wasn't up for paying thirteen pounds to see something I knew nothing about in the midst of fans. So Theresa and I decided to spend the day tying up some loose ends in the Hays.
We all walked downtown together where Lydia and I collected our bus tickets to Paris before we parted ways there in the Hays. We first went over to a bank in the Hays and asked the guy in front of the counter if we could swap a bunch of coins for paper money, but he said that we couldn't do that unless we had an account there. But he did surprise us by saying that we could do all that at a local post office! We thanked him, left, and found the Hayes post office. We asked the lady out front if we could swap them out, but she was confused by my term 'bills'. It wasn't until she realized that we wanted to swap the coins for 'notes' that she was able to help us. She went and got a bunch of little bags, told us to organize the different coins into each, count how many of each coin we had, and then take them to the lady running the lottery booth for the exchange.
So we did, and it was way too fun. :) When we took them to the counter, the new lady was not happy with us. I thought we were going to get yelled at, but she stifled herself and gave us a few award-winning crusties as she re-counted all of our coins. Eventually, she handed me a wad of cash and we sped out of there. Boy, I wouldn't have bugged her if that first lady hadn't been so sweet and helpful about everything.
Well, with the remainder of my Edinburgh street money in hand (I had spent a chunk of it there in Edinburgh, and I was happy to do so!) we went to a few more shops. Theresa wanted to pick up some lunch and vacuum bags, so we went to Poundland first for the bags, then to our favorite fruit stand where I got a flat of strawberries for about a pound, and to Burger King where Theresa got the whopper she had been craving.
Also, I have to say that the guy who runs the fruit stand rocks. Seriously, he is always so genuinely happy, not creepy or 'too-friendly' like almost all the other shop-men have been. There was one arcade that Josie and I completely avoid now, because we get whistled and hit on so often. But this guy is just so great! And he's the only one that can get away with calling me 'love' or 'my darlin' and not send shivers down my spine. Seriously, he's the best!
As we walked along the shops, we did our favorite window shopping outing. Boy, for not actually buying anything, window shopping is such a blast! Just to see what's out there, what has been created, and for getting awesome ideas about what I could put together myself.
Actually, I did buy something on this outing. A suitcase shop was having a massive discount on shoulder bags, and I have been considering getting a leather one each time I walked into an old vintage shop, but have never found one worth buying. See, I have been nervous about getting pick-pocketed in France, due to the 'ROB ME' sign I can't really get off my enormous bright blue backpack I've taken everywhere. I'd really prefer a small shoulder bag with lots of zippers and pockets that I can keep an eye on in the front, but didn't find one until that day. So when I saw it, I looked it over, decided I could live with bright blazing green, and then snagged it for the discounted price. Huzzah!
We then made our way slowly back down to the house. It's just lovely walking through the Hays...
When we got back, the Who-ians hadn't yet returned, so I got all my laundry and my bedding washed and hung up to dry outside. As I was taking down the first few dry things and hanging up the last wet sheets, the Dr. Who girls walked in, squealing with excitement. Apparently as they had walked out the doors of the Dr. Who museum, and down a few blocks towards the Hays, they walked right past Martin Freeman!! As in Dr. Watson and Bilbo Baggins we had been watching very recently!! So they turned around and ended up stalking him for a few blocks before the got up the courage to catch up with him and then get their photos taken with him!! All I can say is that I was ABSOLUTELY THERE in spirit! :)
After we all made some dinner, I went upstairs and spent a few hours cleaning out my room and finishing my packing. I'm delighted to announce that I have got the few things I'll need for Paris and the days till I go home packed just in my backpack, and every other thing (with the exception of Leo, of course) packed neatly away in my rollie!! It's magic I swear!
Once I had finished packing everything into my three pieces of luggage and everything but my bed was cleared out of my room, I went downstairs just as the girls put on Miss Congeniality against the wall. So we made some lemon honey tea and watched our final movie together with our broken Fellowship, missing Miya very much.
After the movie, it was up to my all-too-echoey room, and sleep.
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