On leaving London Part 1.

It's been over a year since I left London. I haven't been back yet. Funnily enough I do not miss it as much as I thought I would. I guess since I have been getting used to living here in America, my mind has been distracted from that.

Been a busy year, getting married, moving houses, helping my wife in her new job. So I was preoccupied you could say. London is like an old friend you only miss him a little bit when he is gone and kind of take him for granted when he is around. Heck, you know you are gonna see him again sometime!

I remember I was not sad when I left London, more excited and nervous to miss my plane than anything else.
The night before I didn't get that much sleep, it seemed I was waking up every five minutes to check the time.

Anyway,taxi came on time and we hoofed it to Heathrow Airport. Needless to say we got there with plenty of time to spare as rush hour was yet to start.

I was funny to look out the taxi window and realise that I would not see London again for awhile. It was before 6 am and London was not yet fully awake. The streetlights bathed everything in that nasty orange glow...closed shop fronts, bus stops, restaurants etc.  I just smiled to myself...a change from this would be nice. I was heading towards a new life after all.

The plane journey was long and boring which was normal, I can't remember what films they were showing, but at least there were no crying children. Don't need it on a 13 hour flight!

Getting through customs was a pain, because I was coming in on a fiance visa. I was escorted to the Homeland Security offices at the back feeling very much like a criminal. Had to wait in the back on a plastic chair with all the people who had been stopped by Customs. After a while I had a brief interview and had my visa stamped. That was my welcome to America.