I’m back! I got a couple of concerned e-mails about my lack of posting these past few days. I am still alive. Though it was rough going for a while…

Contrary to popular belief, I was not partying in New York. The day after the U.S. Open, I caught my dad’s stomach bug (thanks A LOT Dad) and spent last weekend miserably in bed at our hotel. The problem was that I was scheduled to have a mini-reunion/meet-up with my friends Joseph (whom I met in Shanghai) and Graham (whom I met in Boston), as well as their families, on Sunday night. Thankfully, I was able to rally and have the torturous meet-up at Shake Shack (“torturous” because I could only SEE the burgers – my wonky stomach wouldn’t allow me to eat them). Despite that, it was nice to hang out with these guys again.

3 Kindergarteners, all grown up!

Shake Shack crew

Night time view of Manhattan and Brooklyn from 90 Sands

The rest of my time in NYC was spent with my good friend Nicci. Still pretty weak from 2 days of basically not eating, Nicci’s place was a nice spot to rest and recuperate. However, I was still able to sneak in a bout of shopping to my favorite New York stores, Uniqlo and Joe Fresh (I’d pretty much have to be almost dead to leave NYC without a visit).

Then yesterday, we hopped onto a plane across the Big Pond for London. Jet lagged and weary, we spent the day sleeping. Then today, we visited our friends at London Bethel, took a tour, and walked through their beautiful English gardens…

Beautiful flowers

Mom tries out the swing

After, we went to busy Leicester Square to pick up tickets to one of my favorite shows on the West End, Les Miserables. I don’t know if it was either the outstanding acting or the fact that I had read the book before this performance, but I found this to be my favorite performance of the show (and this is coming from someone who’s seen Les Mis 5 times!). It was superb, moving and absolutely enthralling.

After the musical and a quick walk through Chinatown and Piccadilly Circus, we returned back to our B&B, thoroughly exhausted. But our English adventure has just begun…

Chinatown at night

Buses zooming through Piccadilly Circus

Tomorrow… The British Museum…