England Calling

Aaron:

Last time I was in London for New Years Eve, it was so busy with people everywhere you looked that it was hard to move around. Despite that, it was well worth going for the atmosphere and the very impressive firework display that London is famous for.

This New Years Eve was different. I arrived into London Euston at 6am and decided to go for a walk as I had a few hours before I needed to be at Heathrow airport.

The streets were deserted. I hardly saw anyone for the first hour of walking all the way to the river Thames. I had never thought of London this way before and loved the new perspective. It was such a beautiful fresh clear morning as I walked across Westminster Bridge and headed to Waterloo Train Station.

Excitement was building inside of me. I kept randomly smiling and breaking into a little chuckle. Traveling on the Piccadilly line towards the airport, I glanced around and realised I was the only person in the carriage—that was a first. I like how the tube line starts underground, deep in the heart of London, then throws you out above ground in the suburbs. There is actually some lovely scenery to look at, before disappearing underground again just before you arrive at Terminal 4.

There was no mistaking I had arrived at arrivals with the huge ‘Arrivals’ across the whole wall. I stood there with a heart shape biscuit, for Jed, waiting and watching. The tables had turned—I was now the one staring with great anticipation waiting for the person to walk through those automatic doors.

Jed

I entered the UK with my valid U.S passport. A visa is not required for a stay of up to 6 months in the United Kingdom, if the reason for your visit is tourist or business travel. At the border control I was asked the reason for my visit. I answered, “Visiting my boyfriend and staying with his family.” I was then asked how long I would be staying. I answered probably a couple of months, then jokingly, it depends how well I get along with his family.

At this point I did not have a return flight booked. I strongly recommend that you always enter a country that is not your own with proof of a return flight. They do have the power to deny you entry if they think you are going to stay longer then you are allowed or try to work there.

I had booked my flight to the UK on frequent flyer miles, so the border control guard could see I was a traveller and saw proof of how much money I had on cards and cash in my wallet. He was satisfied that I could provide for myself while in the UK and that I would leave to go back to the USA.

After thinking my last trip to Europe would be a once in a lifetime vacation, I found myself back in the UK and now through border control meters away from the automatic doors, walking as fast as I could with my bags trailing behind me.

Finally walking through the one way doors, I saw Aaron behind the barrier about 50 yards away. Aaron saw me and started walking towards me...the problem was the very long barrier in our way. We both got so close to each other, then Aaron had to awkwardly turn around and go back to where the bars parted. Then, nothing stood in our way. Together again, but for how long this time?

Aaron

Sitting together again side by side on the tube, we were heading to the centre of London. It was still very early in the day but I could see Jed was tired. Jet lag can be really hard to get through travelling to Europe from the U.S.

I had booked a small apartment in a hotel for the night so we could have some rest before travelling north and meeting my family. I was trying to impress Jed so did a lot of searching to try and find a posh hotel for a decent price on New Years Eve in London.

I came across an offer for the Town Hall Hotel & Apartments. A chic hotel that mixes modern design with art deco and period features. The hotel is in a beautiful building that was a former Edwardian town hall. It was in walking distance from Bethnal Green tube station so it was the perfect location with all of Jeds bags.

It was a great trendy space on the top floor of the building, with a little kitchen and dining area. I had not made any plans for that day, so because we had such a lovely space to ourselves we decided to stay in that evening and enjoy New Years just the two of us.

We made dinner and watched Big Ben strike 12 midnight on the BBC, then opened all the windows so we could hear the fireworks across London. It was a perfect evening together.

Jed:

Waking up to a new day and a new year in a new place was exciting—the prospects for the coming year were looking good.

After breakfast we set off into London together. We had time before our train left to Liverpool. So we just socked up the great London atmosphere and enjoyed the time walking together.

Cutting it a little short we got the tube back to the hotel to pick up my bags and then raced to the train station. The tube was very busy and it was tough to transport us and our bags from tube to tube, navigating the stairways and endless tunnels.

We missed our train. This was not good—Aaron was just telling me that the advance train tickets are very inexpensive, but booking them on the day could be ten time more in price! Aaron seemed to be very calm as he talked to the Virgin Train attendant. He explained that we got delayed with all our bags and that I had just arrived from the States and was very jet lagged and we just wanted to get home.

The very kind and understanding attendant put us on the next train…

We had a little while to wait, so went back to ‘our spot’ in the main open space of Euston train station. Feelings were very different this time as we would be soon travelling together. The place was packed full of travellers, and we enjoyed half an hour of people watching.

Aaron

Both walking together this time down Euston station platform, so much excitement was now building. I was taking Jed home to Southport. I wanted to get there really quickly now but I also thought we should enjoy our first official British train ride together.

On the journey down we talked about our plans while in the UK and conversation turned to my family, which Jed was just a few hours away from meeting.

I live at home with my entire immediate family—this is a total of 12 people in the same house, including Mum & Dad, 3 couples, 3 children, a cat and me. It is a large house so everyone has their own space but there is also a lot of shared space too, such as the kitchen, washing room and general living areas. We also have to negotiate parking spaces in the front garden for the 5 cars.

Luckily we all get along most of the time and we work our way through disagreements and fall outs, but generally it works. I have always lived with large groups of people and quite enjoy the coming and going that goes on all the time. This is a part of my life that has become the norm.

Jed was going to be staying with all of us while visiting the UK. I was excited to introduce him to the family and have him with me for this time. I was a little worried how he would cope living in a house with so many people, as he has lived in his own house for the last 5 years.

Jed

Aaron had told me about his living situation and where I would be staying while in the UK. I was a little daunted by this and wondered if Aaron’s family would really be ok with me staying there for potentially months at a time. Would we be able to have our own time together? I was assured I would have my own space too while there.

Also being allergic to most pets I was a little worried about sharing the house with a cat. This was going to be a whole new experience for me, full of lots of different possibilities. It was all a lot to think about and the best thing would be to go with the flow for a while and see how things turned out. Only time would tell….

Aaron

As we crossed the Runcorn bridge that stretches across the river Mersey, I told Jed we were nearly there. A short time later the train slowed down as it travelled through the long sandstone tunnels just before we pulled into the station at Liverpool Lime Street.

Alighting from the back of the 10 carriage train we walked the full length of the platform to the entrance. I had arranged for my Mum and Dad to pick us up from the station. We had arrived a few minutes late. I knew they would be there waiting in the car at the pick up area.

Turning the corner we saw them both waiting for us. We waved and mum was already holding her camera taking pictures of us as we got closer. They welcomed Jed and we all got into the car and headed to Southport.

Awaiting him there was my entire family, all ready to sit down to New Years day dinner. They made him feel so welcome as he walked through the door, entering our house for the very first time, all eager to be the first to say hello. I felt so much peace inside to have him here surrounded by my family as we shared this time together.

While I had Jed on this side of the Atlantic, It was my goal to make sure we visited England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Emerald Isle was first on the list. Let the tour of the British Isles begin…