Gotta Love Family

Hey everyone!

Well, i just got off the phone to Lynne! it was sooo great to hear her voice. i can remember when i was about 7 or 8, she was my favourite aunty! and now we have both grown up and changed so much. i am really looking forward to seeing her! it will be nice to see a familiar face. i am meeting up with her tomorrow. she has invited me to stay at her place if i need, but on top of that, within the first conversation we had on the phone (20 minutes - wow she can really talk) she was already so helpful and it was clear to me that she cared so much! i think it will be great to spend some time with her because she seems like a very positive person to look up to. I have been so sick recently but just talking to her on the phone made me feel so much better. i think my health has a lot to do with my mental and emotional state. so it has made a profound impact!

On another note, i went to piccadilly and westminster the other day. i dont remember if i have already posted a blog about this but i had such a good time i'm going to describe it again! i got my own personal tour in a cab through the west end, and managed to hit all of the great sights. Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Parliament House, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus. it was so great to see it all. because that's why you travel. to see these amazing things. they are just beautiful! and it also makes you realise where you are. you only ever think of big ben to be in the UK. and i saw it! it was a good feeling. That end of town is sooo nice and a place i aspire to.

Our living situation is still up in the air. i think we are taking a very spontaneous approach - taking it day by day. the girls are going away for a bit soon, so that's one of the reasons why we have delayed looking for a place. But i think it will make a difference where i eventually find work. You know, we could find a place around here cos that's where the girls work, but it will take me 40 mins to get to work. so i think i am going to find a job first (which lynne has given me some great tips already) and then find a place to live. i know that having a secure place to live will help my health, because i'm not in my best shape at the moment. but i have to find a job first.

me and nikki are staying at the dover castle hostel tonight. i am really looking forward to it. it will be a real 'travellers' experience. and it will be nice to be able to make myself a hot cup of coffee. i really miss that freedom. to me, it is truly a luxury and one that i will never take for granted.

amongst all that is happening at the moment, i am so overjoyed to be seeing lynne tomorrow! i cant stop thinking about it. i wish i could show her my enthusiasm, but i have been sick and i have lost my voice a bit. tomorrow is going to be a good day! i am so optimistic.

i also spoke to Paul and Emily. that was soo great too! paul was so kind and very caring. and managed to make me laugh. i had a bit of a teary just hearing their voices because it was such a comforting feeling knowing there's other people i know who are close to me. dont get me wrong, nikki and kristina are here and i truly thank them for their hospitality, but i have been an emotional wreck so hearing from family is just soo comforting. it has truly made a difference just hearing from them. Paul offered me to join them on their trip around europe. I plan to travel around europe at some stage, but i am very keen on meeting up with them where-ever they may be. i am going to make a big effort to catch up with people who i know over here, because it all just adds to the experience and creates some great stories to tell when i get back.

after speaking to paul and em, and lynne, i am very positive about work, and health, and generally living here for the short while that i had planned.

Thank you to all my family for the phone calls, emails, connections, and support. thank you so much! Also, if any one wants to send me an email, my address is ashleigh.morris@gmail.com. i would love to get an email from tom too! i got his voice message the other day and i got all emotional cos i missed his call! and its really hard for me to call people cos credit is so expensive. i miss my family so much, and it would be great to talk to tom cos he has had a very similar experience. i miss you all!

ashinlondon.x