Adam's Interesting Arrival...

Hey all!
Well Adam has arrived with all limbs so that's a start. But I must say we didn't get off to the best start! All week I have been so excited about Adam's arrival. I was counting down the days and I think the whole hostel was aware of it too! I was just over-joyed and couldn't wait for that day when I would wait at the airport for him to walk through those gates at Heathrow. What actually happened I didn't expect.

It is Thursday night and I am working away with Nikki (just scored herself the job here!!) and finished at 10pm. We had to go to bed soon cos i had an early start the next morning. I did my final confirmations of Adam's flight itinerary and checked the tube planned closures on the net.
We went to bed, and two guys in our room made sleeping impossible - 1. They removed their shoes so we couldn't breathe! I was laughing in hysterics tho cos I got out my perfume and deodorant and sprayed copious amounts around the room which made the room just smell like perfume and bad feet. nice. and 2. they snored like arseholes. Nik dropped her head over the bunk and suggested we go sleep down stairs in the common room - which was full of people. so i move us into a different room, and by the time we finally got settled and off to sleep it was about 2am. Next thing i know, my alarm goes off at 4am for my wake up to go pick up Adam from the airport. but even though i had 2 hours sleep, i was very much awake because i was so excited!

I wonder down to Bayswater station and jump on the first train of the morning - 5:11am. Things are going OK for about 5 minutes until the train detours from my previously thought-out plan. I somehow get to Gloucester Road (not the station i wanted) and plod around for about 15 minutes trying to work out how to get to the Piccadilly Line - found it. And the first train to Heathrow is at 5:55 (the same time of Adam's arrival!).

I am worrying so much that I'll be late - and i was. I arrived, after many many train delays (and a lot of cursing), at 6:45. I rush over to the gates hoping i would just make it....I wait...and wait....and wait. It comes to about 7:30. Nothing. 8am. Nothing. What the hell is going on? Where is he? I thought cos i was late he may have jumped on the tube to get to London himself, then I thought he had been kidnapped, then maybe he missed his flight, or I got the details wrong (even though I knew that was highly unlikely for such a pedantic planner like myself!). I go to airport information and make a few announcements for him to come to information. nothing. after 5 announcements at all 5 terminals...nothing. And the airport staff were absolute useless cows! 'That's all we can do for you' as they sit there with their huge arses stuffing their face with pure lard and yawning - fuck off! my boyfriend is missing! I am having a panic attack - I'm on the phone to Nikki to get her to look up everything on the net from flight details to immigration. I'm calling international to my mum and dad - having a meltdown. On the phone to Adam's parents... running back and forth through terminal four - tears in my eyes, so stressed and worried. I look inside the terminal, the coffee shops, the book stores, toilets (yes, even the male toilets) outside, the bus stands - EVERYWHERE - and Adam was no-where to be seen.

At about 8:30am (3 and a half hours after Adams flight came in) I hear my name over the P.A - I thought finally! he must have come to information. I go over, and see he's still not there. perhaps he is in another terminal? I then get told to go up to Immigration. and I'm thinking 'oh shit...'.

I go up to immigration and sit in this small, white room with a glass barrier between me and the immigration officer. I was shaking with worry. He begins to tell me Adam has been detained by immigration for unconvincing reasons for entry. The officer begins to ask me for all my documents (which of course i don't have) and asks all these questions from what I study, where i study, what I'm doing in London, where I work, to how I met Adam. He then explains that Adam had no knowledge of our travel plans or even where he was staying in London as I had organised everything. I told the officer that I was the planner in the relationship and as Adam said as well, he's going along with the plans, it's like a wedding - all he has to do is show up! (that's a joke of course). And they wouldn't let me see Adam! Grrrr....

After about an hour of interrogation, he says they have two options - 1. let him into the country or 2. send him back home. OMFG! It was an agonising 1 hour wait for the verdict. Four coffees later and about a packet of cigarettes (I had quit, too!) I got the call saying Adam was coming through the gates!

As soon as he walked through, my heart fell out of my arse I was so excited and sad and worried and just a massive jumble of emotions. I ran over to him and held him like there was no tomorrow, bawling my eyes out! but Adam - he's a fucking stone i tell you - no tears! bah.
He did so well. after flying solo all the way to London, with an over night stop over in Singapore, and then the ordeal with immigration. I was so proud of him. And he kept very calm and was just amazing through it all. He has already taken to travel so brilliantly. He went on the tour in Singapore which he has some amazing stories of! I'll get him to put up a blog of Singapore. and now he's in London here with me. I am over the moon and so excited about everything we have planned on this once-in-a-lifetime trip! We're booking our itinerary today!

After the very hectic day, we finally got back to the hostel and had a shower and a nap, then headed off to Hyde Park and Kensington Palace. It was shit weather but it was really nice and relaxing. We got some good photos, and i think the simple pleasure of the day was the squirrels that were hopping about the gardens, and came up to us, sitting up on his hind legs, waiting for some food. We'll head back again soon (it's a 5 min walk from where we live) to feed the squirrels some bread or something - apparently they take it right out of your hands - very friendly and confident!

Today we're off to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and The London Eye which should be fantastic - I haven't done this yet so I am very excited to be experiencing it with Adam!

We will keep you all up to date with our travel and experiences! many more stories on its way!

Love you all,
ashnadaminlondon.x (haha!)