Wednesday, 22 November 7:14am
This time last week we were waking up in Torino and getting our lives back into two big and one little suitcase. We looked out and across to the Alps and to Superga.
Yes, today marks one week.
That first night I climbed into a bed made with icy sheets and woke the next morning earlier than I wanted. Mini jetlag! I remember our first weeks in Italy, napping on the couches after lunch and how luxurious and necessary it felt. No naps in London despite the fatigue.
What does it mean to ‘get back to normal’? I don’t think I’m there yet and, at any rate, being away means a strange compulsion to do something different now – only I’m not sure what. Normal is not what I strive for but…
Blogging will be sporadic from now on…maybe.
My friend from Toronto, Anita, is leaving London after living and working here for a few years. This makes me very sad, especially since my New York friend, Rob, also left earlier this year. But I wanted to see Anita once before she left and she suggested I join her and another friend, Caroline, for lunch near the Freud Museum and then we could all go to the museum together.
Anita loves to travel and go out. Her Facebook page is brimming with stories and photos of her outings and travels – it’s either exhausting or exhilarating, depending on your mood! She created a Facebook page for her friends where we can share things we want to do and places we’d like to visit so that we can buddy up if we wish. Caroline is a group member. When Anita couldn’t join us for the lunch, I got a chance to chat more with Caroline and I’m hopeful I’ve made a new friend, and one who is spontaneous about doing things. We’ve already planned two more things to do in the next several days. Yay!
Caroline and I walked the long road to the museum and up the steep, steep hill to reach Marsefield Gardens where Freud and his family lived. The Freud Museum, at 20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead, was the home of Sigmund Freud and his family when they escaped Austria following the Nazi annexation in 1938. It remained the family home until Anna Freud, the youngest daughter, died in 1982. The centrepiece of the museum is Freud’s study, preserved just as it was during his lifetime.
This is a beautiful house, with the museum being on two floors and a mezzanine landing level. I imagined Freud’s study being stark with a leather couch but I couldn’t be more wrong. It was colourful, the couch covered with a beautiful rug and other throws. His desk is covered with artifacts from Egypt and elsewhere. There are more artifacts in glass cabinets and bookshelves. In fact, I would describe Freud’s house as sensual, appealing to many senses. Thinking more about it, this shouldn’t be that surprising.
We chatted over coffee before we parted. I felt sad but again optimistic since Caroline and I were meeting again so soon. There are more adventures ahead.
Yesterday, I went to my routine Tinnitus nurse appointment. I’m very lucky to not have tinnitus all the time but, when I do, it’s debilitating. I keep my appointment with Clare faithfully every year and it’s been so helpful in keeping me sane when I have a ‘spike.’ The hospital, weirdly named the London Throat Nose and Ear (that’s weird for a North American habituated person!) Hospital is near Kings Cross Station. My appointment was the usual pleasant, reassuring experience.
I had quite an adventure getting back to Hackney Central. I walked the wrong way to the cafe I wanted to eat in, corrected my walk and got there in the end, only to leave when I didn’t like the look of the place. I caught a bus to Kings Cross, then a bus which was to take me to the train station home. Only my bus stop was closed and we sailed way past where I needed to be. Another bus took me back to the station and then finally I met my friend Juliet who came with me to Hackney Central. Circuitous route! Maybe too much adventure…
The weather was drizzly but I enjoyed the very Londonish scenery. Juliet and I had a good chat and then my other friend Lisa joined us and Lisa and I shopped, chatted and ended up in the hotel room where she is staying until her new flat is ready to move into.
Today is my free day. Maybe there’s another adventure ahead!