Halloween in London

I got used to the fact that we weren't going to dress up this year, and I got used to the fact that there were no parties to go to, and I even got used to not eating a bunch of candy in the shapes of ghosts and bats and pumpkins... but I still expected to have some sort of scary celebration. Instead, this is what we did:

Stef and I left work early to go back to the flat to concept. We had made a plan to meet everyone at a bar called The Duke of Wellington around 9pm. So we decided that we should get some work done, which then turned into fixing the tv (thanks to help from Aussie James) and watching episodes of The Simpson's Halloween Specials. Very fun. Then we decided it was about time to get dressed and head out towards the bar.

It was cold and kinda raining - so instead of walking we decided to take the bus. We weren't exactly sure where to get off, but we thought we had the general idea (well Stef thought she did..). So we end up going too far, getting back on and riding the other way, again too far. So then we try and get a cab, but the driver didn't know where to go. So then we end up in a random corner liquor store to ask for directions. We walk in and are immediately engulfed in smoke (despite the fact that it was a store with FOOD in it). The guy doesn't know what we are talking about, but decided to make up directions for us anyway. And like the naive Americans that we are, we decide to follow said directions.

We go off in the opposite way from the bus (mistake #1), then turn down an alley (mistake #2) and end up at the wrong bar. We turn around and continue walking and find ourselves in Hoxton Square. (Not close to where we want to be at all). We are on the phone with Anne at this point trying to figure out where this pub is, when it starts to rain. I freak and Stef yaps back at me (in a loving way) that it is only sprinkling. We start laughing and break out some Anchor Man humor "I'm not even mad, that's amazing!". Then Stef notices that a bum is heading straight for us ready to pull at our arms for money. We freak and she grabs my arm and yanks me into a random pub (mistake #3). Inside I am still on the phone with Anne and still laughing and not making any sense. The people at the pub look at Stef with a "what are YOU doing in here" glare, and we try to explain but just give up and leave because we saw the bum walk away.

So we get back on the bus (yes, the SAME bus as the first 2 times) and finally get off on the right stop, thanks to the wonderful direction of Anne. We make it to the pub only to see that it is filled with old men getting drunk. We are all off at a table to the side, 7 girls. The music playing is calm Sinatra type music. Then about 15 minutes in the song changes drastically to Chingy - I Like That. What the??? Did they expect us to start dancing or something? It was pretty funny. Then next came on What a Wonderful World. Haha.

So that is the story of our Ole Halloween in Jolly London Town.