And now, a general update on my non-sightseeing-related existence.

I'm half-way through the school term now, and I've just turned in my mid-term coursework. (Read: I've just returned from a three-day trip to completely-nutty-and-off-my-rocker land, where I somehow produced a coherent essay on the Song of Songs, and a ridiculously long data-analysis of Old-English and Middle-English verb conjugations and noun inflections (ugh!), all in between the mild hallucinations that functioned as a substitute for sleep.)

But we're done with that now! and back to my relatively sane existence, where I've been treating myself to butter-caramels and frequent bubble-baths to sooth my mildly traumatized brain. ("It's okay, sweety. It's over now.")

The weather is progressing from cold to frigid here, and I've actually begun to wear my winter coat most of the time. Every day after class, I arm myself with a large hot cocoa to help me survive the thirty-minute walk home.

The upside of this is that after the now-early sundown, many of the streets are lit beautifully with Christmas lights. The plaza of Somerset House, right next to campus, has been converted from a summertime perfect-for-coffee plaza, complete with choreographed fountains, to an enormous ice-rink, sporting a lavishly decorated and lighted Christmas tree, which might be half as tall as Big Ben. And, of course, a cute little shop with hot drinks on the side. I can't wait to go.

In other news, we celebrated November 5th (Remember, remember the Fifth of November!) about a week and a half ago. There were extravagant displays of fireworks for about a week surrounding the date, and people are still occasionally setting off their own personal fireworks. It's like a British Fourth of July. The night itself ("Bonfire Night"), people make bonfires all across the city, onto which they throw effigies of Guy Fawkes, and sometimes the Pope as well (no offense meant to Catholics, I'm sure).

On that note, I'm off for some late-night reading and tea, possibly another bubble-bath, and then my lovely bed. Catch you later, loves.