Take me home.

London, England, home. Home under a cloudy blanket. It'd be nice to be back there. At home with my family. I'm doing well during this time, but if there was a destination to be at, then it'd be there. I'm here in Toronto, Canada. And that's not a bad thing at all. It's just a fact, and now that I'm here and I'm actually happy, relaxed and enjoying it here in the six. I'm just staying with a friend's family, and they've taken me as one of their own, and I am and will be forever grateful. Thank you, Chris and your brilliant family.

Why did I choose London? Well, I'd love to post a picture of a palm tree-lined holiday dream, or a mountain top sunset or a skiing extravaganza. Referring back to the topic, it's of a 'destination you've been dreaming of while sheltering in place.' For me, the greatest desire currently would be to return home. And that's no disrespect to where I'm staying now or that I don't like it here. I just want to check my family are safe, and we miss each other, even though we can be dysfunctional, but I guess all families are.

Heavenly. But not right now.

Gorgeous too. Previously, I'd have dropped my bags to go there and lapped in the surroundings and been in awe. I'm sure in the future I'd want to, but not right now.

Here's why.

I'll wait for another year for this. My reason is just simply because my needs have changed. Consider this; we take breaks and go on holiday to get away from the hustle and bustle. Our lives are too much sometimes, and we gather as family or friends and spend time together. We rejuvenate and spend time away from our hobbies and communities. While I'd always love to have a holiday (as we all would), I need the hustle and bustle back. So, when it returns, that's what'll make me happy. And going back to my family is the closest to that right now. Again, if this was the beginning of quarantine, then I'd probably have chosen a golden, picture-perfect location, but my mindset has changed. The time for a vacation in paradise is overdue and adored by us. Yet, the charm and chaos of daily life have that buzz and adrenaline rush we all need again. And while London is only virtually open, my home is closer to that buzz and chaos that is life.

London has a dynamic, nostalgic feeling to me of a classic European city that is timeless. I know many friends from all around the world who would love and have loved visiting the city. I'm sure for many people this would be a fantastic holiday location and location to visit for the first time. The characteristic black cabs strolling about, or the world-famous London Underground or the Tube, or absolutely anything from a photoshoot or celebrity living in the area, London has tastes for everyone. I miss picking up a snack from Pret a Manger, I such a big fan of the juices there: they're devine. And I miss taking the subway after a football match I've played in to a friends house after hopping on the Tube. And the cold glances I'd sometimes get, I miss those. It's a city known for its distinct British charm and our beautiful accents.

I've loved it to bits, and for everything, it's gone through, there's always something to learn and another secret to finding out. In each souvenir, there's a hidden spark of the city stored inside that piece of memorabilia. In my house, I'm confident I've got a lot of small mementoes from other cities around the world. In this time of quiet reflection and internal communication, it'd be nice to remember the holidays I had and the memories over the years. And for me, the place I'd go to find the world, from my time in the world, would be the city of London and it's cloudy skies.