slippery road and toffee frappucino

I'm sitting here, attempting to do work but at the same time recalling my first winter in London which was just a year ago. At that point, I just moved to my new place in South Norwood, working in UK Trade & Investment - London region situated on St Thomas Street right next to Guy's Hospital and in the same building as Body Shop's HQ. Just 100 metres from the office, on the corner towards London Bridge Rail Station, there is a starbucks. It was always cold and usually rainy, you could hear carols everywhere and the hustle bustle was a first for me, which was really fun. Working in the pub was awesome especially when everyone is in the holiday mood and many are there to spend some bonus wage and Christmas present shopping made sense for some reason. Did I also mention the internal charity Body Shop sale? Ooooo... I've never bought that much Body Shop products in my life. come to think of it, some stuff are still sealed!

Every time I walk past Starbucks I would think about the many visits back in Malaysia for a toffee frapuccino. During the Christmas season in Malaysia, I would go to starbucks more often than ever to get a toffee frappucino without cream! There was even once when I and Jenny went after Christmas and they didn't have toffee frap anymore, but the barista said there's still some toffee in the store and he could still whip us a toffee frap! I was addicted.

Everytime I walk past Starbucks last holiday season I would think of all the fun times at home, and I would then treat myself to a toffee frap but hey it's not as good! Yet I still go back for more and I am one of the few weirdoes who would walk in to Starbucks in the middle of December asking for an ice blended drink but I didn't care, it made me happy, but obviously I would end up coughing non stop there after.

Then I recall going to the restaurant in Ikea more often in the evening during the same season because in the evenings of work days there are usually less people and the cafe is quiet and carols will be playing softly in the background, I'd be sitting there with my children's portion of meatballs, a cup of coffee (refillable!!) and a bottle of water and with the rain pouring outside, it feels like we're trapped in a big store filled of comfy looking products.

Now I'm just wondering if I'll ever be back in London to continue working... Or am I coming to a junction again? Sitting at home for almost two months made me think quite a bit and the answer is yes, I want to go back to London. Very very much.