So I finally came to London a few days after Srila Gurudeva, having secured my next India visa in San Francisco. I picked it up a few hours before flying out. Quite chaotic but it worked out fine. I arrived in the morning here on Saturday and caught the famous London Underground back to the Math. Upon arrival Dayanidhi Prabhu and the other devotees were all talking about sankirttan for that afternoon. I felt fine and so agreed that I would come. I was given a little time to have lunch prasadam and by 3pm we were all getting into the Math's sankirttan van. A handy 20 seater with a large roofrack storage space.
We parked several blocks from Oxford Street and began our procession, marching towards central London. After about 15 minutes, we had arrived at Oxford Street only to be welcomed by black clouds and a steady rain. We had to retreat and take shelter undercover of a nearby building. After a further 15 minute wait, the cloud passed, the rain stopped and it was time for the mercy of the Lord to rain down. Later we heard that there was half a million people on Oxford Street and it was certainly a constant jam. Using a triangular formation we were parting the crowds whose response was across the complete spectrum, from mocking to laughing, to honouring, and participation. We were perhaps 30 strong at our peak, with Sripad Tridandi Maharaj and Pranasis Prabhu joining the kirttan, both lifting it to new heights. We went from Oxford Street down to Leicester Square, circling the square with a large crescendo. By this time our kirttan had considerable strength and speed and it was capturing most people around us, who were swaying their hips and appreciating our 'roving dance party'.
We circled back around to the Oxford St crossing where we had begun and then proceeded back to where the van was parked. Four hours later, everyone happy for the chanting we got into the Math van and drove back to Green Street. Prasadam was waiting for us, and the devotees were all eager to hear about how the sankirttan party had fared.
Sunday was a very lively and busy day at the ashram. There is a midday feast program and the temple was busy throughout the day. Srila Gurudeva gave a sweet darshan in the afternoon around 4pm, singing a few songs at the end before retiring to his room. A lively evening program was rounded out by a sweet Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita class delivered by Sripad Tridandi Maharaj. Many devotees had to return to their daily duties by Monday, so there were many farewells even before the end of Srila Gurudeva's stay here in London.

With an unforeseen delay to get my India visa, I spent four extra days in California after Srila Gurudeva departed. This included many wonderful events including a day trip to San Francisco with Sanatani dd and Vidura Prabhu. It was a wonderful day, that was about as good an adventure as you could possibly have; perfect car parking, timing, food stops, sunset on Golden Gate bridge... this day had it all. I also went to 'Fry's', electronics Mecca with the cheapest latest equipment available today, in order to take some things back to India.
It was a beautiful stay in Soquel, one that could have lasted many months more, just as in 2004 when Gurudeva stayed there for 6 months. It also seemed that Sripad Goswami Maharaj's lectures had some extra potency and weight in this land where he had started sincerely to extend Srila Guru Maharaj's conception to the thirsty seekers of the western world needing nourishment. Sad to leave so many close friends behind, but also happy to hear that many will be coming over to India early next year.