Yeah life was so much simpler. I didn't have to worry about the rising price of oil, or how my car was parked in the garage. Or which side of the road we drive on or anything. I just hopped on The Tube and away I went. Oh good times. And when I felt particularly anxious or worried I could just bop on down to Tesco and get me a nice Dairy Milk bar and life was wonderful again. Now I have to ration the few Dairy Milk bars I had the foresight to bring home because who knows when the next one will be. Oh how I miss the simple times. but perhaps things will get better soon. I suppose this is all just part of going through London withdrawl. anyhow.... Oh the good times in London. And yes this is a rather delightful picture of my dear Great Gherkin.
16 May 2008
Withdrawl
well I think that London loved me so much that it felt the need to send me home with a cold so I wouldn't miss it too much. But we'll pretend that's not the case and that some bean head on the airplane gave it to me instead. Yeah I've decided that London is the best place to live. Life was so much simpler then. I didn't worry about how much I spent or where the money was coming from. It didn't matter that I didn't have a job or anything like that. Now here I am with one little tiny part time 12 hour a week job that isn't going to pay the bills. 
Yeah life was so much simpler. I didn't have to worry about the rising price of oil, or how my car was parked in the garage. Or which side of the road we drive on or anything. I just hopped on The Tube and away I went. Oh good times. And when I felt particularly anxious or worried I could just bop on down to Tesco and get me a nice Dairy Milk bar and life was wonderful again. Now I have to ration the few Dairy Milk bars I had the foresight to bring home because who knows when the next one will be. Oh how I miss the simple times. but perhaps things will get better soon. I suppose this is all just part of going through London withdrawl. anyhow.... Oh the good times in London. And yes this is a rather delightful picture of my dear Great Gherkin.
Yeah life was so much simpler. I didn't have to worry about the rising price of oil, or how my car was parked in the garage. Or which side of the road we drive on or anything. I just hopped on The Tube and away I went. Oh good times. And when I felt particularly anxious or worried I could just bop on down to Tesco and get me a nice Dairy Milk bar and life was wonderful again. Now I have to ration the few Dairy Milk bars I had the foresight to bring home because who knows when the next one will be. Oh how I miss the simple times. but perhaps things will get better soon. I suppose this is all just part of going through London withdrawl. anyhow.... Oh the good times in London. And yes this is a rather delightful picture of my dear Great Gherkin.
05 May 2008
goodbye`
This will be very short as I need sleep. but I just need to take a moment and formally say goodbye to my dearest London. She is such an amazing city and I cannot wait till the time when I can once again fly over her lovely landscape and into one of her airports. I will miss dearly everything about this city, except perhaps the people who refuse to stand on the right of the escalators thus clogging them up for those who have places to be and people to meet. but suffice it to say that this was a wonderful trip and I am thoroughly glad that I could have the opportunity to come here and learn and grow and study. I hope that I can manage to come back again soon. Dear London, I love you. I already miss you. Take care of yourself.
06 April 2008
Torch day or Snow day?
well when I got up this morning everyone was feverishly getting ready to go watch the Olympic Torch run by. With out too much questioning it was discovered that it infact was running down the street basically right outside the centre. So I threw on some pants and a coat and joined the not very unwieldy throng of people at the end of my street. I had never seen the torch run by and so I thought it was pretty cool. 
And there were even protestors (I mean what big event is complete with out its share of protestors?). These ones were complaining about China's treatment of Tibet. I do however think that the olympic people were in for a bit of a surprise. I believe they had planned on running through London in early April for the nice springness of it all, unfortunately for them its snowing outside. When it snowed for three days surrounding easter a couple weeks ago none of it stuck, today though it is sticking to the cars which is rather impressive. 
Hopefully it won't start sticking to the ground, that would be problematic, though I doubt it will.
And there were even protestors (I mean what big event is complete with out its share of protestors?). These ones were complaining about China's treatment of Tibet. I do however think that the olympic people were in for a bit of a surprise. I believe they had planned on running through London in early April for the nice springness of it all, unfortunately for them its snowing outside. When it snowed for three days surrounding easter a couple weeks ago none of it stuck, today though it is sticking to the cars which is rather impressive. 
Hopefully it won't start sticking to the ground, that would be problematic, though I doubt it will.
30 March 2008
Ferry 'cross the Mersey
So, last Wednesday about 15 of us headed out on a day trip up to one of England's other cities. Liverpool. Liverpool boasts many beauties, not least of all which is the Beatles, as well as several other British Invasion bands (including Gerry and the Pacemakers). They also have the river Mersey, which makes Liverpool a rather large port. In fact, because of Liverpool being a port city this is where the first missionaries landed on opening the British Isles in 1837.
We started our day early, and made the 4 hour drive up to Liverpool, and upon arrival the first thing we did was head to the Beatle's Story.
This was a pretty neat museum, and I learned quite a bit about the lives of the Paul, John, Ringo and George. After checking out the museum thoroughly a couple of us went and bought tickets for a mersey ferry ride. They were crazy cheap too, only £3.70! After buying tickets for the next ride we took a few minutes and explored around the Titanic exhibit at the Maritime Museum there. It was a nice exhibit but we didn't have enough time to really see it. 
The ferry ride was really cool, and it was fun to say I've taken a "ferry 'cross the mersey." After the ferry ride we wandered around the town a little. we found the "hard day's night hotel" and this great little stand that had the BEST donuts. 
It was a short trip, only 6 hours in Liverpool for a 4 hour coach ride each way, but it was worth every minute of the ride to see this city in the north of the country!
We started our day early, and made the 4 hour drive up to Liverpool, and upon arrival the first thing we did was head to the Beatle's Story.
This was a pretty neat museum, and I learned quite a bit about the lives of the Paul, John, Ringo and George. After checking out the museum thoroughly a couple of us went and bought tickets for a mersey ferry ride. They were crazy cheap too, only £3.70! After buying tickets for the next ride we took a few minutes and explored around the Titanic exhibit at the Maritime Museum there. It was a nice exhibit but we didn't have enough time to really see it. 
The ferry ride was really cool, and it was fun to say I've taken a "ferry 'cross the mersey." After the ferry ride we wandered around the town a little. we found the "hard day's night hotel" and this great little stand that had the BEST donuts. 
It was a short trip, only 6 hours in Liverpool for a 4 hour coach ride each way, but it was worth every minute of the ride to see this city in the north of the country!
24 March 2008
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
-John Newton (1725-1807)
15 March 2008
Is Beauty Dangerous?
I believe it begins to become a problem when in order to describe the beauty of something one must resort to using negatively connoted words. Such as "painfully beautiful," "devastatingly beautiful," "terrifyingly pretty," etc. What is it about our language that prevents us from being able to actually express our emotions and feelings? I feel that times like these it's not only a matter of our own personal ability to express, but more a lack of the right words in our unruly language.
This picture is a view taken from the Parish Church in Widecombe in the Moor. It is a National trust village in the Dartmoor National Park. Isn't it just the lovliest, most beautiful sight you have ever seen? Could anything look any more classically English? I only wish that cameras did even half justice to the beauty of the surroundings.
If you thought that was as beautiful as it gets (and you really would be nearly right in thinking it) here is another picture to give you a run for your money. This is a picture taken from within Stourhead Gardens.
For those of you who don't know one seen from the recent Pride and Prejudice was filmed here, when Mr. Darcy proposes in the rain to Elizabeth. It even rained a bit today setting the mood just perfectly. I think however, that for as beautiful as all this is, and while it does hurt to see it, describing it as "painfully beautiful" seems inadequate and yet I cannot think of a single word in our language with which to describe it in the least.
This picture is a view taken from the Parish Church in Widecombe in the Moor. It is a National trust village in the Dartmoor National Park. Isn't it just the lovliest, most beautiful sight you have ever seen? Could anything look any more classically English? I only wish that cameras did even half justice to the beauty of the surroundings.
If you thought that was as beautiful as it gets (and you really would be nearly right in thinking it) here is another picture to give you a run for your money. This is a picture taken from within Stourhead Gardens.
For those of you who don't know one seen from the recent Pride and Prejudice was filmed here, when Mr. Darcy proposes in the rain to Elizabeth. It even rained a bit today setting the mood just perfectly. I think however, that for as beautiful as all this is, and while it does hurt to see it, describing it as "painfully beautiful" seems inadequate and yet I cannot think of a single word in our language with which to describe it in the least.
09 March 2008
Wicked!!!
Wicked was amazing!!! we went Saturday morning and got tickets for that night. it was amazing. Elphaba and Glinda were both fantastic. They sing SO well. It was a fantastic show. I am so glad that I went, it was totally worth it. Tonight we watched Pirates of Penzance. It was hilarious. I am the very model of a modern major general. And it's been raining all day and a bit windy since we're on the edge of a hurricane. I'm definetly getting to see it all here. what with the earthquake we had a couple weeks ago and all... Certainly exciting times!! 
for our trip last week we headed to the tower of London and to Greenwich. The home of the time for the WHOLE world, as well as the prime meridian. Greenwich is one of my favorite places. It is simply amazing and quite lovely, yeh? Living here in London is so wonderful, I never want to leave.
for our trip last week we headed to the tower of London and to Greenwich. The home of the time for the WHOLE world, as well as the prime meridian. Greenwich is one of my favorite places. It is simply amazing and quite lovely, yeh? Living here in London is so wonderful, I never want to leave.
08 March 2008
National Gallery
Last night we decided to take advantage of the couple nights a week that the National Gallery is open late and visit it. When we got to Trafalgar Square we realized that it wasn't open. whoops. so we ended up voting to do our Literature homework and pay a visit to Dr. Johnson's house. So after walking down The Strand and visiting his house and the memorial to his cat Hodge, we walked down to the Temple. (may I just say, that Samuel Johnson must be pretty cool if his cat gets a statue...) I hadn't been inside the Temple complex before its pretty neat, especially at 8 at night. I could totally live and work there, except I don't think I could be a lawyer. oh well. The temple abuts the Thames on one side, so we decided to stroll along the Thames down to Westminster. It was so nice. It was a beautiful night and to see the lights playing off the water was a gorgeous sight to behold. 
We went out on the bridge and read the plaque partway down that has Wordsworth's poem Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802. It's quite a lovely poem. After that we wandered around parliament for a bit, and the abbey and headed home. Even though we didn't go to the National Gallery, it really was a wonderful evening. It felt so good to get out of the house on a friday night and just wander around London. And to wander along the Thames? What could be better?
We went out on the bridge and read the plaque partway down that has Wordsworth's poem Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802. It's quite a lovely poem. After that we wandered around parliament for a bit, and the abbey and headed home. Even though we didn't go to the National Gallery, it really was a wonderful evening. It felt so good to get out of the house on a friday night and just wander around London. And to wander along the Thames? What could be better?
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