London Adventures: Thurday, June 20th

Today we set out to see the Imperial War Museum which is a little ways outside of main London. It has lots of war memorabilia from World War I and II. There were several different sections and displays and the one Janie and I were most interested in was called "The Children's War". It was an exhibit chronically what it was like for the children of Britain during World War II. The pictures of mothers sending their children out to the countryside or to other countries for safe keeping were heart wrenching. I don't know if I could have done it. Some of them didn't see their children for five years by the time the war was over. We had a unique and special opportunity of visiting with a guide, a distinguished older gentleman, in the exhibit who was 9 at the time his entire school was sent on a ship to Canada to get out of the bombing. His parents chose not to send him and this was a miracle as the ship his friends were on was bombed and sank and only a few children survived. After this incident, the children were no longer sent abroad but housed in the English countryside. He told us what it was like to have the American soldiers there and how they loved to party. As we finished our chat with him, he told us "thank you" to America---we were so touched! After, we had lunch at "Nandos", a favorite rotisserie chicken place and then went to Burough Market where all kinds of food is sold in two big warehouses and on the street. We bought a special treat--chocolate almonds dusted with cinnamon---a favorite find of Janie's. The late afternoon found us shopping and then going home for a breakfast dinner of eggs and crepes.

London Adventures: Wednesday, June 17

Tea at Polly's with our guide, David StubbsThe treats at Polly's!A windy day at StonehengeAnyone for Bath?Oldest pub in LayCock after dinner


Today we had a guided tour through the south of England with a wonderful guide that has become our friend, David Stubbs. He took us to Polly's Tea House in Marlborough where we had scones and hot chocolate. The countryside was green and lush and we looked for "crop circles" along our way to Stonehenge. Just before visiting the Roman baths in "Bath" we had a "pasty" for lunch, a pocket meat pie that you eat in your hands. Then we visited "Pride and Prejudice" country, the little town of Laycock, that looks just like it did 200 years ago. This is where alot of the PBS version of the movie was filmed. It was charming! We had dinner at a local pub there---the best place to find great food at reasonable prices. It was such a wonderful day!

London Adventures: Tuesday, June 16

With the "eye" and Big Ben in the background
Inside the "eye"
Off to Hogwarts!Bob and Josh outside the "Treasures" room at the British Library

Today we went to Hogwarts via the 9 ¾ platform at the Kings Cross Station in London. It was magical! After our quick trip to Harry Potter land, we went to the British Library where we saw their literary treasures: a Gutenberg Bible, the Magna Carta, the original Alice and Wonderland and several other original works by British authors. They had an early religious text from every major world religion on display---except the truth! I found myself thinking they’re missing the most important book of all---the Book of Mormon! After a quick pizza lunch, we went to the National Portrait Gallery which was a bit of a disappointment. Later that night we rode the London Eye, the largest Ferris Wheel in the world. The views were amazing!

London Adventures: Monday, June 15

We were stylin in our 3D bug-eye glasses
Science MuseumDedicated to Ryan Jackson
Wicked! Best play EVER!


The first item on our agenda today was to go to the "Wicked" box office and get tickets for tonight's performance. Every morning 25 front row seats are released at less than half price. When we "queued up" we could see that we were about #17 in line---our chances didn't look good. But, when it was our turn, Janie knew to ask for "concessions" or discounts for students and seniors and so we ended up with fifth row seats, smack in the center for less than half price for three of them. The seats were fantastic!

The rest of the morning was spent at the Science Museum where we also saw an IMAX movie on sea monsters. Lunch was had at "Nandos", a restaurant that Janie loved that served rotisserie type chicken that is marinated for 24 hours. It quickly became one of our favorites, too!

That night, we had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, "Pizza on the Park" and then went to Wicked. It was the best productions I've ever seen! We all LOVED it. The ending song where they sing, "I have been changed for good" held alot of meaning. I think about my own experiences and realize just how much my family and friends have helped me grow and added meaning to my life. Thanks, everyone!

Surprise!

Some London surprises:

1-Pink is the new black!

2-A shocking surprise happened when we had just left our flat to go to Peter Pan. Just up the road from us is a popular pub called the "Nag's Head". There were about 30 young people having drinks and chatting---a usual occurrence. Then, we glanced across the street and there were four old men, around 80 years old, standing STARK NAKED chatting in the street. Needless to say, we all did a double take, looked at our feet, and hurried as fast as we could right out of there!

3-On our London Eye ride, a young Oriental couple got engaged. The boy asked Bob to take a picture for him and then he knelt right down and opened up a ring box and popped the question!
She said "Yes"!

4-When we were getting ready to go to the London Eye, we found the Piccadilly Line of the tube was closed because there was a body under the train. We were horrified thinking someone had accidentally fallen onto the tracks. Our guide the next day, David Stubbs, said that it was probably a suicide and that this happened quite often. We never found any news of the event.

Mecca

These pictures are dedicated to those of us who love shoes and purses and a bargain! Shown here are just part of the offerings at TKMaxx .

London Adventures: Sunday

Isn't this a fabulous wedding gown?

Today was quite quiet. We went to church at the Hyde Park Ward and then came home and fixed lunch and waited for Bob to arrive. He got here safely, ate and settled in with a nap. Janie and I decided to go to the Victoria and Albert Museum and see the "Fashion Through the Ages" collection and the jewelry. Josh, who was absorbed in an exciting book, decided he had seen enough of this type of girl stuff and stayed home with Bob. So, off we went for mother and daughter bonding time in London. We loved looking at the fashions and jewelry and how things have changed over the last 200 years.