April 2005 Archives

Today I am heading off to Orlando for a few days.  Our music department will be performing in the parks down there, and I am going as their “emergency management system.”  I've done this before and actually really enjoyed it, although I must confess that spending the day with 5 children throwing up at the water park was less than exciting.

I'll be picking up my mother on the way down.  She's never been before and will probably enjoy the trip...I hope!  :o)

As is my custom, pictures, pictures, pictures.  Maybe some will make their way to my blog photo journals.

I think these apps are interesting:  EarthDesk 3.0 (with realtime clouds) and pzizz 1.0 (Have you ever heard of nap software before??).

Seems the server that hosts my blog was down a large part of the day yesterday.  Hmmm.

Inflation and interest rates are rising, stock values have plunged, a tank of gas induces sticker shock, and for nearly a year, wages have failed to keep up with the cost of living.

Yet in Washington, the political class has been consumed with the death of a brain-damaged woman in Florida, the ethics of the House majority leader, and the fate of the Senate filibuster.

The disconnect between pocketbook concerns of ordinary Americans and the preoccupations of their politicians has helped send President Bush's approval ratings on the economy down, while breeding discontent with Congress. The problem has yet to grow into a political wave that could sweep significant numbers of lawmakers from power next year, but both parties face risks if they fail to pivot their attention to economic issues.  ...

Continue reading source:  Yahoo! News - Economic Worries Aren't Resonating on Hill

The 4th Annual Film Festival was held at my school last night and was a stunning success.  As soon as I have the time to compress the files (for the web) in the Best Picture category, I'll put them up for my readers to see.  The movies are nothing short of mind blowing!  I hope to get this done this weekend.

As you have noticed, I haven't been posting for the last few days as I've been swamped preparing for the film festival.  Now that it is finished, we are busy preparing for the upcoming site visit this Friday at school.  We are finalists for a huge national award for Technology Innovation in education.  I hope we win as doing so will substantially increase technology resources at our school!

I want to applaud Apple Computer for their support of education.  I have mentioned Alan November before on my blog.  (Do a search in my search field to the left on “Alan November.)”  Apple is hosting a webcast by Alan that is invaluable for educators.  The webcast includes the video of his presentation, the presentation itself, the links to web address to which he refers, and a chat room where you can chat with others about the presentation.  On May 3rd, 2005, at 9:00 PM, Alan himself will be in the chat room for those who wish to discuss technology in education with him directly.

(Click here to visit the webcast)

Alan is insightful, articulate, and visionary.  What he says in this presentation is important.  I encourage educators and parents to listen carefully to what he says as doing so will only benefit teaching and learning for students and adults.

Yesterday, on my birthday, the Board of Education approved the concept of the Power to Learn Laptop Initiative Phase I.  What a fabulous birthday present!!  Now they have to complete the contract negotiations.

for the many celebrations of my birthday!

You have  0 days
until my birthday!

Tomorrow is my birthday!!  :o)

Good lord!  I'm actually getting old!!  When I was a kid, I always thought 60 was very, very old!!

(PS:  Just send money!--lots and lots of it.  Or, if you prefer to set up a trust fund from which I can draw down vast sums of money...  Oh, and I was kidding about being 60!  I'm actually going on 75 and am just very well preserved. )

I took today off from work to catch up on a number of important errands, to include having the emissions test for my car, affectionately known as Big Bird, so I can pay my ad valorum tax (what a ripoff!) and get my tag.

After sitting in line for the inspection I learned that I don't need to have it inspected until next year!  When I looked for the address of the tag office I learned I can pay my ad valorum tax and tag fees online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  God, I love technology!  (Have you ever been to the tag office before?!  Good God Almighty~!!)

So, I could have done my most important errands without taking a day of vacation to do them.  Oh well, I had a great day off!

I have to say hello to my new readers in the UK!  Thanks for all of your kind hospitality.  I greatly enjoyed my visit!!

My 50 paged, clothbound, hardback book of pictures from Kodak via Apple arrived today and is fabulous!  I mentioned in my post a couple of days ago that I had created it in iPhoto.  Two business days later it is at my house!

The book is nothing short of sensational!  (if I say so myself)  :o)

So much to do...so little time!

The photo albums from my Great Britain trip are still very much a work in progress, but here is a link to what's up right now, errors and all.  It contains about 250 pictures in 12 albums.

You can now also access the Great Britain, 2005, photojournals by clicking on the Photos link in the navigation bar at the top of this page.  I probably will not get to work on the albums any more until after the film festival.  Until then, Enjoy!

I tell you, when I hear someone decry the Apple computer, inside I just get ill at their profound level of ignorance.  I really don't blame them; sadly, they just don't know any better.  Last night, using iPhoto, I created a hard cover book from my trip to London.  Try doing that on a windows machine without losing your sanity.  It will be gorgeous, and I should have it in a few days from Kodak.

Just for kicks, I am uploading the cover and four pages from my book as a pdf file for you to see.  Why?  Well, because, on a Mac you can, and not only can you, it's easy to do!  Even making a pdf file is as easy as printing a document!  To conserve bandwidth, you must have Adobe Acrobat 5 or higher to view the file.  I picked pages with some interesting layout options so you can see how cool iPhoto is.  The cover page is a bit deceptive because the photos will appear on a black, clothbound, hardback cover, which is not shown in the pdf file, which just looks like a white (blank) background.

(Click above to download the pdf file)

For my readers who are still shackled to a windows machine, check out iPhoto--it's just another really good reason to buy a Mac for your next computer.  It comes with iLife, which is free on every Mac.  You probably know one of the programs in iLife already, iTunes.  They are all just as easy and powerful to use.

Today I begin working on my London Photo Album!  Folks seem interested in my London trip as readership has skyrocketed to a record 209 visits hitting 514 pages yesterday alone!  Well, stay tuned, the best is yet to come--work on the London Photo Album now begins!

Oh, one final thing before I start:  66% of my readers are still using Microsoft's Internet Explorer to view my site.  I promise you a better internet experience if you will download and start using the free browser Firefox!  Please, for the sake of all that is holy, download it now!  You will be glad you did!  My site and many others do not look as they were designed to look if you use IE.

Everything in this post below was taken from the Westminster Abbey brochure.

Welcome to Westminster Abbey:  House of God ~ House of Kings

Since the crowning of William the Conqueror here in 1066, the Abbey has been the nation's “Coronation church”.  It is also the burial and memorial place of numerous famous figures from the last one thousand years.

A tradition of prayer
Above all, the Abbey is a living church - a place for Christian worship. Each hour, for a minute or so, we pause to pray. You are invited to join in - or you might prefer to simply pause for some moments of quiet reflection. You are also welcome to come to our regular services at the Abbey, and a priest or chaplain is always available for private consultation.

Ask for more details at an Information Point.

A tradition of welcome
The Abbey was founded in 960 AD as a Benedictine monastery. Then and now, our focus is on worship and on welcoming visitors. We hope you enjoy sharing the sights, sounds and special atmosphere of this extraordinary church.

A tradition of giving
Westminster Abbey is entirely self-funding. It receives no financial support from the State, the Crown or the Church. Hence, we rely on visitors' entry fees and donations to pay for the Abbey's daily running and conservation.  By supporting us today, you have joined millions of others who have made a difference to the Abbey's safe-keeping.

You are in the North Transept, often known as the Statesmen's Aisle because many prime ministers are memorialised here.

You are now ready to enter the North Ambulatory through the gilded gates on your left ....

1 - 7
North Ambulatory, Tombs and Chapels
Look out for the tombs of Edward I and Henry Ill -and get your first glimpse of the Shrine of Edward the Confessor.

8
Tomb of Elizabeth I and Mary I
Elizabeth I (1533-1603) and her half-sister Mary Tudor (1516-58) are both buried in this tomb.  It bears only the effigy of Elizabeth, with her face modelled on her death mask.

9 - 11
Chapel of Henry VII (The Lady Chapel)
Chapel of the Order of the Bath. Notice especially the fan-vaulted ceiling, the tomb of Henry and his wife Elizabeth of York and the Royal Air Force chapel with the Battle of Britain window.

12
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary (1542-87) was arch-rival to Elizabeth I who imprisoned and eventually executed Mary. Mary's son, who became James I of England, had this tomb built.

13
Coronation Chair
This oak chair, made on the orders of Edward I in 1301, has been used at every coronation since. There's another glimpse of the Shrine of Edward the Confessor behind the chair (although this delicate area is not open to the public).

14 - 17
Tombs, Chapels and Poets' Corner
The resting places of kings and dignitaries lead the way into Poets' Corner. Geoffrey Chaucer's tomb, under the blue stained glass window, began the tradition of literary commemoration here. Today, around 120 writers, poets, actors, musicians and artists are buried or memorialised here.

18 & 19
The Lantern, High Altar and Quire
The  black-and-white paved area and the raised space in front of the High Altar are where coronations take place. This area has also been the focus for many important recent royal
funerals, such as those of Diana Princess of Wales and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

The choir sings daily during term as well as for major State occasions.

20 & 21
The Cloisters, Chapter House, Pyx Chamber and Museum
As you enter the cloisters you get a sense of how the Abbey must have looked to the monks 500 years ago. Why not explore the Chapter House - and don't miss the treasures in the Museum. 

Making your way around to the door back into the Nave, you pass our coffee stand in the North Cloister.

22 & 23
The Nave and the Grave of the Unknown Warrior
Now go through the door into the Nave. Here you will find the Grave of the Unknown Warrior as well as memorials to Winston Churchill, Franklin D Roosevelt and many others. This is a good place to pause for a moment, sit quietly and perhaps light a candle.

On your way out...
As you leave by the Great West Door, look back to see the statues of the 20th century martyrs above the door. You then turn left in the Abbey Shop which stocks a wide selection
of gifts and books, all sold to support the upkeep and conservation of the Abbey.

(Click to enlarge the key)

Westminster Abbey is a living Church. The building    almost seems to speak of what it stands for , if you will let it.

Its soaring vaults proclaim the unimaginable greatness of God. Christians believe that He is a personal being both within and beyond our everyday world. Like many other great churches, the Abbey is designed in the shape of a    cross, recalling the death of Jesus Christ, the source of new life for all who acknowledge Him.

East of the screen is the Quire. Daily services have been for centuries (and still are) sung here to the praise and the glory of God. At the altars the central act of Christian worship, known as the Eucharist, Holy Communion or Mass, is celebrated. Through this service of thanksgiving, which recalls Jesus' death and resurrection, worshippers join themselves with Him by sharing the sacrament of bread and wine.

The tombs and monuments speak both of human dignity and achievement and of the Christian confidence in life after death.

Westminster Abbey was founded in the 10th century.  Then, most Christians in Europe accepted the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. In the 16th century the Reformation brought many changes to the organisation and worship of churches throughout Europe. The Church of England became independent of Rome. But it kept much of its tradition, while developing its own distinctive forms of worship, conducting its services in English instead of Latin and taking scripture and tradition as its authorities.

A Brief History

c 960:
First Benedictine monks settle at Westminster

1065: December 28th.
Abbey dedicated

1066: Christmas Day.
First Coronation in the Abbey of William the Conqueror

1245:
Henry Ill begins building the present church

1301:
Coronation Chair made. The Chair has been used at every Coronation since 1308.

1400:
Geoffrey Chaucer buried in South Transept

1503:
Lady Chapel begun

1540:
Dissolution of the monastery by Henry VIII

1560:
Elizabeth I establishes the Abbey as a collegiate church

1745:
West Towers completed

1920:
Unknown Warrior buried in the Nave

1953:
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

1997:
Funeral of Diana Princess of Wales

2002:
Funeral of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother

According to the pamphlet,

Some 7 - 8,000 years ago the area was mixed pine and hazel woodland before becoming downland. ... We know this from evidence from several Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) pits discovered in the late 1960s at the far end of the car park.

The largest stones you see in the circle are Sarsen stones, brought from the Marlborough Downs 19 miles away and the smaller stones, known as the Bluestones, are from the mystical Preseli Mountains in Wales, 240 miles away.

Today you see the remains of a prehistoric monument that was in use thousands of years ago.  It was constructed in three main phases:

3050BC (5,050 years ago)
Circular ditch and bank (a henge).

Circa 2600BC (4,600 years ago)
Wooden structure constructed at centre.

2500 -1500BC (4,500 - 3,500 years ago)
Stone monument constructed, arranged and re-arrnaged over almost 1,000 years.

(Click to enlarge)

I am not one to purchase a lot of souvenirs when I travel.  But I must confess to purchasing the tackiest souvenirs of all:  refrigerator magnets.  So for this trip I got two:  The Mischievous Friar (a gargoyle from the Brasenose College at Oxford), and a Stonehenge picture magnet.

I did not know that the gargoyles that adorn many ecclesiastical and college buildings throughout Europe come from a french word “gargouiller,” which means “to gurgle.”  I suppose this is rather appropriate as many of them are used as decorative water spouts in gardens.

I hope to clean up the pictures and create a photo album of my trip.  I took 550 pictures during the week.  I know, not up to my usual standards.  The photos included in the posts below of my trip are completely unretouched.  Just wait till I get ahold of them!  Tweak the color, enhance the contrast, crop out the junk...you will think I'm a master photographer!!

Even though it's only a little past 7:00 PM, I'm on London time (midnight) and need to head off to bed.  I'm beat!

I'm now sitting on the plane at 31,000 feet in -40º air traveling at 520 mph.  I've had a wonderful vacation!  With oil prices constantly rising, I may not be able to travel again for some time.

A few things as I reflect back on the last few days:

• Toilets in the UK are the devil to flush.  I had only about a 25% success rate.  What's up with that?!
• I've never seen a greener country with such clear blue skies (when it's not raining).
• The Brits are very friendly people.  A little boy on the Tube was asking his mother if he could ride the Tube by himself to go see the science museum.  She told him no.  I told him he had to wait until he was 25.  The child was duly horrified.  Mom thanked me for making her the hero when she told him he could go when he was 18.
• Cadbury chocolate is fabulous.  And, I couldn't find the mint flavored Kit Kats that John had!
• Pubs are “brilliant” even though I don't drink.
• The concept of old takes on new meaning in the Cotswalds.
• Hundreds of years ago people were much shorter.
• I knew that people in the UK drove on the opposite side of the road.  However, I didn't also realize that zippers zipped on the opposite side, and windshield wipers wiped from the opposite direction as well.
• If the city fathers had neglected to paint “Look Right -->” and “<-- Look Left” on the streets of London, I would not be posting this post.
• Cold takes on a new meaning at Stonehenge!
• Ice cubes are a rarity.
• The concept of space in Europe is significantly different from our own.
• The cost of living is high or the US economy is in the toilet.
• Realtors frequently post signs for property “To Let.”  I always wanted to paint in the letter “i.”
• The British have a disturbing habit of posting the number of people killed on certain stretches of roadway over the last year or so.  However, this does not seem to slow them down from speeding insanely down one lane roads.
• London is an incredibly busy city with an untold number of people milling about.
• I love their concepts of Greenbelts, Common Ways, and Public Paths as well as the whole notion of deferred college enrollment.
• The outskirts of London look old (well, hello, they are!), run down, and cramped in the extreme.
• I liked the following words:  car park (parking lot), roundabout (a treacherous device designed to kill people from the USA), mind the kerb (don't step off of the curb), bonnet (car trunk), boot (car hood), petrol, schoolmaster, holiday (as in, I was on one), football (soccer), match (game), result (end score of the match), walkover (as in beat them badly), fouling (as in don't allow your dog to fowl the cemetery), fizzy and still water (carbonated or not), dormitory town (bedroom community), mind the gap (don't fall into the space between the platform and the train), Tube (the underground rail system), give way (yield), Motorway (Interstate).
• I'm not sure why British bathtubs are so thin and so high off the floor of the bathroom.
• I was incredibly busy during this trip and probably just couldn't have squeezed anything else in to the itinerary!  What a blast!!

(Click to enlarge)

And finally, this morning in London I realized I accidentally left my house and car keys on the conveyer belt in security check in at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta a week ago today when I departed.  I was beside myself.  Well, upon landing I went to Lost & Found.  I spotted my keys in a large box of lost keys.  The very first ones I saw were mine!  Amazing!!

The day started bright and early with a trip to Stonehenge, near Amesbury, from Morton-in-Marsh.  I stopped in Bibury for some quick pictures of the babbling brooks in this little town.  On the way was some of the most beautiful British countryside I've ever seen, not that I've seen a lot.  I even was able to snap a picture of a male pheasant dawdling alongside the road.  In typical form, he didn't want me to take his picture, so the shot is not the best, but better than no picture at all.

(Click to enlarge)

The little country lanes into Bibury were intensely small, allowing only one vehicle to go through at a time.  Once in town, I saw the old Swan Hotel.  Across from the hotel is a wonderful little lake that had several swans swimming about.  Along the brook were many different ducks who were not shy at all about having their pictures taken.  I even saw several large fish swimming in the shallow brook.  Back in route to Stonehenge I snapped a couple of pictures of some thatched-roofed cottages.

(Click to enlarge)

Stonehenge was amazing.  I greatly respect the British for keeping everything from building up in this area.  All one can see for miles and miles in every direction is countryside with grazing sheep.  Even the “car park” is below ground level so as not to be seen.  The mystery of the Stonehenge is so profound as to touch some deep part of every person that sees it.

Here, in complete isolation, is a 5,000 year old “thing” (older than the oldest pyramid) whose meaning and significance has long been lost to civilization.  Actually comprised of three circles of stones, some of which weigh 45 tons and are a third buried under the ground, the mystique of the display was magnificently accentuated by the weather, at times gloriously sunny, then suddenly shadowed by dark low-hanging, fast-moving clouds, sometimes sleeting, sometimes raining, and always so windy and so painfully cold as to take my breath.

(Click to enlarge)

This is an experience I will never forget.  I regret that I do not know what I actually saw, but that very mystery made the experience solemn and reverent.

Tonight I begin to bring my experience in this wonderful country to a close by returning to the hotel in London via a British Taxi.  They are cute and pragmatically functional.  The 20-minute ride from the Italian restaurant between Trafalgar and Leicester Squares kept me dry from a typically rainy night in London.  Tomorrow, I head back to the USA.  But tonight, having internet access for the first time in the UK, I post of my journeys to my blog.

Dinner last night was fabulous.  The Manor has a wonderful restaurant.  I was disheartened however, to find that the breakfast did not include a delicious serving of baked beans.  However, I was delighted to enjoy a pain au chocolat.  I must confess to sleeping in this morning as it was cold and rainy.

I awoke around 11:00 AM to find the sun coming out and was off to see the Broadway Tower, a peculiar folly completed in 1799 as part of the Springhill Estate for the 6th Earl of Coventry.  The tower juts from the rolling hillside of the British country.  Deer and sheep were everywhere.  In fact, suddenly, without warning, all of the hundreds of sheep began bleating and running off to lunch.  I had never heard such a sound.

(Click to enlarge)

The view from the tower was nothing short of spectacular unless one said it was windy.  Several pictures are included above.

From the tower I went to the town of Broadway, quaint and small.  I was caught in an unexpected cold rain shower and saw a field of rabbits.  Next I headed off to the larger and fantastic town of Stow-on-the-Wold, full of shops, restaurants, churches, and pubs.  The day ended with a trip to Bourton-on-the-Water, which is simply beautiful. 

(Click to enlarge)
(Mom, the right bottom is an actual
Thomas Kinkade Gallery with a thatched roof)

The ceaseless rolling hills of the British countryside are the greenest green I think I have ever seen.  I was lucky enough to have seen them juxtaposed with vivid crystal clear-blue skies and “brilliant” clouds that seemed to simply glow white.  The countryside was utterly breathtaking--or maybe that was just the profoundly brisk wind.  Finally, I saw 2 gorgeously coloured pheasants who refused to have me take their pictures.

Dinner tonight was equally as fabulous as last night's dinner, but perhaps that was because I ordered the same thing.  :o)  During dinner the church bells began ringing for about an hour.  Perhaps the bell ringer had been too long at the pub.  I also have come to realize that the beams in the stairway are very low.  Additionally, I have noticed throughout the countryside that many of the doors are extremely small.  People were just considerably shorter 400 years  ago!

What a wonderful day that ended with another cold rain this evening as I snuggle in to my warm room at the Manor.  Tomorrow I'm off to Stonehenge!

Here I sit in utter terror as I am sitting in the drivers' seat without a steering wheel!  I am on my way to the Cotswalds and will continue this post should I live.

Everyone will be delighted to know that I am still alive and unharmed and only 36 miles from getting off the M40.  However, the small little one lane country roads are probably far more terrifying than the motorway.  So, rather than watching the journey and quivering in terror, I will now blog about what I did this morning.

I bounded off to the Patisserie around 8:00AM to have scrambled eggs, an English muffin, and a chocolate eclair.  I was thrilled to realize that the British chocolate eclair is not filled with Boston creme but a delicious thick chocolate cream.  The weather, unlike yesterday, was glorious, sunny and cool.  My destinations today were Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey.

(Click to enlarge)

The park on this gloriously sunny morning was unbelievable!  I took many pictures.  The park seems to glint back to simpler times with numerous horse trails.  People were actually riding their horses here, in downtown modern London!  The lake, the lazy lakeside chairs, the blooming flowers, the budding trees, the waterfall, the fountains, the statues, the arched arbors, the many gardens, the many trees and the expansive open fields make this a glimpse of heaven on earth.

(Click to enlarge)

Walking from the park to Wellington Arch, just across the street, was a bit of an adventure as this is a large roundabout heading toward to the palace.  Expansive trees line both sides of Constitution Hill with Green Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens flanking both sides of the busy road.  Again, even though still early Spring, the parks were breathtaking.

(Click to enlarge)

When I got to the Palace, something of note was about to happen.  Helicopters were beating the air overhead, television crews were everywhere, and thousands of people were all around.  I heard one of the television reporters saying on camera, “And then he will come down directly in front of us here.”  I don't know who “he” was or what he was about to do.

(Click to enlarge)

From the palace I made my way through St. James Park, with its delightful lake, to Birdcage Walk bound for Westminster Abbey.  Again I was disappointed to realize the caretakers were charging £8 to go inside.  I paid it.  Who could possibly pass this up?!  At the door I was further disappointed to realize that I could not take pictures inside.  The picture police were everywhere!  I snuck one anyway, just before I left.  I was less distressed when I left and saw a sign posted which stated what the £8 were used for.  Apparently the Abbey is completely self-supporting with no subsidies from the Crown or elsewhere.

The Abbey is amazing.  I suspect that most everyone who was anyone in the Empire is buried here, including Charles Darwin.  I didn't realize he was buried here, along with all of the queens and kings.  I must read up on this place to learn more.  In a hurry to get back to the hotel to pack and head out for the Cotswalds, I had to rush through the Abbey.

(Click to enlarge)

I'm in the Cotswalds now, Morton-in-Marsh to be exact.  The hotel, The Manor House, was built in 1539, when King Henry VIII granted the Manor to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.  Ownership eventually passed to the Creswykes, who were in residence.  The front porch, which contained my reading room, was added in 1668 by Sir Harry Creswyke, who was knighted in 1663.

(Click to enlarge)

Warren Hastings, later to become the great pioneer of British influence in India, spent much of his childhood here in the mid 1700's.  Some new construction down the street was built in the 1800's. The Duke of York, later to become HM king George VI, stayed at the Manor during World War I.  A Priest's hiding hole and hidden passage is reputed to be on the property.  Suffice it to say, this quaint little town has seen some history.

The hotel itself has a lovely series of gardens in the back, it's own newly renovated restaurant, a library, a sitting area, and a bar.  The library and the sitting area have fireplaces which provided some immediate warmth when I came in from the cold. 

The room has functional beams (throughout the Manor House actually), a window seat, fireplace stocked with wood, beautiful oriental rugs, a quaint little reading room which is part of the area added by Sir Harry Creswyke in 1668 (you can actually see the date in the picture below.), a four poster canopy bed, some lovely antique furniture, heated towels racks, and ensuite accommodations (which means it has its own bathroom).

(Click to enlarge)

Only one necessity is missing: high speed internet!

The weather outside is frightful--cold and rainy, typical London.

I got up and had the Small British Breakfast this morning.  Not to worry, it too includes baked beans.  I donned my raincoat, grabbed my Tube map and umbrella and headed off to Westminster.  Popping out of the Tube I made my way down the SouthBank and saw many fabulous sites to include:  the National Theater, the Globe Theater, The Tate Museum of Modern Art, the Millennium Bridge, the London Bridge, the Tower Bridge, the Clink Museum, the Golden Hinde, the H.M.S. Belfast, City Hall, and the Design Museum--all on the South Bank.  At the Design Museum, I purchased postcards for family and friends.

(Click to enlarge)

I crossed over the South Bank to the north side to see St. Paul's Cathedral.  Since the caretakers wanted £8 to visit inside of the cathedral, I decided not to take the time.  Going from the South Bank to the north and back was particularly interesting.  I liked the Millennium Bridge, a modern looking pedestrian-only bridge across the Thames.  The rain was coming down and the wind at its worst when I crossed.

(Click to enlarge)

I enjoyed a hot tea at the Starbucks by the London Tower Bridge as I needed some napkins to dry off my camera lens.  I was amused to learn that the London Bridge is rather plain and commonly mistaken for what is actually the Tower Bridge.  I walked across the Tower Bridge and saw the largest portion of the old Roman Wall that surrounded the City of London.

(Click to enlarge)

From the Tower of London, I made my way to Covent Garden.  The market place there is delightful.  One of the special treats was hearing a glorious soprano voice singing some of the greatest operatic arias off all time.  I thought it unusual that the Market Place would pipe in such music.  I soon learned it was a live singer accompanied by her portable CD player.  She was entertaining diners in the hopes of selling CDs and collecting contributions.

(Click to enlarge)

As I milled about the Market Place, I stumbled upon a movie being shot.  Pictures are attached.  I am very curious as to what the movie is about as one of the characters was made up somewhat like the Tinman on thee Wizard of Oz--completely silver.  The shoot was taking place at one of the many small cafe's at the Market Place.

Throughout my 3 days riding the Tube, I heard many different accomplished musicians performing--a delightful benefit of living in a large metropolitan area in which many of the professional musicians can not make a living without such supplements.

I had dinner at a British Pub, the Zetland Arms, in Kensington.  It seems that many pubs have colourful names which sport animals.  However, I have no idea what a Zetland is.  As you can see from my traditional dinner picture, the pub decor is rather unique and fun, typically dark and full of wood.  To complete my taste of all things British, I ordered fish and chips with mushy green peas followed by a delicious serving of bread and butter pudding.  Yummm.  It was delicious.  I had a good chat with a fellow named Iain.  I don't think I've ever met someone with 3 contiguous vowels in his or her name.

(Click to enlarge)

London Day Two really wasn't.  I had breakfast at The Patisserie, near the hotel and was shocked to learn that the Big British Breakfast traditionally includes baked beans, and not the good kind either.  I caught the Thameslink Train to Harpenden, a dormitory (the British expression for bedroom community or suburb) of London.  Harpenden is about 25 miles north of London.

I spent the day with a British family at their daughter's football match, which is the equivalent of our soccer game.  John coaches his daughter's team, which has been playing together for about 7 years.  The had an unexpectedly good “result,” with Harpenden defeating Tottenham 9 to 1, what they referred to as a “walkover.”  The teenage buzzword in the UK appears to presently be “brilliant,” as Nicky used it as ubiquitously as our kids say “cool.”  John drove us around the town, which is utterly charming with it's narrow hedge-lined lanes, tutor homes, and rolling hillsides.  Let it be recorded that it was here I first discovered the mint flavored Kit-Kat candy bar, which is nothing short of transformational.

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Clare has just been accepted into Cambridge.  One of the unique traditions of the British schools is to afford students the opportunity for a deferred university enrollment.  She has the opportunity to attend Cambridge after taking a year's sabbatical to have unique work and travel experiences.  I wish the USA had this same tradition.

The town laws, born of national influence, protect the substantial green commons areas full of foot and bridal paths as well as the agricultural belt around the town keeping it nothing short of idyllic.  We even stopped to see the remains of a Roman wall.  The schools in this community are quite small compared to America, but have about the same pupil teacher ratio.

The day ended with a lovely meal at the Golden Elephant Thai Restaurant in a neighboring hamlet.  In about half of the restaurant, I had to duck to walk around as the ceiling beams were so low.  After dinner we stopped by the store fronts of several real estate offices in town.  I had several mild coronary occlusions.  A tiny, semi-detached (which in America would mean attached) dwelling easily sold for a half million US dollars!  Keep in mind that when I say tiny, I am more accurately referring to itty-bitty, teeny-weeny.

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I had a extraordinary day in the countryside with a wonderful British family.  The beautiful weather was only superseded by the friendliness of the people and warm hospitality of John's family.

I have been flying at almost 500 mph at 37,700 feet altitude at -80º out side the 767 for about 7 hours.  I arrived in London today just after noon.  Customs and baggage claim were a breeze at Gatwick airport.  After walking for an eternity from the gateway (literally 15 minutes!) I then took a train to the North Terminal where I caught the Gatwick Express in to Victoria Station. 

I then tubed my way in to Gloucester Road Station in to Kensington.  I'm staying at the Holiday Inn virtually directly across from the Gloucester Road station.  Since I was having a near death experience from lack of sleep (I just don't sleep when in a car or plane.), I took a nap for a couple hours.  The room, on the top floor (6th) was hotter than hell itself.  No worry, I slept anyway!

When I got up, I tubed it to Westminster Station and took some beautiful pictures of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.  The weather was glorious, so atypical of England.  As a result, the Nordic Hoards were out--people were everywhere!  After walking down the Southbank of the Thames, seeing the London Eye and a street performer who had painted himself gold and was appearing to be a statue, I made my way across the Jubilee Bridge, constructed to celebrate the Queen's 50th year of reign. 

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I had dinner at Garfunkles, a traditional British establishment, and then headed through Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, much of the West End, and ending up at Piccadilly Circus where I saw The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Abridged by the Reduced Shakepseare Company in the Criterion Playhouse.  The light comedy was well suited to my jet-lagged brain.

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I must include in this post the fact that I had not been in London for 24 hours before I heard the British people repeatedly slamming the absurdity of the US President, referring to him as the village idiot, among other less printable things.