Memorial Day

I don't consider myself to be much of a farm girl, but it was wonderful to be back at Red Barn Farm for Memorial Day.  I arrived back in the USA on Friday and Saturday, my grandparents collected me from my sister's and brought me to the family farm.  As much as I'm enjoying life in London, it felt good to come back to the vibrancy of Pennsylvania farmland.  

Within an hour of being back, my grandpap sent me off to the cherry tree with a challenge to pick more than I ate.  He knows me well!

Memorial Day, my sister and her husband came to the farm as well.  They proceeded to pick the entire tree!  

The end result: yummy yummy cherries for us all with plenty to share!

Books, Books, and Books :)

Valerie and I devoted Friday to cataloguing our developing library for religious studies.  We anticipated it would take about two hours of one person reading titles and authors and the other typing.  In true form, it took us more like four or five hours, with a lunch break for Chinese and Magnum bars in the middle of the day.  As we always do, we had a good time as we worked, particularly as I stumbled over exotic names or Valerie misheard.    

Here was one such goof:  

Hope: The Message of John.  It's a commentary.

Valerie: Oh, by John Stott?

Hope: No, by Bruce Milne.

Valerie: But it's John, right?

Hope: No, it's Bruce.... Oh, wait, I get what you mean.  Yes, it's the book of John.

Valerie: It's "The Book of John?"  I thought it was the Message of John?

Pause for a deep breath as we both giggle outrageously at our confusion over such a simple title.

Hope: The Message of John by Bruce Milne, which is a commentary on the biblical book of John.  Done.  

Yo Sushi

I was challenged to try sushi.  I've never had a desire.  I believe the pictures speak for themselves.

The initial procrastination of perusing the menu

False bravado

A brave attempt

Just no.

Will never repeat this process again!

Webb Patent Sewer Gas Lamp

You really can find anything in London.  My friend Chris was just visiting and one place we stopped was a little off the beaten path and was instead on the "smelly path."  Apparently, this is the last remaining Gas Lamp in London.  It was invented in the 19th century to utilize  the fumes from sewers.  Well, maybe it's energy efficient, but I'm kinda glad all of London doesn't smell like Carting Lane, the home of the the Sewer Lamp.  It runs all day and night though :)

Ellies in London

A few weeks ago, 260 painted elephants showed up in London.  They are part of a campaign to raise awareness for Asian elephants and protect their habitats.  If you are interested, read more about the Elephant Parade.

Portobello revisited

This afternoon, we celebrated L's birthday with coffee and sweets at Gail's Bakery, a fun little place on Portobello.  

Afterwards, I was rather entertained by shop signs :)

The Little Man

He came with his nanny to our International Lunch :)  

Packages!

I'm being spoiled via Royal Mail. Each day for about five days now, I've had something, either a card or a package from home waiting for me when I return to my flat.   Today it was this little guy: 

I sat down and cried.  It's been a long few days, with a lot going on in my life and work and several different friends going through difficult times.  Having just come from coffee with one such friend, my heart was heavy.  I had a long bus ride, thanks to traffic, and on the way was reminded of so many people who need prayer.  

Coming home to find this bear was such a blessing and I don't use that word lightly.  Love.  I felt so loved, by the sender and also by God.  God puts people in our lives to remind us of His love, and I'm so thankful for that.  To the sender of this little bear, and to all of you who send emails, cards, etc, thank you so much.  You make my day brighter and so often, God times those gifts to be received on just the right day.

Marrakech

Camden Town is a favorite place to explore.  Thanks to my friend Stephanie, I've become acquainted with a little Moroccan tea shop called Marrakech.  Its become a place I like to spend an evening with a friend.  They do make the best baklava, not as though I've ever had baklava that was bad! 

As you can see, its really charming!

  You should come visit and I'll take you for coffee or mint tea :)  And of course, baklava :)

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain

A friend of mine was able to visit with a few days vacation from her job as a nanny in Spain.  We wandered through Hyde Park and made our way to the Diana Memorial Fountain.  Along the banks of the Serpentine, its a lovely spot to sit on a sunny day.  Whenever I walk along the Serpentine, I can almost forget I live in a city....

I know the desire behind the creation of the memorial was to have a place reflect the qualities that endeared Diana to so many people.  Its a very welcoming place.  I remember reading that "visitors are invited to sit and refresh their feet" in the water of the fountain.  Because of that, every time I've been to the memorial, kids have been playing in the water.  I personally like to find a kid free spot and lay down in the sun.  Combined with the usual joy we all feel on sunny London days, the running water, and the sunshine, I can very easily take a nap!

Picnic lunch in Trafalgar Square

Absolutely gorgeous day!  Blue skies, actually nice and warm in the sunshine.  I ate my Ritz crackers (YES) and cheese and strawberries sitting next to this lovely fountain in Trafalgar Square, delighting in the sun on my face.  

I wasn't the only one enjoying the sun.  Mr Mallard joined me :)

Summer creeps closer

Despite the disruption to flights in and out of London, life has been pretty normal for me.  Yesterday, I was down at Speaker's Corner.  As you can see from the photos, the crowds are returning with nicer weather.  This past week actually felt almost hot when standing in the sun!  The people were plentiful, the conversations energetic!  If you are ever in London and bored on a Sunday afternoon, just meander down to Speaker's Corner and bring your opinions with you!

Easter Holidays

I love surprises, and I was able to surprise my family with a whirlwind trip to the USA for the Easter holidays.  Just ten days, but it was so worth it!  Family is too special to not take advantage of these opportunities when they arise.  My gorgeous sister picked me up at the airport and took me to surprise the rest of the family the next day.  

My grandmother got to have all four of her granddaughters home for Easter Sunday, which I know meant a lot to her.  It was great to see my grandparents, who certainly have missed us with having our family spread out across the globe.  We still had the famous Easter Egg Hunt on the farm after a fabulous Easter dinner.   

Our family isn't close geographically, but what we lack in physical closeness, I like to think we make up for in emotional closeness.  I think the love we have makes it harder to be apart, but it makes our times together that much sweeter.  I love you all....never forget that!

my birthday dinner with friends

Sunday we went out to a lovely Indian restaurant to celebrate my birthday.  It was an absolute feast and it was seriously a great time with my London friends and coworkers.  Here are few pics just to share the yumminess.  The menu actually had a "Birthday Dessert," which my friends insisted I order!  It came with a sparkler in it and I had seven waiters singing Happy Birthday to me.  "Look at that blush...." was a comment made by one of my friends!    

Homework Club

Two of my kids from homework club yesterday :) They may drive me nuts sometimes, but they are pretty cute!

Birthday List

When I was last in the USA, I got to spend my sister's birthday with her :) It was great fun, because birthdays are very special in our family.  She had to travel for work that day, but I was able to tag along with her.  While we were in the car, we grabbed an envelope (the only paper we could find) and on the back, came up with 29 things for her to do while she is 29 :)  She, ever the great planner, said we needed to come up with a 26 list for me.

So, as today is my birthday, here is the list we created of 26 things for me to do while I'm 26 :)

1. go to Ikea... in Sweden
2. Hillsong concert
3. participate in a bike race
4. lead the British Museum tour entirely on my own
5. visit Giant's Causeway in both Ireland and Scotland
6. live a month as a non-vegetarian! (That was Joy)
7. visit the Vatican
8. read a book by Kipling
9. memorize a poem
10. eat a curry on Brick Lane
11. walk down Abbey Road
12. go to a ballet
13. visit 5 new museums
14. go to the Opera!
15. have a picnic
16. do a photo shoot
17. grow your hair long again
18. get it cut by a French hairdresser
19. pick a favorite book set in London, and visit all the spots mentioned
20. go to Prague
21. if possible, go to a Keith Urban concert in London!  
22. buy a pair of Italian shoes
23. get a henna tattoo 
24. ride a vespa
25. tour a chocolate factory in Switzerland :)
26. continue school!

Exploring Whitechapel

I met up with three girlfriends and we spent the day wandering around East London.  I'm a little embarrassed to admit that after one year in London, I had my first visit to Brick Lane...

After an hour of following a self-guided historical walk through the Whitechapel and Aldgate area, we decided it was lunchtime :) Brick Lane is known for its Sylheti/Bengali food and the choices of restaurants abound.  We settled on the Saffron.  

I had vegetable korma with naan and rice and oh my...it was fabulous :)  I finished every last bit even though I was so incredibly full!  

As usual when the four of us girls get together, we were in rare form.  I think we provided the waiters with more than their usual entertainment, with our constant chatter and frequent laughter. 

Now the day has ended and I'm back at home.  Always after days like this, I'm excited by this city.  There are so many little places, so much history to explore.  Walking down Brick Lane, you see street signs in Sylheti and smell the curry and the deliciously fragrant sweet shops....and thats London.  A few minutes walk and you will be back in the business district of the City, full of  black business suits and power ties.  Go a little bit another direction and you can be at Petticoat Lane Market or Fournier Street (where French Huguenots developed an industry around their silk weaving skills).  

Samuel Johnson, an English poet/writer from the 18th century, said that "By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show..." Perhaps its because a little bit of everywhere has come to London.

A Good Taste of Life

Today is one of those wonderful Saturdays where the entire day is a day off.  I lounged around before making my way to the kitchen to make my coffee and grab a bowl of mango, papaya and passionfruit yogurt (its AMAZING.).  I took it all back up to my room, which is much warmer than the kitchen.  

Four years ago, I wouldn't touch coffee.  I hated the taste.  Gradually, through hot chocolate mixed with coffee, I began to like it and the hot chocolate to coffee proportions shifted.  It became coffee with milk and sugar.  Admittedly, a lot of sugar!

Now last Saturday, I realized I can even drink coffee with a lot less milk and sugar.  I was at a friend's house and she offered me coffee and of course, she made my drink for me.  Personally, I would have added more milk and sugar, but out of politeness, didn't comment and instead enjoyed my first and second cups of coffee while we chatted.  And I did enjoy it.  

My tastebuds were challenged even more later in the afternoon.  Her husband made a lavish Iranian meal for us.  I've been a vegetarian for five years now.  My friend forgot this and I couldn't bear to mention it after they put together this beautiful meal.  "Oh Lord, please don't let this meat make me sick!" and I started eating.  We had mincemeat, fish, and chicken, as well as rice.  It had smelled wonderful as P and I sat talking and her husband O cooked, and the taste met the expectation.  I'm pleased to say that God answered my prayer!  

The reminder to me has always been to question my priorities in this ministry called life.  Which matters more, my preferences or my relationships?  People, of course.  But as I sat with my coffee this morning, I thought about how God blesses me in such little ways as well as big ways.  Had I not started drinking coffee four years ago, I would have missed out on endless talks with friends here in London, for whom sharing a hot beverage is essential to warming up to a personal conversation.  

I had a weekend away at the beginning of the month.  I was able to meet some wonderful people with a similar focus.  One gentleman shared his insight: "You can go into homes with your shoes on or your shoes off.  You can go with your shoes on and be greeted with a smile and be on your way in half an hour.  Or can go in and take off your shoes and be welcomed into the family.  You'll share cups of tea and after about the third cup, you'll find out what is really going on in their lives."  I choose shoes off, and yes, I'd love a coffee, thanks!

Love in London

I changed buses in Wembley, on my way the Centre to work today.  As I waited at the bus stop, there was a young Indian couple who were next to me.  The husband put their suitcase down and said (I assume) for his wife to watch it while he went to check the bus schedule.  She nodded, but kept watching him as he walked over the posted schedule.  When the 83 finally came, there was the usual crush to get in line, even though the drivers are patient about waiting.  I noticed that the woman was ahead of me, but her husband ended up a few people behind us.  She kept glancing nervously behind her to make sure that he got on the bus.  Their suitcase still had airport baggage ties on it, so I'm assuming they were either visiting or recently moved.  She kept checking, anxious to make sure he got on the bus and that they wouldn't be separated.  After he tapped his Oyster card and joined her at the seats she had claimed, she settled back, perfectly at ease now that he was by her side.  An Eastern European lady sat in the seat behind her with a small child, a cute little girl all dressed in pink.  The young wife kept looking back at the Eastern European woman, smiling at the child.  She nudged her husband and he turned his head and smiled too and then smiled a bit longer at his wife.  They seemed so young, even though they are probably late twenties.  They glanced at one another with such adoration.  It was beautiful to see love so apparent.

Rain, Rain...

London drizzle is back...I'm not envious of the snow that the USA is enjoying, but the drizzle isn't so much fun either!  It has me missing the dry African heat....

I was reminiscing with a friend who also grew up in Africa about home.  The heat.  The passionate colours of the sunsets.  The beauty contrasted with the harsh reality of life.  C. Emily Dibb's poem came to mind.  

When you've acquired a taste for dust,

The scent of our first rain,

You're hooked for life on Africa

And you'll not be right again

Till you watch the setting moon

And hear the jackal's bark

And know that they're around you,

Waiting in the dark.

When you long to see the elephants,

Or to hear the coucal's song,

When the moonrise sets your blood on fire,

You've been away too long.

It's time to cut the traces loose

And let your heart go free

Beyond the far horizon,

Where your spirit yearns to be.


C. Emily Dibb

I think I'll always love Africa.