Greenwich

We went to Greenwich this past holiday weekend. Luckily, we picked the right day as the weather was beautiful on Saturday.

We ventured to Greenwhich via tube, boat, and a long walk. We have really become pros with public transportation. I remember last summer thinking how inefficient public transportation seemed to be. I don't feel that way any more. It was quite a pleasurable trip down there.

This is the Old Royal Naval College, located in Greenwich, complete with scaffolding and cranes. It was designed by Christopher Wren.

The 24 hour clock located at the top of the hill at The Royal Observatory, also in Greenwich.

Here are the Silly Chaps standing along the prime meridian line, the imaginary circle of the earth passing through both poles.

That red ball at the top of the observatory has something to do with time. John has only told me umpteen million times what it does......but I continue to forget. (selective memory?) The ball would be raised and lowered so the sailors could tell what time it was by its position on the pole. It doesn't seem to work nowadays.

Looking up from the Queens House towards the observatory.

This is the Queens House designed by Inigo Johnes for James I's wife orginally. However, it wasn't completed until 1637 for Henrietta Maria the queen of Charles I.

It has been restored to its original state and now houses great artwork.

It was voted (not unanimous) that we would not go in the Queens House........"because all it had in it was "art stuff"."

Exterior tunnel through the Queens House.

Alex is practicing his liturgical dance.

Why do I even try to take "scenic pictures" ? Ansel Adams I will never be.

It was a long day for us but it didn't matter because we could lay out in the sunshine, finally!

recent outings

We've had a wake-up call around here. We found out that our best buddies "the McGees" are being transferred back to New Jersey. It is an unexpected turn of events. Their arranged arrival and departure times were much like ours. They moved in a couple of weeks after we did, and were slated to return back stateside about the time we were. However, because of the banking crisis, they are going back early.

It is sad because there is so much more they wanted to see and do. They are frantically enjoying as much of London as they can and hope to see other parts of Europe if time allows.

Which brings us to todays post. I have learned from their experience.......and I am trying to keep up with Molly and do as much as I can with her before she leaves. We recently toured The Globe Theatre. It is an accurate recreation of Shakespeare's original. The tour left much to be desired....not exciting at all. I think it would be better if a play or maybe even a rehearsal was part of the tour. We were not even allowed to go backstage and see the "insides". It is just not part of their tours.

Which is exactly what Molly did when the tour was over. She bought tickets and will see a production before they leave.

I am not that organized. Maybe we will get there later....

Here are a few of the photos I was allowed to take. I admit they are not that exciting. But it does prove I went, right?

The trap door you see in the picture above is the culprit of the downfall of the orginal structure. Evidently, a canon was shot-off as part of the production and it caught fire to the thatch roof. The entire thing burned down within an hour.


I am on the upper deck taking this picture. There were preparations underway for the evenings performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. (hence, the scenery is all black).

Our next outing was with the local women's club. We had an alfresco lunch high above Kensington High Street in Richard Branson's Roof Gardens. It is a magical setting beyond description-a beautiful mature one and a half acre garden atop the city, complete with koi ponds and flamingos. (SJWWC newsletter, May pg.7) Our buffet lunch came from the same kitchen as Branson's Babylon restaurant one floor below. http:/www.roofgardens.com

Muthers Day

First of all, we have to start off by saying, "Ooops!" and "so sorry" to the Imperial Grandmother and Grammy Dames. Mother's Day totally crept up on us.......there is no Mother's Day here in the U.K.

Okay, there is, really; but it is celebrated sometime in March.

So the idea that Mother's Day was being celebrated in the States this past weekend was a surprise until I heard something up at The American School during the mid-week, which means not a card was sent this year!

Here is what I received from Andrew this year only because he attends the American School and they prepared these cards in the classroom.

I just love kindergarten! This is a mother's day poem written by Andrew especially for me.

Thumbprints in purple glitter paint for grapes. However, I think he decided to make his into grape jam instead.

Portrait of me on the left side, poem on the right.

MOM

Blonde hair.

Making lunch.

Makes me wait

for my brother to

finish his home-

work to watch

t.v. from-Andrew

Kew Gardens

We visited Kew Gardens a few weekends ago. It is also known as The Royal Botanical Gardens. It was a beautiful day when we started our journey.....but as it is with London weather, we got rained on towards the end.
Here are the boys scouting out the map.

Of course the boys found a great tree to climb on.....

AND, of course, they are like retreiver dogs......if there is water anywhere nearby they will find it. Here you see them (along with some other unknown boys) enjoying the sprinklers.

The azaleas are blooming now. I had never seen orange colored azaleas before.

These are the azalea gardens.......

Anniversary

We are quickly approaching our 1 year anniversary of being in London. I have been trying to piece together my past and can not come-up with my life's adventures at this time last year.

Okay, yeah. I know I was trying to sell a house. I was trying to find a place to live in London via the internet/photos taken by my husband. I was selling half of everything I own. I was completing school admission papers and signing over my children's inheritance as an "application fee". I was trying to establish what necessities had to be stockpiled, i.e. Batman bandaids, swiffer refills, and taco seasoning mixes. I was also trying to sell a house.

Oh, did I mention that one already?

Yeah, well I realized I never got my commission for that one. Hmmmm.

I have also realized that my 15 year wedding anniversary is coming up this August. Well, double hmmmmmm.

I mentioned that fact out loud while wrestling with Andrew and his cleats last weekend. I mentioned it out loud so that the other peoples (that just might be somewhere within this vast 1,000 sq ft apartment) (yes, I finally measured it for myself) could hear it. I believe I am due.

Because it really is all about me.

The only response I got was after I repeated it again while standing in front of the "other peoples".

"Oh. Well maybe we could go to dinner or something."

Come again, bloke?

"I was thinking something much bigger than that, quite honestly John," I said.

"Oh Dad! I know!" said Andrew. "You could take her to Chik-Fil-A!"

"Andrew, now your talkin!," said John.

The sad part of this scenario is that I honestly would have, at that very moment in time, settled for a Chik-Fil-A sandwhich (OR maybe even a run to "The Bell"). We are sooooooo deprived of all things artery clogging over here. Now don't get me wrong; they still have their fair share of cardiac arrest inducing foods over here.......but nothing that tastes as good. (I honestly don't understand the idea of a dish called Toad in the Hole and can only imagine the caloric count of that one) But nonetheless, 3 soft tacos with the extra 15 cents for sour cream and 2 packets of mild sauce each, would certainly have sufficed at that very moment.

I guess the Big Burrito up in the sky must have felt my pain...............'cause guess what I found this morning.

Sitting in the corner of our local Panzer market I found this:



The first thing I said to myself, "Don't look at the price. Do. Not. Look. At. Price."

Then there was the selfish side of me that said, "Maybe I should just get a couple of them." "Just in case they run out."

Because just in case you weren't aware, there is currently a shortage of Ro*Tel tomatoes-in-a-can.

Well, at least in London there is.

I think we will be having enchiladas for dinner.

That is if I can find the tortillas.

Arctic Baseball

Baseball season has started here in London. Not that there is really any season for baseball here, most of the locals don't even know what baseball is. However, there are enough Americans here in Northwest London to make up a league. And that is exactly what has been done for several years. It (the league) is called London Sports. It is the organization that we played basketball with this past winter. It is completely volunteer and almost entirely American families.
We, yes we, started baseball a few weeks ago.

Even though I am not an official player or even an official coach, I still feel that I am playing. Who makes sure the uniforms are clean? Who makes sure the mitts are not forgotten? Who makes sure the "snack" is brought on our assigned day? ME. That's who. Not that I really mind, but it just exemplifies that baseball is a team sport for sure in this house.

Here is Andrew on the first day before receiving his uniform. It was cold, no freezing, that day.

Here is Andrew running the bases.

Last week as I was helping him get dressed for his game, he was explaining his strategy to me.

"Mom. I'm thinkin' I'm gonna have to slide today."

I wish you could have seen the expression on his face. It was oh-so-serious! And it made me chuckle because we are talkin' about T-ball, not the Major Leagues. Most of the other players don't even know the difference between the pitcher's mound and first base.

Sure enough, when Andrew had his turn to run to home plate, he slid.

It makes a mother proud.

Of course we realize that he is at a great advantage having an older brother........

Here is Alex in his uniform. He is on the Pirates. That's his bud Patrick behind him on the left. They were lucky enough to be placed on the same team this season.



As you can tell by the foliage.....Spring has not quite arrived here in London. (This was the week before the snow. (see previous post) )

We play our games at Wormwood Scrubs. It is a huge open field located next to a local prison.

Lovely.

I don't know the story behind the name, but I thought it was a joke the first time I heard it. It is nothing more than a huge open field. No markings. No backstops. No dugouts. Just soccer goals placed here and there that I think were left from last Fall. I assume it is for rugby practice normally; hence the "scrubs" part of the name. I don't feel that cricket could be played here.

Cricket is the closest resemblence of baseball to the British.

I have to say that this league is sooooo not like our Richmond leagues last year. What kind of coaching do you get when you ask a lot of bankers and embassy workers to coach?

Well, you can imagine.

Anywho, I have already completed my snack duty for the season. So I feel a great deal of stress has been lifted. I have seen the outcome when snack duty is overlooked by a family.

It is not a pretty sight.

I feel as though I might have been branded with that mark anyhow because I brought sliced bananas, apples, and grapes.

What am I? Not a single piece of fruit was taken. Not even my own son would have a piece.

It just so happens one of the fathers had extra mini chocolate muffins he had purchased for his kids earlier that morning for the ride over to the fields and he threw those into the mix (so he wouldn't have to carry them home). Those went like gangbusters.

I sense my Mother of the Year nomination has been revoked.

White Stuff

I was awakened Sunday morning at 7 a.m. by a tiny whisper.

"Hey. Mom. It snowed last night."

Sure enough.........

We wasted no time getting on what little snow gear we had brought with us to London.

This kind of joy brings out an often hidden side of Alex. He is really a closet Rockette.

St. John's Wood park - which is across the street from our flat.

A special picture for A.M.