Thoughts One Through Four

1. I have really small fingers. Long but skinny. Which is why I don't wear many rings... they just do not fit. Same thing with bracelets. They just do not stay on.

2. Gift giving is a huge weakness of mine. I'm terrible at it. I do think about it before hand but I procrastinate until it is too late. I'm seriously working on this.

3. I'll be back in Utah in about two weeks. I'm gonna miss England terribly but I'm ready to go back for several reasons. I'm torn. Too bad these countries are so far apart.

4. I have weeks of photos and stories of my Europe adventures to post but haven't yet. I probably won't get to them until I get back to the states.

Veggies?

I went to the grocery store today and noticed something was missing...

All salad related veggies (especially lettuce, tomatos and cucumbers) have been taken off the market because of the recent E. Coli outbreak in Europe. 

I haven't been huge on eating salads lately but now that it is harder to get one... I want one.

Grimes Grave

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Erin and I went to the English Heritage site, Grimes Grave. Despite its name, it is not a grave, or burial place, but a flint mine worked between about 2200 and 2500 BC. Some of the shafts are sunk as deep as 30 feet below the surface - a remarkable accomplishment when you consider that the Neolithic miners used antlers for picks and animal shoulder-blades for shovels. English Heritage has opened one of the shafts for the public to descend. Erin and I made our way down the latter into the pit. It reminded me a lot of going down Kuna Caves in Idaho. 

Here is a tunnel.

Down in the mine. 

It looks like a grassy lunar landscape. The anglo-saxons in the middle ages thought there was no way this was man made, concluding that it was the work of the gods. 

Erin chasing after sheep... as usual. :)

A covered pit.

Memorial Day 2011 - WICKED

London's West End Show...

WICKED

We took a bus to the Apollo Theater, West End, London.

The lobby was completely green. We were IN the city of OZ. The stage was beautiful. The dragon at the top moved around at various parts of the show. AH! It was great. 

I had no idea what I was getting into. I heard the play was great and such. But seriously, the play was so awesome! The voices were so pure. The script was so clever and hilarious. I would LOVE to see it again!

Memorial Day 2011 - Madingley American Cemetery

Memorial Day is an American holiday that began in 1865 to honor the soldiers who died fighting for their country. Today the focus seems to be on the amazing sales and tasty barbecues rather than the many soldiers and civilians who fought and fell. I am grateful that my parents have put an emphasis on history and honoring those in the military. We spent the morning at Madlingley American Cemetery nearby.

The cemetery put on a beautiful ceremony. This ceremony was specific to those who die in WWII. There were many veterans from WWII. There were so many different uniforms present. It was great. Below is a picture of soldiers bringing out the wreaths that were donated from various regiments and squadrons. 

Afterwards we found a few WWII veterans and chatted with them for a while. These guys were so awesome. They loved to talk and were HUGE flirts. It was such an honor to be around them though. Even after all they've seen and done they were still happy and positive. 

One of my favorite moments was when a young enlisted guy came up to these two veterans wanting to thank them for their service. But before this enlisted guy could get a word out, these veterans thanked him for the service he is currently doing. A touching moment for sure.

A few of the wreaths to be laid on the wall covered in names.

After the 21 gun salute they had a flyby. 

And then the solemn trumpet playing Taps.

A humbling morning.

Diss

Friday, May 27, 2011

My mom and I drove up to a little town called Diss where they have auctions. It is like DI with a bunch of random stuff but they also have a bunch of antiques. Big huge dish cupboards went for about $40. It was awesome. 

I found this trunk. I've always wanted a "hope chest" though I doubt this will ever be a true hope chest. I'll probably fill it with blankets. The trunk is pine from the mid 1800s. The barrel top indicates that it is a trunk from the upper class. The dome top prevented other trunks from being stacked on top of it. I LOVE IT!!!

Your London Tour Guide

Saturday, May 21, 2011

It is always nice to see familiar faces on this side of the pond. Matt and Brenna Cox are in Germany this term for an internship with the LDS Church. While they are both busy with work during the week they have weekends free and I was lucky enough to have them come visit. They needed a tour guide for London and the Fleming girls know their way around that great city. We met up at Liverpool Street and the fun began. Started of with Big Ben, parliament and Westminster Abbey. We saw Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guards.

 Then we went to Trafalgar Square and saw the new development... Olympic Countdown!!! We saw Covent Gardens and stopped for a fish and chips lunch at the Tower of London.

After lunch we went up the Tower Bridge. I had no idea you could actually go UP. Back in the day going up and walking over was a normal part of life. On our way down the bridge was up and a ship was going under neath it. Apparently several things have jumped the bridge while it was up including a motorcycle and a bus. The bus, on accident and the motorcycle on purpose.

After the top of the bridge we went to the engine rooms and saw how they work. It was amazing to see the mechanics that lift the massive bridge.

 At the end of our adventure we had a funny experience with Kelli. She couldn't find her ticket to get on the tube. So Erin went back to help her find it. They finally did and Kelli made it through.

 Erin didn't. Best. Picture. Ever.

Graditude

I'm grateful for Mike and Ikes. I always forget how much I love them.

I'm grateful I'm not allergic to peanuts. Honey Roasted Peanuts... YUM!

I'm grateful for technology. UK conference broadcasted from SLC conference center.

I'm grateful for technology (again). I get to talk to my roommate Ashlie on skype. Almost like being there!

I'm grateful for a free gym that is five minute walking distance from my bed. I now LOVE working out. I feel so alive AND it puts me in a better mood.

I'm grateful for raspberries. They are SO YUMMY.

I'm grateful for summer days with fresh fruit and BBQs.

I'm grateful for wonderful friends that know exactly what to say when I need help.

I'm grateful for my family. We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.

I'm grateful for smoothies. Yum. I'm getting to a point where I have two or three a day.