upward over the mountain

There's much to report on this week so far. No photographs unfortunately due to the fact that my camera battery is dead and the charger seems to be having relationship issues with the powerpoint. I haven't had the time to sit down and sort it out, but will do so in the coming days.

Monday I fell asleep in the sunshine and missed my family. I went wandering in SOHO and stumbled upon a groovy juice bar/cafe called JOE & the JUICE where I was served by two fit young gentlemen, one was wearing a striped tee shirt which I enjoyed. Not nearly as much as I enjoyed their accents.

Tuesday started out terrible. I stood in the cold at a train station for almost two hours waiting for a call that never came which made me a little sad and somewhat frustrated. The fact that I woke up at 5am really didn't help the situation either. I missed my family again.
Having had a not so great morning, a lunch date with Spencer sounded like a good idea. He took me to eat Mexican which earnt him brownie points simply because I'm quite the fan of a good Mexican meal. He also got brownie points for paying. When our bellies were full we perused music stores for quite some time and I learnt how to play the banjo, sort of. Had I have had a gold star I probably would have pinned it to his checked shirt, for making my day on many levels.

Today I started a job as an Au Pair which is exciting. Quite exciting in fact.

So despite having a few stumbles I am moving upward over the mountain, things are falling into place and I'm happy.

sunny weather, hidden treasure

The sunshine was so glorious today, just like home. I had a lazy morning, soaking up the rays until about half two when I decided I should go and see something new before my afternoon disappeared. I put on my best summer dress and went on my way.

I hopped on a train to Richmond and went hunting for deer. I didn't find any and I would have continued my search, alas the skies began to rumble and I was afraid of getting caught in the rain. I did find this though, a small graveyard hidden behind a little chapel which I got to by wandering down a tiny alley.

brighton

I've come to realise that the English people get ever so excited when the sun comes out, and to be fair they have a right to be after enduring the winter months. I find it funny though that they flock to pebbled beaches and whip off their shirts like it's too hot to be clothed in twenty-five degree heat.

I caught the train in to Brighton and wrote a song because I finished my book. I wandered to the beach and found Erika and Elliot lost in a sea of excited English folk. We walked along Brighton Pier, which always reminds me of a certain film. There was a great deal to see and smell and hear, joyful faces and belgian waffles and squeals of delight.

Just a side note: the seagulls here are unnaturally large and incredibly terrifying.

Once again, the view from Putney Bridge as I was on my way home.

greenwich

Erika and Mike took me to Greenwich on the ferry today. It was wonderful, lots of photo opportunities. Erika and I explored chapels while Mike manufactured zzz's on the greenest of grass under a tree. Then the three of us climbed the hill to where time begins.





I looked across as I was crossing Putney Bridge on my way home and couldn't resist such a glorious picture.

adventures with the aunt

Oh my days! I saw so many great things today, you wouldn't believe. The first was The Hunterian Museum which houses 18th Century surgeon John Hunter's incredible collection of anatomical specimens. I was torn between being amazed and feeling slightly ill as I peered into jars that were home to human foetuses, whole animals, disected animals, birds and butterflies, various body parts and organs, deformed and diseased bits and pieces, skeletons (including that of a 7'7" Irish Giant) and more than you could imagine. Unfortunately I can't provide you with any evidence, photographs weren't allowed and a stragegically placed security camera prevented the taking of sneaky photos. You'll have to come and see it for yourselves, bring a sick bag if you have a weak stomach.

Aunty Lucy then took me on an adventure, and a big one at that. We wandered all about town and I quietly marvelled at almost everything I saw. My love for heritage buildings and architectural geniuses of the old days is definitely greater than it was yesterday. The sky was a perfect shade of blue, though I must say my photographs really do these buildings no justice, your jaw will drop far lower when you see it for real.

Trafalgar Square

Royal Courts of Justice

Royal Courts of Justice

St. Bride's Church
This steeple inspired the tiered wedding cake

Inside St. Bride's

Crypt underneath St. Bride's

Big Ben!

West Minster Abbey

The entrance to this building was used as the entrance to Gringott's Bank.