8.9.2011

Some Classic English Style Apartments

This building really does follow the curve in the road.

Great looking curved building on one of our walks.

Hi to All!

Do not worry--we are no where near the riots. They keep popping up in different places but not in our area. The museum area isn't a place where the local youth hang out. Just the tourists. But we do know the areas to avoid and we don't have time in the evenilng to go wandering.

Things are interesting here. With the building closing down in 3 weeks, the Stakes and Area Welfare people are still in process as to where they want us to set up offices. Right now they want us to be at three different locations. Which means that we will travel buy tube, train and bus every day. Being gypsies should be interesting. How we will get moved and set up three offices in a week should be interesting. These riots make it even more interesting because they want us in areas outside of the main part of the city--which happens to be where there is a lot on unemployment and unrest.

To keep things interesting and stay busier we have taken on the assignment of handlling the mission flat inspections. Dad has volunteered to handle any minor repairs. He is excited to use some tools and duck tape. Working with the missionaries is really enjoyable. the newbies come in so hesitant and the long term ones are so effective--the transformation is really a miracle--it is amazing what can happen as one lives by the Spirit. We also stay close to the Young Single Adults. Dad is teaching an Institute class--the P of GP. He enjoys teaching--has about 40 in the class. Me--I am like Madame Lafarge in the Tale of Two Cities--I just watch and knit while he stays busy.

Living in our small--very small flat--has opened our eyes to the fact that we really only need about 500 sq feet to live. Makes cleaning and accumulating things very easy. The sister missionary that worked here in the office with us is leaving in the morning--while she was here for 18 months she accumulated enough stuff that caused her to have to ship 10 boxes of things home in addition to her regular luggage. Dad's goal is to buy nothing that we can't eat--he has even learned to read from the Kindle and ipad-and we have found the library in Kensington which is a comfortable walk from our flat. So we are not even collecting books.

Saturday we went on a walking tour of Canary Wharf. It is the Wall Street of London. It was really beautiful and interesting. Everything else in London is at least 500 years old but the entire Canary Wharf area has been built in the last 15 years--tall buildings, fountains, green areas--all planned to attract big companies--Morgan Stanley, Citi, HSBC, etc. It is all very planned and structured. On Monday we did a contrasting tour and journied to Cambridge. It is really a beautiful college town. It is amazing to see that the colleges were started in the 1300's and 1400's. Makes Utah State and BYU just babies. The buildings are really a sight to see and the chapels that were built with each one are gorgeous. Cambridge has a series of about 5 major colleges along the Cam River. We saw them all by taking a boat ride--called a punt--which is a small flat bottomed boat that is propelled by a strong young man standing on the back platform using a long pole to guide the boat, kind of like a poor man's Venice. I will bore you by sending pictures when I get home and try to remember how to download the e-mail them.

We have enjoyed the theater here. Two weeks ago we just hopped on the tube and went downtown and decided to go to a show. We got easy tickets to a show called Petticoats and Sweethearts. It was all 50's and 60's music. By the end all of the older members of the audience were standing and doing the twist. Dad and I resisted. Last Wednesday we were invited to go see Ghost--yes the musical version of the movie. I was doubltful but it was good. I would much rather go see live theater than go to a movie.

We are in good health. Walking lots--Dad's pedometer registers at least 12000 to 14000 steps a day and days like Monday he said that we did over 20000. There is a Whole Foods store not far from us so we get treats when needed. Also the ice cream--called clodded cream-- is about 100%fat--so with a handful of fresh raspberries we can survive.

Everyone--take care and know that you are all in our prayers we hope that we are in yours.

Love, Mom

8.17.2011

There is a tendency to forget that weather is a seasonal creature, and that a pleasant, just right August, can be an alert that winter may hit a different extreme.  We are not in San Diego; in fact we are north of Maine so November on will paint a different picture.  We are starting to double up our job with the addition of the missionary flats.  We are to inspect, fix where possible, authorize purchases - sofa - chairs - mattresses - vacuum, etc.  Last night while enjoying a late dinner, a set of Elders called to say they has just received a termination of lease notice and wondered what to do.  Creates a two fold problem: 1 - we have to find a new flat, and 2 - we have to get the present one cleaned to a much higher level than the average missionaries tolerate.  I think I am going to buy a shoehorn for every flat and insist they take their shoes off the second they walk in the door.  None of the Elders's flats I've seen or heard of so far live up to my mother's standard, and as I've told a few of them between my mother and the military you are going to be asked to clean a higher standard.  I sat down with two of them recently and used the 89th section to try to help them understand how dirt and disorder affected their spirituality - not sure that got through to them.

The walking here is great and fun.  You actually see things.  I'm used to having to drive and only see is the road in front so not being behind the wheel is a real pleasure.  Unfortunately Texas doesn't allow for a no car society, but if it did, I can promise I would be glad to do without.  Of course, gas at near $3.00 a quart is a real good reason to skip cars too, not to mention parking and a host of other fees.  I do miss Lowe's.  I don't really need anything just the pleasure of walking through, coveting a few tools and enjoying the smell of the lumber.  Every time I walk past some lumber scraps being thrown away, I want to grab them and bring them back for future use.  I did use my 3 dollar saw to cut out two additional shelves for our food storage area ( 21.5 inches across the back, sides of 21 and 14.5, and well you get the picture, I figured out an entirely new way to take measurements.

A lot of good people come in to the center plus the standard few who need a hardware store of additional bolts and nuts in their craniums.  Love working with the skilled but low on English folks from Romania, Poland, Italy, etc.  Great people who are just looking for some work stability in their lives.  They don't want to be rich just unafraid of the source for the next meal.  I worked with a brother from Romania yesterday - a highly skilled electrician.  Happily he has a work permit.  Romanians are looked down on as non workers - can't imagine how the English judge them on that score since UK welfare has created an entire nation of non-workers.  One of my many regrets is that of speaking only English.  I would at least like to know what language I am overhearing as I walk down the street.  Incidentally, Mitch - senor - the mission office mom loves the missionaries from Italy - says they have so much personality and express themselves with such humor and love.  The French are evidently a bit reserved and the Germans and related downright stoic.  We do have a sister from the US, Oregon we think, that has more than enough personality to make up for any who lack. You can hear her giggle clear across the building.

On the spiritual side, tonight is my last Institute class, we complete our six week dash through the Pearl of Great Price.  Last week we covered the creation reading from all three scripture sources with and occasional reminder of how the temple further expands our understanding.  Tonight I am going back to Abraham 1 and discussing the priesthood and foreordination, pre-earth setting apart and father's blessings.  Great group of young people, bright and well schooled.  I am really going to miss this, but perhaps I'll be able to do it again at some point.

Love you, one and all.  I don't know what blessings you will accrue by our being here, but it is great to be even a very small part of the Church's effort to save both spiritually and temporally.  Brigham Young would have given his total approval.

Dad

Some Pictures of things around town.

We having gone on lots of day adventures to see where Sherlock Holmes lived and other places.  Here are some pictures of what we have seen.

These are of Prince Albert Hall

Princess Diana Memorial

Pictures of the Imperial College and Royal School of Music.  Both of which we live right next to and many of the students are in our ward.

There are always lots of flowers overflowing in baskets on the streets.  I am always amazed at how green everything is.  Most of these pictures are from Hyde Park.

Here are just some random pictures of daily life. Dad and I want to rent bikes one day and ride around.

 

Bridge over Serpentine Lake.

 

Crazy enthusiasts swimming in the COLD lake.

Traffic.

More to come.

Our Apartment

Here are some pictures of our apartment and the views outside.  It's small. Very Small.

The Outside of our Building.

The Lift to go up to our apartment.

View coming out of our apartment to the left.

View coming out of our apartment to the right.

Our Bedroom.

The Kitchen.

The living room.

7.3.2011

Has been quiet. No decisions as to where we are going to move the office to--but we know that it will mean more tube and bus travel than we experience now. Weather is very pleasant--cool temperatures and little rain. Monday is our Prep day so we are going to the Royal Kew Gardens and then a very quiet 4th celebration. Here not much about the celebration other than someone said that the British were glad to get rid of the colonies. We just got back from walking for 1 1/2 hours in Hyde Park. You can walk forever and not walk on the same path. Lots of little ones and people picnicking. We are leaning to re-spell many words--no "or" on end of words rather "our" as in colour and no z's it is organise etc. The ward is a large one due to a large number of weekly visitors. But the base membership is a strong one. Many ex-pats with oil companies and financial institutions. Most here for 2 or 3 years than off to some other country. Makes for a very interesting leadership group. Most live close to the center of London so don't own cars--all depend on public transportation and private schools for their children. Many students here studying at the Imperial College (engineering and medicine) or the Imperial College of Music--makes for some great concerts and special musical numbers in sacrament. Best go--Dad just handed me a bowl of the most tasty raspberries and strawberries.

All take care--let us know how you are doing and what is going on.

Love M

7.13.2011

Are you enjoying the heat. It is cool and raining here--we have even had to wear our raincoats. We are doing great. I even spent yesterday working on Excel. Dad is loving it--I am adjusting. I am trying to decided which IKEA is closest so we can do some decorating. White walls everywhere and Dad won't be painting.

Dad just got a home teaching assignment from the HP leader--he has 8 families all Philippionos living all over London--and London is very large--all need to be visited by bus, train and tube. You know how obsessed her gets with making sure all the visits are done--it will be interesting--he could easily become a million miler. Only no rewards or free trips. Life outside of the US is very interesting. This am on my way to the office I passed by a Muslim man with three of his wives following behind him and the favorite one walking beside him--they were all in full face covering Burkas and carrying very expensive purses--maybe there is an upside to the system.


Love, m

6.29.2011

You would love what is going on here. Dad has started carrying a "man purse". He got tired of carrying a heavy briefcase and we always need to have papers and passports and housing documentation so it is easier for him to just put it all in my black travel bag and just go for it. We walk so much that we are very careful about what we carry and what we need. this morning we got registered with a clinic--socialized medicine. It is amazing what this government pays for--medications, examinations, tests--not that we need any but it is all covered. We also not have a Freedom Pass--which is available to all residents over 65. It means that you can travel on all buses, tubes, rail for free This is one reason that so few citizens of London have cars. The public transportation is fast and easy and you don't have to try to find parking which is very expensive. All children are either in a stroller or riding a razor scooter. In the mornings between 8 and 9 all of the children are on their way to school. All in uniforms, blazers, skirt, slacks, some shorts-knee length. the younger ones are riding on their scooters and in some cases the mothers are pulling them--especially the 3 wheel little scooters. It is really fun to see. One of the schools even have the little girls wear hats like Madeline. Burgess would love it here--he would never have to walk just ride and then be pulled.

We love and miss you. We get our internet connection on Thursday. And then I can find out about the Vonage line--then we can talk. It has been like going through withdrawal not having a phone, or tv or daily newspaper let alone not hopping in the car and just going. But we are getting a lot of walking in--especially if Dad is giving directions. He always manages to have us go the wrong way for at least 4 blocks--long blocks before I mention that we might be going the wrong way--I don't know how he ever made it home when he was a child and his mother let him ride into the mountains alone--must be that he knew down-hill was home--here everything is flat and no mountains to give you directions.

Love m