12

I can't believe it, but we have a 12 year-old in the house! This week we celebrated Dallin's 12th birthday. First with a sleepover with his best buddy followed by a day of tween boy fun at the cinema and arcade. Then we had another family celebration on the actual day.


Lego cake appearance one






And after wrapping the cake back up to recycle it for party number two, the Lego cake makes appearance two (minus a few slices from the first party).







Now the countdown to the teenager has officially begun!

Occupy London

On a recent visit to St. Paul's I almost stepped on something. St. Paul's plaza has been turned into a campground. It is quite the sight, and smell, to behold.


This Occupy settlement has been camped here for about two months now. I find it fascinating. People literally living here, tents on hard, cold cement. And aside from the port-a-loos onsite (no doubt paid for by taxpayers of London), campers are without facilities. And this is all to bring awareness, to enlighten the population about the truth behind the economic crisis.











I suppose it's working. After all it's gotten huge media attention. And here I am blogging about it!





But is it really working? Walking through Occupy's tent city my eyes can't stop rolling. Fanaticals never succeed in educating me. And this place is full of them. And even worse I get the sense that many here just hopped on the bandwagon, not really for the cause itself, but just to join the party. How are these unshowered, tent-dwelling people with their cardboard proclamations doing any good to further the cause? Most were sitting around, drinking, playing drums and doing a whole lot of nothing. So inspiring. Not exactly the kind of environment that is going to draw the average person in to truly engage in meaningful discussion and education.


And like I'd even bring my children here!


Or join in worship here.


I'm sure this guy wouldn't refuse donations from me, whose household income is derived from the corporate practises he is protesting. Such irony.


"Starbooks Occupation Library"


Tent City University?












I hear "residents" of Occupy London have been served an eviction notice. It's about time, because otherwise it's time they start paying rent like the rest of us. I'm sure we haven't seen the last of them, and we'll see them camped somewhere else in this city.

Thanksgiving

With three Thanksgivings in the UK under our belt I think we've figured out how to make it work. The first year here Thanksgiving was a huge downer. Of course it's not a holiday here, and regular work and school schedules carry on as normal. I was really taken off guard our first year with feelings of deep homesickness on that day. Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday. So our Thanksgiving success recipe includes three important ingredients. First, we postpone Thanksgiving until Saturday so we can spend the full day together as we would in the US on real Thanksgiving day. Second, I hunt down all the proper ingredients to make the proper full Thanksgiving spread (none of this UK food substitutions crap!) which has gotten a little easier each year as I get more acquainted with what is available where. And lastly, we share it with others who must have American ties. I'm happy to share any other meal with whomever, but on this very American holiday living abroad it is so wonderful to share it with people who really get it. And also wonderful to share it with people who bring really awesome stuffing (if you aren't American, you may not even know what stuffing is)!



Our friends Tim and Tanya and their adorable girls (and I mean ADORABLE) moved to London on a two-year assignment last spring. We knew them in OC before we moved to London in 2008. When they learned they were moving to London last year she contacted me to get the scoop on life in London. I've gotten to know her better here, and let's just say I kind of love her. She's her own girl, full of spirit and vibrancy inside and out. Tim is a kindred travel spirit, and a totally great guy. And what is not to love about their darling girls? Totally awesome family, and we're so happy to have an added dose of OC sunshine in this city!

For Hire

Having spent about three years total in London, I know the city pretty well. And I love it. I love what's big and flashy about London like Big Ben, Picadilly Circus and the West End. And I love what's quaint and charming, places like Primrose Hill Bakery, the alleys off Hampstead High Street and St. Christopher's Place. I love it all! And I'm happy to show you around if you come to visit! And my tour guide services come cheap (if you're coming from the States, payment is accepted in all manner of US food stuffs). I really do enjoy taking people around London. My cousin's daughter, who is a university student in the States, was finishing her study abroad semester in Spain, and was able to stop off in London for a few days on her way back to the US. Her semester abroad was her first time in Europe, and so this would be her first time in London. We were all so happy to have her come!



I love seeing London all over again through the eyes of London first-timer. I never tire of these amazing sights! First stop was a city view riding the London Eye (which by the way has been rebranded as the EDF London Eye, not nearly as cool as the British Airways London Eye, and I don't care for the EDF Orange colour scheme either).




































In case you didn't know, I love Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. I never get tired of seeing this! Gorgeous iconic London at its best!




Speaking of gorgeous?












Amazing book seller's road in the West End! London's charming, almost mythical, corners could amaze the most curious soul for a lifetime.


I have never seen Green Park look so pretty . . .












The colours lining the square in front of Buckingham Palace




Your Majesty? Are you there?




Love random, exquisite sweet shops


St. Pancras Station faux filmed as the adjacent King's Cross Station in Harry Potter. The Platform 9 3/4 tourist photo-op trolley that was once inside the real King's Cross Station is now relocated to a far less exciting location outside of the station. Hopefully it's a temporary move during station renovations, but Harry Potter fans be warned, it's a little disappointing now.


I'm obsessed with doors, so I've been told :)


British Museum




Haven't taken a photo of this in about 6 years, so I thought it was time :)


St. Paul's


Tate Modern


Millennium Bridge










Albert Memorial


We decided to take a day-trip out to Stonehenge. It was something Jeannette wanted to see, and we hadn't been there in nearly 10 years (I remember changing Dallin's nappy here :). It was a chilly, damp day.


Audio guide tour












We headed 15 minutes south to charming Salisbury to see the town and the beautiful cathedral there.




I have seen an insane amount of cathedrals during my time in Europe, and mostly nowadays they sadly all start to look the same. So very few impress me any more. Salisbury cathedral knocked my socks off, without a doubt one of the most glorious, striking cathedrals on earth.






















Before heading home we headed up to Avebury on the other side of Stonehenge. It's another ancient stone circle formation, but it's on a much larger scale and unlike Stonehenge you are allowed to walk among and touch the stones. We got there with just barely enough light to catch a glimpse, but it was beautiful to see and the low light of the sunset created a unique experience, and cold!