Poppies

The poppy has long been a symbol of those who gave all in the cause of war.  Each November poppies adorn the lapels and collars of the masses all around the UK leading up to Remembrance Sunday, the Sunday nearest Armistice day marking the end of WWI.  This year marked the centenary of the start of WWI, which sparked greater demonstrations of respect in remembering those in that great war who sacrificed all.  

In a most remarkable and grand display, the Tower of London was turned into a giant war memorial. Artists Paul Cummins and Tom Piper created a massive art installation to fill the mote at the Tower of London with 888, 246 ceramic poppies, one poppy for each fallen soldier in WWI.   The installation had a beautiful double meaning with the use of the symbolic flower of remembrance collectively appearing as blood filling the mote.  The installation was entitled "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red."  Pure genius!  Scott and I went to see it in September, when the mote was getting fuller.  Then just before Armistice Day I took the kids to see it again.  By this point all 888, 246 poppies had been "planted" and the mote was bursting.  

 Poppies in remembrance line Whitehall

 Another poppy display in Trafalgar Square

 By the first week in November, Christmas is in full swing.  With Guy Fawkes day behind us (and no Thanksgiving), the UK is at liberty to deck the halls and begin celebrating Christmas.

Northern Ireland

The day before my birthday Scott surprised me with a note that detailed plans to take me away for the weekend.  By some miracle we had bags packed, house ready for our absence, a weekend sitter for the kids, and later that evening I was in a hotel at Heathrow anticipating the surprise destination to be revealed at our flight out early the next morning.  This guy sure knows how to knock my socks off!  First thing in the morning on the day of my birthday and we were off, destination Belfast!  It's long been on the list, especially to see the beautiful marvels located on the northern coast.  One night and two days on a carefully and very detailed planned itinerary for my birthday weekend.  It was amazing, and Scott is a pretty fantastic trip organiser!  Truly a perfect 48 hours together to celebrate the last year of my 30's.

 Driving along the northern coast . . .

 Charming views of Glenarm . . .

 Pink bicycles scattered all over Northern Ireland, a leftover display from the big Italian cycling race, Giro d'Italia, that began in Northern Ireland last year.

 Dining al alfresco on some pretty delicious fish and chips in Ballycastle . . .

 The magnificent Dark Hedges of Game of Thrones Fame.  Just amazing to see!

 Dunluce Castle

And finally the main event of the weekend . . . Giants Causeway.  Just one of those natural wonders of the world that you just have to see to believe.  We were fortunate to arrive just as the rains of the day were clearing to enjoy a gorgeous late afternoon sunset.

Two of my favourites from this trip and new additions to my Inspire Collection

 After a gorgeous birthday dinner back in Belfast and a restful overnight we spent the next day touring Belfast.  Such a fascinating city.  First on the agenda was a really eye-opening tour of divided Belfast.  Still under the division of the "troubles" much of Belfast is spliced by various sections of Peace Wall that separates Irish nationalists from unionists/loyalists.  We happened to visit on Remembrance Sunday, which is a bit of a divisive day in itself.  It was clear throughout this area who was a nationalist and who was a loyalist, just check lapels and collars.  Our tour began on Falls Road and took us through various sections of both nationalist and loyalist communities throughout the Shankhill, hugging the the tension-bracing Peace Wall on either side.  It's impossible to get an unbiased view on the situation by a local, but the local view is the most relevant.  So we went with a local guide who offered us a inside look at the story, albeit partisan.  I'm keen to learn more and continue discussion with others on all sides of the issue.

 Falls Road

Sinn Fein, head office of the Irish Republican Party on Falls Road adjacent to this giant mural of Bobby Sands, well known IRA activist and hunger striker

 Murals spread all over sections of the wall and houses commemorate and proclaim.  It's a pretty intrusive sight, and in some cases a bit jarring.  I cannot imaging living in a neighbourhood with such bold propaganda splashed all over the houses.  Just not very pleasant, but clearly the division remains.  It seems unlikely it will be quelled anytime soon.

 After a morning in the Shankhill we explored on our own the rest of this lovely city.

 Queen's University Belfast

 Belfast City Hall

 Pretty streets along Donegall Square and around the waterfront

Autumn Activities

What a whirlwind this year has been so far.  Hardly any time to take it all in.  Kids have all had a great school year so far, everyone busy doing this and that here and there.  I didn't get a chance to photograph all of the activities, and most notably missing is Dallin's JV Cross Country season, Madeleine's Middle School Football team and Trevon's football league.  But here are some bits I did get . . .

 First day of school . . . 9th grade, 6th grade and 2nd grade

 Halloween celebrating at school

 Girl Scout campout

 Madeleine had a very special opportunity to participate in the national Shakespeare Schools Festival.  Her school did the Tempest (and I was the official photographer).  They did a great job, and it was such a neat experience for her.

Gilded America

I was able to take another lit class up in my old stomping grounds this last autumn.  It was a major balancing act with work (busy season no less) and my new job as morning bus driver (if you knew how much we would have to shell out for the kids to bus to school 9 miles away you'd understand!).  But the course topic was too good to pass up.  And who am I kidding, the guest speakers on the course agenda were true not-to-be-missed standouts.

In this era of Downton popularity we set out on a course of study centred on the gilded age, specifically wealthy, American, aristocratic darlings exchanging their fortunes for titles in the motherland, mostly in England.  What an exotic proposition to come to Europe and suddenly be among the high ranking socialites of the time, even royalty, gaining titles of eminent status.  This much like Cora, er Lady Grantham, does in the ever-popular Downtown Abbey.  Her fictional character recounts a time when such arrangements were quite in vogue, and in this course we were able to learn so much about this belle epoch, the many issues surrounding these unions and study two real life Coras, Consuelo Vanderbilt in The Glitter and the Gold and Gladys (with a long a) Deacon, both Duchesses of Marlborough in the Churchill family who resided at the grand Blenheim palace.  Their stories are fascinating.

We were able to enjoy a wonderful lecture from Gladys expert and biographer Hugo Vickers, who himself is an intriguing and compelling character (anyone who takes THAT much interest in one person is truly unique!).  His insights, having visited and interviewed Gladys in her old age many dozens of times, were a rare, extraordinary treat.

The piece de resistance of the course, however, was a visit from none other than Downton's Julian Fellowes AND his lovely yet eccentric (turbaned) wife, Emma, er Lady Emma.  Amazing to sit and listen to him for the better part of two hours, and loved his wife's anecdotal interjections.  It was just awesome!

A couple snaps from our class field trips to some of said gilded age estates . . .