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londonboundgal
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Name: Joy
Interests: For the moment...max'n out as much of London as possible! :)
Expertise: hmmm...tough one. Staying up too late?
Occupation: Student - study abroad - then
Message: message me
Member Since:
5/12/2007
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| Oh wow. I can't believe that my time studying abroad in London is coming to a close. I really can not get over the fact that I am going to be jumping on a plane in less than 10 hours. Wasn't it yesterday that I was preparing for the trip? Time flys when I'm having fun...
Ashley and I got up and out this morning for the early service at All Souls at 9:30. It was a very good sermon on giving God the glory in the workplace - thought provoking and well presented. I headed downstairs and had tea and a cookie and was able to get Daddy the newest book by John Stott (signed - hooray!). That was really neat, and then we went out to have a Sunday roast on the Queen Mary (boat-pub) on the Thames! We arrived with about 30 minutes to spare, so we took some fun pictures and then walked to the other side of the Thames into some sort of open air market or something. It was a good time - and we got some GREAT pictures - pure silliness! We were two of the first people on the boat when we got back, so we were able to get great seats overlooking the boats moseying down the river. Our food was FANTASTIC!!! Oh wow. Not only three slabs of rib eye roast, but served on bread with LOTS of gravy, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, and brocoli. I was in veggie heaven! It was the best meal and truly hit "the spot"! After that, I met Helen Clair Rushton and she treated me to a banana java chip at Starbucks - AMAZING!!! I think I had my calories for a week with that drink! Ooooeee, but it was sooo goood! ;) We sat in a park and caught up with life. It was such a wonderful time! We talked for about an houra and forty-five minutes. I knew that I had to meet Ashley at 5:45 to walk to the farewell party at a pub (I had left my directions in the room). I had a wierd piece of time, but decided to go to the National Portrait Gallery anyway. I went to the top floor and saw some of the shoes that Momma had sketched only a couple years ago!!! It was so much fun and I sketched three shoes, myself! Wahoo! It was a great time. I met up with friends and arrived at the pub right on time. They served each table with three cutting-board-looking slabs with all sorts of 'tastes'. I was happy to be told MUCH LATER that the sausage was blood sausage. Yeah...gross. The rest was interesting - veal pie with pomegranate seeds on top, fish (very fishy) and cheese, bagel pieces, potato wedges (I pretty much claimed these), some veggies (the vegetarian at the table claimed them), and pita bread with hummus (ew). Sorry - not much of a hummus fan. It was alright, not very filling, but a good experience to catch up before the madness of tomorrow. I left around 7:00 and got back to the flat around 8:00. I am now soooo pooped-out timed, but I have miles to go before I sleep (packing)...
I am going to miss these things about London and the British culture:
- being called "madame" or "love"
- the tube system - so efficient
- wandering around, refusing to look at a map, and finding all sorts of cool stuff!
- the quiet that was at first eerie, but then the norm
- the AMAZING museums...wowsah
- walking walking walking
Things I will NOT miss:
- being paranoid that someone is following me or going to pick-pocket me
- the fumes/exhaust from the cars/buses/what-have-you
- the EXPENSE of this city - good grief!
- two cubes of ice in my water...they are chincy with ice
- the papers due/deadlines to be met for class
- the reading of a bajillion pages for class...the next day...
Anyway, I hope this gives you an idea of how amazing this city truly is. The quote, "If a man is tired of London, he is tired of liife" is SO TRUE!!! I would come right back if I had the chance. I now have a piece of "my London" and that is sooo neat! I love you all, and I am going to get on the packing and such...I am falling asleep right now as it is. Much love to everyone! Please lemme know what is going on with you!
Your tired traveler - who had the most TERRIFIC TIME,
Joy :) | | |
| Today was jam-packed with all sorts of goodness! I ran out the door with Ashley to the Portobello Road market, exchanged some moo-lah, and had the BEST TIME!!! I found all sorts of wonderful trinket things that I can't say what-it-wuz...but trust me, GOOD FUN STUFF!
Then, I headed straight out to St. Pauls. I ate my lunch on the tube and yes, everyone thought I was crazy. That's ok...I'm getting used to it after letting slip a "hey y'all" all too often! I was able to get a "super-tour" which allowed us access into the neatest secret places. It was AMAZING! After the tour, I climbed the dome and was CRYING for Daddy to be there with me like last time! I took a video at the top of the Cathedral, but will send that later when I have the time to wait for it to upload (I am rather whipped at the moment). I had traveled up from the crypt to the dome...and then went right back down to the crypt to sketch a memorial. It was a very crude outline when I was informed that the crypt was closing for the service! booo. I gathered myself up and headed back upstairs. I grabbed a seat for Even Song and thouroughly loved the service. It was fascinating. The men from the choir were sooo good.
After the service, I started to sketch an agel statue. "Start" is right. I had drawn ONE LINE on the paper and was then informed that the Cathedral was closing. NOOOO!...boo. Well, I drew in a VERY BAD sketch of the anget and what I could rememer.
I then jumped on the tube, trying to get to Monument...but ha - the station was closed. I eventually weedled my way back to St. Dunstan's Church (my secret garden church) and it was so beautiful in the dim evening! I started to sketch, realizing that I was the only person there...when I heard chains jingling - I WAS BEING LOCKED IN THE CHURCH YARD!!! I thought, "cool!" but the guy spotted me and made me leave. I seriously was wanting to jump the fence. Maybe next time I'll hide under a bench! My sketch was fun (non-realistic, but fun) and when I was leaving, I discovered that I had placed my sketchpad in POOP! EWWWW! 'Grossness' is the word!!! buh-leh to the MAX!
Well, I painting in my sketch on the steps in front of the little church and then came back to the apartment. I got back to the room a little before 8 and then had the best time. We watched some of "Britain's got talent". It is really funny/pitiful at night-time. I am so tired from the day, that all I seem to be good for is running into stuff, or bumping into chairs, or what-not. I am a one-woman wrecking MACHINE! heh heh!
Well, I am going to go to bed and SLEEP - HOORAY! I love you all and can not wait to hear from you! Much love always,
Your soak'n it up Saturday sis,
Joy :) | | |
| I was some-kinda-exhausted last night...so I apologize for putting up this blog late.
Soooo, yesterday was...hmmm, Friday. Yes, Friday. I never know.
Ashley and I went out to Bermondsey market in the morning - it was a good walk from the underground station, and we arrived, ready for bargains, at 10:30. We knew that the market would close around noon and the timing worked out perfectly. Overall, Portobello is much more fun with variety than this one, but even so, I found the coolest "something" that I may keep or may give away...so I won't say what 'tis. ;) But, it was worth the trip and I had a great time. We then were going to head to CAPA's headquarters so that we could print out our research papers - due on Monday. Well - ha ha ha....is was NOT funny then - here's zeh story: On the way to CAPA - a good 10 or so stops on the tube, Ashely really REALLY needed to find a restroom. No problem, I thought, I'm sure we'll run into one...we didn't. So, we had to make a detour to find one...that turned out to be the grossest portapotty known to mankind. ewwwww. So, instead of waiting 30 minutes to get to Capa, I thought that we could take the train instead and save time! Note to self: Just because two different stations have the rail...doesn't mean that the train takes you there in one stop. Oh no, my friends, that would just be too easy! I called myselft doing all the right things - I went and asked the lady at the information booth exactly how to get to Victoria station and we jumped on the train - her advice unquestioned. Ha - how dumb. Well, after very interesting countryside...not expected when we presumed we were staying in the city...we finally bolted off the train when we came to zone 4. Our tickets were only good throughout zones 1 and 2. AAAAH! After much worry and all, we had to go to a pub on the corner for a restroom. The owners were very nice and must've noticed that we were quite flustered because they didn't pursue much of a conversation. In fact, I think we made a bee-line for those bathrooms. Seriously now...my attempt at avoiding a 30 commute turned into an almost two hour TRIP! ugh. It was, to say the least, one "interesting" adventure. ;)
We headed back to CAPA and saw Sherrod. It was great to talk with him and walk around in Hyde park with Mary Jane Davis and her friend during Sherrod's lunch break. We were rolling around laughing - talking about our different experiences. It was the funnest afternoon! We we got back, I printed out my paper and was able to read his journel of his different experiences while away from home. It was AMAZING and that was great to see! I headed on to Sainsbury's and printed off a picture for my report.
I then headed out to get a ticket to see STOMP (the vaudeville deal-i-o)!!! Ok, if you get a chance - GO SEE IT! Well, I had an hour to burn, so I went to the Thames, ate my supper (a sandwich, yet again..) and sketched the Queen Mary - a 'floating pub' boat! It was so much fun. I went back to the theatre and met up with three of my friends who came to see the show as well! AAAH - we had the BEST time!!! I can't explain STOMP other than to say that it is a mixture of musical rhythm, dance, and comedy. There is no plot, or language, only grunts and body language that are universal and HYSTERICAL! I was wiping away the tears from my eyes within 30 minutes. Wowser, that night was definitely one of my funnest 'outings'!
We came back to the apartment in a group and crashed. It was such a WONDERFUL thing to SLEEP after such a full day! Yeah...I have slept on (what I at first considered to be concrete) a really hard matress - and enjoyed some of the best sleep of my life. Tuckered-out should be the latest form of sleeping pill!
I love you all buckets and will update you soon!
Your gal,
Joy :) | | |
| Goodness, the days are FLYING! I can never remember what day it is...and to think that today is the 8TH OF JUNE - blows my mind. That's cwazy.
What an AMAZING day! We saw so much in this day... I am going to try to remember what I can...don't have a ton of time...but zat's ok.
We met at Lincoln's Inn Fields (across from Sir John Soane's Museum) and had TOO MUCH FUN on a chess board in the park. Seriously...I always wanted to be QUEEN! heh heh heh. G.G. - my "Queen In Traning" experience was sooo helpful! And I will wear my crown in swimming...and EVERYTHING! ;) I did not realize it, but there is a free (mind you - FREE) medical museum located off of the park! I may not make it this trip...but someday! We then went to St. Bart's - WOW. I had never heard of this church, but it was the first church in London? Britain? not sure...ha - it was OLD. It was really neat - they had one of the last three surviving fonts from pre-Reformation days! I had a great time putter'n around and soaking up as much as possible. Then we headed out to (I think this was next) Whitechapel. AAAAH! Ok, creepy CREEPY market. I do NOT recommend going alone. We went as a group and we were still freaking out...so not much to report - besides the fact that someone got a GREAT picture of me ***GLARING*** at some "too close for comfort" guy wanting to join our group. Yeah - NOT GUNNA HAPPEN! Seriously - don't mess with my friends. You will lose. I'll try to get that picture up sometime. I didn't know I could look like that....
We then went to Monument Station and had a lunch break. I had packed my lunch, so I wandered around for a little bit...not expecting to find much but some picture opportunities, when i came across THE MOST AMAZING PLACE EVER!!! Ok, there is no way to describe it well enough. I could live there - how 'bout that? ;) I saw an archway, like in a church, but saw straight through to the building on the other side! WHAT? So I walked up and saw an old church, that had been turned into a sort of "secret garden". The church had been bombed so heavily during the blitz, that it was re-opened in 1967 as a public park! It had the most gorgeous archways and vines and roses and aaaaah! Old tombstones and pathways and a fountain and wow. I put up a video of it - so PLEASE check it out. By the who...ha, I couldn't remember the date of the Great Fire (1666 - I KNOW I KNOW...) and I think I said 1066 in the video. Humility moment... ;)
We went to Billingsgate market - the old building and learned all sorts of cool stuff about the fishing industry and all. The word "Billingsgate" actually refers to 'vile language' - that was more than prevalent at the marketplace, so we are all having the best time with our new slang. Mind your Billingsgate! heh heh!
We went out to Canary Wharf - wow! It is HUGE! The DLR (Docklands Light Railway) was created to accomodate the vast amount of imports/exports going throught the harbor. It was really fun and the area is now a trendy sorta place with AMAZING contemporary architecture. Really fun to walk around. Oh - and there was a "stop-light tree". Oh yes, my friends, a stop-light tree. It was made completely out of stop-lights and it LIT UP! aaaah! It was really fun.
Then we went and saw St. Andrews Undershaft - it was one OLD church. I know I'm sounding repetative by now, but really. If you wanna feel young...go to London. On the way to that church, we passed St. Catherines Cree (I think) and there was the FUNNIEST sign out front! "Pub with balcony" - POINTING STRAIGHT AT THE CHURCH!!! aaaah ha ha. It was great - and yes - I took a picture!
Well, I am going to finish up what I can do on my paper and turn the suckah in. I love you all, thank you SO MUCH for your comments! Uncle Paul, I laughed OUT LOUD at your personal drawing style. I'll work on that...bubble head and all! hahahaha! Aunt Joan - It is so wonderful to hear from you! Thank you so so much! Shelley! You are so kind to keep up with me! Thank you, my friend! Well, know that I am heading into a great day - Burmondsey market at 9:00 and then printing out my paper, St. Paul's Cathedral, and then Stomp - the vaudeville musical show. I am PUMPED!
Much love always and thank you for your prayers!
Your pumped-up pal,
Joy :) | | |
| Well, I completely forgot that my last blog was mysteriously deleted by hitting some random key on the keyboard...right when I was about to post it! AAAAH! 1...2...3...4..(counting to ten...) Well, I don't have much time, but here is an AMAZINGLYFASTCATCH-UPPOST!!!
We met for OUR LAST ENGLISH CLASS (hooooray) from 10-12 and discussed the rest of Dracula. I was able to finish the book, through crazy speed-reading skills that I did not know I had, and was grateful to be able to understand what we were talking about! Dracula was good, but I am going to do my report on Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde. I'm working on my research proposal at the minute...ha - I have no clue what to write on. I'll hafta jump on that...
We went to WESTMINSTER ABBEY!!! aaaah! It was, how do you say, AMAZING! We had to (boo) stay in a group the whole time, which is torture for me. Yes, I am Guy Richardson's daughter. No, I can't move on until I've read EVERYTHING!!! Seriously...I thought we all knew this by now. Anyway, I was really dizzy initially from twisting and turning to read the different monuments and gravestones. I finally had to sit down and recalibrate, but even so, it was a WONDERFUL time!
I heard an announcement that the Evening Worsip Prayer was about to begin, so I jumped on that opportunity! I was all excited...until I realized I had the WORST intentions of being there! I was racking up the bragging points! How dumb is that? Then I thought I had better leave before it began, but how do you excuse youself? "Oh, excuse me, Mr. Wear'n'a'robe...I don't intend to worship here anymore..." riiiight. Well, I finally ended up praying that God would change my heart - and that I would focus on Him. Wow. God blows me away. I read everything through before I said it, and it was Biblical. I left the Abbey with the strangest realization (obvious, but it took me a little while) that the Abby was only a building. Despite all the cool "stuff", it is only a place. The same God in the dinkiest building is the same God at All Souls, Westminster, or at home. I love that about God. God really changed my thinking - and I needed that.
Well, I've gotta write last night's blog too...when I get behind...I do it FULL OUT! hahaha...
Much love,
Your gal,
Joy :)
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