April in Paris Day

When I was reading 84 Charing Cross Road the author once asked someone who traveled to England a lot if literary England was still able to be found. The man commented, "Oh it's there, you can find it." I myself can vouche for this since moving here but I wondered if something similar was true about Paris. Can you still find traditional, cliche Paris? After my visit there last month I can safely say yes. You have to look for it, but it is there.

John and I took the Eurostar from its new station at St. Pancras International Train Station. For those of you who aren't aware, the Eurostar is the train that travels under the English Channel to Paris via tunnel in two and 15 minutes. It was really amazing, the tunnel under the channel, 26 miles, took no more than 20 minutes to get through. Checking in was like checking in to an airport, having your passport checked and our luggage x-rayed. The seats were incredibly large and the space to spread out was expansive. We weren't served food but could go and buy stuff from the food carriage, just like a regular train. When we arrived in Paris my first view was of the Sacre Cour Church, it almost looks like a middle eastern temple.

We got ourselves some tickets for the Paris metro and made our way to our hotel. The Paris metro is very different from the London metro/tube. First, the trains don't actually have metal wheels. They have huge car-like rubber tires. The trains also don't sit people along the side in one long row facing each other but in seats of two on each side facing the front or back of the train. The metro was also dirtier than the London tube. Everyday the tube has minimal rubbish that is gone by the morning. I have never seen graffiti in the tunnels and only rarely on the actual trains. In Paris, the metro tunnels were covered end to end with graffiti, as were the trains. It was very grimy all over as well. There were also constant beggars and performers who would shanghai trains with small kareoke machines trying to earn a few cents and Euros.

Our hotel was small but very nice and smelled all over of mojitos. I loved going out into the hallway everyday just to smell mint and lime. The nice thing about it was that it was three metres from the metro station. We were able to come and go with ease.

The first stop on our tour of Paris was Pere Lechaise Cemetery. Not that John and I are morbid or anything, it was just the furthest out from the center of the city so we decided to get it over with. We were able to visit Heloise and Abelard, the famous medieval lovers who were separated by Heloise's uncle, who had Abelard, considered one of the founders of the Sorbonne, castrated. He became a monk so that she might marry again, but Heloise became a nun rather than be separated from him. They wrote letters during their religious travels until they died and were buried together in Pere Lechaise. I have always thought their story was an amazing testament to the power of true love.

Next we decided to visit Jim Morrison. I always swore I would never visit him should I come to this cemetery, but with all the little graffiti arrows on other graves pointing the way to Jim, see my pictures on MySpace, I couldn't resist. He is tucked away in the middle of three small mausoleums. Next, we visited some of the other famous graves Chopin, Moliere, Proust, and Oscar Wilde. Now Oscar's grave was definitely wild. There was so much graffiti all over it that it was hard to make out his name. There were also numerous lipstick kisses covering the tomb that it looked like one big pink pocked rock. The cemetery had many more famous graves but John and I wanted to get more done that day than visit dead people.



After visiting the dead we decided to go to the spot where the Bastille stood. Apparently there use to be some ruins left of the old prison, but now there is really nothing but a monument left. We took a picture of the monument and headed for the Paris Opera. Actually, it is known as the Opera Garnier, after the man that built it, but it is the actual opera house where Gaston Leroux based his novel, Phantom of the Opera. The opera house was amazing, unfortunately we got there ten minutes to closing so we didn't go in, but even the outside was incredible. The front was made up of numerous monuments and statues dedicated to different composers, including Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. While in the neighborhood we spotted a crepe stand. There are tons of them all over. I decided I wanted to have a crepe. While in France do as the French do. All I have to say is . . . . . .wow! It was fantastic!

After that we went to the Place de la Concorde. This was the actually place where a statue of Louis XIV was torn down during the revolutions and then the guillotine stood. It was where thousands sat and watched executions all day during the reign of terror. Apparently at one point there was so much blood in the streets that cattle being driven through the town refused to cross the way. Now there is an obelisk from Ramses II of Egypt on the spot. It was put there because the government thought no one would remove it should there be another revolution. Looking down from the Place de la Concorde you can clearly see the Champs Elysees and the Arc du Triomphe in the distance. You could also see the Eiffel Tower in the distance standing proudly over all of Paris.

At this point I was a little tired of being on trains so asked John if we might walk to the Eiffel Tower. We walked past the American Church in Paris, down cobbled streets, across busy intersections directed by police, and finally reached the Eiffel Tower. There is a beautiful garden that surrounds the base of the tower and I couldn't help but take pictures of it. So far, April in Paris was everything I had imagined and more. The weather was perfect, the trees and flowers in bloom, and John by my side. And yet, when I said I was heading to the top of the tower, John said he was only going halfway up. I said that if I was going to go up, I might as well go all the way up, . . . . darn it! So we separated and I headed up the elevators.



I met a few Americans from Georgia on the way up, a couple from Atlanta. The woman and I spoke about our teaching careers on the last elevator trip up, constantly, keeping eye contact to avoid looking down. We walked around and looked at the different views. The only problem with the Eiffel Tower are the lines. Lines to get on the elevators to go up, and lines to go down. We finally got tired of lines, and the noisy Italian rugby players singing songs such as Volare, and took the stairs from the second level down. I met John at the bottom and we decided to walk back to the closest tube station and have dinner.

There were two restaurants on either side of our hotel. We decided to go the smaller of the two. I remember hearing once that if you try to speak in French to the French they are much nicer to you. Having taken French for several years in high school I was a little rusty, but tried my best. The waiter we had was great. He was humourous and helpful. We had a smoked salmon salad with a great sauce. Then came our steaks with gorgonzola sauce. I LOVE gorgonzola now, let me tell you. But the steaks . . . well, just be prepared that when you say medium rare in Paris, . . . it is a VERY different medium rare . . . more like rare rare. We ate it anyway, not too bad really and then ordered a creme brule for our dessert. Now most of you know, creme brule is my favourite dessert. I can say without a doubt that in that little French cafe, I had the creme de la creme of creme brule. It was sooooooo rich and creamy, the right temperature, and don't even get me started on the taste. YUM!

After that, as we were exiting the restaurant, such friendly people inside by the way, some three young adults with backpacks ran past us. They were speaking French and seemed to be in a rush. No sooner did we see them turn a corner when all of a sudden a waiter and host from the other restaurant ran out after them. I indicated to the two men quickly to turn the corner rather than go straight, realising that I was witnessing the classic Paris cliche of running out on a check. We waited a few minutes, but did not find out whether they were ever caught.

Next day we got up early and made it to the Louvre around opening. The Louvre is amazing. Not just the works of art, but the building itself. You have to remind yourself that it was a palace at one time. It still maintains that regal quality every time you look up at one of the magnificent ceilings or walk through one of the glamourously decorated doorways. We are talking statues and paintings in every nook and cranny that have nothing to do with the collections, they are part of the architecture people!


It was funny, I hadn't planned on going on a Da Vinci Code places of interest hunt, but I ended up doing it, just because I was there and why not. We found the inverted pyramid. We even found the other 'Madonna on the Rocks', I have now seen both since the other one is in London's National Gallery. I could have walked around the Louvre all day. Seeing works of art I have dreamed about my whole life was one of the most amazing experiences. I cried a little when I saw the Mona Lisa, just because, there she was, right in front of me, finally. And don't even get me started on the Venus de Milo. She is huge, but so breathtakingly beautiful. I am only sorry I could only show certain pictures of her on my MySpace, but well, I understand their rules on nudity and respect that. She was perfect.

After that we walked along the streets of Paris to the Cite, the oldest part of Paris. It was there that Abelard instructed young scholars and is considered one of the founders of the University of Paris. It is also where Quasimoto lived, which brings me to our next major landmark, the Cathedral of Notre Dame. What an amazing bulding! Not only outside, but inside as well. I am the only I know of who has been to Paris and bothered to see the inside. Let me tell you, John is not overly impressed much by cathedrals, having lived near York, Canterbury, and Westminster most of his life, but I heard a sharp intake of breath from him to match my own as we walked inside. It just goes up, and up, and up. Beautiful! It is the same size as Westminster in width, but is much taller in length. It also does not have many memorials, or tombs on the inside like Westminster. This gives it the element of space and vastness which left both John and I in awe. We did not have time to climb up the towers, that will have to wait for the next trip.

Once we did the inside, we decided to walk around the outside. I wanted to get a picture of one of the many gargoyles, but John by far took the best picture.

Once John had perfected this picture we decided to head for the University of Paris. When I was a young teenager and first studying French, I seriously dreamed of going to the Sorbonne and living in Europe. Actually, I think that is where my dream was first born. Right around that same time I started reading a lot of English classics like Wuthering Heights and Lorna Doone, not to mention Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. I think from an early age, my heart was not in LA, but in Europe. Anywho, enough of a tangent, for the above stated reasons, I wanted to see the Sorbonne/University of Paris. Unfortunately, due to security reasons, you cannot enter and walk around unless you are a student. So . . . I took a picture of the doorway and the Place de la Sorbonne. Oh well. I was there darn it!

After that it was one landmark after another, don't even get me started on my feet. We saw the Pantheon, burial place of Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie, who I did my 9th grade biology report on. We also visited the Palace du Luxembourg and its beautiful gardens. Next was the Church of St. Sulpice, we literally were walking somewhere else when we spotted it. Yep, another trip down Da Vinci Code lane. I have stood on the Rose Line people! But the cathedral itself was beautiful. It actually had a statue of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus riding in on a stone cloud that billowed over the edge of the nave of the church.

Next we went to the Musee de Orsy. It is a museum converted from a train station. All the major impressionists and post impressionists were there. I got to see more Van Gogh, Seurat, Monet, Manet . . and many others. I also got to see Toulouse Latrec and Whistler's Mother. It was incredible. I would love to go back again.

Finally it was time for our grand walk down the Champs Elysee. Yep, a grand walk it was, took FOREVER from the Place de la Concorde. But, we enjoyed it. At least John did, catching a not so funny pic of me looking in the Cartier window. Still quite haven't forgiven him for that. Men!

Nope, didn't put it up, we all know this is what you really want to see a picture of, isn't it? ;-)

Next we headed over to the Red Light district of Paris, in order to see the Moulin Rouge and Folies Bergere. It was very uncomfortable to walk down the street, I guess I still am a sort of prude, but I have seen Moulin Rouge! I just wish Amanda, who loved that silly movie with me, was there to see it with me as well. I even took a picture pretending my arm was around her. I hope she knows that I have prayed for her in Westminster, St. Paul's, St. Sulpice, St. Martin in the Fields, and Notre Dame. I will continue to pray for her through all the major cathedrals of Europe if that is what it will take. I love you baby sister.



Around this time it started to get dark so we decided to head over to the Eiffel Tower again for a river cruise. We made it on to the boat and got to witness the light show the Eiffel Tower puts on every night. The first ten minutes of every hour, the tower sparkles like champagne. Sorry about the angle . . .




The boat trip was very cold, but worth it. To see the city in lights was an experience. It truly is the city of romance. John and I decided to keep it simple this night when it came to food. I wanted all the cliche foods, bread, cheese, wine . . . and so did he. We simply went back to our hotel after purchasing these in a local shop, and had a french food snack. The bree was almost too rich but soooooo delicious. We had french chocolate for dessert, which was also lovely.

Next morning we had a while before we got on the train so we decided to just sit and enjoy Paris for once, instead of walking our very sore feet and bodies from one spot to the other. We walked along the Seine and talked, held hands, . . . did all the romance stuff. Along the banks we looked a the different art works that were for sail and observed a few painters at work, another cliche checked off the list. We then went to the Trocadero and sat out on a bench. We finished off the bread and cheese while kids played in the gardens and people sat enjoying the weather. John and I discussed what we had seen and admired. I really loved visiting Paris, I checked off quite a few of dreams on my list, but I decided that London was the place for me to live, not Paris. London is home, Paris is just a fun place to visit. I can't really pinpoint what about Paris made me not want to live there, maybe it was the traffic, the beggars, or maybe it just was that French people don't believe in escalators on their underground system. I was cussing like a sailor every time I saw stairs on the third day!!!! :-) I know, I am teasing. I am a Londoner after all, I walk EVERYWHERE!!!!!

We just knew we wanted to get home to London and our cat. We do plan on going back, taking side trips, we have pretty much done all the major points of Paris. Now it is time for Versailles, Mont St. Michel . . . oh lots of French places! Look out France . . we will be coming back!

Hen Do in Oxford

So I had the opportunity to go to Angela's Hen Do, bachelorette party, this past weekend in Oxford. While there, I thought I would take some 'me time' and explore the university town. I thought this was a great idea especially since I had just watched Oxford take away the Boat Race trophy from Cambridge yet again this year a few weeks back. That race has been going on for over 150 years and the whole town of London watches it, even though it was raining along the Thames. But enough about the muscles, encouragement, and pouring champagne of the boat race . . . . lets get to the muscles, encouragement, and pouring champagne that was the Hen Do.

I arrived in Oxford at about 12:30 and decided to take the Hop On/Hop Off bus. Took the Oxford Castle tour, walked around the cute college town, and gazed at some of the many colleges around the town that make up the campus. Oxford in itself is not really like a US campus. You can have classes on one side of the city in the morning at one college and then have to walk across town to attend your next class. Over the several hundred years that this university has been around the colleges have popped up all over the ever expanding city. The town is a patchwork combination of school and city. I also got to walk around Christ Church garden but could not go inside unfortunately, someone had the audacity to get married the day that I came to visit. I know, I know, how dare they spoil my fun! ;-) Just kidding. After that I decided to meet up with the girls around the agreed upon time, 4-5pm

Sarah and Laura, Angela's close friends, planned a river barge cruise along the Oxford Canal. There were twelve of us on this narrow, 63 ft long boat. Yep, 12 women. But before I could even get on the boat the girls had to come to me in a little town 20 minutes North by taxi, called Thrupp. I called to let everyone know that I was there and unfortunately discovered that due to a combination of people arriving late, leaving late, and learning how to drive the darn thing, they wouldn't be there for about 3 hours. Yep, 4, 5, 6, and 7 pm rolled around as I sat in the only pub that was open and made friends with the locals. I was fortunate that they were so friendly, but was still upset at the lack of a courtesy phone call to warn me of the ladies tardiness. Still not completely over that, but am trying. No really I am.

Finally, everyone arrived and we had a nice dinner together. I continued to remind myself that this was about Angela so did not really show or make a big deal about my waiting. It was not the time or place for it. But then I found out, fortunately no one else was around, that even though I was one of the first to pay, I was going to have to share a bed with someone I didn't know because I was one of the last to arrive. Fortunately, Natalie, who is an angel, took my spot and switched with me when she saw how visually and verbally upset I was. Thank you Natalie, you are so wonderful and I owe you big. Still, the rocking and tiny bottom bunk took some getting use to and I did not sleep well. But let me tell you, the English have it right, a few cups of tea can cure anything, as I discovered the next morning!

The next day we had a nice day puttering up the canal, opening locks, going down locks, opening bridges, eating and drinking. Finally we stopped for a picnic at a park, having puttered down back to Oxford, and Laura, Angela's dearest friend, made the best spread I have seen in a long time. We are talking caprese on a stick, cheese plate, peri peri chicken, homemade sausage rolls, quiches, two salads, and various meat and cheeses. There was more but I can't remember it all. Sooooooo much food and wine! Then we decided to all get ready to go to a club. Not an easy thing to do with 12 girls on a boat with two showers. Some of us had to forfeit our use of hot water for the bride and bridesmaids. Yep . . . I am sure we all smelled great at the club.

The club we went to was nice, typical club. In fact I was surprised at how similar it was to any American club I have been in. You have your wristbands, stamps, usual pretty boys, usual tramps, and flashy bartenders. It was all so reminiscent of when I was a lot younger. Made me feel old that I started to get tired very early in the night and fought to stay awake. It didn't help that the DJ was the worst DJ ever . . . . . he started off by playing a lot of no-name 90's kiss FM kind of R and B, not Usher and Alicia, I am talking about those cheesy songs like Spring Love. You know what I am talking about people. He then proceeded to play What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love! I think most of you would say that what the world needed at that moment, or at least that DANCE club needed, was a new DJ. He proceeded to insult Sarah by refusing to take requests but once the bar filled up, he did improve, thank the LORD!

Angela I think also was very tired but she was doing her best to fight it. Brave Hen! Finally, after many dances, some on top of tables, (not me mom, not me I swear! Haven't done that in years . . . I mean ever! EVER mom really!) we headed back to the boat in cabs. Unfortunately for us, a Stag Do, Bachelor Party, decided to moor next to us. Most of us, in fact all but two, were taken ladies but that didn't stop them. They somehow broke into the back of the barge and had one of their buddies walk from back to front, naked from the waist down. Fortunately I was already half asleep in my pajamas and therefore did not fully see ALL that the young man had to offer. He passed by my lower bunk without a word and I thought it was all a bad dream . . . . until I heard the screams from the front of the boat and compliments on well, his bravery.

Anyway, woke up the next morning, after sleeping about 6 hours, and heard Viv getting organised across from me. I decided that was a wise choice and got dressed myself. Was tempted to take a shower but considering the motor had been off for several hours, figured the water would be no where near to warm. I put all my stuff away for convenience and waited for the boat to start. The travel plan was to sail back up to Heyford, above the town of Thrupp, and return the boat there. I had two choices, take the bus 59 back from somewhere along the route later in the day to catch my train, or take a taxi. After arriving in a taxi on Friday and paying 18 pounds for the ride, I decided the bus was a better, cheaper option. I also had received an offer to be picked up by one of Angela's friends who stayed in a Bed and Breakfast rather than the boat but she cancelled on me that morning by text. I was seriously considering the bus and looking forward to sitting out in the sun another day, despite my dirtiness, when Penny came up and asked me if I was leaving right then and there. I said no and stated my plan of taking a bus later on in the day. She informed me that there were no buses running on Sunday North of Oxford. As if to make things worse, the boat had started up and Sarah was steering the boat into the middle of the canal. Miranda offered to drive me back later on, about 5 but my train left at 3:30. I made a split decision in my tired, dirty state and literally 'jumped ship' with Penny and another girl Holly. I felt bad for my hurried departure and tried to explain as fast as I could as I was running off the boat. I hope it is clear to everyone involved why I left so quickly.

After that Holly, Penny and I walked to Oxford Train Station and talked all along the way. What great friends Angela has. I can't wait to hang out with everyone at the wedding. I was planning on following my original seat reservation time of 3:30 for the train trip back to London, but was talked into traveling back earlier with Penny, actually it didn't take much in my sticky, sleepy state. Holly made her way back to Bristol and I made it home 6 hours ahead of schedule.

Overall, I had a good time. I really enjoyed the trip, the people, and the whole experience. But I already told John that for my Hen Do it will be a day in the Spa and a night in a nice hotel. EVERYONE will get their own bed and only have to share a shower with one person. How does that sound ladies?

St. Patrick's Day

Hello all,


Last night John and I went to the Boston for one pint to celebrate his return from Bristol. I completely forgot that it was St. Patrick's weekend, we do live in the Irish section of London, and the Boston IS an Irish pub. OH, such a big mistake. We went in and there was a traditional band setting up, Irish people everywhere, and Guinness . . . ahhhhh Guinness!

So we sat down at a large table, just the two of us, and John went to get us drinks. All of a sudden, four full blooded Irishmen come sit at our table and I had to inform them not to take my boyfriend's chair. It threw me for a minute but then I remembered that in Ireland, people shared tables all the time.

John brought our drinks back and the band began to play. Amazingly, every song they played the whole pub knew, and sang along as loud as they could. People were dancing jigs, pounding the tables, stomping the floor . . . much to John's worry, he being a staunch Englishman and all. I mentioned to one of the Irishmen that I wanted to hear 'Black Velvet Band' a traditional Irish song. They shouted it out for me, all four of them as loud as they could, to the band and they played it. Soon John and I discovered that their names were Henry, Michael, Paul, and Gary. Not much longer after that their friends came over, all was forgiven where John being English was concerned, and we had us a nice party. Hey . . . it is St. Patrick's Day!

It was my round next and as I was waiting for my drinks at the bar I turned and the lead singer was right behind me. I introduced myself, when asked about my heritage said American with some Irish, and requested that he play 'The Wild Rover', the song I taught my American students to sing for their Language Arts Heritage Unit. He then went up, said "This is for a lovely Irish American in the audience." and played my request. Everyone in the bar was singing along, including myself.

I got to sit there, surrounded by Irish men and women, listening to Irish music, pounding tables, stomping floors, and even dancing a jig with a few Irish women once. It was a blast.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Dog Racing versus Horse Racing

So last weekend we all went dog racing for Helen's birthday. Growing up near Santa Anita and Hollywood Park I have certainly been horse racing . . . . but dogs?????

I have to say I enjoyed it. You could get much closer to the dogs than the horses. Before the race you could hear them barking, stand right next to the track, hear them panting as they zoomed by, it was really exciting.

I won the first race only, which was neat, and John won the second. What made it really amazing was that he bet on a dog with the name Freddie in his full name. As most of you now know, John's new nephew is named Freddie Wiseman. After our mutual wins we did do rather poorly, but enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.

John headed off to Bristol this past weekend and I stayed in town. A similar crew went out horse racing and my friend Kyla and myself came along. There was an Irish band playing at the track, it being St. Paddy's weekend and all, and the food selection was definitely better, but I think I enjoyed the dogs more. You could barely see the horses, understand the commentator, and well . . . I didn't win one race darn it!!!!

Helen has promised we will go back to the dogs soon. I hope so, my poor little heart can't take another night of being a betting loser.

The People in My Life

Well, here I am again . . . . trying to catch up on my blogging.

This one is going to be simple, thought I should get people straight for my readers.

Okay . . . in London the couples and people. . . .

John and I
Natalie and Steve
Helen and Chris
Nicola and Gid
Dan
Kyla, my friend from Ontario, Canada
Simon, Dan's friend
Robert . . John's friend from back home.
Dave . . . . sometimes visits, he lives further north.
Dee and Chris Rickkard, they live in a village outside of London but commute in.

Dan lives in Muswell Hill, 15 minutes further north than us.

Natalie and Steve live in East Finchley, 10 minutes further north than us.

Helen, Nicola, and Gid all live together, 39 steps from the Winchester, our local hang out. See Sean of the Dead to understand the significance of the Winchester Pub.

Kyla lives and works in Colchester, an hour outside of London but comes out most weekends to hang with us.

In Bristol . . . . the couples and people are . . . .

Matt and Angela - getting married in Bristol May 24th of this year.

Kevin (Matt's brother) and Sarah (from Tasmania)

Nick

Al (Matt's cousin) and Miranda

John (Al's brother)

Nick Walters (John's Dr. Who buddy)

There are more people in Bristol but these are the people I have hung out with the most and know the best.

In Winscombe and around . . . . . (there are actually more family members than this but these are the ones I have been around the most)


John's Family

John Rivers Sr. (Technically John Rivers Sr. would be John's granddad, but I haven't met him yet so this is his father)
Janet Rivers (John's mother)

John Rivers (My man)
Jemma Wiseman (John's sister)
James Wiseman (John's brother in law)
Baby Wiseman (Will be arriving February 20th) :-)

Jack Rivers (John's brother)
Jess (sorry Jess, don't know your last name, Jack's girlfriend)

Jackie (John's aunt, Janet's baby sister)
Stan (her son)
Imogen (her daughter)
Mike (her boyfriend)

Nan ( Janet's mother and a lovely beautiful person)


I hope this straightens out who I am talking about in my blogs. Please feel free to go back and check if you get confused.

Karaoke and New Year's

Well today is Pancake Day, or the day before Ash Wednesday. It is tradition in England to have Pancake's for dinner since you aren't suppose to have meat. And, apparently, they eat their pancakes with lemon. Not sure about that, will have to wait and see.

Well, onto Matt's Karaoke Party and New Year's Eve.

The Karaoke Party

Matt is John's best friend and the groom in the wedding we will be attending in May and then in Portugal in September. His birthday falls on the same day as my sister Amanda's, the 28th of December. By tradition, he throws a karaoke party in Bristol, where he lives, every year. John and I left his parents house on the 27th to stay at Mike's, John's aunt's boyfriend, house. First of all, we checked the price on this house afterward and it was worth about a million dollars. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have stayed in a house worth a million bucks.

You walked in and there was an elaborate hallway with stairs wounding up. To the right was a living room about the size of my apartment in Torrance. Huge carpet, hardwood floors, full windows, and a fireplace. If you looked up, you had the elaborate ceiling decorations of the Victorian Era to gaze upon. Down the hall past the stairs was the dining room on the right, and then the kitchen. Again, elaborate, everything you could imagine technologically, tile floors, etc. To the right of the kitchen was, I guess you would call it, a conservatory. It had three sofa's, all glass, bookshelfs, and a coffee table. Then there was a wooden deck outside with table and chairs and and an expansive back garden. Upstairs took you to three bedrooms, one bathroom, and an office. My bedroom was about as big as mom's living room, decorated ceiling, gorgeous chandelier, etc. I was in heaven. The heat was on timers so we were never cold. My only picky thing was that there was only one toilet for the entire house. Other than that, I want one, can I have a house just like that please for next Christmas! Anyone, . . . anyone?

Well, after staying there a night we headed off to Matt's Karaoke Party. He had actually rented a Karaoke room upstairs in a pub. Due to tradition, the first song of the evening was 'Daydream Believer' Everyone from Bristol that I knew, and quite a few I hadn't met yet, were there singing. Only the boys could really sing, the girls tried, including myself, but we had fun doing it. I would have to say Nick and John, not my John but Al's brother were the best in my opinion.

I couldn't sing, my voice was gone due to my cold, but I still belted out as best as I could, 'I Will Survive', 'Sweet Home Alabama', 'Walk Like an Egyptian', and 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot'. What was surprising was how many of the English people there had no clue who Pat Benatar was. They had never heard that song before!
John sang many songs, but I remember him singing, 'Waterloo', 'I Would Walk Five Hundred Miles' and together we sang 'Imagine Me and You' by the Turtles. At the end of the night, again as tradition, everyone got up on the stage and sang 'Hey Jude'. It was so much fun and I can't wait again for December 28th, next year I plan on being healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Year's Eve


The plan was to spend New Year's at the Winchester, or somewhere local. John and I decided we did not want to fight the crowd in Central London. So we went down to the Winchester, met up with Chris, Dee, Dan, Simon, and everyone else and sat and drank until 10 minutes before midnight. Then we walked the 39 steps to Nicola, Gid, and Helen's apartment and celebrated with them and the rest of the people at her party. It was great. They had the TV on and we could hear Big Ben go off, see the fireworks on the Thames, and tried singing to the best of our ability, 'Auld Lang Syne'. After that different DJ's, including my very own John, played dance music and we all cut loose, dancing like mad! Such a life and such friends I have over here.

It was the best New Year's I have had in a VERY very long time.

Christmas in England

Well, here it is, my post about Christmas . . . over a month late. But as most of you now know, I have started in a new school where a permanent position is available, so therefore I have been working my little tush off to show my best as a teacher. I apologize for the delay, but I am sure you will understand.

Christmas in England . . . . . is everything it is in movies, books, and TV . . . . except without the snow. Mince pies that remind me of Mom's empanadas, mulled wine with a dash of cinnamon, sherry and port, the Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House, people singing Christmas Carols, Christmas pudding everything.

I was very sick this Christmas so forgive my lapses in memory. The one thing I can tell you for sure is, it is a VERY big deal in schools. I came in from playground duty one day and there was the head, with some governors of the school, offering me a sherry and a mince pie. . . . THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK DAY PEOPLE! It wasn't any big deal, as long as none of the teachers indulged, which of course none of us did. We made Christmas biscuits (cookies) as a class, handed out Christmas cards to everyone in class like students do in America for Valentine's, and had a nativity play for the parents! It was a WHOLE new experience working during Christmas! A little stressful because of the shopping and Christmas cards. The post office insists on weighing EVERY card I send internationally . . .individually, so yes, it took some time. And remember, I am use to having Christmas off! I am use to taking my time and enjoying the entire month of December as my vacation!

Well, after Edinburgh, John and I headed to John's parents house again. We arrived Christmas Eve, in the afternoon, just in time for lunch. I then headed upstairs to take a nap, ( I was still very sick at this point), while everyone prepared for the Rivers' traditional neighborhood Christmas party. It was amazing. Everyone from the neighborhood came over and they sang Christmas Carols while people took turns playing the piano. There was wine, appetizers, and music everywhere. I was taken on a whirlwind tour by John's parents who couldn't wait to introduce me to everyone! I am sorry to say, me being in my feverish state at the time, I don't remember many of the people. I do remember sitting and talking to John's Nan for a long time. She just lost her husband in mid-October and I could tell she was sort of sad. I sat with her and we talked for a while of John, her family, the parties of the past. I brought her food and drinks when she wanted them, then Jackie, John's aunt came to sit with her. Suddenly John's dad dragged me into the room where the piano was. We sang "If I Loved You" from the musical Carousel, which he knows is one of my favourites, and "Moon River" from Breakfast at Tiffany's.
It was a lot of fun and John's dad is a riot, I adore him.

Then John and I crashed and woke up the next morning. Actually, correction, I woke up, threw a pillow down at John who was sleeping on one of those fold away beds that turns into a chair, remember those from like 1985, and woke HIM up, then wished him Happy Christmas! He said Merry Christmas! back to me and went back to sleep. I threw another one and finally he went over to open our door. Our stockings were waiting outside the door as John said they would be. We opened them and then went downstairs for coffee and toast.

Finally, in the early afternoon, Jackie and her two young children Stan and Imogen came over, along with Nan and Jackie's boyfriend Mike. Imogen had reindeer antlers on and was parading around, bells ringing from the ends. Seeing this, Janet brought out a bunch of different silly hats, including two more pairs of reindeer antlers. We all put them on and had them on the rest of the afternoon. I think, knowing me as you all do, you now will believe I am with the right family. Oh, and I still have both my crazy santa hats, including the one that lights up! :-) For Christmas lunch we ate a dinner of turkey, stuffing, and roast vegetables and potatoes. Then we opened up the Christmas Crackers! These are a lot of fun and I got another crown, which I put on over my antlers! I think I also got nail clippers and a joke. You always get a hat, a prize, and a joke. Very cool!

Next but not last, Janet brought out the Christmas pudding. Now, upon first seeing this I thought, fruitcake! Then, John Sr. poured Courvoisier over it and lit it up. My first reaction to seeing this was, "What would Jenny say about lighting up Courvoisier like that?", and my section reaction was, " Wow, pretty!" It was really neat to see! I tried the pudding and was immediately overcome with the amount of liquor in that thing! I think my eyes watered. A few more bites though and I was good to go . . . . I think I actually did have a second piece. Now, whether it was the alcohol or my fever . . . I guess we will never know. ;-)

After Christmas lunch we opened presents. John's parents and family took a lot of time and effort to get me the gifts that they did. They were all very well thought out, and I am so grateful. I also got to open my gifts from my family, thank you all if I haven't already. I got to call my dad and Jacquie and speak to them. I can't wait to see them next Christmas and John can't wait to see Montana! Next we played a trivia game, two teams of five, along with an A-Team bottle opener that played the show's theme every time you pressed a button, which Imogen proceeded to do every time, whether we got a question right or not. (Jimmie, you might like one of those, except you don't like beer!) Our team lost, but not by much, I'll take the loss . . this time!

We then proceeded to watch Meet Me in St. Louis and Dr. Who's Christmas Special, which I thought was lousy this year. Then I went off to bed until midnight when I planned on calling my mom and family. John's parents keep a projector in the room we were staying in so I could fall asleep watching a movie every night. They have a wide variety of the classics and musicals, Mom you would be jealous. I fell asleep watching Singing in the Rain. It was a wonderful Christmas, despite being away from my family. I have to say it wouldn't have been so without the kindness and generosity of the Rivers family. Thank you with all my heart.