Getting Into Hot Water

My greatest challenge here has been to understand the water heater.

1) There are several switches to turn it on: one for the unit and one for the unit that programmes it.

2) Whilst English is spoken here, it is entirely a different language from that which is spoken in the U.S. The term off-peak programming, would imply when you didn’t need the water heater to be working so hard.

3) There are day rates and night rates for electricity (and you get to shop for which electric supplier you want to use, even in an apartment building).

When I first moved in, I didn’t know the second switch was for turning on the water heater. I figured the thermostat did that and I had its lights all twinkly. 24 hours of traveling to get a cold shower. After looking it over and dinking around, I really fouled it up. This last weekend I was using the tea kettle to heat water so I could do dishes. And I was cooking so there were a lot of dishes. Then I was getting cold showers in the morning and lukewarm baths at night. I sought out and downloaded (thank God for the Internet!) the instructions for the thermostat. Off peak programming was for scheduling when you wanted the puppy to be cranking away and heating the water, at the cheap night rates, so you had a hot shower in the morning and a little boost (if you wanted it) for evening dishes and baths at night. I just did their magic RESET combination of buttons and all is right with the world.

I-team

One of the pleasures of working in the UK is that now I am considered one of the International Team. I call us the I-team. And one of the joys of being part of this team is the daily interaction with other I-Team members. Being a US based company, English is our communication language. However, because we are an International company, English isn't necessary the first language of my colleagues. I admire anyone that has the skillset to fluently speak a second language and listen in jaw-dropping awe to those who are multi-lingual.

My  funnybone was tickled today in the following exchange from a co-worker who has sought my help, but wasn't feeling well and had a good distance to travel to return home:

"Today I’ll leave at noon because I’m feeling very sick (influence) since yesterday and have to go to bed (after my 5 hrs ride to home).


Since 4 weeks it’s hunting me like a little dog, but yesterday suddenly it was a big Rottweiler with poison Teeth who bit me :-("

I sent him my ICKY TEA recipe in hopes of helping him.

Take The Moments As You Get Them

I was looking out of my window last night and saw a few dozen birds flying around. Up and down, around and around. I went out on the balcony. They were riding the air currents over and over and over again.

They were migrating swallows.

I watched them for about an hour. One landed on the balcony. Poor little guy got confused - glass on two sides. He could see the open space, but couldn't quite get up to it. Fortunately, I'd closed the patio door when I went out, so he didn't make it into the house.

He let me pick him up, give him a little nuzzle and raise my hands so he could rejoin his friends.

They were gone today. Passing on more joy somewhere else.

Saturday

I haven't been sleeping well. Partly, I think due to not being on the go so much, which used to allow me to instantly fall asleep due to a daily dose of exhaustion and partly to the fact that I have a window in my room that is at the perfect angle to gauge the time of night and gain a weather report. I shut the curtains, which doesn't seal out light, but stopped the mental calculations of time and precipitation. I slept until 9:30am, which is unheard of for me. And the fact that on weekends, I can do that now, is a blessing!

I need to run an errands today. This will take make longer to get ready to go, than it will to go, do, and return. Such is the life of small town England.

And today I will do my first Hoover. One doesn't vacuum here, they hoover.

I will also read, again, how to do laundry. The single unit washer and dryer has me perplexed. I can get the clothes washed and then dried, but the 3+ hours it takes to do a load from start to finish is driving me nuts. Yes, it might only use a gallon of water, but I feel like I've drained Hoover dam or have a wind generator my name on it for the electricity it has taken to do the load.The problem is, the instructions for the machine are good and seem fairly automatic, but the "this may not be your model, seems to come in to play more than it actually telling me how to use this model.

My errands netted me the most PERFECT wicker valise for my travel brochures and maps. It was probably once a picnic basket of some sort. So quaint and so perfect for storing up info on all the places I want to visit whilst here in the UK.

The Pope is coming to visit the UK this week. I'll be in Scotland whilst he's in England and he'll be in Scotland after I return. There are all kinds of groups going to see him and the Church is making it very easy to do so. I would have loved to have participated in one of the pilgrimages. Sad face.

September 1

Yet another September 1 to add to my list of  September 1st adventures. Hello UK!

Well, Not Exactly

Here's an old entry that I never got posted.

Right now the most difficult thing about my move is pulling information together. Everything I need to gather in the U.S. is presumed to be "the way of the world". In my case it isn't so. I need to gather information in the manner in which the UK needs it. Nothing has been radically different, just a little different.

I've run into "that's government for you, I'll just do it this way, and you'll be fine." I'm not requesting admittance into a war torn, contentious country. It is a reasonable country with reasonable requests. If the picture size is in mm vs inches and the size is just a little different and the background requirements different, please don't tell me you're going to alter it and "just not tell me". Let me go find a place that can accomodate the difference. Which I did.

Rain Stories

I am now officially a UK resident. I have a lovely flat in a lovely burrough outside of London. Here is the first of many England rain stories I'm sure I'll get to share with you. Weather, specifically rain, is  a day long topic here.

Here's my first story:

I was walking home yesterday and I could hear the rain beginning to fall on the leaves above me. Before I even felt or saw the rain, I started hearing a popping sound. The sound was everyone opening their “brollies” (umbrellas). No one missed a step or paused even momentarily. They just "popped" and carried on.

Fabulous Week!

Having my daughter and grandson with me, in England for a week, has been fabulous. I took them to some of my favourite places and discovered, because of them, some new ones. I'll try to post some pictres soon.

And woven into the week was securing my apartment over here. Fabulous place. Everything is expensive, so for the next little bit, I'll need to be frugal. But I'm really looking forward to the great opportunity that has been afforded me!

There Are No Ruts In Britian

I have traveled through Luten Aiport several times. Each trip to and from is truly an adventure. I don't think any trip has been a clone of a previous trip. It's nothing like when I worked projects in the States and the departures and arrivials were as similar from trip to trip as a normal person's commute. There is one exception to what I have said above regarding sameness. No mattter all the differences in my commute to and from Luten - it ALWAYS takes three hours to get there or get back.

My first trip to Scotland began at Gatwick. I returned via Luten. It was suggested I take the tour bus to London. Tour bus > Victoria Station. I was able to purchase the ticket on the airplane.

My second trip, using the train, I was advised that I needed to get to Farringdon Station. At Farrington, I needed to get an additional ticket to the airport. When I purchased that ticket the agent made sure she included the shuttle bus fee that gets you from the train station to the airport. I did not make a note of the direction name the training was taking me, as the ticket agent simply instructed me as to what track number I needed to be on.

Upon my return and learning from that previous trip that I could get to Kings Cross/St. Pancras, I could also catch the Underground to Liverpool Street just like from  Farrington, I could take advantage of the opportunity to vist Harry Potter's Platform 9-3/4 and purchase my ticket on the airplane, I chose this route. I ended up purchasing the last leg of my trip in one part of the station and learnt that I needed to depart from the other. Which is where I had just come from, but had not made note of where I was or had been. The stations are connected nicely, I might add, which makes knowing this important detal, seem trivial. Platform 9 3/4 is wonderful to see as it has the same platform marker as the regular ones and a luggage trolly stuck in the wall.

Next trip out, I decide the St. P/K.C station is nicer than Farrington and I  would go to the airport that way. I wished, not remembering if I had popped into St. P or K.C. that I had made a note of which part of the station's I'd used for my deapartures and arrivals. Nor had I noted what departure direction I was taking. No one mentioned a shuttle purchase and no one attempted to collect tickets at the station. On this particular trip I knew I was dealing with the possibility of my flight having been cancelled enroute due to the volcano eruption in Iceland. I arrived at the airport to find it was scheduled, but delayed by five  hours. When we finally in line to board, a problem was identified with the plane and the flight crew was outside of their hours to fly. We were put on another plane to Glasgow (check the distance between Glasgow and Aberdeeen if you want a chuckle) with the promise of a bus the remaining distance. Waiting for a morning flight was an option, but with only 10 seats available and 130 passengers to compete with, I chose the bus route. Upon arrival in Glasgow we discovered the bus that was waiting only seated 50. A planned 7:00 PM arival ended up being 4:30 AM the following morning. All's well that ends well, I say.

On that trip home, not having noted what the departure directon was, I did could not deduce the directon (opposite) I needed to get home and therefore could not, without aide consult the monitors for which platform I needed to return to K.C./St. P or Farringdon. After missing a train I had (intuitively?) been waiting for, I did decide, due to being tired and not wishing to figure out which part of St. P/K.C. that I needed to navigate, that I would do Farringdon. I forgot that Farringdon does not offer lifts and I was toting the big case. I failed to mention that on this trip that my suitcase's tyre gave up. I was draging 19kg (over 40 lbs.) of stuff on 1.5 wheels. I purchased a new case at the airport upon my return and changed everything out right then and there. (Laugh all you want - there were others doing the same.) Due to too many people wanting food to eat on the flight home and a plucky tailwind, the airline was unable to provide train tickets to St. Pancras on that particular flight.

On this trip out, smaller suitcase in tow, I decide, I'll take Farrringdon. I had also decided to try purchasing my whole route, under a Travel Pass scheme (plan)  to Luten. Seemed easy enough. It's a Saturday. Saturday's I know, mean that rail work distruptions are likely  probable. No trains to Farringdon this day, but with a mere hop, skip and and jump, I can get to St. P./K.C. I noted that St. P is the place to be, now jotting copious notes from learnt lessons. I note the direction of the train I need and head with confidence to platform A and B. There are blockades. I ruturn to the display and see that the letters have been replaced with platform numbers on an alternate floor due to rail work. With four minutes left for this train, I make my way up, proceed to the turnstiles to find that my ticket won't open the gate. An attendent let me through. Upon arriving at the station it eats my ticket at the exit turnstile, which on EVERY other trip, on any other journey,  has always returned it. I need it as a receipt for my expenses. The attendant fishes it out for me and instructs me on how to exit in the future if I need the receipt again. The current shuttle leaves. I queue op for the next one and I'm stopped with "£1.50 (one pound fifty) please". 1) I'd assumed that was covered in my original purchase and 2) where'd he come from? He wasn't there before. Upon arrival at the airport I was confused that I was confused about where to pick up my luggage. I've left the airport four times, but this was only my second arrival as last time it was via Glasgow and we'd conned the taxi driver into letting us out nearer to our hotel. At my age, the possibility being disoriented with something that you should be familar with is worrisome.

So the lay of the land is thus. Depart using the National Express train line from  Brentwood to Liverpool Street Station (unless there is line work) and then alternatives from Stratford may need to be considered. The Underground Circle  line from Liverpool St. to St. Pancras (unless there are line disruptions in which the District or Northern lines may offer relief). Depart St. Pancras via the Capital Connect Railway, to Luton Express Parkway, Bedford direction, (platform TBD when there is no rail work). For the return, purchase the tickets to St. Pancras on the plane (check the windspeed), board the shuttle without being checked (true to date), take the Capital Connect train in the direction of Brighton, platform 3 (but check the monitors) to St. Pancras. Underground Circle line to Liverpool Street (check disruption schedule now being emailed to me), National Express train, Shenfield direction to Brentwood. Watch the station signs rather than the billboards so as not to exit in Gidea Park or Harold Wood.

And please note: Whatever the detour, misadventure, dalliance, shopping, dining, or tourism activity you engage in, the trip will take three  hours without fail.

Spring Bank Holiday

Today is the Spring Bank Holiday in England. The U.S. is celeberating Memorial Day.

I think it is an International weather pattern that Mother Nature must remind us that Summer is not yet upon us, even though we wish to pretend it is. Weather.com is reporting 8 C / 46 F and the skies are thickly grey. Rain is not falling at the moment, but appears to have done so recently and the wind has the England Football (soccer) flags gaily flying.

While I would have guessed that having three days on my own could have either been constructed of  fantastical adventures about London or achingly filled with solitude being confined to a hotel room lacking in furniture or appliances, I've used it for something I've frequently longed for: a three day weekend without a list or agenda.

I did have things to be done. Expenses, sorting my luggage for my upcoming business/holiday trip, spending uninterrupted time with my new work application, etc. I've allowed time for reading books and newspapers, watching movies, going to the cinema, sleeping late, napping and tub soaking.

I've often wished I could devote a full three-day weekend to relaxing as so many other people do. My work responsibilities for many years have tapped into at least one day of them for so many years. I'm appreciative of the time and ability to experience them now.

And Mother Nature, I think, for me, you've helped that along considerably this weekend. A perfect rainy and cold incentive to hunker down and turn inward. Thanking you.

Annointing of the Sick

Today at Mass, during the priests homily, a man became ill. The deacon quietly left his post and checked on the man (several others were too). The priest noted the problem and asked the congregation if he should continue or if we wanted him to stop. The group indicated it was OK to carry on. After a few minutes the Decon returned to his position to assist the Priest. The Priest indicated he should go back and he carried on on his own. The priest let us know help had been called.

I noticed the ill man was still sitting up, but not moving. Not responding to anyone. The Deacon again quietly slipped away to the cabinet where the holy oils are kept...for what was formerly called Last Rites, now Annointing of the Sick. He carried the oil up to the Priest, whispered a few words, and the Priest went to the man and annointed him.

I prayed hard as I'm sure the Cathedral full of parishioners did.

Help arrived. Very quietly, without fanfare (I've seen that several times here - nice). The gentleman finally started moving and they took him out, just in a wheel chair.

The gentleman was 90-something and his three daughters were there with him.

After it was over, the lady sitting beside me introduced herself. I'm so bad with names, I've forgotten it, but I will look her up again.

I love the parish/Cathedral here and have felt very much at home with it.

Blessings abound.

As Teri's World Turns

Here's my itinerary for today

6:00am snooze, snooze, snooze. I'm in a new hotel room because of a leaky window and massive rain last night. I'm on the east side of the building. The sun is blazing in this morning.

6:30am Check my flight scheduled for today: Destination closed, departure open. Will update at noon. That's when I wanted to leave for the airport. Co-worker's U.S flight was turned mid-Atlantic. Options: he can leave Tuesday at the soonest, unless maybe they add more flights Monday. His words: Situation fluid.

7:00am I think about options. I need three hours of train connections to get to the airport and was planning to give it four or five (rush hour). I wanted to leave the office at 11:00 to check out, eat lunch, etc. I need to check out of hotel by noon. I won't know until noon if I need to recheck in. I need Internet connection to do anything so I'll need to be at the office now until noon.

I have two flights a day from here to there: 7am or 7pm. The former requires a hotel stay near the airport or I would be riding trains all night. I chose the 7pm departure so I could stay "home" (my local hotel) and ride trains during the day. If I had chosen the 7am flight for today, I would have found myself at the airport and my flight cancelled.

I think tonight, I'll just stay at the hotel and get out as soon as I can. Worst case scenario I read lots of books in the next two days. It is weird to be so close to the city/Airports and yet so far.

Maybe I'll just take a train the whole way. Wouldn't that be fun?

Stay tuned for the next episode.

Cream Tea

I apologise for lack of details here. I've seen so much, that sometimes the places blur. But...I can still, in my mind,  see the lovely restaurant that was recommended to me, where I was advised to have Cream Tea.

I have been spoilt.

Now I wander the streets of London on the weekends in search of this lovely, lovely, delicacy.

This past weekend was a failure. The clerk at the Palace gift shop recommended a place, which I knew of, but was quite a bit away. I thought, sighting a doorman to a five start hotel, that he surely could direct me. His fancy coat was just that, he did  not even know what I was talking out (where is he from anyway?!?).

Did I mention I skipped breakfast AND lunch in anticipation?  (I was rewarded with a great Paella though  - but only because I discovered Borough Market is closed on Sunday).

Even signs for tea houses disappointed me this weekend past.

Do I have to buy my own ingredients to indulge?

Perhaps a trip back to Herrods will quell the desire?

Must locate Cream Tea.

Abundance of Light

Summer Days in the UK is a strange phenomenon. Given it is pre-Summer and here, and still bloody cold (gloves), I hear Summer isn't defined as hot (nor is it in Utah I hear), but the days start early and go on forever.

I set my alarm for 5:30. Why, oh why? when I don't have to be to work until 9:00. It feels,  at 5:30,  like I'm missing out on the day. It's fully bright and usually cloudless. At 9:30 at night it is still a little dusky. And we have five more weeks to add on to this.

I get up and walk and walk and walk. And then I come back, clean up, get ready for work and do something else for awhile. And then walk (3 minutes) to work. After work it is still light. I usually do some more. I'm really racing through the audio books!

I have a 9th story view of the area and a really great map. Between the view and the map, I'm finding all the nooks and crannies of the town. I know the cut throughs and cut offs. It's really lovely having town and country at my feet.

I know my winters will be exactly the opposite. I'm  making hay while the sunshines.

This So Describes Me

PostSecret hit it again.

(a beautiful shot of Edinburgh)

Rainy Day

Today is very soggy. I've heard this happens in England, but have yet to have experienced it. I thought about hopping the train to London and doing a museum. I've saved them for days such as this, but there's something else begging to be done.

Nothing.

Yes, a nothing day.

I'm still in my pyjamas, sipping tea, getting caught up on friends and lists and the like that sometimes I don't have time to properly do. I'm looking at maps, making plans, revisiting places in my mind through the pictures I've taken. I'm contented. I'm resting.

I have only one small wish....that I had a kitty to share it with.

11.31 update. I'm bored.

How To Pee In Liverpool Street or Victoria Stations

This post is not meant to offend. I repeat. This post is not meant to offend. It is to be an aid for those who must and therefore shall and wish to commence with their "duty" without swearing like a sailor.

How To Pee In Liverpool Street or Victoria Stations
A Definitive Guide to Preparation and Poise

1) Be prepared to carry your luggage down the stairs. If prepared, one won't be witnessed grunting or swearing. If carried with grace, gentlemen are more likely to offer to assist.

2) Have thirty pence at your disposal. Either in 20/10p  or 10 p increments. (Not 5p nor 2p nor penny.)
2a) If you are a kind soul, have additional coins available, as others may not. Whilst the potty dance is amusing when it isn't you, it COULD be you.

3) If carrying luggage, use the luggage gate to enter. If one attempts to use the conventional turnstile with luggage, the luggage may get caught and the potty dance may be required. The attendant is not always available to disengange you.

4)  Once inside the potty area, if with luggage, do not attempt to locate a larger handicapped stall in which to take your things. Remember the stairs? There is not one. I repeat. There is not a larger stall for you to locate.

5) Enter your stall, check the seat for dampness, hoist your suitcase onto the toilet, lean in, shut and lock the door. Remove case from toilet, place against door. Proceed with business.

6) Flush.

7) Check toilet for dampness, hoist your suitcase onto the toilet, lean in, unlock and open the door. Remove suitcase from toilet.

8) Proceed with hygiene procedures. Don't forget to watch as the Dyson hand dryer makes your skin wiggle. For added amusement give bets on if your jewellery will be sucked into the abyss too.

9) Use luggage turnstile to exit. If one attempts to use the conventional turnstile with luggage, the luggage may get caught and those on the other site may commence with potty dance replete with daggers.

10) At Liverpool Street Station proceed to escalator. At Victoria Station haul luggage up the stairs. If one gunts and goes very, very slowly, ALL the people behind will offer to carry luggage to the top.

11) Proceed to the Cronwall Pasty (pronounced "past E") shop and order either a lamb and mint pasty or a haggis, neeps and tatties pasty and proceed to board your next scheduled (pronounced "shed-uled") train.

Hotel Room Gourmet

I declare myself the Queen of Hotel Room Cuisine. I did not say hotel food. I said hotel room cuisine. In the States, it was in some ways easier, but for the most part, the way the UK packages things, I can feast in my room and not get in the travellers eating rut.

Rules of the game:

1) Be ready to admit, concede, whatever you need to call it, that you can't make EVERYTHING in your room. Leave the curry to the curry makers. They do deliver after all.

2) Don't automatically think "it can't be done", because it just might.

3) When you find tiny bits, give it a try mate. You might find foodstuffs you never knew you'd love. The tiny bits let you try it without loss of income. Tiny bits too work pretty well without a refrigerator.

4) Usually the staff will let you borrow a wine glass and silverware from the restaurant. This makes for fine dining. Otherwise the plastice bathroom cups and the spork you managed to hold on to from take out will do in a pinch.

5) Remember what you like and don't buy it all again, all at once!

The UK has some lovely instant soups. I'll post the brand later. I do not mind having a cup of soup (all hotel rooms come replete with a kettle) and a brioche bun.

I can make porridge. One can't buy "instant oatmeal" here. One can find instant porridge, but it calls for hot milk to make it. I buy powdered milk, add it to the instant porridge, heat up the kettle and voila - rich porridge.

Dried fruits and nuts are a nice snack with some chocolate and they are a good addition to the porridge.

Marmalade is delicious over here. Put some of that in the porridge or on the brioche. And with some goats milk butter. Mmmm.

One wine bottle stopper and a corkscrew - dinner turns dining.

Grapes, bananas, clementines, bananas and single serving pineapple.

Single serving pasta salads are good.

Hummus and pita bread keep well.

I don't by bags of crips / potato chips at the grocery. I'd eat them all the time. Instead, because they are so prevelent in single serving packages, I'll buy them now and again and enjoy them half a serving at a time. Today's pick was Tyrrell's honey roast ham and cranberry. There are many interesting combinations of crisps here.

Cheeses often come in small packages. These are good with fruit/nuts and bread with a glass of wine.

It's fun. It's a necessity for me.

Decisions, Decisions

It looks like I'm going to be in the UK a while. I can't decide if I want to start a blog devoted to the adventure or start working on some digital collage. I can't do both with what I have facing me for work - there won't be enough hours in a day.

Thinking. Thinking.

Learn soemthings new every day!

If there's any chance of reasonable weather tomorrow, I'm going to London to see the Changing of the Guards. I've got my plan all laid out on when to get there and where to park myself and entertian myself until said time when the glorious procession begins.

Once that's done, I'm off to Notting Hill to take in the street vendors and such and visit Chelsea. I haven't made it out of the west end of London yet. There's so much to see and do.

I learnt today too, that London's museums are all free. I was holding off visiting them whilst I took in the touristy sites. But this gives me a nice alternative of things to do on these blustery spring days we're experiencing.

And in the process of checking views and schedules, I found a post about people dropping of their luggage at the train stations and seeing the sites. The term "left luggage" was used. I've seen "left luggage" and assumed it was lost and found. Nope. It is paid luggage storage. For £8 or $12 one can leave their suitcase and be free to roam about the city unencumbered. And the piece of information was very timely as I was thinking I would have a nothing much of a day on Monday while I made my way to one of the airport hotels for a Tuesday morning flight. Now I can streak out of here, hit the city as long as I want, and then mosey up to the hotel. Sweeeeet!

Saturday, unless there are torrential rains, a co-worker is taking me to Leeds to see the castle there. Hopefully I can tick another one off my list.

Life

27 years ago today, I gave birth to my youngest daughter.

A few months prior to that, during a viscious row with her father, I was kicked in the stomach amongst other things. I remember wondering if I would lose (the baby) her. I remember wondering if it wouldn't just be better if I did. I didn't know if she'd been injured and I truly wondered how horrible it would be for a child to face that kind of life.

I survived the night without any problems. Bless the sweet things God gives us to protect our children. It is more than just a nine month cushy ride inside our wombs, it is a resolve as tough as steel.

Shortly after she was born I'd had enough. The fights did not abate. I had two lovely little girls. I had never been exposed to a life like that and by damned I was not going to carry the message that it was acceptable to be treated that way. Nor was I going to let my girls think that they had to be a victim of their choices. I loved their father but would not accept the violence.

I left.

I no longer harbor resentment. I know we had massive communication issues. I'm grateful that there was no harm to my baby. She and her sister are joys in my life.

I'm forever grateful to one person that held the candle to light my way out. I love you and always will for that and so many other things.

The Tin-Kin and The Nipper

Two wonderful things about this adventure in the U.K. is that with my new job role, I have time to read books again. I don't have a house to come home and take care of or family to attend to. I get to read before going asleep instead of collapsing in exhaustion. (It wasn't my family that ate my brain, but the job I was doing. And while I loved it, it WAS eating my brain.) I'm doing a lot of localised reading too. It makes me feel like I'm a bit bigger part of this wonderful world I've stumbled into.

The Tin-Kin took place in Elgin, Scotland. A place I had the pleasure of working in for a couple of days. While the review discounted the 1950's, Traveller's dialect, to me, it brought it all together and put some great frosting on the cake.

The Nipper is sad and was difficult to read. I had a hard time staying with it. But goodness prevailed and the victim triumphed.

I really did enjoy my time in Scotland!

Lessons

I believe it is all about lessons. God, the Universe, Karma, whatever you want to call it, creates every experience and opportunity as a lession. The questions are did you embrace it and did you learn from it. Before you get all wigged out by that my thoughts, I'm going to expound on another word that gets people's knickers in a twist, and it shouldn't.

Consequences.

Lessons and consequences have been given a bum rap for so long. They are most often applied to a situation in a negative way. The consquences of his actions sent him to jail. Maybe she'll learn a lesson from it. Etc., etc.

Now let's bring to mind the other half of the context of thse words. Consequences are the result of actions. Good actions result in positive consequences and everyday lessons, noted, prepare you for things ahead, sometimes by merely being present in the moment.

My lesson that I realized I'd been given for today? When I was in Holland, Joop and I went to the grocery store. 1) was we needed our own bags and 2) that we needed to get a price sticker for the produce before we took it to the cashier. The bags I've known about here, but today was the first day that I bought loose fruit. And I saw a bunch of stickers plastered on a table near a scale. The light went off and I knew what to do. No embarrasment when I checked out.

I have been given countless lessons in my life. Thankfully. And blessings to those who shared them with me.

Saturday

I was privileged enough to arrive at Westminster Cathedral today just as Mass was starting. I stayed. It was magnificent. The all male choir was heavenly, the setting divine. I didn't take pictures, although one could when services were not being held. I have never seen such a beautiful church and its glory called out to my soul. I'm sure I will go back again and again.

I then wandered on up to Westminster Abbey. I was going to abandon the tour today because the queue seemed long and it was close to the "last call". But actually it was open later and I had plenty of time. I love the fact that Europe provides audio tours. This one was free of charge. Such a magnificent place. Kings and Queens and actors and authors all buried there. Just magnificent.

Mary the Queen of Scots is buried there. After being in Edinburgh and learning of her history there, it it was like a bow being tied. And the coronation chair also has ties to the stone I saw in Edinburgh.

I saw the London Eye and will eventually ride it. It was so rainy today that I just couldn't see the value. I'd rather spend an hour in the queue on a nice day, than to have a shorter wait on a crummy day.

I saw the outside of Parliment and Big Ben! Then I walked to the Palace via St. James Gardens. I plan to go to the Palace tomorrow and watch the changing of the guards.

I bought some magnificent wine and cheese tonight in Victoria Station. Had a lovely dinner in my room. A very nice 2007 Bordeaux, Dulong. Not to heavy, sweet or dry. Rich, but not too leggy either.

I haven't blogged much. I'm so overwhelmed, still, by this opportunity. It's hard to write about it publically. I have done some great journaling though.

England

Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted. I still need to post Edinburgh.

I'm in England now, just outside of London. Saturday, and I slept in - all of 7:00 am. I'm not on a long term gig this round and I need to organise my suitcases so I'm not hauling both of them around. I couldn't figure out why I hurt so bad this morning in my neck and shoulders...I hauled 57 lbs (26 kilograms) from Scotland to London to Brentwood. Planes, Trains, and automobiles. The Underground isn't really set up to be an "everything I have is with me" mode of transportation.

It is still early. Today is an errand day. I have the teapot going, a Scottish cashmere shawl wrapped around me, and am about ready to do my weekly reports for work. After that miscellaney shopping, a launderette, I hope, a trip to a bookstore, some general exploring, and the sorting of my items.

Tomorrow and Tuesday I'll be working in London.

The work is that which I love and the setting is still as sparkly and enjoyable as I had envisioned it.