Ice Skating at Hampton Court Palace

Around the holidays, a very popular thing to do in London is to go ice skating at these outdoor rinks they set up around the city. Your skating session is for 1 hour and primo weekend slots sell out weeks, if not months before. We bought our 1 hour session in September. That is the CRAZY English system of prebooking everything. Anyway, Hampton Court Palace is nearby and we went with a few other American families. It was lots of fun. Very difficult to get these pictures because cameras are not allowed on the ice, but we stole a few shots when the guards werent' looking. I'm sure the young King Henry VIII would have been doing triple Salchow on the ice, but here in the 21st century, we just did good to get around without falling.

Back to our regularly scheduled program...touring

Hard to see, but this is L all wrapped up to stay warm.

Last Saturday was COLD, but none the less, our fearless leader, DA, decided it was time to take a trip to Runnymede to visit the site of the signing of the Magna Carta. Quick, raise your hand if you remember what the Magna Carta was----- ok, some of you listened in history class, but in short it was the English document that greatly influenced the contents of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. It was signed in the English countryside at Runnymede in 1215. It just so happens that that particular spot of countryside is just a few minutes drive from our house, so on a day that was -2 degrees we set out for Runnymede. I asked DA why we should go on this particular day and his reasoning was, "on a sunny day we'd want to go somewhere else." So that explains why we froze our little noses off visiting a meadow!!!!!!!!!!!!
The American Bar Association (ABA) has built and dedicated a memorial to the Magna Carta to honor it's place in world history and especially American history. There is also a legitimate acre of American soil next to it. It's a little confusing because the memorial built by the ABA is not the American soil part, the British decided to build a memorial to JFK in the same field and THAT is the American soil. Kinda mixes up the point of the 2 events. Marker says: This acre of English ground was given to the United States of America by the people of Britain in memory of JFK, President of US 1961-63 Killed by an assassins hand 22 November 1963. It goes on to quote a line from a JFK speech.
L is curious if a lady had a baby there, what passport would the child get?????There were a handful of other tourist out there that day, those dedicated souls. They were probably in England for 1 weekend and had to go rain or shine or snow, but not us, we have years to visit and chose that frigid day. Anyway, I'm glad we went. Had a chance to discuss a historical event with the kids that I KNOW they will hear about in school. Here are a couple of highlights of this exciting event. ha.
These are the 50 steps leading up to the JFK memorial - each representing a state in the USA.


The history part - according to Bridget (feel free to disagree).
Signing the Magna Carta (the Great Charter) was forced on the English King John by his barons in 1215. In my words, it was a document that put everyone in the land, even the king, under the laws of the land and made provisions that people would not be imprisoned or prosecuted except by the laws of the land. There were many clauses that addressed the many issues they had with the king at the time. I believe it also ended the feudal system. It is said here that the Magna Carta became the first constitutional document in the world.

Back in the Old Country

Over Christmas we were so excited to have had the opportunity to visit HOME in Texas (and Tennessee). Our first visit Stateside in a year so lots of people to see and a long to-do list that barely has a scratch on it. So pleased to have a choice to make - visit family and friends - or shop, but hey, I can shop in England. Had to visit with everyone!
Just to give myself a little credit - I only had 1.5 hours TOTAL at Northpark mall and about 30 min at the Galleria. Was able to get into Target 3 times, but since we only had 1 car for the trip, DA was with me everytime and was drumming his fingers so I could only go to the exact department we were heading to. I mean, come on, Target is for browsing. You never know what good things you'll find there - especially when you haven't been in a whole year!! Oh, on my one trip to Walmart to buy some American candy, B was with me and she said, "what kind of stuff do they sell at Walmart?" ha. I know we've been gone a while, but it just makes me proud she didn't know what was inside a Walmart. Maybe the only American kid ever to ask that question.
It was a great time at home. L was mad he didn't get to spend more time with his friends, B was happy she got to play with lots of her friends, but she was still begging for us to leave her behind. She claims that 6 months isn't so long - she could start school there, live with friends and see us in the summer. What an independent girl. DA and I were so lucky to have had to chance to see so many friends. Didn't get to Prestoncrest, but would love to have visited there too.
We've adjusted well this week. Sleeping on schedule again. All Christmas stuff is put away. Amazingly found room for all the gifts. We've had snow, ice and freezing temps this week so I've tried to stay warm in my cold house. Crazy to come back from 83 degrees in Dallas to -2 in England. I'm afraid of my electric bill though. Every time I turn the furnaces on, I wonder if I should just leave the house instead of trying to heat it.
The one thing DA and I are really missing right now is the taste of the food in Texas. As great as it is, it could also be considered a mistake to reintroduce our taste buds to good food from home. Every single meal at home tasted exactly like it should have! no weird substitutions or ingredients that were a little wonky. The chips and salsa at Mi Cocina-----so good. Houston's---so good. Iced tea---so good. Even Taco Bell tasted good. On our taco night this week, DA and I could hardly eat the tortillas. They are real Dorito brand chips, but are so pitifully made with ingredients from England.
Last January I had such a hard time coming back, had to buy into the whole English experience again, but this year is a little different. I had my happy little Mini to come back to. It's my absolute favorite thing about living here.
Now we are back to real life in England, orchestra concerts, basketball games, work, and my little activities (ha). The days are getting longer -yeah, and I can already tell that the sun stays up a little longer each afternoon.
Our 2 year arrival anniversary is coming up in a few days so we will have to have a little Uncle Sam celebration. So begins 2009...Happy New Year.

Note to self.

Next time landlord wants to do extensive refurb on the house, make sure the temps will be above freezing!!! Tonight we are sitting in a house, freezing temperature outside and the entire roof to our conservatory is open to the world. Did I mention it is also raining!
Cold, cold, cold in our house.
I'm not complaining though. We needed this work done because the roof has been leaking for months (almost a year) every time it rains - and in case you haven't heard - it rains A LOT in England. So the landlord finally approved having the glass ceiling replaced. We are very happy that the new glass will be the latest and greatest stuff, but it's cold tonight. We will have to be careful in the morning to check for a sheet of ice across our kitchen floor.
The contractors worked really hard today so that the house is open to the elements for the fewest days possible. I kept the tea and coffee pouring for them as a thank you for them working hard in the cold. Had set up all the Christmas decorations, tree, etc, but nothing looks very neat and tidy with all the conservatory furnishings spread all over the house. Oh well, makes for another unique holiday in England.
If you see us with blue lips in Dallas, just know that it's not the newest lipstick craze in London, it's our frigidly cold house.
Get this, the contractor was here 5 min when he turned to me and said, "Are you from Texas, you sure sound like it" Yeah! havent lost my drawl yet. And craziest thing is that he's never even been to Texas. How'd he guess that?

Boo Hoo

Our favorite team - the Abilene Wylie Bulldogs lost to Prosper in the Semi-finals tonight on a 2 point conversion right at the very end of the game. major,major bummer. Yes, I am up at 3am following in the game.
Congratulations on a good season, Hugh.
Time for me to get to sleep.

The absolute most frustrating day.

Today was a beautiful sunny day in London. Having had many wonderful photo ops over the past year, you would think I had that Christmas card photo done. Well, since L has grown and changed so much, I thought we should take a more current photo and I REALLY wanted one in London with a landmark behind us. NOT SO> wont be happening. Today we rounded up the kids - they were already dragging their heels about having to go have a picture taken. Got on the train and into the city where we needed to be. Took about an hour shooting some pictures, trying to get just what we wanted with the background and lighting and all PLUS a decent smile on the kid's faces. you've all been there, you know what I mean.
DA and L went back home so L could get to a ice skating party at Hampton Court Palace. B and I went shopping at Harrod's (C-R-A-Z-Y!).
Then, get this, DA calls me later in the afternoon, funny tone in his voice and asks me very softly if I happened to change out the memory card in the camera. "Uh, no." He then informs me even more softly that the photos are not there. Not there. Just not there! I suggest other methods for him to check and come to find out - The photos are no where to be found!!!???!!!! I think our memory card was corrupted or something. It keeps saying, "card not formatted". Which it was working while we were there. We scrolled through them several times, zoomed in, etc. The memory card was in the camera.
After that little bit of information, B has informed me she WILL NOT be taking any more pictures in London. I'm not really one to put up with a comment like that, but as much as I wanted that photo, I don't really want to spend my 1 hour of daylight in the afternoon running back to the city for a picture. SO< when you get your Christmas card, just know it should have been our little family in front of Parliament/Big Ben, instead, we have a wonderful shot taken by our friend, Bryan Urban. (Thanks Bryan. I love it), but L has grown about 4" since then and gotten contacts, so he is looking like a boy in the photo instead of the young man he is growing into.
I always thought photos would get easier as my kids got older, what happened?

The Queen

I finally got to see the Queen today. Funny to be here for so long and only just now have the opportunity to see her. It was the State Opening of Parliament. They do a whole pomp and circumstance routine with all the carriages, horse guards, footmen, crown, Queen, etc. We watched on the parade route down Whitehall to the Parliament building that is attached to Big Ben's tower. We were standing right by Downing Street.

This is the carriage that carries the crown only. The Queen rides in a separate carriage. From what I have been told - a member of parliament is locked in the Tower while the crown is out for this duty. It is that valuable that it needs live collateral. It was stated, "the Queen can be replaced, but the crown can't." That sounds a little harsh to me, but hey, it's their country!

Whatever, I'm just happy I've finally seen the Queen. She goes by in a flash though. The horses are at a trot and if you blink, you miss her. I may have only seen her through the camera lens, but here is my proof.