Belgium

I spent the day Saturday traveling to and from Belgium.  Yes, more time was spent traveling than actually in Belgium - but it was totally worth it!

I woke up at 4 AM and was in a hired car (car service) on my way to Waterloo Station by 4:20 AM.  I waited around at the station for about 45 minutes.  The station is open to the outside obviously and was freezing!  And I mean freezing - it was only 25 degrees F.  At least there was one coffee shop open so I had something warm to drink and an almond croissant.

While waiting for the coach to pick up outside, I met a young couple waiting for the same trip.  The bus picked us up just before 6 AM and we were on our way.  We drove down to Dover and boarded a ferry to cross the English Channel.  We drove right by the edge of the cliffs as we boarded and I saw actual doors - old wooden ones with medieval looking handles - right in the cliff face.  There were only a few and we went by them so fast I was unable to take a picture.  Cool though!  It was also very cool watching the cliffs fade into the distance as the ferry chugged away.

The ride to Calais was fairly smooth.  The water of the channel is more green than blue, but seemed pretty opaque or murky.  You cannot see much below the surface.  As we neared the French side of the channel, there was a fog over the water.  As we moved into it, it was very different than typical fog, it looked like several tiny pockets of mist rising from the water.  It was beautiful and spooky at the same time.  As we pulled into Calais, an older gentleman told me it was sea mist.  In contrast to the English coast, the French coast was all sandy beaches.

We drove another few hours through France and then into Belgium where there was snow covering the trees and ground.  The sky was a beautiful blue and everywhere you looked, it was like a Christmas postcard.  Bruges was even more beautiful.  I cannot describe it exactly, but imagine a medieval town from fairy tales and you would have a pretty accurate idea of what it is like.  The buildings are very old, all of the streets are cobbled and there are canals running through the city.  There is even a large cathedral in the center.  The people are so friendly and there were three Christmas markets with beer and Glühwein running freely.  There was even an ice skating rink in the town center with a giant Christmas tree in the center.

I really enjoyed the markets as well as the local shops.  Of course, a must-have in Bruges is a freshly made waffle.  I had one from a woman selling them out a window.  Mmmmm - it was so yummy and so warm!  Did I mention how COLD it was?

So after 4 hours in Bruges, it was time to board the bus again and we were off again on a long bus ride.  Lucky for me, my new friends had purchased a good quantity of Belgium beer and we started the trip back with a toast to Bruges.  We had excellent conversation and another beer on the ferry.  We made it back to Waterloo around 11:15 PM.  It took me another two hours on public transportation to get home - which I am still having trouble figuring out.  I only took a train to Hampton Wick and a bus to my flat.  I did wait a very long time for a bus in Hampton Wick in the freezing cold though!

Anyway, I have unloaded all of my treasures and cannot wait for Christmas to share them with my family!

(I cannot download any of my pictures until I get home - so I will share them in a later blog.)

Happy Holidays

I sure missed Thanksgiving and Black Friday this year.  It just feels weird to work on Thanksgiving.  I was listening to holiday music Thursday morning and "There's no place like home for the Holidays" came on.  I cried a little as it had so much more meaning than I ever gave it credit for before.

In the end, all my friends at Maxwell Drummond were so thoughtful that we all got together at a traditional English pub, drank beer and had Bangers and Mash for dinner.  So I still got to spend the day with friends being thankful.  While I miss all my family and friends in the US, it was still a very nice Thanksgiving in the UK.

A blank canvas

I love how kids see the world. 

On the bus the other morning, it was so cold outside that the windows fogged up.  Adults usually just think of how cold it is.  But kids see an opportunity. 

I loved watching a ten year old girl on the bus as her face lit up looking at the window.  She stared at it thoughtfully and then began to draw.  Here is her creation...

Fun in Kingston

Went to Kingston for the Gift Fair and to the cinema to see Harry Potter (excellent btw).  At the entrance to the gift fair was a cool marching band and they played some music from Harry Potter.  I loved it!

London Fog

Earlier this week, the fog was intense.  I had dinner in Hampton Hill Monday night and waited for the bus next to the wall surrounding Bushy Park.  I could literally see the fog rolling over the wall and into the street (the picture does not do it justice.) 

The next day everything was white with fog the entire day.  It was a pretty cool sight.

That same night I was in Hampton Hill, I ate dinner at The Duke of Clarence pub.  I sat in a booth next to a print on the wall entitled "Bogey Man".  At first I thought this was something like what we call the Boogey Man in the US.  Then I thought maybe it was a reference to boogers or what they can call bogeys in the UK.  It wasn't until I posted this and looked a little harder that I realized what it is really about.  (I know - kinda ditsy - particularly as I thought I was all clever with the first two ideas.)

You can make of that what you will, but now you know what he looks like.

Missing the family

I am missing my family today - like everyday - so I thought I would post a few pictures I took on our way to the airport last week.

Being goofy in the backseat

Showing off beautiful smiles and a manicure

My handsome husband

I am not sure where we were, but looks like a nice part of town...

I love y'all!

Christmastime in England

I was out and about today and started to feel the holiday spirit.  Of course I have been listening to my Christmas music all weekend and also starting to plan Christmas presents.

But also, it just is starting to feel like the holidays.  As there is no Thanksgiving here, everyone starts thinking about Christmas right after Halloween.  So the decorations are up and lighting ceremonies will begin in the high streets in the next week.  Kingston was all decorated today and the weather was cold and damp - but not too cold yet.  All of the shops are decorating and advertising for Christmas and John Lewis was already lit up.

I love it!  Next weekend I am going to find a Christmas market!

Happy Happy Birthday Mom

Today is a glorious day!  My mother was born on this day and I thank God for her every day!  She is the most wonderful mom and I feel truly blessed that she is mine.

She taught me so much in life that I would never be able to list it all.  Some of my favorites though are:

• How to laugh when you do something silly - not to take life too seriously
• Which leads to the next one -- how to spill stuff on my bosom with grace
• How to make silly faces and noises at babies - (but not in church, Mom)
• How to cook - YUM!  My family thanks you as well
• That the shag haircut is not for me
• The signature Sharon pose
• How to sing freely without being self conscious (not sure if everyone else likes this though)
• To follow my dreams

She also helps me to remember my boss's birthday every year as they share the same birthday.

Thanks Mom - you are the greatest!  I love you and Happy Birthday!