Hi ya, folks!!! Nice to be back - although as you can see, it will not be as often. Well, I turned 44 years last week on July 27th. Marty, my brother who is over here visiting me and looking for a new job, took me to dinner at a place called "Old Orleans." Yup, that's right, a taste from home. It was decorated with all things from N'Awlins (New Orleans) as well as the taste and sound from Cajun Country. I received a HUGE birthday gift that day from God in the form of 22 boxes with all my belongings!!! Can you believe that gift?!!! I know that "all things are possible with God;" but I never thought this could happen on my birthday of all days. Go figure.
Now that I told you about Marty, my brother being here, I can't remember if I wrote this in a previous blogpost or not. Yeah, Marty arrived here on July 14th and will be staying for until September 14th (two months). I have to say that I am so happy to have him here, but I am not sure Marty likes me hovering over him all the time. I just can't help myself - I miss having family and friends around and I know his time here will come to an end, so I am trying to suck everything I have out of this time with him. I just hope he will laugh about this time at family gatherings in the future. Knowing Marty, I'm sure we will.
I really have not been doing too much prior to Marty coming here. Mostly work, laundry, grocery shopping, paying the bills, and sleeping - you know, the domestic crap. This week I have to be in court two days, which is not too bad since social workers are not permitted to talk in court (unless on the witness stand). Yea for me!!! The rest of the week I will be "putting out fires" or catching up on paperwork. Next Sunday, Marty and I are going to a major soccer (football) game against Chelsea vs. Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London. I cannot believe I was able to get these tickets for Marty and I. I promise to post pictures.
I have to be getting to bed so i have enough energy this week to withsatnd all the parents and kids and others shouting names at me and telling me how I don't know what I'm doing or that I should just go back to America and mess up the lives of "my own." Different country, same shit. Here's something I challenge anyone who reads this blog to do -- if you ever come across a social worker who works in child protectionor for children's social services, please thank them for saving the life of a child, no matter how much bad press they get. We really do have hearts and feelings. As I said before, I wish this job did not exsist. Well, time for bed. Good night.
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
USA vs England
I and two of my fellow collegues from the U.S.decided to go to one of the local pubs to watch the World Cup soccer game. I wore my U.S.A. T-shirt; however, I did wear a jacket over it so I was not too obvious that I was cheering for my home-town boys. As we entered the pub, there were red and white flags (St. George's flag) everywhere and shirts with the logo of England (three lions within a sheild) on every person. My collegues and I made our way to the second flood and parked ourselves right in front of the big screen projector TV. Before the game started, we silently sang the Star-Spangled Banner.
As we watched the game playout, the locals became louder and drunker. That was our clue to become "actresses" and pretend to cheer for England all the while we were cheering for the USA. When England scored first, the pub erupted in shouts of joy and my collegues and I yelled in disgust. However, no one in the place knew we were upset because they were cheering so much. The second half we the complete opposite - much to our liking. When the goalie for England missed the ball and the USA scored, the pub again erupted in noise; only this time the the screames were of disgust and anger. That gave us the chance to whoop and hollar for the USA team. Again, there was so much noise in the pub, no one realized that we were actually cheering for the USA.
Even though the game ended in a tie, we considered is a victory because we had been getting so much "trash talk" about how the USA doesn't stand a chance against England since England's "sport" is football (soccer). Well, they failed to recognize that many of the players on the USA team play regularly in England or in the European leagues. Huh. . . English boasting. Dummies. After the game was over, we were all smiles as the English faithful were walking out in disbelief. Over the following days, he goalie for England was chastised in the newspapers on the TV and on the radio. I felt very sad for him. The English were blaming one person for their team's tie. However, being a diehard Steeler fan, I can definately understand their reaction to the goal.
As we watched the game playout, the locals became louder and drunker. That was our clue to become "actresses" and pretend to cheer for England all the while we were cheering for the USA. When England scored first, the pub erupted in shouts of joy and my collegues and I yelled in disgust. However, no one in the place knew we were upset because they were cheering so much. The second half we the complete opposite - much to our liking. When the goalie for England missed the ball and the USA scored, the pub again erupted in noise; only this time the the screames were of disgust and anger. That gave us the chance to whoop and hollar for the USA team. Again, there was so much noise in the pub, no one realized that we were actually cheering for the USA.
Even though the game ended in a tie, we considered is a victory because we had been getting so much "trash talk" about how the USA doesn't stand a chance against England since England's "sport" is football (soccer). Well, they failed to recognize that many of the players on the USA team play regularly in England or in the European leagues. Huh. . . English boasting. Dummies. After the game was over, we were all smiles as the English faithful were walking out in disbelief. Over the following days, he goalie for England was chastised in the newspapers on the TV and on the radio. I felt very sad for him. The English were blaming one person for their team's tie. However, being a diehard Steeler fan, I can definately understand their reaction to the goal.
Tea with the Queen
Well, back on June 14th, as you already know, I was invited to have lunch with the Queen in Windsor Castle. It was absolutely fantastic! We were all seated outside St George's Chapel inside the Windsor Castle walls. As we sat waiting for the Queen to pass by, we had wine and cucumber sandwiches. I wore a short sleeveless, blue, white & black sundress. I looked cute!!! No hat, but I did have my hair done.
After about two hours of eating, drinking and chatting, the parade of soldiers on foot and on horses started to process from the castle house down to St. George's Chapel. It was sooooooo awesome to see all of them!!! Then, the trumpeters blew their horns and soon we saw these people in deep, blue hats with white plumes walking towards us. It was the Royal Family: HMH Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles (yuck); Prince William; Prince Andrew and Princess Anne. I had to keep pinching myself to see if I was actually seeing the Royal Family. AND, they walked past me about 10 feet away!!! I could have reached out and touched them. They were dressed in their royal robes, plumed hats, and the Queen had two page boys holding her robe. Very posh!!!!
I also got to see Lady Margaret Thatcher drive by in a car to the chapel. Once inside the chapel, the ceremony was broadcast over loud-speakers to the crowd outside. This ceremony was only about 1/2 hour long. After the chapel ceremony, the royal family members and their spouses rode back to the castle in a horse and carriage. First the Queen & Prince Phillip, then Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and someone woman I did not recognize, then Prince William and his gAmerican irlfriend, then Princess Anne and her husband (I think). Anyways, it was very spectacular. While I do not have pictures of this event right now, as soon as I get them I will post them to this page.
A GREAT DAY for me!!!
After about two hours of eating, drinking and chatting, the parade of soldiers on foot and on horses started to process from the castle house down to St. George's Chapel. It was sooooooo awesome to see all of them!!! Then, the trumpeters blew their horns and soon we saw these people in deep, blue hats with white plumes walking towards us. It was the Royal Family: HMH Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles (yuck); Prince William; Prince Andrew and Princess Anne. I had to keep pinching myself to see if I was actually seeing the Royal Family. AND, they walked past me about 10 feet away!!! I could have reached out and touched them. They were dressed in their royal robes, plumed hats, and the Queen had two page boys holding her robe. Very posh!!!!
I also got to see Lady Margaret Thatcher drive by in a car to the chapel. Once inside the chapel, the ceremony was broadcast over loud-speakers to the crowd outside. This ceremony was only about 1/2 hour long. After the chapel ceremony, the royal family members and their spouses rode back to the castle in a horse and carriage. First the Queen & Prince Phillip, then Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and someone woman I did not recognize, then Prince William and his gAmerican irlfriend, then Princess Anne and her husband (I think). Anyways, it was very spectacular. While I do not have pictures of this event right now, as soon as I get them I will post them to this page.
A GREAT DAY for me!!!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
I'M BACK!!!
Hi everyone!!! Sorry I have away for a while but I am back to updating my blog again. So much has happened in the last month since I last entered something one here. What I am going to try to do is give you and update on what's currently been happeneing, then post something from the past month. By mid-August, I should be caught up with my entries. Just hang with me folks -- I will try my best to gt ewverything on here.
Well, my brother has finally made it to England. He got here on Wednesday morning when I picked him up from Heathrow Airport. He was sooooooooooooo tired that he fell asleep on the busride to Reading. When we got to my house, he unpacked just a few things then went to sleep for several hours. We then went shopping for a few items he needed, we returned and I made us dinner, then he went to sleep again. On Thursday, we just walked around Reading so I could just get him acclimated to Engalnd. We exchanged his currency and just enjoyed sitting and talking.
Yesterday (Friday), I had to go into work for a few hours then I was going to come home to relax with Marty. Well, the few hours turned into a whole day of work. I should know better by now that was going to happen. What the heck was I thinking? Duhhhhh . . . Today, I am taking Marty into London for the first itme to show him the famous sights and try to teach him how to navigate the Underground. I think Marty will pick it up very quickly. The weather has been a bit damp the last few days, but that is blowing through and today should be very sunny and pleasant. I am looking forward to today with Marty and will post pictures later.
Once again folks, sorry about the delay -- but I'm back. Cheers!!
Well, my brother has finally made it to England. He got here on Wednesday morning when I picked him up from Heathrow Airport. He was sooooooooooooo tired that he fell asleep on the busride to Reading. When we got to my house, he unpacked just a few things then went to sleep for several hours. We then went shopping for a few items he needed, we returned and I made us dinner, then he went to sleep again. On Thursday, we just walked around Reading so I could just get him acclimated to Engalnd. We exchanged his currency and just enjoyed sitting and talking.
Yesterday (Friday), I had to go into work for a few hours then I was going to come home to relax with Marty. Well, the few hours turned into a whole day of work. I should know better by now that was going to happen. What the heck was I thinking? Duhhhhh . . . Today, I am taking Marty into London for the first itme to show him the famous sights and try to teach him how to navigate the Underground. I think Marty will pick it up very quickly. The weather has been a bit damp the last few days, but that is blowing through and today should be very sunny and pleasant. I am looking forward to today with Marty and will post pictures later.
Once again folks, sorry about the delay -- but I'm back. Cheers!!
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Hat Issues
Okay, I really need some guidence on this one. Everyone knows that I'm having lunch with the Queen and other members of the royal family on June 14th. However, I have to wear a hat along with my new dress, gloves and shoes. I was going to wear my Pirates ballcap, but then decided that was too "wintery" since it is black & gold. Then, since it is spring, I was going to wear a bright orange hunting cap to add color to my outfit. However, someone said that would be drawing too much attention to mself (although I tend to disagree with them). Therefore, I am asking for help in this area. What style and color should I wear to "lunch with the Queen?"
I did bring a black ski cap with me as well; however, that would tend to be more of an evening hat if I were to be invited to dinner instead of lunch. Any and all suggestions are welcomed.
Check out my recent ideas in the photos to the right.
I did bring a black ski cap with me as well; however, that would tend to be more of an evening hat if I were to be invited to dinner instead of lunch. Any and all suggestions are welcomed.
Check out my recent ideas in the photos to the right.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Trivia Answer: First Bank Holidays
Hey folks, due to my error in reading about the first bank holidays in England, there are TWO correct answers to this question. Therefore, everyone who answered did so correctly!!! The first four bank holidays named in the Bank Holidays Act of 1871 were Easter Monday, Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday), the First Monday in August, and St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day). The act did not specify Good Friday and Christmas Day as bank holidays in England, Wales and Ireland because they were already recognised as common law holidays, and because of common observance, they became customary holidays since before records began.
A bank holiday is a public holiday in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population not employed in essential services (e.g. utilities, fire, ambulance, police, health-care, public transport workers) receive them as holidays; those employed in essential services usually receive extra pay for working on these days.
Prior to 1834, the Bank of England observed about thirty-three saints' days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834, this was reduced to just four: 1 May, 1 November, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. In 1871, the first legislation relating to bank holidays was passed when banker, Sir John Lubbock introduced the Bank Holidays Act 1871 which specified these days. Sir John was an enthusiastic supporter of cricket and was firmly of the belief that bank employees should have the opportunity to participate in and attend matches when they were scheduled. Included in the dates of bank holidays are therefore dates when cricket games were traditionally played between the villages in the region where Sir John was raised. The English people were so thankful that they called the first Bank Holidays 'St. Lubbock's Days' for a while.
A bank holiday is a public holiday in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population not employed in essential services (e.g. utilities, fire, ambulance, police, health-care, public transport workers) receive them as holidays; those employed in essential services usually receive extra pay for working on these days.
Prior to 1834, the Bank of England observed about thirty-three saints' days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834, this was reduced to just four: 1 May, 1 November, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. In 1871, the first legislation relating to bank holidays was passed when banker, Sir John Lubbock introduced the Bank Holidays Act 1871 which specified these days. Sir John was an enthusiastic supporter of cricket and was firmly of the belief that bank employees should have the opportunity to participate in and attend matches when they were scheduled. Included in the dates of bank holidays are therefore dates when cricket games were traditionally played between the villages in the region where Sir John was raised. The English people were so thankful that they called the first Bank Holidays 'St. Lubbock's Days' for a while.
Sad News
As you can see from Tigger's picture on the right, he is very easy to fall in love with. Yesterday, he even crawled up on my chest and started rubbing his head into mine -- a show of sincere affection. However, my eyes do not feel the same way. They continue to itch and water, and it seems to be getting worse. Although I hate to admit it, I believe that I am allergic to Tigger and must give him back this coming week. I am really sad about this. I have not built a strong bond with Tigger yet, but he is just "cute as a button" and a teriffic companion for me. Rats!!! I don't want to give him up, but my eyes are killing me. Maybe he is meant for someone else to love. However, I wish it was me.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
New Addition -- TIGGER!!!
Okay, most of you know by now that I love animals, and in particular, cats. Well, since I am not bringing my boys over to England, I decided to foster a cat here. So, I got Tigger last night. He is a 9 year old, male tabby cat (see picture to right). He is extremely affectionate and loves to lay around all the time. His owners could not keep him after having him for four years due to a family situation. They rescued him from a cat shelter back then and did not want him to return to another one in his later years. Therefore, I am giving him a home. Of course, he is not a replacement for my boys back home in Pittsburgh, but he is a welcomed companion.
Tigger greets me at the door, listens to me and shows me love; and in return, I love him, give him food and water, and provide him with a warm place to lay his head. I think it is a wonderful match. It is only the second day, but I think I will try to keep him for awhile. However, having Tigger around does remind me of just how much I miss Orion and Taurus back home. I wish I had pictures of them, but I packed their pictures in my boxes which are MIA. Anyway, Tigger is a great listener -- and he is good to me (so far).
Tigger greets me at the door, listens to me and shows me love; and in return, I love him, give him food and water, and provide him with a warm place to lay his head. I think it is a wonderful match. It is only the second day, but I think I will try to keep him for awhile. However, having Tigger around does remind me of just how much I miss Orion and Taurus back home. I wish I had pictures of them, but I packed their pictures in my boxes which are MIA. Anyway, Tigger is a great listener -- and he is good to me (so far).
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday . . and I'm bored
It's Tuesday and I'm bored. Nothing much to say after that, huh. I got really sick Sunday night/Monday morning and had to call off work. I think it was the curry chicken I ate. I finally was able to keep a piece of toast down around 3:00pm Monday afternoon. I went to work today, attended three meetings, yet still fell like shit. I'm headed to bed soon.
I don't think I mentioned this in earlier blogs, but I decided NOT to bring my kitties over to England. I am really unsure about how long I am going to stay over here, so I don't want to be hauling them around the UK or across the Atlantic to traumatize them. Therefore, Orion and Taurus are staying with my folks and I am going to foster a cat for now. I am going through the Thames Valley Rescue Society. I met a 9 year old cat named Tigger this past Saturday. I am going to foster him because the owner is having family issues and cannot keep him right now. I think it is only fair that since I work with fostering children that I could foster some kitties as well. Anyway, the orange & white tabby liked me, so I may be getting him this coming weekend. If so, I will take pictures of him.
On Sunday after getting "smoked out" at mass on Pentecost Sunday, Danielle and I went to Caversham Park along the Thames to sit in the sun and read. I just wound up just people-watching again. I actually realized there really are "regular" people in the Reading area, and not every family is in child protection (this is an inside joke to the newbies). After a while, Danielle and I got thirsty, so we headed for the restaurant and bar near the rowing club for some "refreshments." Mine was a mojito - YUMMY!!! Jana met up with us there. When we left, Jana and I walked along the Thames River Path toweards Valerie's house because we have been meeting there on Sunday evenings for dinner and our own small group training. This is where I ate the curry chicken, and it was all down hill from there.
Well, that's about the size of it. Oh yeah, one more thing -- I got sunburned. Good night, everybody.
I don't think I mentioned this in earlier blogs, but I decided NOT to bring my kitties over to England. I am really unsure about how long I am going to stay over here, so I don't want to be hauling them around the UK or across the Atlantic to traumatize them. Therefore, Orion and Taurus are staying with my folks and I am going to foster a cat for now. I am going through the Thames Valley Rescue Society. I met a 9 year old cat named Tigger this past Saturday. I am going to foster him because the owner is having family issues and cannot keep him right now. I think it is only fair that since I work with fostering children that I could foster some kitties as well. Anyway, the orange & white tabby liked me, so I may be getting him this coming weekend. If so, I will take pictures of him.
On Sunday after getting "smoked out" at mass on Pentecost Sunday, Danielle and I went to Caversham Park along the Thames to sit in the sun and read. I just wound up just people-watching again. I actually realized there really are "regular" people in the Reading area, and not every family is in child protection (this is an inside joke to the newbies). After a while, Danielle and I got thirsty, so we headed for the restaurant and bar near the rowing club for some "refreshments." Mine was a mojito - YUMMY!!! Jana met up with us there. When we left, Jana and I walked along the Thames River Path toweards Valerie's house because we have been meeting there on Sunday evenings for dinner and our own small group training. This is where I ate the curry chicken, and it was all down hill from there.
Well, that's about the size of it. Oh yeah, one more thing -- I got sunburned. Good night, everybody.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Trivia Answer: Tower of London Execution
The last execution at the Tower was that of German spy Josef Jakobs on August 14, 1941 by firing squad formed from the Scots Guards. Jakobs parachuted into Ramsey in Huntingdonshire on January 31, 1941 but was seen descending by the local Home Guard. They rushed to the landing point to find that Jakobs had broken his ankle on landing. He was apprehended still wearing his flying suit and carrying British currency, forged papers, a radio and a German sausage. Jakobs was executed while seated blindfolded in a brown Windsor chair, due to having a broken ankle.
The others who were listed along with Jakobs were prisoners at the Tower of London, but not the last to be executed. Here are their obituaries:
Roger Casement (Sir Roger Casement) (1864 -1916): Roger Casement was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary and nationalist. He was a British consul by profession, famous for his reports and activities against human rights abuses in the Congo and Peru, but better known for his dealings with Germany before Ireland's Easter Rising in 1916. An Irish nationalist in his youth, he worked in Africa for commercial interests and latterly in the service of Britain. However, the Boer War and his investigation into atrocities in the Congo led Casement to anti-Imperialist and Irish Republican and separatist political opinions. After an unsuccessful appeal against the conviction and death sentence, he was hanged at Pentonville Prison in London in August 1916, at the age of 51. He underwent the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults into the Catholic Church while awaiting execution and went to his death, he said, with the body of his God as his last meal.
The Kray Twins: Reginald "Reggie" Kray (1933 – 2000) and his brother Ronald "Ronnie" Kray (1933 - 1995): The Kray Twins were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s. Ronald, commonly referred to as Ron or Ronnie, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. The Krays were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, violent assaults including torture and the murders of Jack "The Hat" McVitie and George Cornell. As West End nightclub owners they mixed with prominent entertainers including Diana Dors, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and politicians. The Krays were highly respected within their social environment, and in the 1960s they became celebrities in their own right being photographed by David Bailey and interviewed on television. They were arrested on May 9, 1968 and convicted in 1969 by the efforts of a squad of detectives and were both sentenced to life imprisonment. Ronnie remained in prison until his death on March 17, 1995, but Reggie was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August 2000, a few weeks before his death from cancer.
Rudolph Hess (1894 – 1987): Rudolph Hess was a prominent figure in Nazi Germany, acting as Adolf Hitler's Deputy in the Nazi Party. On the eve of war with the Soviet Union, he flew solo to Scotland in an attempt to negotiate peace with the United Kingdom, but instead was arrested. Winston Churchill sent Hess initially to the Tower of London, making Hess the last of prominent political prisoners to be held in the fortress. The Prime Minister gave orders that he was to be strictly isolated but treated with dignity. He remained in the Tower until May 20, 1941, when he was taken to Nuremberg, tried, and sentenced to life in prison at Spandau Prison, Berlin, where he died in 1987. Hess' attempt to negotiate peace and subsequent lifelong imprisonment have given rise to many theories about his motivation for flying to Scotland, and conspiracy theories about why he remained imprisoned alone at Spandau, long after all other convicts had been released.
Henry Laurens: (1724 - 1792): Henry Laurens was an American merchant and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Second Continental Congress from 1777 to 1778.
In 1779, Congress named Laurens their minister to Holland, where he took up that post in Amsterdam and successfully negotiated Dutch support for the war. But on his return voyage to Amsterdam that fall, the British Navy intercepted his ship off the banks of Newfoundland. Although her dispatches were tossed in the water, they were retrieved by the British, who discovered the draft of a possible U.S.-Dutch treaty. This prompted Britain to declare war on the Netherlands, the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. Laurens was charged with treason, transported to England, and imprisoned in the Tower of London (the only American ever held prisoner in the Tower). This became another issue between the British and Americans. In the field, most captives were regarded as prisoners of war, and while conditions were frequently appalling, prisoner exchanges and mail privileges were accepted practice. During his imprisonment Laurens was assisted by Richard Oswald, his former business partner and the principal owner of Bunce Island. Oswald argued on Laurens' behalf to the British government. Finally, on December 31, 1781 he was released in exchange for General Lord Cornwallis and completed his voyage.
Hope you enjoyed this history lesson!!!!
The others who were listed along with Jakobs were prisoners at the Tower of London, but not the last to be executed. Here are their obituaries:
Roger Casement (Sir Roger Casement) (1864 -1916): Roger Casement was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary and nationalist. He was a British consul by profession, famous for his reports and activities against human rights abuses in the Congo and Peru, but better known for his dealings with Germany before Ireland's Easter Rising in 1916. An Irish nationalist in his youth, he worked in Africa for commercial interests and latterly in the service of Britain. However, the Boer War and his investigation into atrocities in the Congo led Casement to anti-Imperialist and Irish Republican and separatist political opinions. After an unsuccessful appeal against the conviction and death sentence, he was hanged at Pentonville Prison in London in August 1916, at the age of 51. He underwent the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults into the Catholic Church while awaiting execution and went to his death, he said, with the body of his God as his last meal.
The Kray Twins: Reginald "Reggie" Kray (1933 – 2000) and his brother Ronald "Ronnie" Kray (1933 - 1995): The Kray Twins were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s. Ronald, commonly referred to as Ron or Ronnie, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. The Krays were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, violent assaults including torture and the murders of Jack "The Hat" McVitie and George Cornell. As West End nightclub owners they mixed with prominent entertainers including Diana Dors, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and politicians. The Krays were highly respected within their social environment, and in the 1960s they became celebrities in their own right being photographed by David Bailey and interviewed on television. They were arrested on May 9, 1968 and convicted in 1969 by the efforts of a squad of detectives and were both sentenced to life imprisonment. Ronnie remained in prison until his death on March 17, 1995, but Reggie was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August 2000, a few weeks before his death from cancer.
Rudolph Hess (1894 – 1987): Rudolph Hess was a prominent figure in Nazi Germany, acting as Adolf Hitler's Deputy in the Nazi Party. On the eve of war with the Soviet Union, he flew solo to Scotland in an attempt to negotiate peace with the United Kingdom, but instead was arrested. Winston Churchill sent Hess initially to the Tower of London, making Hess the last of prominent political prisoners to be held in the fortress. The Prime Minister gave orders that he was to be strictly isolated but treated with dignity. He remained in the Tower until May 20, 1941, when he was taken to Nuremberg, tried, and sentenced to life in prison at Spandau Prison, Berlin, where he died in 1987. Hess' attempt to negotiate peace and subsequent lifelong imprisonment have given rise to many theories about his motivation for flying to Scotland, and conspiracy theories about why he remained imprisoned alone at Spandau, long after all other convicts had been released.
Henry Laurens: (1724 - 1792): Henry Laurens was an American merchant and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Second Continental Congress from 1777 to 1778.
In 1779, Congress named Laurens their minister to Holland, where he took up that post in Amsterdam and successfully negotiated Dutch support for the war. But on his return voyage to Amsterdam that fall, the British Navy intercepted his ship off the banks of Newfoundland. Although her dispatches were tossed in the water, they were retrieved by the British, who discovered the draft of a possible U.S.-Dutch treaty. This prompted Britain to declare war on the Netherlands, the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. Laurens was charged with treason, transported to England, and imprisoned in the Tower of London (the only American ever held prisoner in the Tower). This became another issue between the British and Americans. In the field, most captives were regarded as prisoners of war, and while conditions were frequently appalling, prisoner exchanges and mail privileges were accepted practice. During his imprisonment Laurens was assisted by Richard Oswald, his former business partner and the principal owner of Bunce Island. Oswald argued on Laurens' behalf to the British government. Finally, on December 31, 1781 he was released in exchange for General Lord Cornwallis and completed his voyage.
Hope you enjoyed this history lesson!!!!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Back to Wales
Yes, I made my third trip over to Wales yesterday (Tuesday), and so far, each time I have traveled there, the weather has been absolutely beautiful. However, this time, I could not keep my eyes open on the train trip. I was so tired that I almost missed one of my train stops to transfer to another train. Holy shit, that would have been disasterous!!! I must take three different trains up to Chester, England, then have one of the staff members from the residential place pick me up at the station. The drive from the train station to the facility is about one hour.
When standing on the platforms waiting for my next train to arrive, I commonly see other trains whiz by on their "express" schedules and the energy from those trains makes my heart pump faster and faster. I love to watch them speed by!!! I can see them coming (and the loud speaker informs us that they are coming) and I listen to the rumble getting louder and louder. By the time they reach the station platforms, it is so loud that you cannot even hear the person stading next to you. As soon as the first coach passes, the wind whips up into a frenzy and the windows of the coaches flicker like watching an old-time black & white movie. I try to pick out a word or two on the side of the coaches, which I now have become very good at doing. I can easily recognize the various train companies since my travels have covered the entire southern UK (except for over by Bristol & Bath). I have traveled on First Great Western, Virgin, CrossCountry, London Midlands, Southwest Rail Service, Northern Rail Service, and others. Those are the main ones anyways.
The horns on the trains do not sound like the ones back in Pennsylvania. Those are loud whistles; where over here, they are lower tones instead of horns. Don't get me wrong, these horns are extremely loud, but they just sound very different. When I first walked under the train tressel near my work, I heard this long-sounding tone and wondered what it was. Then a train passed overhead, and I figured it was the train horn. I was right. Now I am so familiar with this sound that I sometimes even miss hearing it in a distance. I have noticed that the sheep, cows and horses along the train tracks do not miss these train horns!!!
While I was up in Wales yesterday, this young man and I went for a short walk so I could talk to him alone. He took me over to the farm next to their facility and I got to run around with the sheep and lambs. hat was so much fun. The little lams were playing, while the mama sheep were watching and protecting their babies. I know I certianly can not out-run a sheep, so we stayed close to the fence. For those of you who remember my goat experience in Uganda, I learned my lesson then not to mess with the little ones too much or the larger ones will "kick your butt." Literally!!!! I got to walk along this nature trail in Wales through the tress and along a river. I wanted to stay there but I had to do my job and get back. This young man is doing so well and I just enjoy visiting him every six weeks (statutory time limit). This is one of my easier and more positive cases.
When we were driving back to the train station to Chester, we saw this HUGE plane coming in for a landing near to Chester. The man who was driving said that this plane shuttles airplane wings which are manufactured in/near Chester to other parts of Europe and across the Atlantic. He informed me that the place in Chester builds the wings for the large airbuses, where they have to place them on barges and move them that way since they are too large to transport by air.
I got back on the train and settled in for the ride home. Once again, I could not keep my eyes open and I fell asleep. Falling asleep on a train is very similar to falling asleep on an airplane. It's not very comfortable and you are stiff as a board when you try to get up and move. I finally reached Reading at 8:00pm. Once again, a 12-hour workday, which wasn't too bad. As a matter of fact, it was pretty nice. I now have 5 days of overtime I MUST take off, so I think I will take it in mid-June. Maybe I will finally visit Bristol and Bath then -- or maybe not. Maybe I will just relax at home and take short trips to places around Reading. At least I can get some sleep then. Which is what I need to do now folks. It's almost 10:00pm and I still have two days of work to go. I hope someday you will be able to go to Wales. It is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL country!!!
When standing on the platforms waiting for my next train to arrive, I commonly see other trains whiz by on their "express" schedules and the energy from those trains makes my heart pump faster and faster. I love to watch them speed by!!! I can see them coming (and the loud speaker informs us that they are coming) and I listen to the rumble getting louder and louder. By the time they reach the station platforms, it is so loud that you cannot even hear the person stading next to you. As soon as the first coach passes, the wind whips up into a frenzy and the windows of the coaches flicker like watching an old-time black & white movie. I try to pick out a word or two on the side of the coaches, which I now have become very good at doing. I can easily recognize the various train companies since my travels have covered the entire southern UK (except for over by Bristol & Bath). I have traveled on First Great Western, Virgin, CrossCountry, London Midlands, Southwest Rail Service, Northern Rail Service, and others. Those are the main ones anyways.
The horns on the trains do not sound like the ones back in Pennsylvania. Those are loud whistles; where over here, they are lower tones instead of horns. Don't get me wrong, these horns are extremely loud, but they just sound very different. When I first walked under the train tressel near my work, I heard this long-sounding tone and wondered what it was. Then a train passed overhead, and I figured it was the train horn. I was right. Now I am so familiar with this sound that I sometimes even miss hearing it in a distance. I have noticed that the sheep, cows and horses along the train tracks do not miss these train horns!!!
While I was up in Wales yesterday, this young man and I went for a short walk so I could talk to him alone. He took me over to the farm next to their facility and I got to run around with the sheep and lambs. hat was so much fun. The little lams were playing, while the mama sheep were watching and protecting their babies. I know I certianly can not out-run a sheep, so we stayed close to the fence. For those of you who remember my goat experience in Uganda, I learned my lesson then not to mess with the little ones too much or the larger ones will "kick your butt." Literally!!!! I got to walk along this nature trail in Wales through the tress and along a river. I wanted to stay there but I had to do my job and get back. This young man is doing so well and I just enjoy visiting him every six weeks (statutory time limit). This is one of my easier and more positive cases.
When we were driving back to the train station to Chester, we saw this HUGE plane coming in for a landing near to Chester. The man who was driving said that this plane shuttles airplane wings which are manufactured in/near Chester to other parts of Europe and across the Atlantic. He informed me that the place in Chester builds the wings for the large airbuses, where they have to place them on barges and move them that way since they are too large to transport by air.
I got back on the train and settled in for the ride home. Once again, I could not keep my eyes open and I fell asleep. Falling asleep on a train is very similar to falling asleep on an airplane. It's not very comfortable and you are stiff as a board when you try to get up and move. I finally reached Reading at 8:00pm. Once again, a 12-hour workday, which wasn't too bad. As a matter of fact, it was pretty nice. I now have 5 days of overtime I MUST take off, so I think I will take it in mid-June. Maybe I will finally visit Bristol and Bath then -- or maybe not. Maybe I will just relax at home and take short trips to places around Reading. At least I can get some sleep then. Which is what I need to do now folks. It's almost 10:00pm and I still have two days of work to go. I hope someday you will be able to go to Wales. It is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL country!!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Last Week (May 10th - 16th)
It was crazy over here last week, and when I got home from work I was way too tired to type anything on my blog page. Therefore, I will sum up last week for you as to why it was so crazy. I will give you three words: WORK, MONEY & SHIPMENT.
WORK: Just when I was getting familiar with the system / process of working in my team, my assistant team supervisor leaves. She was a "contracted" social worker and her contract was up last week. Although I was aware of this, it did not help matters much that I was all out of sync on who to turn to for help. Plus, I made three trip out of the Reading area to visit some of my clients, which took away from the paperwork I was going to do. One of the kids decided to flip a chair and start throwing things at me so I made a quick exit. It actually was not too bad, but I did not want my presence to escalate his frustration. As far as the "dreaded paperwork," that has been SLOWLY getting better; however, I still have a very long way to go with this.
MONEY: Okay, not to get too detailed, but my stupid bank decided to pay my rent to my landlords TWICE in one month. This, of course, left me largely short of money, and I have been scarmbling to find someone to help while I work with the bank and/or until payday comes on May 25th. I think I have strecthed the British pound as far as it can possibly be stretched. After many, many prayers, God sent an angel to help with this situation, although the money situation is far from over. I am still trying to work with the bank on several situations. I do not want to go into any more details, but money is still the source of much of my stress.
SHIPMENT: Ahhh. . . the dreaded shipment of my belongings. I told one of my sisters that I think my boxes of things are in the same place as all those socks lost during the wash. They just fall off the face of the earth. Well, I must say that I was worried that my boxes of personal items were long gone. However, at the end of last week, my sister (yeah Cathy!!!) uncovered that my shipment was on another ship across the Atlantic and are sitting at a dock in Southampton. After faxing forms to the storage facility this weekend, they believe that they do have my boxes. Once again, I am not holding my breath on this, but it is a good sign.
To top things off last week, it was cold and rainy all week. A pretty miserable week as far as the weather goes. This week, it has been sunny and will continue to be sunny and get warmer. Once again, a sign of good things. Well, that's the jist of last week's adventure. Take care everyone and talk soon.
WORK: Just when I was getting familiar with the system / process of working in my team, my assistant team supervisor leaves. She was a "contracted" social worker and her contract was up last week. Although I was aware of this, it did not help matters much that I was all out of sync on who to turn to for help. Plus, I made three trip out of the Reading area to visit some of my clients, which took away from the paperwork I was going to do. One of the kids decided to flip a chair and start throwing things at me so I made a quick exit. It actually was not too bad, but I did not want my presence to escalate his frustration. As far as the "dreaded paperwork," that has been SLOWLY getting better; however, I still have a very long way to go with this.
MONEY: Okay, not to get too detailed, but my stupid bank decided to pay my rent to my landlords TWICE in one month. This, of course, left me largely short of money, and I have been scarmbling to find someone to help while I work with the bank and/or until payday comes on May 25th. I think I have strecthed the British pound as far as it can possibly be stretched. After many, many prayers, God sent an angel to help with this situation, although the money situation is far from over. I am still trying to work with the bank on several situations. I do not want to go into any more details, but money is still the source of much of my stress.
SHIPMENT: Ahhh. . . the dreaded shipment of my belongings. I told one of my sisters that I think my boxes of things are in the same place as all those socks lost during the wash. They just fall off the face of the earth. Well, I must say that I was worried that my boxes of personal items were long gone. However, at the end of last week, my sister (yeah Cathy!!!) uncovered that my shipment was on another ship across the Atlantic and are sitting at a dock in Southampton. After faxing forms to the storage facility this weekend, they believe that they do have my boxes. Once again, I am not holding my breath on this, but it is a good sign.
To top things off last week, it was cold and rainy all week. A pretty miserable week as far as the weather goes. This week, it has been sunny and will continue to be sunny and get warmer. Once again, a sign of good things. Well, that's the jist of last week's adventure. Take care everyone and talk soon.
Monday, May 17, 2010
A Coot!!!
Remember the picture of the bird I posted to the right? Well, I found out what type of bird this is. It's a coot. Coots are medium-sized water birds which are members of the rail family. Coots have predominantly black plumage, and, unlike many of the rails, they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water. They are close relatives of the moorhen.
They are common in Europe and North America. They have prominent frontal shields or other decoration on the forehead, and coloured bills, and many, but not all, have white on the under tail. Like other rails, they have lobed toes. The featherless shield gave rise to the expression "as bald as a coot", which the Oxford English Dictionary cites in use as early as 1430.
They tend to have short, rounded wings and are weak fliers, although northern species are nevertheless capable of covering long distances; the American Coot has reached Great Britain and Ireland on rare occasions. Those species that migrate do so at night. Coots can walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. These birds are omnivorous, taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and eggs. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizeable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer. A flock of coots is known in the US as a cover.
They are common in Europe and North America. They have prominent frontal shields or other decoration on the forehead, and coloured bills, and many, but not all, have white on the under tail. Like other rails, they have lobed toes. The featherless shield gave rise to the expression "as bald as a coot", which the Oxford English Dictionary cites in use as early as 1430.
They tend to have short, rounded wings and are weak fliers, although northern species are nevertheless capable of covering long distances; the American Coot has reached Great Britain and Ireland on rare occasions. Those species that migrate do so at night. Coots can walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. These birds are omnivorous, taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and eggs. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizeable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer. A flock of coots is known in the US as a cover.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Tower of London & Tower Bridge
Last Sunday, my good friend, Cori, came to London for vacation for a few days with her boyfriend, Charlie, and we went to see the Tower of London. An AWESOME time!!! I have not seen Cori in seven years, but we talked as if we just saw each other last week. Anyway, we went to the Tower of London and it was very interesting to learn about its history. We got those headset & recorders to do your own walking tour, but we could not get our bearings and the recorder to be in sync. I just took mine off halfway through the tour.
The first thing we came to was "Traitor's Gate." This is where they would bring in those who were accused of being traitor's to the crown. The water is a direct link to the River Thames. Even though the river is very near the tower, a moat was built around the original tower because the banks of the Thames was farther away than today. Right across from Traitor's Gate, we entered the Tower of London under The Bloody Tower. This is where "famous" prisoners were held, like Anne Bolyen and the Two Princes (Prince Edward V and his borther, Richard of Shrewsbury). There are many original portions of walls and stone which are clearly visible. When we walked inside the tower, we had to climb a very lengthy, spiral stairwell to get to the top. It was very cool, yet eerie.
In one of the other prison towers, we could see the carvings of the walls of past prisoners (see picture). Although there were many executions in the Tower of London, only a few "famous" prisoners were executed in the publlic courtyard. The tower is fully staffed with Yeomen Warders (also known as Beefeaters), at all times and answer to the Constable of the Tower. Yeomen Warders have served as defenders of the Crown Jewels and prison guards since the time of Queen Victoria. The crowned jewels were BEAUTIFUL; however, that seemed like a waste of money for this contry just sitting behind secured glass. There was sooooooo much gold and diamonds that could easily put a HUGE dent in this country's deficit. Oh well.
We finally made our way into the White Tower. This is the original tower/fortress build by William the Conqueror in 1078 A.D. Other towers and walls were built after his reign. The White Tower is the place of the armory for England's history. King Henry VIII's suit of armor indicates that he "thought very highly of himself in the man area." Cori and I laughed at this king's "big head." There were many of the torture devices, weaponry, suits of armor, and statues of the horses of various kings. There was just so much to see in the Tower of London. Cori, Charlie and I were able to see just about all of it before it closed.
After we exited the tower, we walked down by the River Thames to look at the Tower Bridge. And, much to our surprise and LUCK, the drawbridge opened!!! I could not believe my eyes!!! So cool!!! It is said that the drawbridge does not open that often, but if you see it when it does open, then "luck" is in the near future -- and, boy, do I need it now!!! We did not have time to go to the top of the Tower Bridge since it was Sunday afternoon and most things were closing; however, we did walk onto the bridge to experience its majesty. After that, Cori, Charlie, and I went to dinner at an English pub near Piccadilly Square. I loved just talking to Cori and spending time with her. After seven years, we really have not changed much. Oh sure, lots of things within our lives happened and some things changed, but neither one of us have changed "who we truly are." After dinner, I headed back to the Tube and Cori and Charlie went for frozen yogurt. It was very hard to say "good-bye" to Cori. I know that it will not be seven years before we see each other again. I will make sure of that!!! Last Sunday was a great day!!!
I love you, Cori, and miss you so much. I just love laughing with you!!! Talk to you soon, sweetie.
The first thing we came to was "Traitor's Gate." This is where they would bring in those who were accused of being traitor's to the crown. The water is a direct link to the River Thames. Even though the river is very near the tower, a moat was built around the original tower because the banks of the Thames was farther away than today. Right across from Traitor's Gate, we entered the Tower of London under The Bloody Tower. This is where "famous" prisoners were held, like Anne Bolyen and the Two Princes (Prince Edward V and his borther, Richard of Shrewsbury). There are many original portions of walls and stone which are clearly visible. When we walked inside the tower, we had to climb a very lengthy, spiral stairwell to get to the top. It was very cool, yet eerie.
In one of the other prison towers, we could see the carvings of the walls of past prisoners (see picture). Although there were many executions in the Tower of London, only a few "famous" prisoners were executed in the publlic courtyard. The tower is fully staffed with Yeomen Warders (also known as Beefeaters), at all times and answer to the Constable of the Tower. Yeomen Warders have served as defenders of the Crown Jewels and prison guards since the time of Queen Victoria. The crowned jewels were BEAUTIFUL; however, that seemed like a waste of money for this contry just sitting behind secured glass. There was sooooooo much gold and diamonds that could easily put a HUGE dent in this country's deficit. Oh well.
We finally made our way into the White Tower. This is the original tower/fortress build by William the Conqueror in 1078 A.D. Other towers and walls were built after his reign. The White Tower is the place of the armory for England's history. King Henry VIII's suit of armor indicates that he "thought very highly of himself in the man area." Cori and I laughed at this king's "big head." There were many of the torture devices, weaponry, suits of armor, and statues of the horses of various kings. There was just so much to see in the Tower of London. Cori, Charlie and I were able to see just about all of it before it closed.
After we exited the tower, we walked down by the River Thames to look at the Tower Bridge. And, much to our surprise and LUCK, the drawbridge opened!!! I could not believe my eyes!!! So cool!!! It is said that the drawbridge does not open that often, but if you see it when it does open, then "luck" is in the near future -- and, boy, do I need it now!!! We did not have time to go to the top of the Tower Bridge since it was Sunday afternoon and most things were closing; however, we did walk onto the bridge to experience its majesty. After that, Cori, Charlie, and I went to dinner at an English pub near Piccadilly Square. I loved just talking to Cori and spending time with her. After seven years, we really have not changed much. Oh sure, lots of things within our lives happened and some things changed, but neither one of us have changed "who we truly are." After dinner, I headed back to the Tube and Cori and Charlie went for frozen yogurt. It was very hard to say "good-bye" to Cori. I know that it will not be seven years before we see each other again. I will make sure of that!!! Last Sunday was a great day!!!
I love you, Cori, and miss you so much. I just love laughing with you!!! Talk to you soon, sweetie.
Trivia Answer: Trafalgar Square
YEAH, two correct answers!!!!
Yes, Admiral Horatio Nelson, the admiral who commanded the British Fleet at Trafalgar. is the statue which adorns the top of the Nelson Monument in Trafalgar Square. The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. The original name was to have been "King William the Fourth's Square", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square". On the north side of the square is the National Gallery and to its east St Martin-in-the-Fields church. The square adjoins The Mall via Admiralty Arch to the southwest. To the south is Whitehall, to the east Strand and South Africa House, to the north Charing Cross Road (this is the Tube stop for the London Underground to visit the square), and on the west side Canada House.
At the corners of the square are four plinths; the two northern ones were intended for equestrian statues, and thus are wider than the two southern. Three of them hold statues: George IV (northeast, 1840s), Henry Havelock (southeast, 1861), and Sir Charles James Napier (southwest, 1855). On the lawn in front of the National Gallery are two statues, James II to the west of the entrance portico and George Washington to the east. The latter statue, a gift from the state of Virginia, stands on soil imported from the United States. This was done in order to honour Washington's declaration he would never again set foot on British soil. A bust of the Second World War First Sea Lord Admiral Cunningham by Franta Belsky was unveiled in Trafalgar Square in April 1967 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The square used to be famous for its feral pigeons, and feeding them was a popular activity with Londoners and tourists. The estimated flock at its peak was 35,000, and considered a health hazard. In 2000, the sale of bird seed in the square was controversially terminated and other measures were introduced to discourage the pigeons, including the use of trained falcons. The square is a social and political location for visitors and Londoners alike. When my friends and I are out in the London area, we always meet at Trafalgar Square ON Nelson's Column -- we even got our pictures taken on the lion (I named him Leo - my astrological sign). This is an easy stop from the London Underground and definately a wonderful place to just "people watch." They have jugglers, artists of every kind- including sidewalk mural artisits - and tons of musicians. Definately world famous!!! And FUN!!!
I hope some of you are learning from these trivia questions. I am going to try to make the time frame for answering shorter -- like four days -- so I can do more. Best of luck on the next questions.
Yes, Admiral Horatio Nelson, the admiral who commanded the British Fleet at Trafalgar. is the statue which adorns the top of the Nelson Monument in Trafalgar Square. The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. The original name was to have been "King William the Fourth's Square", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square". On the north side of the square is the National Gallery and to its east St Martin-in-the-Fields church. The square adjoins The Mall via Admiralty Arch to the southwest. To the south is Whitehall, to the east Strand and South Africa House, to the north Charing Cross Road (this is the Tube stop for the London Underground to visit the square), and on the west side Canada House.
At the corners of the square are four plinths; the two northern ones were intended for equestrian statues, and thus are wider than the two southern. Three of them hold statues: George IV (northeast, 1840s), Henry Havelock (southeast, 1861), and Sir Charles James Napier (southwest, 1855). On the lawn in front of the National Gallery are two statues, James II to the west of the entrance portico and George Washington to the east. The latter statue, a gift from the state of Virginia, stands on soil imported from the United States. This was done in order to honour Washington's declaration he would never again set foot on British soil. A bust of the Second World War First Sea Lord Admiral Cunningham by Franta Belsky was unveiled in Trafalgar Square in April 1967 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The square used to be famous for its feral pigeons, and feeding them was a popular activity with Londoners and tourists. The estimated flock at its peak was 35,000, and considered a health hazard. In 2000, the sale of bird seed in the square was controversially terminated and other measures were introduced to discourage the pigeons, including the use of trained falcons. The square is a social and political location for visitors and Londoners alike. When my friends and I are out in the London area, we always meet at Trafalgar Square ON Nelson's Column -- we even got our pictures taken on the lion (I named him Leo - my astrological sign). This is an easy stop from the London Underground and definately a wonderful place to just "people watch." They have jugglers, artists of every kind- including sidewalk mural artisits - and tons of musicians. Definately world famous!!! And FUN!!!
I hope some of you are learning from these trivia questions. I am going to try to make the time frame for answering shorter -- like four days -- so I can do more. Best of luck on the next questions.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
London Irish Rugby!!!
I attended my first professional rugby game on Saturday and I had a teriffic time!!! The London Irish Rugby Team play in Reading at Majewski Stadium -- within walking distance from me. Since this was their last home game of the year, a few of us decided to attend just to experience the atmosphere. So awesome!!! Those guys are crazy -- and so are the players!!! By this I mean, the fans are so into this game over here, I feel like I am at a Steelers/Browns game. The cheering is soooooooooo cool. The fans really do have a great time at these games.
As for the game and players themselves, what a wicked sport!!! Beating the crap of an opposing team member is "just part of the game." It can only be described as "controled chaos!" I tried to follow the ball at all times; however, I lost it so many times in the pile of tangeled bodies. All of a sudden the crowd would cheer, and low and behold, some guy would be racing down the field with the ball, and I never saw it come out of the pile. Here's the best part -- when a player gets injured, the medical staff race onto the field while the play is still in progress. Shit, I would not want to be a trainer or medical staff on a rugby team no matter how much they paid me. Their lives are at stake and those players are psycho!!! I will ALWAYS try to make friends with a rugby player from now on.
The London Irish are close to the bottom of the league, but I still had a great time. There were four of us that went and none of us knew the game. It was very cold and damp on Saturday, but that made the atmosphere all the better. Like I said, just like a Steelers/Browns football game. Reading has a football (soccer) team called the Reading Royals, who plays in the Championship League, and I will be attending many of their games next year, since this season is over. The Championship League is one league down from the Premier League, which Chelsea just won today. Usually Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are playing for the Premier League Cup almost every year. Reading did fairly well this year, but missed their bid to move up into the Premier League by just a few points. Maybe next year they will do better.
I posted a few pictures of my first rugby game over to the right. Today (Sunday), I am meeting a great friend of mine in London, as she is on vacation over here for a few days, then she is on to Paris. Monday will be a very good day -- I have supervision with my team supervisor and she is a HUGE Chelsea fan. How awesome is that for me!!! It's always nice for the boss to be in a good mood -- especially when your home team wins the Premier League Cup. SWEET!!! Check out the pictures - it was fun times!!!
As for the game and players themselves, what a wicked sport!!! Beating the crap of an opposing team member is "just part of the game." It can only be described as "controled chaos!" I tried to follow the ball at all times; however, I lost it so many times in the pile of tangeled bodies. All of a sudden the crowd would cheer, and low and behold, some guy would be racing down the field with the ball, and I never saw it come out of the pile. Here's the best part -- when a player gets injured, the medical staff race onto the field while the play is still in progress. Shit, I would not want to be a trainer or medical staff on a rugby team no matter how much they paid me. Their lives are at stake and those players are psycho!!! I will ALWAYS try to make friends with a rugby player from now on.
The London Irish are close to the bottom of the league, but I still had a great time. There were four of us that went and none of us knew the game. It was very cold and damp on Saturday, but that made the atmosphere all the better. Like I said, just like a Steelers/Browns football game. Reading has a football (soccer) team called the Reading Royals, who plays in the Championship League, and I will be attending many of their games next year, since this season is over. The Championship League is one league down from the Premier League, which Chelsea just won today. Usually Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are playing for the Premier League Cup almost every year. Reading did fairly well this year, but missed their bid to move up into the Premier League by just a few points. Maybe next year they will do better.
I posted a few pictures of my first rugby game over to the right. Today (Sunday), I am meeting a great friend of mine in London, as she is on vacation over here for a few days, then she is on to Paris. Monday will be a very good day -- I have supervision with my team supervisor and she is a HUGE Chelsea fan. How awesome is that for me!!! It's always nice for the boss to be in a good mood -- especially when your home team wins the Premier League Cup. SWEET!!! Check out the pictures - it was fun times!!!
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Trivia Answer: The River Thames and interesting facts.
The River Thames is the second longest river in the United Kingdom and the longest river entirely in England, rising at Thames Head in Gloucestershire, and flowing into the North Sea at the Thames Estuary. It has a special significance in flowing through London, the capital of the United Kingdom, although London only includes a short part of its course. The river is tidal in London with a rise and fall of 7 metres (23 ft) and becomes non-tidal at Teddington Lock. The catchment area covers a large part of South Eastern and Western England and the river is fed by over 20 tributaries. The river contains over 80 islands, and having both seawater and freshwater stretches supports a variety of wildlife.
The Thames has a length of 215 miles. Its usually quoted source is at Thames Head, about a mile north of the village of Kemble and near the town of Cirencester, in the Cotswolds. This makes it the longest river entirely in England, although the River Severn, which is partly in Wales, is a longer river in the United Kingdom.
Origin of the Name
The Thames, from Middle English Temese, is derived from the Celtic name for the river, Tamesas, recorded in Latin as Tamesis and underlying modern Welsh Tafwys. The name probably meant "dark" and can be compared to other cognates such as Irish teimheal and Welsh tywyll "darkness" and Middle Irish teimen "dark grey," indicating muddiness. The river's name has always been pronounced with a simple t /t/. The th spelling lends an air of Greek to the name and was added during the Renaissance, possibly to reflect or support a belief that the name was derived from River Thyamis in the Epirus region of Greece, where early Celtic tribes were erroneously thought to have migrated.
Wildlife
Various species of bird feed off the river or nest on it, some being found both at sea and inland. These include Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, and Herring Gull. The Swan is a familiar sight on the river but the escaped Black Swan is more rare. The annual ceremony of Swan upping is an old tradition of counting stocks. Non-native geese that can be seen include Canada Geese, Egyptian Geese, and Bar-headed Geese, and ducks include the familiar native Mallard, plus introduced Mandarin Duck and Wood Duck. Other water birds to be found include the Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Heron, and Kingfisher.
The Thames contains both seawater and freshwater, thus providing support for seawater and freshwater fish. The salmon, which inhabits both environments, has been reintroduced and a succession of fish ladders has been built into weirs to allow it to travel upstream. The eel is particularly associated with the Thames and there were formerly many eel traps designed to catch them. Some of the freshwater fish to be found in the Thames and its tributaries include brown trout, chub, dace, roach, barbel, perch, pike, bleak, and flounder. Colonies of short-snouted seahorses have also recently been discovered in the river. In addition the Thames is host to some invasive crustaceans, including the signal crayfish and the Chinese Mitten Crab.
On January 20, 2006 a northern 16–18 ft bottle-nosed whale was spotted in the Thames and was seen as far upstream as Chelsea. This is extremely unusual because this type of whale is generally found in deep sea waters. Crowds gathered along the riverbanks to witness the extraordinary spectacle. But it soon became clear there was cause for concern, as the animal came within yards of the banks, almost beaching, and crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding. Approximately 12 hours later, the whale was believed to be seen again near Greenwich, possibly heading back to sea. There was a rescue attempt lasting several hours, but it eventually died on a barge.
Human History
Under the Emperor Claudius in AD 43 the Romans occupied England and, recognising the River's strategic and economic importance, built fortifications along the Thames valley including a major camp at Dorchester. Two hills, now known as Cornhill and Ludgate Hill, provided a firm base for a trading centre at the lowest possible point on the Thames called Londinium where a bridge was built. The next Roman bridge upstream was at Staines to which point boats could be swept up on the rising tide with no need for wind or muscle power. Many of the Thames’ riverside settlements trace their origins back to very early roots and the suffix—“ing” in towns such as Goring and Reading (this is where I live & work) owe their origins to the Saxons. Recent research suggests that these peoples preceded the Romans rather than replaced them. The river’s long tradition of farming, fishing, milling and trade with other nations started with these peoples and has continued to the present day. Competition for the use of the river created the centuries-old conflict between those who wanted to dam the river to build millraces and fish traps and those who wanted to travel and carry goods on it. Economic prosperity and the foundation of wealthy monasteries by the Anglo-Saxons attracted unwelcome visitors and by around AD 870 the Vikings were sweeping up the Thames on the tide and creating havoc as in their destruction of Chertsey Abbey.
Once King William had won total control of the strategic Thames Valley, he went on to invade the rest of England. He had many castles built, including those at Wallingford, Rochester, Windsor and most importantly the Tower of London. Many details of Thames activity are recorded in the Domesday book. The following centuries saw the conflict between King and Barons coming to a head in AD 1215 when King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta on an island in the Thames at Runnymede. This granted them among a host of other things under Clause 23 the Right of Navigation. Another major consequence of John’s reign was the completion of the multi-piered London Bridge which acted as a barricade and barrage on the river, affecting the tidal flow upstream and increasing the likelihood of freezing over. In Tudor and Stuart times, the Kings and Queens loved the river and built magnificent riverside palaces at Hampton Court, Kew, Richmond on Thames, Whitehall and Greenwich.
The 16th and 17th centuries saw the City of London grow with the expansion of world trade. The Dutch navy even entered the Thames in 1667 in the raid on the Medway. A cold series of winters led to the Thames freezing over above London Bridge, and this led to the first Frost Fair in 1607, complete with ice bowling. In good conditions barges travelled daily from Oxford to London carrying timber and wool, foodstuffs and livestock, battling with the millers on the way. The stone from the Cotswolds used to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire in 1666 was brought all the way down from Radcot. The Thames provided the major highway between London and Westminster in the 16th and 17th centuries and the clannish guild of watermen ferried Londoners from landing to landing and tolerated no outside interference.
By the 18th century, the Thames was one of the world's busiest waterways, as London became the centre of the vast, mercantile British Empire and progressively over the next century. Efforts were made to resolve the navigation conflicts up stream by building locks along the Thames. After temperatures began to rise again, starting in 1814, the river stopped freezing over completely. The building of a new London Bridge in 1825, with fewer pillars than the old, allowed the river to flow more freely and reduced the likelihood of freezing over in cold winters.
The Victorian era was an era of imaginative engineering. In the 'Great Stink' of 1858, pollution in the river reached such proportions that sittings at the House of Commons at Westminster had to be abandoned. A concerted effort to contain the city's sewage by constructing massive sewers on the north and south river embankments followed. Meanwhile, similar huge undertakings took place to ensure water supply, with the building of reservoirs and pumping stations on the river to the west of London. The coming of rail added both spectacular and ugly railway bridges which reduced commercial activity on the river. However sporting and leisure use increased with the establishment of regattas such as Henley (this is just a short bus ride away from me) and The Boat Race. On September 3, 1878, one of the worst river disasters in England took place, when the crowded pleasure boat Princess Alice collided with the Bywell Castle, killing over 640 people.
The growth of road transport and the decline of the Empire, in the years following 1914, reduced the economic prominence of the river. During World War II the protection of the Thames was crucial to the defence of the country. Defences included the Maunsell forts in the estuary and barrage balloons to cope with the threat of German bombers using the distinctive shape of the river to navigate during The Blitz. Although the Port of London remains one of the UK's three main ports, most trade has moved downstream from central London. The decline of manufacturing industry and improved sewage treatment have led to a massive clean-up since the filthy days of the late 19th and early- to mid-20th centuries, and aquatic life has returned to its formerly 'dead' waters. In the early 1980s a massive flood-control device, the Thames Barrier, was opened. It is closed several times a year to prevent water damage to London's low-lying areas upstream. In the late 1990s, the 7-mile long Jubilee River was built, which acts as a flood channel for the Thames around Maidenhead and Windsor. Alongside the river runs the Thames Path, providing a route for walkers and cyclists.
Well, I hope you liked this history lesson on the River Thames. Thank you for participating with my trivia questions. Sandy, I will make you a scholar yet!!!
The Thames has a length of 215 miles. Its usually quoted source is at Thames Head, about a mile north of the village of Kemble and near the town of Cirencester, in the Cotswolds. This makes it the longest river entirely in England, although the River Severn, which is partly in Wales, is a longer river in the United Kingdom.
Origin of the Name
The Thames, from Middle English Temese, is derived from the Celtic name for the river, Tamesas, recorded in Latin as Tamesis and underlying modern Welsh Tafwys. The name probably meant "dark" and can be compared to other cognates such as Irish teimheal and Welsh tywyll "darkness" and Middle Irish teimen "dark grey," indicating muddiness. The river's name has always been pronounced with a simple t /t/. The th spelling lends an air of Greek to the name and was added during the Renaissance, possibly to reflect or support a belief that the name was derived from River Thyamis in the Epirus region of Greece, where early Celtic tribes were erroneously thought to have migrated.
Wildlife
Various species of bird feed off the river or nest on it, some being found both at sea and inland. These include Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, and Herring Gull. The Swan is a familiar sight on the river but the escaped Black Swan is more rare. The annual ceremony of Swan upping is an old tradition of counting stocks. Non-native geese that can be seen include Canada Geese, Egyptian Geese, and Bar-headed Geese, and ducks include the familiar native Mallard, plus introduced Mandarin Duck and Wood Duck. Other water birds to be found include the Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Heron, and Kingfisher.
The Thames contains both seawater and freshwater, thus providing support for seawater and freshwater fish. The salmon, which inhabits both environments, has been reintroduced and a succession of fish ladders has been built into weirs to allow it to travel upstream. The eel is particularly associated with the Thames and there were formerly many eel traps designed to catch them. Some of the freshwater fish to be found in the Thames and its tributaries include brown trout, chub, dace, roach, barbel, perch, pike, bleak, and flounder. Colonies of short-snouted seahorses have also recently been discovered in the river. In addition the Thames is host to some invasive crustaceans, including the signal crayfish and the Chinese Mitten Crab.
On January 20, 2006 a northern 16–18 ft bottle-nosed whale was spotted in the Thames and was seen as far upstream as Chelsea. This is extremely unusual because this type of whale is generally found in deep sea waters. Crowds gathered along the riverbanks to witness the extraordinary spectacle. But it soon became clear there was cause for concern, as the animal came within yards of the banks, almost beaching, and crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding. Approximately 12 hours later, the whale was believed to be seen again near Greenwich, possibly heading back to sea. There was a rescue attempt lasting several hours, but it eventually died on a barge.
Human History
Under the Emperor Claudius in AD 43 the Romans occupied England and, recognising the River's strategic and economic importance, built fortifications along the Thames valley including a major camp at Dorchester. Two hills, now known as Cornhill and Ludgate Hill, provided a firm base for a trading centre at the lowest possible point on the Thames called Londinium where a bridge was built. The next Roman bridge upstream was at Staines to which point boats could be swept up on the rising tide with no need for wind or muscle power. Many of the Thames’ riverside settlements trace their origins back to very early roots and the suffix—“ing” in towns such as Goring and Reading (this is where I live & work) owe their origins to the Saxons. Recent research suggests that these peoples preceded the Romans rather than replaced them. The river’s long tradition of farming, fishing, milling and trade with other nations started with these peoples and has continued to the present day. Competition for the use of the river created the centuries-old conflict between those who wanted to dam the river to build millraces and fish traps and those who wanted to travel and carry goods on it. Economic prosperity and the foundation of wealthy monasteries by the Anglo-Saxons attracted unwelcome visitors and by around AD 870 the Vikings were sweeping up the Thames on the tide and creating havoc as in their destruction of Chertsey Abbey.
Once King William had won total control of the strategic Thames Valley, he went on to invade the rest of England. He had many castles built, including those at Wallingford, Rochester, Windsor and most importantly the Tower of London. Many details of Thames activity are recorded in the Domesday book. The following centuries saw the conflict between King and Barons coming to a head in AD 1215 when King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta on an island in the Thames at Runnymede. This granted them among a host of other things under Clause 23 the Right of Navigation. Another major consequence of John’s reign was the completion of the multi-piered London Bridge which acted as a barricade and barrage on the river, affecting the tidal flow upstream and increasing the likelihood of freezing over. In Tudor and Stuart times, the Kings and Queens loved the river and built magnificent riverside palaces at Hampton Court, Kew, Richmond on Thames, Whitehall and Greenwich.
The 16th and 17th centuries saw the City of London grow with the expansion of world trade. The Dutch navy even entered the Thames in 1667 in the raid on the Medway. A cold series of winters led to the Thames freezing over above London Bridge, and this led to the first Frost Fair in 1607, complete with ice bowling. In good conditions barges travelled daily from Oxford to London carrying timber and wool, foodstuffs and livestock, battling with the millers on the way. The stone from the Cotswolds used to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire in 1666 was brought all the way down from Radcot. The Thames provided the major highway between London and Westminster in the 16th and 17th centuries and the clannish guild of watermen ferried Londoners from landing to landing and tolerated no outside interference.
By the 18th century, the Thames was one of the world's busiest waterways, as London became the centre of the vast, mercantile British Empire and progressively over the next century. Efforts were made to resolve the navigation conflicts up stream by building locks along the Thames. After temperatures began to rise again, starting in 1814, the river stopped freezing over completely. The building of a new London Bridge in 1825, with fewer pillars than the old, allowed the river to flow more freely and reduced the likelihood of freezing over in cold winters.
The Victorian era was an era of imaginative engineering. In the 'Great Stink' of 1858, pollution in the river reached such proportions that sittings at the House of Commons at Westminster had to be abandoned. A concerted effort to contain the city's sewage by constructing massive sewers on the north and south river embankments followed. Meanwhile, similar huge undertakings took place to ensure water supply, with the building of reservoirs and pumping stations on the river to the west of London. The coming of rail added both spectacular and ugly railway bridges which reduced commercial activity on the river. However sporting and leisure use increased with the establishment of regattas such as Henley (this is just a short bus ride away from me) and The Boat Race. On September 3, 1878, one of the worst river disasters in England took place, when the crowded pleasure boat Princess Alice collided with the Bywell Castle, killing over 640 people.
The growth of road transport and the decline of the Empire, in the years following 1914, reduced the economic prominence of the river. During World War II the protection of the Thames was crucial to the defence of the country. Defences included the Maunsell forts in the estuary and barrage balloons to cope with the threat of German bombers using the distinctive shape of the river to navigate during The Blitz. Although the Port of London remains one of the UK's three main ports, most trade has moved downstream from central London. The decline of manufacturing industry and improved sewage treatment have led to a massive clean-up since the filthy days of the late 19th and early- to mid-20th centuries, and aquatic life has returned to its formerly 'dead' waters. In the early 1980s a massive flood-control device, the Thames Barrier, was opened. It is closed several times a year to prevent water damage to London's low-lying areas upstream. In the late 1990s, the 7-mile long Jubilee River was built, which acts as a flood channel for the Thames around Maidenhead and Windsor. Alongside the river runs the Thames Path, providing a route for walkers and cyclists.
Well, I hope you liked this history lesson on the River Thames. Thank you for participating with my trivia questions. Sandy, I will make you a scholar yet!!!
Thursday, May 06, 2010
UK Experiment
Well, everyone, so far the best news I have this week is that my sister, Cathy (Yeah Cathy!!!), has heard the whereabouts of my belongings, which should have landed in the UK back in March. After tireless hours of research and phone calls, my dear ELDEST sister, was informed that my "stuff" is now on a ship across the Atlantic. Although this is good news, I am skeptical of this information until it actually arrives. I was informed of the same thing 3 months ago. Time will only tell. Once again, yeah for Cathy!!!
Okay, now onto my UK experiement. I must first give you a tiny backgound on why I chose to do this experiment. You see, very quickly after i arrived in the UK and Reading, I noticed that many people do not look very happy here. I said 'hello' to a few people just walking by me on the way to work, and when we caught each other's eye, no one said 'hello' back. My new collegues noticed the same thing.
Well . . . last week I wrote in my blog that I was sad, depressed, and homesick -- which by the way, I still am though not as much. Over this past long weekend, I was trying to force myself to 'be happy' or 'feel better,' which I know as a therapist is something that cannot be forced. Taking my own advice which I give to others, I decided that no matter how down I feel, I was going to wear a smile on my face. So, as I was walking to work on Tuesday morning, I decided to keep my head up (which I normally do when I walk) and wear a smile. Not a cheesy or teeth-bearing smile, but a simple one. That's when my experiement started!
I decided to smile as I was out in public and look other people in the eye (not a staring glare), and if we caught eye contact, I would say hello; no matter who they were. By today, this has now become comical. I get some looks as though I am a crazy person!!! However, my finding so far are quite interesting because there is one population of people who usually said hello. Wanna guess who they may be? The homeless! Yes folks, the homeless (or rough sleepers) are the only group of people who consitantly said hello or smiled back at me. And you know ask/beg for money or food to survive; therefore they know just how important it is to be friendly to another person. And, BTW, I am not saying that all homeless people in the UK or Reading are like this. Nor am I saying that all the homeless are nice people. What I AM saying is that the homeless population are good at being social. Most of them know how to get what they need to survive on the street.
Okay, now I know what many of you are thinking right now. "Oh, sure they know how to get what they want -- alcohol, drugs, sex, yadda, yadda, yadda -- they all are like that." I am not saying this to everyone who reads this blog thinks this; however, many people do think this about the homeless population, and it's a label that they wear as part of their status. Evidence-based reseach has shown this to be true. Personally, I do not believe that most of the homeless population are drug users, or alcoholics, or sex offenders. I dodo believe that many are these things; however, many are not as well.
Let me get down from my soapbox now and finish with my experimental findings. There was also one population which almost never said 'hello' back to me. That is the elderly population (60-ish and above). I think I counted about five elderly people who said hello back, and only a few more who smiled back at me. Which, I can understand as well. I can see that they may not want to make themselves vulnerable to a stranger on the street by smiling or saying. Maybe they are late for an appointment (since most walk slower - Cheers!). Or, maybe they are just set in their ways and do not want to bother with a younger person. I have no idea why this population of individuals did not return my smile or said hello.
I am going to continue my little experiment through tomorrow to see how this plays out. This just started out as my way of trying to better my spirits, but it turned into a week-long experiment for me; albeit a fun one. This is a fascinating experiment which I recommend you try at home. Why? Because your little smile may brighten someone else's day and that is PRICELESS!!! Isn't that what God wants us to do? I believe it is.
Okay, now onto my UK experiement. I must first give you a tiny backgound on why I chose to do this experiment. You see, very quickly after i arrived in the UK and Reading, I noticed that many people do not look very happy here. I said 'hello' to a few people just walking by me on the way to work, and when we caught each other's eye, no one said 'hello' back. My new collegues noticed the same thing.
Well . . . last week I wrote in my blog that I was sad, depressed, and homesick -- which by the way, I still am though not as much. Over this past long weekend, I was trying to force myself to 'be happy' or 'feel better,' which I know as a therapist is something that cannot be forced. Taking my own advice which I give to others, I decided that no matter how down I feel, I was going to wear a smile on my face. So, as I was walking to work on Tuesday morning, I decided to keep my head up (which I normally do when I walk) and wear a smile. Not a cheesy or teeth-bearing smile, but a simple one. That's when my experiement started!
I decided to smile as I was out in public and look other people in the eye (not a staring glare), and if we caught eye contact, I would say hello; no matter who they were. By today, this has now become comical. I get some looks as though I am a crazy person!!! However, my finding so far are quite interesting because there is one population of people who usually said hello. Wanna guess who they may be? The homeless! Yes folks, the homeless (or rough sleepers) are the only group of people who consitantly said hello or smiled back at me. And you know ask/beg for money or food to survive; therefore they know just how important it is to be friendly to another person. And, BTW, I am not saying that all homeless people in the UK or Reading are like this. Nor am I saying that all the homeless are nice people. What I AM saying is that the homeless population are good at being social. Most of them know how to get what they need to survive on the street.
Okay, now I know what many of you are thinking right now. "Oh, sure they know how to get what they want -- alcohol, drugs, sex, yadda, yadda, yadda -- they all are like that." I am not saying this to everyone who reads this blog thinks this; however, many people do think this about the homeless population, and it's a label that they wear as part of their status. Evidence-based reseach has shown this to be true. Personally, I do not believe that most of the homeless population are drug users, or alcoholics, or sex offenders. I dodo believe that many are these things; however, many are not as well.
Let me get down from my soapbox now and finish with my experimental findings. There was also one population which almost never said 'hello' back to me. That is the elderly population (60-ish and above). I think I counted about five elderly people who said hello back, and only a few more who smiled back at me. Which, I can understand as well. I can see that they may not want to make themselves vulnerable to a stranger on the street by smiling or saying. Maybe they are late for an appointment (since most walk slower - Cheers!). Or, maybe they are just set in their ways and do not want to bother with a younger person. I have no idea why this population of individuals did not return my smile or said hello.
I am going to continue my little experiment through tomorrow to see how this plays out. This just started out as my way of trying to better my spirits, but it turned into a week-long experiment for me; albeit a fun one. This is a fascinating experiment which I recommend you try at home. Why? Because your little smile may brighten someone else's day and that is PRICELESS!!! Isn't that what God wants us to do? I believe it is.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Sunday Reflection: Week 9
This is a very difficult post to write. I have had a difficult week at work and at home, and I am feeling the effects of my move to a foreign country. It is weighing heavily on my shoulders. There is just so much to do, not only with work, but in my daily living as well. You see folks, I packed and shipped 22 boxes of all that I own in this world to be delivered over here so I could start a new life here. Well, that was back in February. Today, May 1st, I still do not have any of my belongings and now the shipping company cannot find my things. They gave me the name of the company here in England to where my belongings would be shipped, but the company here does not have record of receiving my things. So when I contacted the shipper back in the states, they gave me a container number to check over here. When I called back the storage company over here, they said that the container number I gave them DID arrive on March 22nd; however, this container did not have my belongings inside. Inside this container was someone else's things. So when I tried to get an answer from the shipper back in the states, I got no answer. They will not return my emails or my phone calls. All my physical possessions are "misplaced" somewhere between Pittsburgh and London -- probably at the bottom of the ocean or being sold on the street somewhere.
Thankfully, I have family and friends in the USA who are willing to make some calls and investigate where my belongings are located. Hopefully, they were just loaded in a different container. However, I have paid the shippers $1,300.00+ dollars and have nothing to show for it. Thank God I did not ship my cats over here or they may be shark food by now. Okay, so I sound defeated. Well, that's actually the way I feel right now. Along with the pressures and stresses of work, I have to locate my belongings, fix an enormous error by my new bank, and try to maintain my health and sanity. Quite a difficult task for someone moving to a new country on her own.
After having "boo-hooed" to some friends and family via emails, I have to say that I am not feeling any more positive at this time. Even though I had a few bright spots during this past week; overall, I feel defeated. It has only been through my prayers, your prayers, and the encouragement of those to whom I have emailed that I have been able to continue to get out of bed in the mornings. I am truly exhausted!!! I do not have any energy left at the end of each day to even make dinner for myself. I know that many of you are thinking about my past health issues, but for now, I am doing okay. This coming week will be the true test of my determination and committment to continue my work in England. God is definately putting me to the test -- I just pray I can pass it.
Many of you know that I have found a church which is welcoming and feels like home, yet nothing has compared to Christ Church or Holy Family Catholic Chruch. Maybe that is due to the fact that you are my family and I miss my church family as much as I miss my own family. I guess when someone builds a life of 3 years in one area; it is difficult to relocate to somewhere foreign and alone. I listen to the podcasts from Christ Church every week, so that has definately been helping me through this rough time.
I guess this did not turn out to be much of a "Sunday Reflection" post like I was planning on writing. It turned out to be more of a personal reflection on my end. I am homesick, folks, and all I ask is that you keep me in your prayers as I struggle through this very difficult and trying time. Thank you all for your continued support. I am trying to do what God has asked of me, but it feels to me that I am failing royally with His plan. I can only ask for guidance from Him to know where to turn and what to do next. God bless everyone.
Thankfully, I have family and friends in the USA who are willing to make some calls and investigate where my belongings are located. Hopefully, they were just loaded in a different container. However, I have paid the shippers $1,300.00+ dollars and have nothing to show for it. Thank God I did not ship my cats over here or they may be shark food by now. Okay, so I sound defeated. Well, that's actually the way I feel right now. Along with the pressures and stresses of work, I have to locate my belongings, fix an enormous error by my new bank, and try to maintain my health and sanity. Quite a difficult task for someone moving to a new country on her own.
After having "boo-hooed" to some friends and family via emails, I have to say that I am not feeling any more positive at this time. Even though I had a few bright spots during this past week; overall, I feel defeated. It has only been through my prayers, your prayers, and the encouragement of those to whom I have emailed that I have been able to continue to get out of bed in the mornings. I am truly exhausted!!! I do not have any energy left at the end of each day to even make dinner for myself. I know that many of you are thinking about my past health issues, but for now, I am doing okay. This coming week will be the true test of my determination and committment to continue my work in England. God is definately putting me to the test -- I just pray I can pass it.
Many of you know that I have found a church which is welcoming and feels like home, yet nothing has compared to Christ Church or Holy Family Catholic Chruch. Maybe that is due to the fact that you are my family and I miss my church family as much as I miss my own family. I guess when someone builds a life of 3 years in one area; it is difficult to relocate to somewhere foreign and alone. I listen to the podcasts from Christ Church every week, so that has definately been helping me through this rough time.
I guess this did not turn out to be much of a "Sunday Reflection" post like I was planning on writing. It turned out to be more of a personal reflection on my end. I am homesick, folks, and all I ask is that you keep me in your prayers as I struggle through this very difficult and trying time. Thank you all for your continued support. I am trying to do what God has asked of me, but it feels to me that I am failing royally with His plan. I can only ask for guidance from Him to know where to turn and what to do next. God bless everyone.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
NEW LOOK
I changed my blog page with the changing season. I hope you like it. I will try to keep adding or changing things on my blog page to keep it fresh. Let me know what you like and do not like, so I can satisfy my adoring public.
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