Week 4

We spent Saturday 22nd of September in London for the first time.  My mother-in-law, Ann and her husband Dan Nalin arrived this week and we met them in London for the day.  The day was sunny so it was a perfect day to take a boat cruise on the Thames River and an open air -double decker bus tour of the city.  London seemed very big, and extremely crowded.  It was open house weekend, where many of the famous buildings in town are either open for free or open to the public for one day all year.  Even one of our bus tour guides couldn't help saying "hey kids, Parliment, Big Ben" as we drove around a round-about near those famous landmarks. (European Vacation movie quote). 

 Tower Bridge -- the Olympic rings have been taken down now.

We plan to come back to London when David and Jessica come over in November, so we will go up in the "Eye" of London and visit the Tower of London too. 

 

Erica has the "Harlaxton cold" that the rest of us had 2 weeks ago -- at least we hope it is the same virus. Stayed in today and watched movies most of the day-- it is raining and about 55 degrees F.  We did manage to play frisbee in the gym until my lack of athletic skills showed and I got smashed in the lip with the frisbee.  Jacob felt terrible that he accidentally gave mom a swollen lip.  We had roasted lamb for dinner and felt very British. Erica tried it and liked it, Jacob passed-couldn't eat his  Time is going faster, we are entering week 5 already. Counting down the days until David and Jess get here -- we are about at the half way point of our 90 separation.  TOO LONG!!  Going to Eyam the plague village with the nursing students on Tuesday and leaving Thursday for 4 days in Ireland with my in-laws.  Looking forward to seeing the beautiful countryside of southwestern Ireland and the city of Dublin. 

Week 3 -- Bath, England

     Well we are behind on our weekly blog.  Our most recent trip was to Bath, England and Stonehenge.   We shared our last trip with Memom and Papaw (Kavanaughs) before they left and celebrated Jacob's 12 birthday.  Bath was more beautiful than I imagined.  The Romans bath museum that surrounds the ancient Roman bath from over 2000 years ago was amazing. Erica loved the "walkie talkie" kids audio tour at the Bath.  We just don't understand "old" very well in the US.  Stonehenge was Jacob's favorite place. Dating to about 5000 years ago, it is still a wonder today.  Surprise too, Chevy Chase aka, Clark Griswald didn't knock it down after all -- ha!! 

      We stayed in a B and B that has been on site since around 1090 and the "current" building dated back to the 1500s.  Real modern place.  Erica had to take a "bath" in Bath.  She was the only one, the rest of us just got showers.
      We have switched Jacob's school.  The private boys school was so different and completely intimidating with 14 different classes and teachers rotating through a 10 day varying schedule.  Both kids are now going to the same school  and it has solved a lot of problems.  Jacob is enjoying wearing a sweatshirt uniform, instead of the coat and tie!! His current teacher said she just wanted to be sure Jacob enjoyed being in England -- I could have hugged her  - especially after the difficult time at the other school.

Bath, England architecture

 

 Jacob heading to Hogwarts (at London King's Cross train station)

 

 

 

 

     My nursing students and I went to a very rewarding clinical experience at Dove Cottage -- a day, "spa" for hospice patients.  We have nothing like it in the US that I know of.  The chaplain told us that a hospice is a place for people to stop as they travel along their journey.  It was a perfect description for Dove.  The nurses and staff and "guests" were very welcoming.  I also learned how to properly score Scrabble games!!
     This past weekend we staying here at the manor and explored more.  Jacob has perfected "lawn surfing" and Erica "rolling down the hills".  There is a perfect hill right behind the manner with long, soft grass that allows smooth "surfing" down the hill -- head first on your back with a hoody sweatshirt on.  I have some funny video of the kids rolling and surfing and then me trying.  Let's just say trash bags don't help you slide down, they just cause you to trip easier!! We also went to the local Harlaxton village Anglican church.  I learned it really isn't that different from our Methodist church at home -- we sang a hymn that I have sung before and the communion responses and readings were much the same.  Church building was just a bit older -- about 800 years older -- that's all!!

Harlaxton village church

 

Half the nursing class at Dove Cottage

 

We hope to go to Nottingham and Sherwood forest next weekend and to Ireland the week after.  Ann and Dan Nalin should be here midweek to visit. 
Until next week!!

Week 2
We loved going to Scotland. Went to Edinburgh and saw the castle on the rock -- pictures will never capture how magnificent it is. We all tried Haggis -- even the kids. It wasn't terrible -- kind of like a liver sausage with grain. Couldn't go to Scotland without trying Haggis.
Then on to Inverness -- that is why I wanted to go! We had the greatest day with a personal tour guide -- a 6ft. 4 in Scotsman in a kilt!! He took us to Clava Cairns ( a Scottish version of Stonehenge -- just smaller.) It was built around 4000 years ago. (older than the pyramids in Egypt).

We also went to Culloden battle field -- the site of the 1746 Scottish highlander slaughter by the British. The mass graves are still evident. Really nice museum and gift shop too. (Readers of Diana Gabaldon books will understand how important the sites were for me to visit.) Jacob seemed to appreciate it to and both kids were called up to act out soldier roles in a demonstation. Erica even wore a long dress.
We had lunch at a storehouse/trade house dating back to the 1740s owned by the Munros of Scotland. We saw a common seal on a nearby rock in a bay of the North Sea. We then toured a whiskey distillery owned by the Mackenize family for hundreds of years. Had a taste of Scottish whiskey -- that was actually better than I imagined. We then went to Fraser lands and had high tea at a house that could have been Lallybroch -- built in the late 1600s. It was called Ord House and is a hotel now. Original stone floors are still visible in the hall. Erica just loved the black lab mom and pup and chased some chickens. We held a sword from the 1700s and had a lesson on Scottish sword fighting.

We finished the day with a drive over to Loch Ness -- the water was cold and blackish and the wind strong that day. We did not see Nessie, but did grab a few of the pinkish rocks from the edge of the water. We have become better at managing the train system -- we were on and off at several stations.

Now back to reality and a bunch of student assignments to grade.

This is our beautiful ornate classroom that we meet in and video conference with our fellow classmates at UE.

Manor house- Harlaxton