CHRISTMAS IN LONDON WITH FAMILY

Emily's and Andrew's teachers had been wonderful in getting their 2 weeks of homework organized before we left. Even though one week of it was for after the Christmas break. And they even stayed in touch during the break via email, especially when the kids had questions about something.

But it still required some coaxing to get them to do it. On Thursday, the 23rd, we "divided and conquered." Carol and Emily went to the city and visited the Victoria and Albert Museum and Harrod's. Tom and Andrew stayed at the flat while Andrew did homework.

On Christmas Eve, we rested during the day and went to St. John the Baptist Church in High Barnet. Just a short walk from the flat for a beautiful Christmas musical service. The earliest part of the existing building was built in 1560, or the late 1400's, depending on your source of information.



The REALLY INTERESTING part of the church history, to me at least is that the dark stone that you see in the building is FLINT ! Hey, it's what they had available and apparently the work force was cheap. I can't imagine trying to cut enough flint blocks to build a church, but there it stands.

Just down the street from the Church is Tom and Ann's favorite neighborhood pub. Ye Olde Mitre Inne, established in 1636.



After the wonderful service, we came home and "hung the stockings with care" thanks to Tom's ingenious apparatus to hold all 9 stockings without putting holes in the mantle !




Our Tree



Christmas Day was a little subdued, giftwise, for the 5 kids. We told Emily and Andrew that we were not going to carry gifts to London just to try and figure out how to bring them back home along with all the souvenirs that we knew we'd buy. So we gave them some English money and each got a new camera before we left.

But Tom and I hit the "Cherry shops" - Picture a Goodwill store of about 400 sq ft, dedicated to a specific local charity. There were at least 8 or 10 of them on High Street.

We found a Griffendor hat for Andrew



And a tee-shirt for Emily



Sarah got some Playmobil, including this van that she and Emily are assembling




To add yet another family tradition to our blended families, Carol made her mother's Lasagna - from memory because she forgot to bring the recipe to London. Carol said it wasn't right but none of us had ever had her mother's so we thought it was great. Except for Casey and Sarah who said, "It's too cheesy". TOO CHEESY ???? Isn't that like "too garlicky" - just can't happen?


In the afternoon, all except Tom and Ben went to see "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" from the "Chronicles of Narnia" in 3D. You will remember, I'm sure that Emily's one "must do" in England was to visit C. S. Lewis' grave which I wrote about in a previous blog.

Just four more days until Paris but we'll stay busy in London. Starting Monday because transportation workers are on strike on Sunday.

LONDON - CHRISTMAS IS COMING

We did not return the cars on Monday. So Tuesday we took advantage of our freedom and went to London's largest mall for last minute Christmas shopping. After the mall we took the cars back and brought home pizza.

Wednesday the four of us went to "the city". The plan was to see St. Paul's Cathedral, stopping at King's Cross Station to find "Platform 9 3/4".


We thought that after St. Paul's we'd take a bus ride to some other sites. But we spent most of the day at St' Paul's. It was so beautiful and interesting, for all of us, for different reasons.




AGAIN, we were not allowed to take pictures. BUT there are public domain photos that show some of what we admired.

The Dome



And a 360 degree picture of the High Altar



We climbed most of the way up the Dome. We couldn't go to the very top because of the snow. Here are some pictures from the Dome.

Shakespeare's Globe Theater



The Millennium Bridge.



Our second London meal had been at a Burger King at Victoria Station - because we did not know there was a food court upstairs. So after a short bus ride, we ate at a Garfunkel's. Ann had told us about this chain that provides "All things to all People." Excellent food, great service, reasonable - for London - prices. Then it was off to meet up with the rest of the family to see "Wicked." Which was not in the West End, but right across the street from Victoria Station.

YES, all 9 of us, plus a friend of Sarah's made a magical gathering of 10.





A GREAT SHOW. Followed by a long tube ride home.

ONE MORE TIME - A great time although we'll have to do the "rest of the tour" we had planned on another day. St. Paul's was worth it !