I Miss George!

I think he is happy with Norm and Carrie though!

Happy New Year

I had a lovely Christmas here in Liverpool with my Aunt and Uncle, cousins and their children (second cousins once removed...?)and, though I really missed my kids and my Mum, managed to enjoy myself immensely. On Christmas Eve, I went to Chorley where my cousin Ruth lives, to sing carols in the village square. It was pouring rain but we had a lovely time anyway, ending up in the pub across the road afterwards. It always amazes me to see children welcome in the pubs. It was packed with people who all know each other, toasting to a happy Christmas. Later, I walked to midnight mass, which felt familiar and I really enjoyed the organ and choir in the church, putting me firmly into the spirit of Christmas. A few weeks ago, I asked if I could decorate the Christmas table so when my cousin's wife Maddy showed an interest as well, we put our creative heads together and designed a table even Martha couldn't pull off! It was fabulous!. The day unfolded much as any other Christmas with gifts, good food, visits from family and, of course, the turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I felt warmly welcomed by all my family and so appreciated being included.

So it seems that it is not possible to be spontaneous when it comes to international travel these days. I decided to go to India for a couple of months and applied for a visa with confidence that I, as a Canadian citizen, would be granted one without any trouble. Not so. Apparently they want me to apply from my home country. I am in the process of applying for my British passport which would make it easier. Since my parents were both born in the UK, i am already a citizen but need a passport to make it official. It takes 6 weeks to be processed and then I have to have an interview which means I\'m grounded here in England for the next six weeks. It\'s too bad I didn\'t think of this before I left home! But I didn\'t know I would be travelling for such a long time. Anyway, it is totally worth it to see it through while I\'m here and will just have to find something to do while I wait. I can think of a few: walking the Coast-to-Coast, or the West Highland Way, both would be great.....in the spring! It will be cold and probably rainy but I\'d like to do it nevertheless. I would also like to spend a good week in London and see all the sights as it really doesn't matter what the weather is like when you're in a museum or art gallery. Anyway, I am headed to Ireland next week to meet up with two Camino buddies (SO excited) and will send the paperwork after that as I need my passport to go to Ireland. So, instead of India, I will probably do more of east Africa and the middle east.

My great Aunty Margy passed away today. After three weeks of gradually slipping away, she died peacefully in her sleep and I am thankful that she did not suffer. Even so, it is sad when a loved one dies and I see from my relatives who knew her their whole lives, that her passing is hard for them. I visited her only yesterday and wondered when her time would come. She had a great, long life and was surrounded by so many people in her final days. I think that is how it should be. At age 96, she was the last remaining member of that generation on my mother's side, marking the end of an era. May she rest in peace.

Tomorrow I am off to Chorely with my cousin Rachel and her two boys to spend New Years' Eve with my cousin Ruth, and her family. It's beautiful there, typical English countryside and quaint village life. We will have a good time I'm sure, playing games and bringing in the new year!
I wish everyone a happy and safe New Year, sending much love from across the pond!
Xoxoxoxox

Recipe

Here is a truly English recipe:
ENJOY!!!!

Chocolate Guiness Cake

1 c Guinness stout
5 oz unsalted butter
3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
2 c superfine sugar (caster sugar)
2 eggs
2 c all purpose sugar
3/4 c sour cream
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2-1/2 tsp baking soda

Topping:
8 oz cream cheese
1-1/4 cups icing sugar
1/2 c double cream

Method:
Preheat oven to 350*, line and butter a 9" springform pan.
Pour the Guinness into a large wide saucepan, add the butter in slices and heat until butter is melted, at which time you should whisk in the cocoa and sugar.
Beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla and then pour into the pan with the beer and butter, finally whisk in the flour and b.soda. Pour the batter into the greased pan and bake for 45min to an hour.
Leave to cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack; it will be a damp cake.
When the cake is cold, sit it on a flat plate ready to cover with the topping.
Lightly whip the cream cheese until smooth, sift the icing sugar and mix with the cream cheese in a processor or by hand. Add the cream and beat again until the mixture is spreadable consistency. Ice the top of the cake so that it looks like the frothy top of the famous pint!

Christmas Eve

Twas the night before Christmas....

Here I am in Liverpool, celebrating Christmas with my Aunts, uncle, and cousins. We have a full house here at Sue and Terry's with their eldest son Will and his wife Anne along with their two little boys, Arty and Harry; Tim and Maddy from NYC. It's lovely to be able to spend time with them as I have not seen them in years and have never had the opportunity to get to know them growing up. My other Aunt, Angela lives here as well and has four daughters - Gemma, Mel (married to Phil, 4 children - Molly, Oliver, Lily, and George), Rachel, who lives in Ethiopia with her husband Al and their two children Theo and Nathanial; Ruth, married to Roland and they have three children - Mabel, Barney, and Monty and they live in Chorley, about 45 min from Liverpool. I spent a lovely evening in Chorley with Ruth, Roland and Rachel and all the kids where we sang carols in the village square and heard the Christmas story. Even though it was raining heavily, it was picturesque and brought the meaning of Christmas alive. A couple of pints in the local pub, children in tow, and then back to Ruth's for tea. I have an hour before midnight Mass so thought I'd try and catch up on my blog.

Not too much happening other than planning next travels and organising the paperwork for my British passport. I found out that technically I am a british citizen because my parents were both born here but I need to have proof as in citizenship papers or a passport. Once I have a passport, I can travel freely within the European Union using my UK passport, and I can live and work here without restrictions. I'm not saying I will do that, but it's nice to have the option. Anyway, it means I'm grounded for a few weeks while everything is in process. I'll travel around Britain, seeing some of the places I have not yet seen and visit people I haven't seen in a long time. God knows I have enough relatives here so that should keep me busy for a while.

Well, it is just after 11:00 and I must get ready for Midnight Mass. I think of all my friends and loved ones with much love and wish everyone a very Happy Christmas.

Jena xoxoxoxox

The Lake District - Take one

My Aunt and Uncle and I made an attempt to get away before the big Christmas rush set in. We decided to go to the Lake District, a mountainous region in northwest England. I have heard of it many times though have never been and since I am missing my walking, thought it would be a great place to go as it is known as a great walking area.I We settled on Penrith Lake in Cumbria and a B&B called Johnby Hall near the little hamlet of Greystoke. Johnby Hall is a 14th century Tudor manor house currently being run by Henry and Anna Howard (I had to wonder, given the age of the house, if he is a descendent of THE Howards...) The weather was cold, rainy and miserable so we stopped on the way in a place called Hawkeshead, a small village where they were having a christmas fair. Despite the weather, there was a good turn out of people and we had a great time wandering around the quaint little shops and tasting the locally made cheese, sausages, and meat pies. When the rain got really bad, we popped into the pub to warm up. I loved this little village and understood why Beatrix Potter was so inspired there (it is where she lived and wrote her lovely books).
After getting lost, we finally arrived at Johnby Hall where we were warmly greeted by our host Henry. There were two studios, one in the main house and one in an outbuilding on the property. After getting settled, we headed down the the local pub for a hearty meal and some wine (I won't say how much). It was a clear, beautiful night and as I walked across the driveway to my bed, I tried to ignore how cold it was...and the snow that was beginning to pile up on the ground! I awoke to blue sky and, though it was cold, I was determined to go for a good long walk. Terry and I had a plan; a 7 mile walk near the lake and we were prepared with good boots, warm clothes, and a flask of hot something. We breakfasted in the Great Hall and it was drafty and cold. Fortunately for me, I was having a hot flash and sat there in my t-shirt much to the horror of our hosts. It was a delicious full English breakfast, the meat and eggs made from their own hand reared, free range pigs and chickens. Whilst we were eating, Sue got a call from her sister Angela saying that Aunty Margy was not doing well at all. After some discussion, we decided to go back to Liverpool but would try and do a short walk before we left. When we went outside, the weather had turned completely and there was a veritable blizzard! We packed up, apologised to our host and made the treacherous drive back to the city.
I'm determined there will be a "Take Two"!
(did you notice that I am beginning to use the word "whilst"? And my new swear word is "bollocks". I may pass the citizenship test after all!)

My Great Auntie Margy

My great Auntie Margy, my mother's mother's sister, is 96 years old. She has been living on her own in her little house in Maghull until only about a year ago. She is a lovely, smart, feisty old gal and though I have only seen her when I've visited England, and once when she came to Canada many years ago, she is someone I love and respect. I find it so heartwarming to see how loved she is by the family here. Both my aunts are devoted to her as she is the last remaining of her generation still living, and the closest relative to my grandmother. She never married or had children but lived a rich and purposeful life. As her health begins to fail, she has made it clear she does not want to go into hospital and it seems that her time is near. I am so thankful that she is surrounded by many family members who visit her regularly - I think she has a visitor every day - and in her final days, she will be loved greatly. It doesn't matter the age, when someone you love passes, it is very sad. I know she will feel loved and honoured no matter when her time comes, but most of all, she will not be alone. Having said that, she is pretty strong and may rally again, but she tells us that she has told Our Lady of Lourdes that she is ready anytime.
God bless her!

Serendipity

So I'm standing on the platform in Kent, getting last minute instructions to Euston from Nineeta's sister Rada, and a woman standing next to us had an extra London underground map which she generously gave me. I said goodbye to Rada and this woman and I got chatting. She asked me where I was from, where I was travelling to and I told her I want to go to India, specifically, Calcutta. Turns out  she was born there and knows of the place I want to volunteer at, as well as the sister who runs the place! She also told me that she is married to a Nigerian who lives in Lagos and spends her time between Calcutta and Nigeria. Needless to say, we had plenty to talk about on the short journey to London. We have exchanged details and will keep in touch as I make my plans to go there. It so happens she will be there at the same time as I hope to be and has offered to help me find a place to stay and get settled. It absolutely astonishes me when these things happen. I mean, really! I was supposed to catch the train before this one but ran late and ended up on the the next one. I continue to trust that things will unfold for me as they are meant to and all my needs will be met.
Wow.

This weekend I am off to the Lake District for a few days of walking and enjoying the verdant green lush beauty of the area. It may rain the whole time, but I have the gear and am really looking forward to walking again. It's weird how much I miss it after my Camino....it's a form of meditation that seems to really ground me.
I am still trying to upload photos from my iPad so will try one now....