True Story

I was visiting my great aunt Winefride yesterday and she told me this story:

Winefride owns a little cottage in Wales and though she doesn't go there too often, she is good friends with one of her neighbours. Recently the neighbour, let's call her Jane - had a friend visiting her and this friend brought along her little dog. One day they decided to go for a walk in Anglesey. After a short time, they noticed that the little dog was not with them and since they were walking along the water, they became very worried. They called and called, but still no dog. Jane could see that her friend was becoming quite frantic so she suggested they split up and go in opposite directions. Her friend started off,  frantically calling the dog. After a time, she came across a couple who were out for a stroll. She was so distraught that she didn't really look at them but asked if they had seen a little dog. They politely replied that they had not so she suggested she give them her number in case they did see him and could call her. She proceeded to give it to them and when she looked up, realised she was talking to  Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge! You can imagine her reaction! Within a few moments, and as if knowing he was missing out on something important, the dog showed up. It was reported that Kate was very affectionate with the dog and they all had a nice little chat! 

Wood splitting, knitting and Mahjong

I think it's time for me to start travelling again....

I must say, after finally receiving my long-awaited UK passport, I was quite reluctant to let it go but I had to send it off with applications for my African and Indian visas. I leave on Feb 23rd for Ethiopia where I will visit my cousin Rachel, her husband Alimu, and their two little boys Theo and Nathanial. Ray and Al are both teachers and live in Addis Ababa, the Capitol, and, as luck would have it, it will be half term when I'm there so we will get to have a good visit and spend lots of time together. After eight days there I fly to Nairobi where I will do a safari into Tanzania. It is what they call an overland tour where you travel in these big army-like vehicles high off the ground, suitable for rough roads. After spending a few days in Kenya, we will load up with supplies and head out into the Serengeti where we will be staying in rustic tents and lodges. Apparently, the  Ngorongoro Crater is where we will see many big game animals as they gather at the water hole at sunrise and sunset every day. After the Safari adventure, I head to India travelling from New Delhi to Kolkata where i hope to volunteer at Mother Theresa's orphanage. I fly back to Liverpool just in time for Easter and my Uncle Terry's 70th birthday.

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for this next adventure! I will have limited email access but will write and post when I can.
Thanks for reading!

Lake District - Take Two

On Sunday, the second anniversary of my Dad's passing, I went walking in the Lake District with Ruth, a longtime friend of my Aunty Angela. It had snowed heavily in the night, leaving a winter wonderland to play in. The sun was shining, the snow clung to the branches and the tops of the dry stone walls like frosting on a cake! We parked the car in a little village called Grasmere, home of the famous 18th century poet, William Wordsworth and headed out for a walk around the lake and up into the hills around it. I was so happy to be in the snow as it reminded me of home and we had a lovely day in the fresh air, stopping several times to enjoy the views and take photos. It was one of those perfect winter days when you just feel happy to be alive. Later, we had a wander through Wordsworth's home - Dove Cottage, where he lived with his wife and children and a couple of spinster sisters (single women were not allowed to live on their own in those days). It was a perfect day.

I leave you with a poem by William Wordsworth:


  Composed By The Side Of Grasmere Lake 1806

 CLOUDS, lingering yet, extend in solid bars
Through the grey west; and lo! these waters, steeled
By breezeless air to smoothest polish, yield
A vivid repetition of the stars;
Jove, Venus, and the ruddy crest of Mars
Amid his fellows beauteously revealed
At happy distance from earth's groaning field,
Where ruthless mortals wage incessant wars.
Is it a mirror?--or the nether Sphere
Opening to view the abyss in which she feeds 
Her own calm fires?--But list! a voice is near;
Great Pan himself low-whispering through the reeds,
'Be thankful, thou; for, if unholy deeds
Ravage the world, tranquillity is here!' 

---William Wordsworth 

I'm a Brit!

It's official! After lots of paperwork, obtaining documents from afar, and several trips to the post office, (not to mention a few £'s), I received my British passport in just over 2 weeks from when I sent it in. I had an interview in Liverpool on Saturday morning (yes, it seems that some government agencies are open on a Sat!), and after "a few more security checks" was told I should receive it in 4-6 business days. It arrived the following Wednesday. I am thrilled because this allows me to stay here longer and travel freely within the European Union without any hassle. The only twinge is that I feel a bit like I'm cheating on my Canada....
Stay tuned for an itinerary update...

Random Acts

As many of you know, I'm not the most astute when it comes to big cities. One of my biggest fears is train stations and making the necessary connections at the right time. There always seems to be a confusing network of platforms and I always have a little panic that I am indeed on the right one. 
I have found myself in this situation countless times over the past few months and I can honestly say I have never been treated in any other way but with kindness and helpfulness. In Bordeaux, it was the french couple who had camino shells on their packs who nodded that i was on the right platform. Though they spoke no English, we saw each other several times on the road to Santiago, smiling at each other in recognition. In Casablanca it was the young man named Jordan from Belgium who made me hang on to the back of his pack while we boarded the train amongst hundreds of others, pushing and shoving, securing a spot in one of the little cubicles. In London, it was a young woman named Heather who graciously helped me get to the right platform and explained the easy way of understanding the London tube system, which I have now mastered and feel completely confident navigating my way through any zone. So many times, people would overhear me speaking to the porter on the train about ensuring which stop I needed to get off and would often say "I'm getting off on that one so just follow me". Etc.
Because of this, I have yet to get on, or off, the wrong train and continue to trust that I am constantly being watched over and looked after as I continue my travels.
God indeed blesses me!

Art and other things

I'm finally getting a moment to write. It's been a very busy couple of weeks and I've been making the most of my days and evenings seeing as much as I possibly can and spending time with the people I've been visiting.
London was, in a word, amazing. My plan was to try and see and do as much as I could in the six days I had. I bought a London Pass which entitled me to free entry into most of the museums, art galleries and attractions and the hardest part was narrowing it down to six or seven things. It also included travel - bus, train and underground in all six zones, so it was good value. I think my favourite two things were the Tower of London and Westminster Abby. All the bits and pieces of English history began to come together and be repeated in the art and architecture that I immersed myself in during those days. I ended my week with a visit to the Tate Modern and, I am loathe to say, didn't really like it. I guess I just don't like a lot of modern art and get a little annoyed at the pretension that seems to go along with it. I did like some of it though...an interesting exhibit by Ai Weiwei involving a huge pile of millions of ceramic sunflower seeds, all hand painted by many artists. It was meant to define the sunflower seed as a common street snack in China and it's ties to the cultural revolution. Chairman Mao used to be depicted as the sun, and the mass of people as sunflowers always turning to the sun to show their revolutionary loyalty. The point is, I needed it to be explained to me. Anyway, it is always good to push oneself out of one's comfort zone and experience something different. You can choose to like, dislike, or dismiss it as you see fit. Nothing in art is what it seems.
British artist David Hockey's exhibit opened on Friday at the Royal Academy which I would have loved to have seen but it is unlikely I would have been able to get in.
Another neat thing that happened was meeting up with young woman named Kathleen that I met in Italy seven years ago. She is from Melbourne but now living in London. She noticed on Facebook that I was going to be in London and suggested we meet up. So we did and it was wonderful to see her again. I was encouraged knowing that I just may see some of the people I've met along this journey again. Hey, you just never know...!
I had a great time with my Cousin Will, Anne, and the two little boys Arty and Harry. They put me up - and put up with my comings and goings! Anne and I went to see the movie "The Iron Lady" which we both thought was very good. The acting was superb and we felt that it showed her vulnerabilities and weaknesses as well as her strength and determination. For a woman to rise to the top amongst all those men, was, no matter what your political opinion, impressive.
Moving on....
Bournemouth:
Went to visit my aunt again who has just undergone surgery and needed a little company. My Aunt Sue, who ive been living with in Liverpool, met me in London and we travelled to bournemouth together. I found myself once again, walking on the beach along the long line of brightly colour co-ordinated beach huts. These are an interesting phenomonem. These tiny little huts are large enough to store a couple of beach chairs, some water toys, with a little space to make tea. You can't sleep in them but you will see people bundled up in their chairs sipping a cup of tea whilst they look out to sea and chat, most likely about the weather! The cost is somewhere in the neighbourhood of a small house at home, but somehow, it is one of those quirky things that seems alright. Funny.
I also spent a couple of nights with one of my Mom's cousins Mary and her husband Paul who live in Poole. We had a good time and it was nice to get to know them a bit.
Back on the train to Liverpool and my interview at the passport office tomorrow! I got the call much sooner than I thought and, if all goes well, should have my UK passport in a week to 10 days. I can now plan the next stage of my journey!
Fingers and toes crossed....!

London bound

I have decided to go back to London and go and see some of the touristy sights that I haven\'t seen since I went when I was 15 with my paternal grandparents on my first visit to the UK. I bought a 3-day "London Pass" which entitles me to unlimited travel in all six zones plus free entry to most attractions. I have a list and I hope to do and see as much as I can in the three days and then do more with my cousin Will and his family on the weekend. I will stay with them which will be lovely as I adore them all and have really enjoyed getting to know them all better.
After six visits to the post office in three days, I finally got all the i\'s dotted and t\'s crossed on my passport application and sent it on its way. In approximately six weeks\' time, I will officially be able to prove my citizenship and can live and work anywhere in the EU should I choose to do so. Or just travel freely for as long as I want. Nice to have options! I will need to go to an interview so they can verify that I am who I say I am, and then it will be official. God willing.
I now understand why the British always talk about the weather. It can change by the hour and can be very extreme. We\'ve been enjoying a week or so of sunny, clear, and cold days which I have taken full advantage of byspending as much time outdoors as I can. I went on a 20km walk with a friend of my aunts named Foxy (she is as fabulous as her name!) and another woman named Sonia. Today I helped my uncle collect wood from a friends place who had cut down a eucalyptus tree which we split and stacked for the rest of the afternoon. It was fun!
Off to bed, next post from London.