Lessons from the Brits Week 39 February 1st to February 7th

Wahoo!  It is half way!  We have now finished 39 weeks and have 39 weeks to go.  I am not sure if they went fast or slow but part of my heart will always be homesick.  I miss you all.

LIE
Lychee:  This is the craziest fruit ever.  The outside is a bit hard almost like a shell.  You kind of crack it and then peel it.  It is an all white fruit with a brown seed in the middle.  I like it but I think Brad is still considering.  They are way better fresh than in a tin.

I sat an apple out to show the size.  Here they are with peel, seed only, half eaten and peeled.

 

 

1. Fireside
Up and at it.  Mulholland’s wanted to go to Crawley but they had room in the van so we drove over to East Grindstead.  Orton’s were just going to their car so we gave them a ride as well.  Church was very nice and then home.  It is fast Sunday (Mormon’s fast 2 meals the first Sunday of every month and then we give the money we would have spent on food to the church to help with the ‘poor among us.’ ) so we didn’t prepare any food.  We met with Brother McClellan and got the slides that we wanted all ready for our talks tonight. 
We went through our talks a bunch and then made sure our slides and video would play in the Visitor’s Center.  Then we came home and broke our fast, ate a bowl of soup, got ready and went to the Visitor’s Center about 10 to 6.  They were glad to see us.  We actually did get a nice turn out, not huge by any means, but the room was mostly full.  We did notice every person from our shift was there but one.  Never Mind. 
The Brown’s gave our prayers and we were on.  I told the story of the Teton Dam Flood and how pray and the promptings of the Holy Ghost saved our children lives.  Brad told the story of the wreck in New Mexico and how the 3 men risked their lives, injuring themselves as they did, to save a woman’s life who immediately said she was so depressed she wished she were dead.  He likened that to the Savior giving His life for us and then we turn our backs on the atonement and mock His gift.  He told some other stories as well and was just brilliant.  We felt good about it and have had so many people thank us that I am glad we did it.
We came home and fixed a bit more food and called the kids.  Wonderful night to be over.

The Sister Missionaries with President/Sister Millar.  & us!

The Anderson's                                          

The Pinegar's

2.  Uncruise.
Ah!  Sleeping in is wonderful.  We finally got up and had a bit of a walk.  I did the wash and cleaned a bit.  It was a nice relaxing morning.
President Johnson asked for all the information about our cruise and had made a few calls about it.  He was not allowed to get any information because of the privacy thing, so he gave us a list of things to ask about and sent us back to the travel company.  It was not our favorite thing to do but we went in and had a bit of a chat for about an hour.  They said there was nothing they could do because we canceled after 24 hours (office hours—we were about an hour over).  They made several calls and were ever so nice but never pointing out all the mistakes they had made.  Nice try but no cigar.  We then did a bit more shopping, bought groceries and headed home. 
LeeAnn cut my hair and then they had us over for soup and brownies.  It was really good but we have no idea what kind it was.  Then we headed home and to  the lounge for more Dickens. 
When we were talking to Annie Hartvigsen she asked what it was like living here and Brad told her it was like living in college dorms when you are 70. 

It actually snowed January 31st and again on the February 3rd,

but this was a handy place to put the pictures.

3.  Early, early.
We had to be there early this morning as Brad and I were doing the first session.  We finished that one and were just eating a bite when they came running and asked us to do another one.  I rushed out of the canteen and hit a lady in the arm with the door.  I was just sick.  Sorry!
We came home and had a bit of a nap.  Then I fixed rolls for tea with the Roger’s.    I thought it was a 6:30 so I had them ready to come out of the oven just on time.  Opps!  It was 6:00.  We ran over a bit late and brought the rolls for the second course.  They had vegetable soup and then salmon wellington. Dessert was meringue shells with fruit and cream.  Very nice. 
After wards we all headed to the lounge for another disk of Dickens.  This is quite the story.

4.  Late, late.
I had to be there early but Brad didn’t so he was puttering around and I wasn’t watching the time.  I got out of the bath and realized I had 13 minutes to  be dressed, at the temple, dressed in white and to my shift.  Breakfast would have been nice as well.  You probably won’t believe that I made it.  When Brad came in he realized he was supposed to have been there early to so he was really late.  Great start.
The day was fine.  President Johnson said he had loved our talks so that was very nice. 
After our shift I worked on my project until it was time for Dickens.  They were made for TV so they end just when you want to know more.  Very interesting yarn, this one.

 5.  Happy Birthday Jessica! and a Monkey's Birthday as well.
We had to be early again and I swear it is getting harder.  It was basically a good day at the temple and we made it home to take a nap.  Brad’s back is still hurting.  We had our evening tea and set up for the final night of Bleak House.  We have all had fun watching that together in our college dorm.
We finished in time that I decided I had to start catching up on the blog.  I worked till very late and have hope that I can get my life in order again.  Part of the reason we stayed up so late was to call Jessica and then we were so tired we just went to bed.  Old Age!
It truly was a monkey's birthday today because we got snow, sleet, rain, hail, clouds, and sunshine all on the same day.  You and the monkeys Jessica!

 

6.  Gave Up!
We finished our shift at the temple in relative good form.  Brad gave up and we called to get a chiropractor appointment.  We drove over to East Grindstead and had an hour of testing and evaluations to hear that we need to come back later for treatment.  We hope this works.  We wondered about going out but decided tomorrow night would be better so we came home and had chicken fingers and chips.  I worked on the project and on the blog and Brad read. 

7.  PAIN
Brad’s back is just killing him and I woke up with a terrible headache.  It actually started when we got a call from SVE at 1:30 this morning.  Since we were up we tried to call Jessica again but she had just left for mutual.  That meant I couldn’t get back to sleep so it was a very long night.  When I heard the alarm I almost cried.  The day went fine for me but Brad was in so much pain some guy gave him a pill that didn’t kill the pain but made him so he didn’t care.  He was telling really funny stories about how he was trying to give everyone a hug and break out into a song and dance. 
I made it home first and took more pills and headed to bed.  Brad came home and filled the bath up.  After he soaked I got up and soaked.  We both were so miserable that we didn’t go out to eat with the temple group that night.  Our plan was to go to Smith and Western for our ½ mission mark but it is going to have to be when we feel better.  We watched some Downton Abbey and I worked on the blog.  

Nine months down and nine months to go.  There are times I think the first half went fast and in another way it feels like I have been here all my life.  Only 3 more weeks and we get a vacation that we can’t go on but at least we will have some time off.  That will be lovely indeed.

Be sweet, what need I say more?

Get more sleep.

Our love,

The Parkinson’s

Lessons from the Brits Week 38 January 25th to January 31st

Time is just rolling along and I am so behind that I cannot keep up with yesterday.  I must get a project or two accomplished as this is starting to wear me down.  When does life get easy and restful?

LIE
Spoons: You have 2 choices – huge or bitty.  At the canteen (cafeteria) they have some large round spoons but at the flat we just have a large spoon like an American serving spoon and a tiny spoon.  The tiny spoon is set across the top of your plate for a dessert spoon. 

 

1.   With Love :)
We went to church at East Grindstead again this week and it was very nice.  Brother McClellan taught the Sunday School lesson and Sister McClellan taught the Relief Society lesson.  They had double duty but did very well.
We had artichoke chicken and took the afternoon off. A nap was top priority!  After a lovely snooze we got up and went to see what was on BYUtv.  As I opened the door I noticed an envelope all taped up with our Lodge # on the outside.  I came in and carefully cut it open because I had a feeling.  Inside was a folded up sheet of paper that when it was opened up said, ‘With Love,’ and had £50 inside it.  Every emotion burst.  We were embarrassed, very touched, and completely confused.  We have no idea who but someone felt very sorry for us loosing so much money to the cruise line.
We were able to talk to all 4 children so life was good.  We also called Kelly Munns (Stoddard), the girl that saved our children from the Teton Dam Flood.  We have been asked to do the fireside next Sunday and tell our story so I wanted a picture of her to show in the presentation.  It was really fun to talk to Kelly and her mother again.  We owe them a great deal!!!

2.  Parliament and 5 Guys!
Brother Davis had planned a tour of Parliament for us with a MP (Member of Parliament) tour guide.  His name was Henry Smith and believe it or not, he is married to a Ricks whose great-great grandfather started Ricks College.  We do not believe they are members of the church but we will follow up on that with our family ties.
Anyway, we got up and headed out at 9 AM, caught the train and headed to London.  Henry met us at Parliament and gave us a 1 hour tour that lasted 2 and ½ hours.  We went through everything including their chapel, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.  Great time.
After the tour we were on our own but we followed Brother Davis to 5 Guys.  Yesseryee!  They have a 5 Guys in London and it was wonderful.  It was about a 20 minute walk from Parliament and I definitely can find my way back.  Mulholland’s went with us as well.  Then we walked back and took Mulholland’s through Westminster Abbey.  We have been there once but it was still a thrill to us.  Then we caught the train and headed home.  Very fun day!

Brad and Bob show off their new hats at the train station.

Big Ben is actually the bell inside but we never tire of
seeing the tower clock and listening to the chime.

Our group waiting for the chimes.

3.  The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Late shift which was just fine.  I did the wash and we did a bit of exercise.  Then it was the temple which was a very nice day.  Brad and I are on line this week and we had a very nice time.
When we got home we opened the email and saw that Jerry had read the book we bought him for Christmas.  He loved it!  We had to call him and share stories from the book.  If you are in the mood for the craziest read ever: The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared is a must!!!!

Henry Smith, our MP tour guide, who is married to a Ricks.

Going inside Parliament. 

4.  Downton Abbey 
Today we started with a bit of a shopping trip.  We only went grocery shopping but it was a fun trip.  Lunch and temple.  We got a lovely surprise today.  Jackie is the young cleaning lady.  She came to me the other night and asked if I liked ‘Downton Abbey.’  OF COURSE!  But I haven’t seen it since we arrived.  She brought me the first 5 seasons with the Christmas specials.  I was so excited.  I love the support staff and marvel everyday at how few we have and yet how much they do.  The grounds staff has about 3 – 5 working to take care of all these acres changing flowers all the time.  There are 4 custodians at the temple and they clean everything ship-shape for us. 
Anyway, we got our lovely surprise and after our shift – which is a bit late – we came home and watched our first.  This will answer a few questions for us as we never did see season 1.

 

5.  Dickens and Many Farms.
Today was a calm morning but Brad is not feeling well – his back is killing him.  He did go to the temple but came home early so they sent me home early as well.  As soon as Blake’s got home they came over and wondered if we wanted another Charles Dickens’s.  I said that Brad probably wasn’t up to it but Brad heard us and said yes and grabbed the stuff to set it up.  We decided to watch Bleak House.  Oh my, this one is interesting!  Well done, these.
I had an interesting post on face book today from Many Farms about one of our dear Navajo’s that we baptized, Evelyn Begay.  She was absolutely doing wonderful but then she stopped coming about 2 months later.  Her granddaughter, Tivona, was one of my top piano students.  Evelyn has been very ill and was asking about us so they asked us to call her.  We called and it was rather sad but very sweet.  She must have had something like a stroke and she can only make sounds something like a small scream.  We talked mostly to her daughter April, a bit to her, and finally to my Tivona. 

The chapel for Parliament.

6.  A laughing Callaghan
Brad is still really hurting but we had a very calm morning and then went to the temple. I was in clothing and he was leading the last instruction session of the day so they ask me to stay and help close.  Well, we were sitting there and I told Sister Brooke how I was related to my little sister.  My mother’s second husband’s first wife’s twin sister’s first daughter’s second husband’s first wife’s only daughter is Marilyn.  Brother Callaghan and the others thought I was crazy.  I then started explaining it with names and all the sudden Brother Callaghan said ‘Do I look like someone who cares?’  Everyone started laughing but he just lost it completely.  I think he was so surprised that he slammed me like that and he just couldn’t stop laughing.  He finally got up and went down the hall but he just couldn’t stop laughing and of course that made the rest of us laugh as well.  Meantime, Brad’s screen breaks in his room, so they move him which takes forever and then a lady passed out in the session so he was way late.  We thought we were going to watch another episode of Bleak House but it was just too late and we were too tired.  I tried to explain how funny Brother Callaghan was to Brad but he couldn’t get his head around how funny it was.

Not Idaho, but I am in heaven!

7.  Soup and Rolls.
We did sleep in a bit and then got up and ready for the temple.  It was a great day for me and Brad and his back endured best they could.  They actually let us both go home early.  I made some homemade soup and bread and rolls so we had a yummy tea.    We talked to Neil and Becca and the boys and had a great chat.  We watched a few more episodes of Bleak House with Blake’s and Roger’s and then we worked on our talks for a while.  This one is making us nervous.  I am going to tell the flood story and Brad is going to tell the wreck story. 

This horse bonded!

So there goes 38.  Here I am with the internet and working on my project and my talk and not doing anything about getting the blog going.  I do hope I can catch up some day as I have enjoyed some of the last outings and would love to show off some pictures.  Will power!  That and a bit more time.

Be organized, what need I say more?

Brush and floss,

Our love,

The Parkinson’s

 

 

 

Lessons from the Brits Week 37 January 18th to January 24th, 2015

There are weeks that float and weeks that grind and weeks that just put you right under.  Under what, I have no idea – but this week put me right under.  Whose fault is it?  Everyone is just pointing fingers so I guess we get the blame.

LIE
Measuring Cups
There are no measuring cups but every kitchen has a handy little scale where you measure all your ingredients to put into your food.  The flour and sugar aren’t so bad, but I am not good at measuring butter and shortening. 

 

1. Sunday was its usual chore to get up and ready.  I believe one of the most important things that I can do each week is to partake of the sacrament, but some Sunday’s I wish I could just roll over and go back to sleep.  Once I get in the car and especially in church it is all worth it.
We went to church in East Grindstead this week.  They were all very nice meetings.
For dinner I made sweet and sour pork chops and shrimp chow mien.  It was actually very good.
There was a fireside that night with a missionary couple speaking and they did a great job.  Then calls home and back to our flat for rest.

2. Monday was a housework day where I tried to get our closet sorted.  I helped Betty (Janet) Crocker do Wii fit and I had a pretty good work out as well.  I also cut my hair a bit more.
Then we got cleaned up and went to Lingfield to the Greyhound Pub with Mulholland’s.  They bought our lunch because we are always driving them places.  It was really good and great fun.  We went over to East Grindstead and did a bit of grocery and other shopping and then went down and met with the travel agency to find something to do during our break.  It was so nice when we left but it got very chilly.  The travel agency was closed for a bit so we went next door to the charity shop and bought Brad a coat.  I love it.
Home again and we finished up the housework and laundry, read our book while I worked on my new project and then went to bed.

Finally getting better.  We take pictures every Monday.

 

Charity shop hat and coat.  Smile is all his own.

3.  Early week so we were up and at it by the crack of dawn.  It was a bit slow but that only means we have to work harder to fill in the gaps. 
After our shift Brad went walking and I did some Wii fit.  We had leftovers for supper and all was well.  Oh, we are trying to eat more fruits and veggies so we are buying fun things over here.  We got a tin of lychee’s so we opened them and tried them.  Brad said they tasted like a grapefruit and a pear committed adultery.  Good laugh with that one.

4.  It was a fine day at the temple.  We hurried home and headed to the travel agency.  We have decided to go on a cruise through the Mediterranean.  They only had 2 plane ticket seats left so in order to hold our spot we had to purchase today.  They were at lunch when we got there so we went down and had a hot cocoa and lemon muffin which we loved.  It took forever to get our tickets but we finally made it back to our flat just in time to have tea with the Blake’s.  She fixed spaghetti bolognaise which was wonderful.  Brad had made brownies so we had them with ice cream for dessert.  So fun – we love the Blake’s.  We set up the Wii and bowled and had quite the time.  Lovely night.

5.  We are coordinators this week so we have to be at the temple very early.  When the other workers came a bit later, they were all excited about having internet.  I was thrilled.  It was an average day but plenty busy on us at the temple.  After our shift we did a session for ourselves.  That was very nice.  We made it home and rushed to our ipads – yepper!  We have internet!!! Of all crazies, for tea we finished the spaghetti I had made the other day for supper.  Brad read and I did my project and of course we had to check our internet every 5 minutes. WONDERFUL!

6.  Again, we started way early.  The recorder in the temple saw us and came with a paper.  He said he was sorry.  We looked down and every single trip for the break was rejected this year.  Brad went completely white and said we had just paid for our cruise because last time they told us no trip had ever been rejected.  Brother Adkins told us to call the President.  We did and while he was just sick for us, he said there was nothing he could do.  We had a break for an hour so Brad ran home and called to cancel the cruise.  They said they could do it but there would be a fee and we would have to call back later to see how much.  Brad came back better but rather ill.  We made it through the day and rushed home to call again.  £500 or $800.  Now we were really sick.  There is absolutely nothing that we can do!
When I was working clothing one day a Lovell came through to get clothing.  He is from the Ririe Lovell’s but his father had moved to California.  Then we realized that his wife is a Benson from Rexburg.  Anyhow, we see each other here and there and they called and asked us to eat.  We had expected it to be great fun but our mood was not up to par but once they showed up we had a great time getting to know one another.  We went to the Thai place and everyone liked their food.
We came home and had ice cream and talked a bit more.  After they left, we called the missionary department number that was on our rejection and asked them why we had been asked to plan and send in a request when they already knew they were going to deny them.  On our denial letter the policy is listed as of 2014.  They said they had sent the updated policy to our temple president in November.  That is not the story we got from them so we don’t understand what is happening.  All we know is that we lost a lot of money to have no fun!

 

Cynthia Benson Lovell and Byron Lovell.

7.  Saturday starts at 7:30 AM and I made it by about 10 seconds.  The day was rather busy which was good because I wanted to think of something else.  The minute my last duty was over I was home and in bed.  I needed a nap in the worst way.
When I woke up I got up and made bread and thawed out our potato soup and we had fresh baked rolls and yummy soup.  They had a great movie tonight but we were not in the mood.  Ty and Gus called us and we had the best time ever talking with them.  I was going through our facetime numbers and saw Annie Hartvigsen.  We have really lost tract of her but I gave it a try.  No one.  Later that night the ipad rang and it was Annie.  She told us she had just got engaged.  We got all excited and she hung up and went and got him and then called again and we talked forever.  It was so much fun and we really needed that.

So we have internet in our flat; unlimited except it is through the church so we can’t do movies and youtube.  Still we are thrilled.  We lost £500 or $800 because someone didn’t send the memo or someone didn’t read the memo and yes, we probably should have waited and not believed what we were told last time.  JOY!  I was furious that all my life I have saved money and gone without or with the cheap one so some travel agency can take our money.  I could see them charging us £100 for us cancelling 5 weeks before the cruise but I was in shock at losing so much money.  But to end the week we talked to our grandchildren and we connected with Annabelle!  She is engaged and is coming to London this summer!!  We are thrilled.  The good may not outweigh the bad, but it sure brightened our spirits.

Never book a cruise early,

Get some sun every day,

Our Love,

The Parkinson’s

Lessons from the Brits Week 36 January 11th to January 17th

Dear me!  This week really was rather ordinary with not that many exciting things happening so get ready to be bored.  I guess this means life is getting back to normal but we will soon find a way to spice it up again.

LIE
Hot water kettles.  In every apartment there is this funny looking pitcher setting on a base with a plug in.  The other day I finally opened it up and had a look.  Inside is this big heating coil.  I put in a quart of water and plugged it in and had boiling (and I mean boiling) water in 2 ½ minutes.  Amazing!  I wonder how I can take one home.

This picture will also work for the plug in I didn't show a couple of weeks ago.

 

1. Yvonne Day!
Church at 10 AM gets earlier and earlier every single week.  Brad has to leave without me and I come dragging out at the last minute.  We went to Crawley and it was very nice.  Brother Farhall was there with cookies for us and we were delighted.
The minute we got home I started to cook for Yvonne’s birthday dinner.  I made a buttermilk pie, cooked cabbage, carrots, beet root and green beans.  Brad baked salmon and we had a feast.  They brought sparkling water and we ate till we were about to burst.  She was very happy with her birthday dinner. (her birthday is Tuesday but we did it on a day we had the time.)
We finished in time to go the President and Sister Johnson’s fireside at the visitor’s center.  That was terrific – President Johnson always says he is terrific so that was their theme.  After that we tried to call the children but we are not adjusting to new church times very well.

We love the Blake's.  Isn't she just precious? 

2.  Lakenheath Air Force Base
Brad had a long nap while I cooked and he could not go to sleep.  At 4 AM I woke up to so we got up and read a while and we just couldn’t get to sleep until about 6:00 AM.  At 7:10 AM we woke up and we were supposed to leave at 7:30.  We got ready as fast as we could and we on the road by 8 AM.
Bryant and Arlene Davis are taking us to Lakenheath Air Force Base.  He was a chaplain in the military so he can go to American air bases.  He was going to see a Dr. there and we were there to look for American food.  Yes, we found it!  Cube steaks to make Swiss steak and cake mixes and muffin mixes, maple syrup, shrimp cocktail sauce and chopped green chilies.  It was a wonderful day.  We packed the car full and headed home.  The drive was about 2 ½ hours one way so it was a bit of a long day but we made it home around 3.  We took a nap.
The Blake’s came over and we did a bit of Wii which they got a big kick out of.

The bridge over the Thames. 

One way you go over and the other way you go under the river in a tunnel.

3.  To Work!
We are on late shift and I personally think I would have died if it had been early.  I do think Brad walked today but while I can now walk normally again, we are still a bit worried about my feet.  We had a busy day at the temple and being on late’s, we didn’t get home till after 9. 
We bought a few things for Orton’s at the air base so they came over to get them.  Then Yvonne came down and we gave her a birthday present.  Brad called it the long bomb pass.  We are giving them our Wii when we leave England as you cannot plug it in America.  She was gob stopped.

4.  Comedy of Errors
The first errand of Wednesday was to pick up my new shoes.  They are wonderful and I do hope they help my poor little feet.
Wednesday just seemed to go a bit askew.  We got the first instruction session under way and the film stopped.  We moved to another room and the screen just went up and down making hideous noises as it did.  We finally went to a third room and then we couldn’t start the film where it needed to be.  There was nothing for us to do but laugh.  Then a woman needed a drink of water and we were out of cups.  Another woman lost her glasses and I finally found them and gave them to one man who gave them to her husband.  Her husband never told her and she was looking for her glasses.  I bent down to tie my shoe and completely missed my part.  We just couldn’t get control of that day.

5.  Hot Cocoa
Thursday we had a wonderful time shopping and Brad got a work out hat and I got a new sweater.  We also indulged in another Costa hot cocoa.  It was really a fun little shopping trip.
With coming home late we are beat so we fixed us a bit of a snack and then read our book.  I love Hosseni’s writing but he is a bit depressing.  I guess living in Afghanistan with war after war; life might be a bit more depressing.  God Bless America and God save the Queen!

6.  Late Night
We did get up and Brad went out to do a bit of exercise and I showed Blake’s how to do Wii fit. 
The temple is our long day as we do one more instruction session Friday evenings so we don’t get home till after 10 but it was a bit busier at the temple today so it felt good.  We finished our book which I had hoped would have a bit happier ending but it did end with the importance of family.  Nice!

7.  Happy Birthday Becca!
By the time we walked to the temple at 9:30 AM the parking lot was fun and cars/coaches were still streaming in.  We did over 350 patrons through instruction sessions so we felt pretty good.  Everywhere in the temple they were swamped so we were all excited but completely exhausted by the end. (5 PM)
We had talked about going out but Brad suggested driving to Oxted and I didn’t want to go that far in the dark.  I guess I choose wrong because that meant I had to cook.  We had spaghetti.  Mulholland’s called and wanted to play cards but we asked them over to play Wii.  Rayton’s came in also so we had six of us but we had a pretty good time.  We did the gun range, air hockey, cow races, golf and bowling.  And of course we had to make our Wii’s.  Most of us look pretty good but Brian Mulholland is hilarious.
After they left we went over to call Becca for her birthday but we could only get Neil.  At least we tried.  Home and to bed; long day but quite a good one I do believe.

And there goes week 36.  I would have to say things are moving right along.  They told us we need to turn in our papers if we want to tour during our March break so we have been trying to pick out somewhere to go.  Brad only request is that it is somewhere warm.  How about Mesa then?

Be tender to all, what need I say more?

Change your socks,

Our love,

The Parkinson’s

 

Lessons from the Brits Week 35 January 4th to January 10th, 2015

Goodness me!  I guess the holidays are over and we are back to a 5 day a week sshhedule.  (I will never get use to that word over here.)  This week was early shift as well, so we really had to be one our toes.  We are still in baptistery and morning shifts don’t usually have too many so that was better but they are always good at finding something for us to do.  Better busy than bored, I always say!

LIE
Electricity:  These plug ins are almost scary.  Three huge prongs to plug in and then of course you have a switch above it that actually turns the plug in on.  They must be getting a lot more electricity than at home because it starts with a real burst.

1.  East Grinstead
Mulholland’s were released from their primary job so we thought we would visit other wards.  East Grindstread is much closer so we started there.  I have a student that took Fitness for Life from me in about 1997 that is in that ward.  She is Corinne Ellsworth ?, originally from Lewisville, Idaho.  We had a fun day a church.  The teacher is a black woman that was a Muslim and she certainly has a testimony of Jesus Christ.
Tea was small today since we are still exploding from all the holidays.  We bought some Jalapeño poppers at Costco so we put in a few of them – we are now addicted to them.  They are brilliant.  We ate about a gillion but took the last 2 we had cooked down to Bob.  (Barbara has real stomach trouble and must be on a very bland diet so we thought he would enjoy some heat.)   We called family, rested and read. 

Roger's progress.

2.  Package Day
Neil, Becca, Ty, and Gus sent us a Christmas package which arrived in London on the 24^th of December.  Every day we run to the mail area to see if it came.  This morning I called first and we had a package so I headed over but it was a new pair of shoes for Brad and a second hand Wii we bought on Ebay.  We had to come home and open it up to see what kind of batteries we needed and suddenly it was set up and we were golfing and doing Wii fit with Blake’s.  We finally did get to the grocery store for some milk and bread.  That evening Blake’s invited us to watch a Charles Dickens’s with them so we started Martin Chuzzlewitts  but only made it through the first of 5 disks.  Now this one has a yarn going as the Brits would say. 

 

 

Callaghan's and Blake's watch on as Brad demonstrates the Wii.

3.  Screaming Foxes
This morning started very early as around 5 AM there was very loud screaming coming from the back yard.  I tried to ignore it but finally I had to get up and look.  They was a fox all huddled down in the back of the yard just screaming its head off.  Then a red fox came from the front just under Roger’s window and headed out.  The white one ran away and then when the other fox was gone came out to rummage through the grass.  Crazy!
I went to check out the place and see if there was any laundry to put up.  Hummm!  We had a baptistery fairy (or lead mare) show up over the weekend.  She had redone the closet for us.  I was a bit confused but by the time I had the whole story and explained it to Sister Callaghan she was rather upset.  Stewardships are rather interesting and staying within your own stewardship is a very good idea.
We didn’t have any baptisms scheduled but a couple came down with just 2 names to do.  Brother Callaghan had 52 to do so we just did them all.  The sister that came was a bit older and frail so I did 14 female baptisms and Sister Reed came and did 10. Brad and Brother Orton did 30.  It was great! 
After our shift Brother Orton and Sister Freeman had a few names to do so we stayed to do them as well.  Sister Clark came with about 30 names, and then a Brother Duri came with 20 names and then Sister Powell came with I don’t know how many and we didn’t get home until 6 PM.  By the time it was over, Brad had baptized about 90 people during the day.  Very long day but great fun.
We had a rushed tea and then I went to the dungeon to work on the blog.  Long night as well.

4.  On Line Social Security!
Today was calm day with no baptistery so they sent us on a session.   It was very nice so our day at the temple went very well.
I had registered on line for social security to start November 30^th before we left on our mission.  They called us in Salt Lake to tell me I couldn’t register 6 months early so I would either have to start at a reduced rate then or what and register on line.  We opted to register on line.  That I did and all was well until we noticed I never got a payment.  I looked forever for my registration number and couldn’t find it so we went over to the dungeon and called them.  JOY!  I had to wait on hold for 45 minutes listening to their music and announcements.  Finally a man answers and he doesn’t give me my registration number but keeps looking at my form and telling me I have a lot of information on it.  Twice he says let me check and leaves us for about 5 minutes.   The third time he never comes back but we can hear all these people talking and laughing and all the sudden the call goes to an on line survey of whether we had a good experience with the call.  To make that worse, it needed a touch tone phone and your ipad doesn’t have one!  They kept asking the same questions over and over and finally Brad hung up on them.  Now we get to try the call again.  2^nd JOY!  This time there is an hour wait and that music is starting to really annoy us.  After an hour a woman comes on and my raised voice is explaining that she better not hang up or put me on hold until I have a number or some way of getting help without an hour wait.  I explain what is happening and that I am in London trying to register on line but I lost my number and cannot see what the problem is.  She first tells me I didn’t finish the application which I assure her I did.  She then tells me if I don’t have my number I must start over anyway although she is looking at my application and can tell me all about it.  THEN she tells me that the application is of no use since I am living in London they won’t process it and we will have to go to the London Embassy for help.  WHAT????  She gives us an Idaho Falls Social Security number so we call them.  Yipper – same story.  If you don’t live in the jurisdiction area you must go to the London Embassy and apply there.  Idaho address, paying taxes in Idaho,  asking for money to go to Idaho bank but they won’t accept my on line registration.  It is now 8 PM and we are starving and so angry we can hardly walk. 
We get home and have another small tea and then we watch 2 more disks of Martin ?  I tell you that yarn really has us going.  We were so frustrated with the social security and then so tied up in the movie it was an unsettling night.

5.  Shopping Day
It was another very calm day at the temple.  !@#$%^&*()_   We decided to see if our package was there and it was not but we did get our money back from 3.  For some reason we decided to go on the shopping van and that ended up a very long night.  We did a little clothes shopping and bought some books, a shirt and some necklaces at a charity shop, then tried to deposit our check but the bank closes at 4:30 and then got a hot choco while the others shopped at the second grocery store.  One of the sister’s sat and had hot cocoa with us and then when we were supposed to leave she went shopping.  Long night. 
Another crazy tea but we were bound and determined to finish Martin.  We went through 3 disks and what a yarn it did spin.  We spent half the night talking about all the crazy things in the movie.

6.  Happy Birthday Neil!
Wow, did it ever seem early this morning.  We still didn’t have a baptistery but there was some laundry from the other shift.  We went on a session which was very nice.
On the way home I checked for our package and it did arrive.  They sent us cookie mixes, candy and pictures from the boys.  Gus’s has the family drawn with ‘Love You’ coming from every mouth.  Ty’s says: I know that you miss me and I miss you too, but I still have your comforting feeling in my heart.  (and on skype)  I love you as much as the earth and universe and the space and the heaven.  Love, Ty Parkinson.  Then he drew us a reindeer.  Okay – we had a good cry at that one!
I baked bread and made potato soup and we were in a bit of heaven other than it was rather late by the time it was all finished.  The rest of the night was playing Wii golf.  Brad creamed me the first round but I got him one stroke the second.  Book and bed!


Our package from home!!!
 

7.  EARLY!
We had an 8 AM baptistery.  I wouldn’t have believed it but they were there and a bit early to boot.  It was a nice group and all went very well.  We had a bit of time to clean up and set up for the second group and they were wonderful as well.  I was getting the names and a young man wrote in HOLT.  I asked where he was from and realized he is Jennifer South’s nephew so we had great fun.  His dad was there with him so we had a fun chat.  Great day in baptistery.  The rest of the day went rather well and we actually got home a bit early.
I was beat and my feet hurt so bad I just wanted to rest but when we called the movie was ‘African Queen’ so we had to go.  It was great!  We came home and played some Wii golf, read and bed.

And there you have it – Week 35 marched right along.  We got a package from home, a Wii, watched a Charles Dickens and we are reading Khaled Hosseni’s  And the Mountains Echoed.  What a cultural experience this week was for us.  Cheers!

Come what may, and love it!

Eat your veggies,

Our love,

The Parkinson’s