I am back and I thought I would give you a resume of my trip. I left sunday night 22 Oct, and landed in London Monday morning. I was able to get a bus right from Heathrow. It was a 7 1/2 hour trip, but some how it didn't feel that long. We drove through a lot of country I had never seen before, so I tried to stay awake and enjoy the scenery. One reason it took so long was because they made a lot of stops. When we were almost in York I had to change to a local bus. My B&B was only a 10 min taxi ride away from the station. It was very nice and I quickly changed clothes and went out to get acquainted with the city. Coming in I had noticed people on the city walls so I decided that would be a good idea. so I walke a good distance on top of the midieval walls that surround the whole older part of the city of York.
You probably wonder why I picked The city of York to visit. Well I read a book that was set in York once and I thought it sounded like an interesting place to visit. It was. The city goes all the way back to Roman times, in fact there are ruins of the Roman city under the city. On top of the ruinsof the roman city are remnants of a viking city. York happened to be the center for the viking operaqtion in England. They have a big viking dig they are excavating. York is the only city with a complete mideival wall going around the old city. There are gates through the wall toget into the city and they call them bars. Today those gates are too narrow and low for anything but foot traffic. In many places you can still see the Roman foundations of the wall.
the inner city is very old and is full of midieval buildings bordering narrow cobble stoned streets. When walking down those streets you almost expect to have the contents of a chamber pot dumped on you. but fortunately they no longer do that.
The next day after a harty English breakfast I went up to the cathedral, the largest gothic cathedral in Europe. I went on the tour, and we had a very good guide who took over 1 1/2 hour to guide us through the edifice. We learned a lot about the magnificent midieval staineed glass windows, and how they had taken them down during the war and stored them in various places. We also learned the the york cathedral has the only carving showing the baby Jesus being bottle fed. Restorations were done during the Victorian times and they could not show the natural way of feeding a baby. Also they have Roaman soldiers sporting full beards and large mustaches, Roman soldiers were clean shaven. They had a large font for Holy Water and it was guarded by a dragon ( the symbol of the Devil) I though that was rather interesting. they talked a lot about the damage done when England converted to protestantism. They sent these crews around that plundered the Catholic properties and destroyed faces and effigies of saints and anything they thought Catholic. Because of this you see many statues with out heads. In Lincoln cathedral some one tried to remidy this by putting faces back on the statues. they were all male faces, But it so happened they were saints he was improving and some of them were women.
I climbed all the way up in the tower to see the view. 275 steps on a circular staircase. But the view was great. I then took a tour of the city, and he showed us a lot of things that we would not have seen on our own so it was definitely worth while. There were a lot of tourists in the town because it was a school holiday (potato harvest holiday We used to have that in Denmark too and I actually helped pick potatoes).
I found a very nice bakery /pastry shop, where they had wonderful pastries. They had pastries shaped a ghosts black and white, pumpkins and apples.
In the evening I went on a Ghost tour. The following is not rated PG.
I will only tell you the worst of these stories. There is a road leading from the cathedral toward the city. Under this road is an old roman road. The road is up against a large building. One day a young man was asked to dig a hole in a storage room that is under the road. All of a sudden the young man shot out of the room all white in the face and shaking. The man tha was there said: So you saw the ghosts? What he later told was that he saw a roman soldier on a horse and he was followed by several soldiers all marching a long. He could only see them from the waste up except for when they moved through the hole he had dug, then he could see the whole body.
Next story. When they excavated for a large taxbuilding they found all these skeletons. the peculiar thing was that they ere all missing their rib cages. Noone could understand the mystery till an expert in viking history came forward and told them. It seems the vikings had a punishment where they would attach a small hook to the bottom of the ribcage and with a set of pulleys they would move the ribcage back and forth till it came loose. the lungs would wxplode and the ribcage would pop out. Grusome. But lest you think the Christians were any nicer here is a story about what they did to vikings that would not embrace their religion. the viking was invited into the church and then he was hung upside down by the feet. They would than take knives and skin the person. He was alive when this process started. When they had all the skin removed, they would sew it together and hang it up as a warning to others.
I think that is enough.
My last day in York i spent visiting various sites. I went to a museum where they had created a timetunnel you went through to see life at various periods of time. I went up in an old tower from viking times. At roman and viking times you could sail up to York. i also saw the Fairfax house. another branch of the Family thatn the onces settling Virginia. It was a beautiful Georgian house, and furnishings. I also saw the Adventures guildhouse, a very old building still in use for ceremonial functions. Of course I spent a good deal of time roaming through the old streets and by the end of 3 days I felt like I knew my way around the old city. It was a welcome relief to come back to my hotel the third evening and find that my new room had a large bathtub. My feet were just killing me as were my knees. York is the second largest city after London. Also the archbishop is only second to the one in Canterbury.
I watches a couple of interesting shows. Of course they had a debate about how much free speach was enough specially in regards to the Muslim community, which is very large in Great Britain. They had a show featureing the actress playing Lydia in Pride and Preduduce. She was trying to find her gemealogy. It turns out she comes of Hugenot stock from France on her mothers side and from Jordan n her fathers. It was very interesting to watch.
Next morning I took the train to Lincoln. again I had to change trains to a small local line to get to my destination.
Lincoln is divided into two parts: the upper and lower part. the land around Lincoln is almost as flat as a pancake, and then you have this large elevation popping up.
The Lincoln cathedral sit on top of this hill. The reason I wanted to see Lincoln is becauser of a book I read ages ago. Katherine by Anya Seton. Kathrine was a real person, the mistress and later wife of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and she is buried in the cathedral.
It was very hilly, just walking from my B&B which was also on the hill up to the town. Again this is a midieval town sitting atop roman and viking ruins. I again took a tour of the cathedral. They have built a much larger church around an already excisting church. it was interesting to see how they had joined the two together. The chapterhouse was used in the movie The Da Vincy Code. I later found out that the pictures I ahd seen in the Chapter house and found out of place since there were no other paintings in the church, were made by Hollywood artists for the movie. when you look at the Cathedral from the outside you can see the towers are leaning slightly. I also saw the old bishops castle, which was in ruin. I found the house where Kathrine had lived. Lincoln has the oldest roman arch still in use. They have special markings in the pavement where they found the entrance to a roman Forum.
The second day I was the Castle where they house one of the only 3 copies of The Magna Carta. One of the signers of the chartes was names, Saen De Quincy.
I walked down to the lower part of town on a street called Steep Street and that was an understatement. It was steeper than any street I have encountered in San Francisco. There are still traces of the vikings too, as in Dane gate Etc. It got quite cold when I got to Lincoln, and the second day it rained in the afternoon, so I took a boat trip which turned out not to be that interesting. I am glad I made the trip to both York and Lincoln. I found it even morre interesting than London, except the shopping was not much.
Saturday i got up early and took the train back to Kings Cross, from where I took the tube over to Heathrow. I was the only standby for my flight and got the last seat in First. As I was waiting to get on board who should show up but David and Irene smith and their son austin, who was returning from his misson to Estonia. Small world. I am glad I got first, we had strong headwinds 127 miles so the trip took over 8 hours.

Next morning I took the train

Before I start new adventures, I thought I had better get caught up on the last ones.
Oct 11, I went to Utah, and I feel like the Lord blessed me to get on my flight out of Denver. I got the last seat, and the plane was overbooked by 8 people. The thing is if I had not made that flight , I would hardly have had any time to spend with Trevor since he only was off on wednesday.
I rented a car and drove up through Parley Canyon and then through Heber Valley. the trip was so much more beautiful than I remembered. even after I got out of Heber valley there were several reservoirs and much more vegetation than I remember. On my left side I could see the Uintahs and the buttes. Richard and I drove over to Colorado the first year we were married so he could go to summer school in Fort Collins.
We took route 40, but I remember it as being very barren and the only interesting thing we saw was a lot of prairie dogs along the roadside.
Got to Roosevelt by 1 o'clock. Trevor took me out to see an oil drilling site. It was very interesting and the first time I have seen one. We had to drive a long way on unpaved roads full of pot holes. Just like going on safari. Trevors truck is very nice and definitely the right vehicle for that area. Where we drove it was definitely desert and rather drab. It was nice to see that Trevor and his roommate keep a clean house, in spite of having to put up with the oil they invariably bring home on themselves and their clothes. I also got to see one of the trucks they used and they are rather interesting vehicles. Later in the afternoon we visited a couple of places where they sell Indian artifacts. One store had a section where they had antique Indian jewelry. But the best part of the trip was having a chance to sit down with Trevor and have a good visit. Now when I talk to him I will have a better idea of what his surroundings are like and what he is talking about , when he talkes about his work. The next morning we got up and went to a little cafe, where we had a hardy breakfast. The best scrambled eggs I have had at a cafe. tThen Trevor went to work and I got ready to drive back to Salt Lake. I had plenty of time before Quincy and Natalie got home from work, so I stopped in Park City, and spent about an hour walking up and down the old historic Main street. I looked in at a copule of the art galleries. I particularly liked a gallery, that exhibited photos of nature both landscapes and animals. the photographer was named Mangelsen.
I wish I had wallspace and money enough to buy a few of his pictures, they are so restful to look at, but I don't.
It was such a peaceful ride back to Salt Lake, and I stopped to take a picture here and there. In Salt Lake I visited a very good friend I havn't seen in years: Nola Lowe. We used to do name extraction together for about 10 years. I like visiting with older people and see how they are navigating old age. It is like looking at a road map, and get renewed hope that it is possible to be useful and independent, even when you are on the wrong side of 80. She is 86, and had just come home from the temple when I arrived.
Then to Provo to visit Natalie and Quincy. They must have the best furnished student apartment and the cleanest in all of Provo. Natalie has done such a nice job of decorating it. Quincy and I went to the grocery store and talked the whole time. They are both very busy, but still had time for me. Natalie is looking pregnant now, but she looks very well and very happy. Natalie was shopping with her mother and they came back a little later in the evening, so I also had a chance to see Susan again. That was nice. Friday morning I tried to see The Hillams, but they were in their cabin at Sundance, so I tried to find their cabin. Things have changed so much up there it is almost suburbia with paved streets and street names. I couldn't find it, but I had a beautiful ride in the canyon. I remember when they were planning to widen the road going through the canyon. There was so much opposition to it. Richard did the surveys for that project. But I think it has really improved the looks of the canyon and it has sertainly made it safer than it was then. I don't know why people always fight progress. Just think how much better the traffic would be in this area it there was an alternative to the beltway to get in to Maryland. But they can't agree on that either.
I even got a little christmas shopping in. When Natalie came home from work we got ready to go back to Salt Lake for her baby shower. We had a nice conversation on the way up there. I dropped Natalie at her grandparents apartment, and then hurried out to my motel to check in and change my clothes.
The shower was great and it was nice to meet Natalies family again and some of her friends. Susan and Natalies sisters had really gone all out to make it nice. I particularly liked the centerpieces: Blue receiving blankets with a bowl of water and yellow ducks floating on the water. I can just see their little boy taking a bath surrounded by lots of small yellow ducks. The food was great too. The party games were fun, but I will always think differently about candy bars from now on. Natalie got a lot of nice presents for the baby. All in all it was a wonderful evening and I am glad I came out for it. My motel was nice and to my surprise I slept like a log. I usually don't sleep well when I have to get up early.
I tried to get on the early flight to Denver, but I think the gate agents were playing favorites rather than follow the seniority list. So I didn't make it . I remembered there was a flight through Chichago, so I went over to that gate and got on. When we left Chichago, the weather was beautiful and we had great tail winds the whole way. But when we got on the runway, the captain informed us there was a ground stop in Newark because of those winds. So we sat on the runway for almost 2 hours. But they put on a movie: " The Devil Wears Prada", a movie I had wanted to see, so I felt I got a bonus out of all this, and with the shades down and the engines running It felt just like flying.
Emily picked me up in Newark. I went up there so I could be there for the week- end and help celebrate Spencers birthday.
So I had the rest of Saturday and Sunday to get reaquanted with Spencer and Theresa. I have been neglecting them a little this summer because I have had to go and help Melinda out, but I will have to make up for that. It is always interesting to go to church with them, because their little branch is so diverse. They had a little foster boy,Jose, and they have performed wonders with him. When they got him he was withdrawn, because he had been neglected in his previous foster home. When I saw him he was smiley and interacting with everyone in the family and crawling all over the place.
Hew --- That was a long message, but it should keep you busy reading it till I get home from England. I leave today and return Saturday I hope.

mamabealadventures

mamabealadventures
Just an update. I went back to work this last week, and spent two days at the Pimmit Hills Senior center, working on their registration date. One day the computer was wacky so I ended up spending time with some of the seniors at the center. I spent time playing rubics cube and got beaten every game. They have a lot of chinese people there and also Persians. It is very interesting to watch how the different nationalities interact. I met a lady from New Delhi and we had a nice talk about the issues of being widowed and staying with children versus not staying with them, and the need for privacy. She is very nice and smart.
My face continues to improve, and I have started walking. I think it is going to look very good when it is all healed up, but it is like road repair: It looks great when it is finished but it is a mess while the repair lasts. This is the second time I have had my face operated on for skin cancers in one year.
I really enjoyed conference. I have made most of the dresses for humanitarian services. I cut them out in May, I would say it is about time. I also found time to help my neighbors get started on fixing the rotten wood on their pillars. I think they can handle it from here.
This week I am going up to Delaware for Marys 2nd birthday. I am also having a skincancer taken off my leg before I go up there. The weather is wonderful clear and cool.

mamabealadventures

mamabealadventures
I am back home again, and cintinuing my medical saga. Monday 19 Sep I had another baselcell carcinoma removed from my nose. It was less than 1/4 " but it made quite a havoc of my face. It was deep and they had to do a skingraft. the surgeon Dr Braun is very good. He took the graft from the smile line and swung it up to fill in the hole. You are supposed to keep your eyes closed but I had mine open just a little bit and could see them swing the little worm of tissue around and cut it to size. It took five hours with the interuptions to have the pathologist examine the edges to make sure they got it all but it beats having to go in several times and not know if they got it. Dr Braun gave me orders top be a couch potato for the first week and not talk so the incitions could heal up undisturbed. I have looked respectively as a victime of domestic abuse, and an alcoholic with a swollen bulbous nose. It is a little scary when you take the bandage off and your whole face is swollen, red and blue. I could hardly see out of my right eye for several days. But it is amazing what a week will do. I almost look like a normal person again. I plan to return to work on Tuesday.
I have pigged out on TV. They had a marathon of old Westerns, and seing that beautiful countryside in southern Utah has made me determined to go out to see it. We lived in Utah for several years but we only got to see Zions National park briefly. My thanks go to Lynne and Linda for driving me to the drs office which is in Dc. Linda drove her convertible. It has been years since I have been in a convertible so it was quite a treat specially since the weather was lovely.

Here is an update on my stay with M and M.
this Picture could be called: my cup runneth over, and I feel greatly blessed to have so many cute grandchildren and the two not pictured in the picture. But I wouldn't want any future grandchildren to think they were not wanted. So keep filling my cup to over flowing. I love it.


The last day I was here we went to Longwood garden. What a lovely visit. It was like a brief visit to paradise.


Now I am on my way home and they expect me at work tomorrow. It will be strange not to here little highpitched voices all ove the place. I shall miss them.

The last part of August and first half of September has been full of adventures with my grand children. First little over a week with J and H's two cute boys E and J visiting at my house.
Then late August I went up to M & M to help with the children while their new baby brother was born. It is a lot of fun and brings back many good memories of when I was in that situation full time. I know I have been accepted when the little ones allow me to help them even though their parents are present. Going to get the baby from the hospital M and I were a little overwhelmed with all the things happening and completely forgot to bring a baby seat and a blanket for the babys trip home. So he sat in E's seat and was covered with my sweat jacket and M's jacket. Modern day pioneers. The little guy is cute and good natured and I love to hold him.
It really is an adventure to have all these little grandsons coming. I am enjoying each and everyone of them. Of course I love the girls too. Little M loves to parade in my sandals and handbag.