9. Day 24: Silent Night, Holy Night
Our plan for the day included lunch with some BNI Connect friends, a carol service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, dinner and the West End play “The Play That Goes Wrong”. It also ended up including letting the maintenance guy in to repair the washing machine, grocery shopping for a Christmas Cake and walking for miles. The thronging crowds reminded me it was also one of the last shopping days before Christmas. I had a little cough on the Underground which blew up into another coughing fit at the wonderful Indian restaurant where we were meeting friends known previously only in...
Read More9. Day 23: Tidings Of Comfort & Joy
On this very busy, full day leading up to our delicious celebration of Christmas let us take time to breathe and extend much love to our thoughts. What instantly came to my mind was the carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”. I just started singining, humming really, this hymn to my teaming thoughts of “Why can’t I get the washing machine door open?” to “Where will we have Christmas lunch?” to “I still miss my loved ones who are not right here with me even though everything is perfect.” Try this yourself. Hold your thoughts (anything you...
Read More9. Day 22: My Flat In London
We have arrived in our flat in London for Christmas. It is wonderful, sumptuous and feels like a real home. I do not know the owners but they take the magazines I would if I lived here. They love art, family and good furniture and have great lighting. I am sending them all kinds of love and joy for Christmas just for the warm welcoming flat (including tea in the cupboard). It was an arduous journey made with mostly cheerful faces though by the end of the day we were exhausted. Our day started in Carnforth with a sassy female Cabbie who could have been a character in a novel. She had a...
Read More9. Day 21: Joy Is God-speed
The siege in a cafe in the CBD in Sydney last week by a Muslim radical has led to a flurry of Muslim/anti-Muslim interviews, news stories here in the UK and overheard casual commentary on trains and in coffee houses. The act of violence and spectacle again raises the issue of conflict, distrust and even hatred between “us” and “them”. This fear and distrust is uncomfortable especially when it is in your face. I noticed while traveling by train from Lancaster to London on surely one of the busiest train travel days of the year (the weekend before Christmas) a large...
Read More9. Day 20: Joy Is Freedom
Prison does things to a person. Even if it is pretend. Today we visited Lancaster Castle which was a prison up until 2011. It is am imposing building; sturdy, solid, resonating with history, grief and ordinary boredom. There are still operational courts in the castle complete with carved stone, huge paintings of various dukes and princes and crests of everyone from the most recent High Sheriff to Queen Elizabeth II. We had one of the most interesting tours we have had in all of the places we visited. Our docent was a part time actor who had recently published a play based on the true...
Read More