September 18, 2004, continued

Yesterday, (Friday) we had a group tour of Westminster Abbey during which our tour guide danced on Darwin’s grave. That wasn’t the highlight, but I thought it was worth mentioning. You’ll have to do the tour yourselves some day; it’s political and church history, art and architecture appreciation, symbology, religion, and lots more rolled into one. Fascinating and exhausting.

For lunch, Kate and I got lost again and stumbled upon a Korean restaurant where we ate our weight in delicious food and then browsed around in a huge, independent bookstore. In the afternoon, my creative writing class went to the Sherlock Holmes museum for inspiration.

It was okay, but I probably would have enjoyed it more had I not been so exhausted from the morning and weighed down by bulgogi, rice, miso soup and kimchee.

On the way home, I experienced my first frustration with the tube. The line I needed to take was shut down for a “police incident,” and I was forced to do some creative detouring.

Last night I decided to stay in to catch up on my sleep. I think I’m ready for another fun-filled week. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Love from London,

Robin

September 18, 2004

Hi, all,

The last three days have been busy around here. On Wednesday morning I spent three hours walking around the Charing Cross area and browsing in old book shops. Exhausting but fun, fun, fun.


Early Wednesday evening Patrick (one of the Maryland students) and I spent another five hours getting lost and found in the city. Our wanderings led (as they usually do) to interesting places. At one point we stumbled upon a park, decided to go in, discovered a restaurant with a heated (yes, it’s finally getting chilly here) patio and had a half pint and a bowl of chips. We thought we were in Jubilee Park, but the hostess told us it was St. James Park.

This is really funny if you look at a map of London, because they are on opposite sides of the river. Some time later, we turned a corner to find the Westminster clock tower looming and dramatically lighted just as Big Ben chimed the half hour.

While walking up some street, we heard swishing noises and whistles, turned to look down the street, and were faced with hundreds of rollerbladers traveling en masse.



In between all that, we went to Trafalgar Square and the real Jubilee Park (home of the Eye),
crossing the Thames twice.

Thursday Dr. Hall took both of his science classes by coach to Oxford. We had five hours in town; it wasn’t nearly enough time. Exploring Christ’s Church College (see photo)...


--A little aside here. In order to get this photo, I had to go into the center of the quad, ignoring temporary barriers and production assistants (I really didn't see them, as I was drawn to this fountain), because the latest Harry Potter movie was being filmed. Yikes. Now, where was I?--

Exploring Christ’s Church College could easily have filled it, but my group stayed on the go. We visited the botanical garden, a couple of book stores, the museum, and Pembroke College as well. Tara wanted to see the last, because she read that Lewis Carroll was inspired by its gardens. It was closed to the public, but posing as potential students allowed us access. In our defense, we did pick up some admissions information while we were snooping around.

Finally, we stopped in at a punk pub for a drink before gathering for the return trip.

That night it was back to Imperial College for a drink, then laundry, etc.




--to be continued

September 14, 2004

Hi all,

Well, it has begun for me. Last night I went to the first class in my Brit Lit course. Initially, I signed up for a course on Shakespeare, but the prof. and the focus changed over the summer. As it turns out, the class is on 19th century Brit Lit. More specifically, we are focused on London, sex and anxiety through the eyes of Victorian era writers. I'm psyched. The prof is enthusiastic, capable and communicative. We are reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Great Expectations, Dracula and several poems, essays, interviews, and newspaper articles (such as those covering the White Chapel Murders) as well as taking field trips around London to explore some of the places about which we are reading. Oh, if only all my classes were lit classes!

Today is homework day. This week it includes a trip back to the London Museum to complete a module on science, reading ahead in culture; lit, and writing a short, descriptive piece for creative writing. I'd like to also fit in a trip to a local church where there is scheduled a talk on social and political justice and micro loans to women in third-world countries.


More soon.

Love from London,

Robin

This is not a metaphor

I have a really old vacuum cleaner. It's a canister style vac and has seen better days. Over the years I've owned lots of vacuum cleaners. All but this one were uprights. Several were bag-less. All of them crapped out eventually.

This one just keeps going. The hose cracked, was shortened, and cracked again. It was repaired with plastic and zip ties. It cracked again. It was covered end to end with duct tape. I can't remember now why I just didn't buy a new hose. Are they out of production? Was it too expensive? No matter. The duct tape is doing a fine job of holding everything together, the motor produces a mighty suck, and the retractable cord mechanism still reels it all the way in.

Truth be told, through it all, it's always been my favorite. And I can tell the truth, because vacuum cleaners aren't sensitive. I'm allowed to have a favorite. I bought the others because they were new and different, or because a guy with an English accent made them sound sexy. Or because the last new, different, sexy one had broken. This one I keep and keep coming back to because it works.

What I've been up to (but, wait, there's more)

Christmas quilts continued. I told you. Nuts.


A sparkly table runner for Jim & Cindy:



A Christmas gift table runner for Bill & Maggie:


A (large) lap quilt for Chuck the senior:



Another over-sized lap quilt. This one for Emma Louise (Grandma):


There are another five. Pictures pending.

What I've been up to (for the girls)

Christmas quilts continued.

For Emma, who loves stuffed animals, a cuddly flannel quilt.















For Kim, a hand-quilted table topper to match her decor.













And for Maddie, who loves to read, a quilt with panels from the old Dick & Jane primers and pieced gingham.

What I've been up to (for the boys)

I don't know what possessed me. Sometime in October I got the brilliant idea to quilt for everyone on my Christmas list. Sewing around the clock produced the following:

This is Zach's quilt. I chose a hipster palette and a simple pattern.

Josh is into graphic design. This is his quilt:
Ben loves pattern. This one should keep him busy.