Country Roads, Take Me Home

'Sheep may safely graze' was the theme song for our country walk through Eynsford to Shoreham just outside of London-town. We had a WWII veteran named George and his two brothers leading our group and showing us the sights. Among other things (walking), we grazed through some Lavender fields (top picture) and sang Mormon hymns at a seemingly abandoned country church.

Since it was raining gatos and perros, we took some shelter in a small barn dedicated to all things lavender - everything from booze, to soap, to bread - all made from the purple stuff you see in the top picture. I instead chose to down some English Ginger Beer (non alcoholic, of course). Ginger ale pales in comparison. This stuff is more ginger than liquid. It was 'brilliant'!

Cambridge and Wentbridge

We took a short jaunt to Cambridge University today. According to some "who's who" websites, it's been ranked as the top place to study...in the wehld (as Englishmen pronounce it). Since I'd gone to see the midnight launch of the second part of Harry Potter 7, of which I had no emotional stock invested, I was decidedly a bit tired. The two hour bus ride didn't help the cause, but it was all worth it as we started 'punting'. Check out a link here to see a vid of exactly how it works.

Six anxious students. One square, wooden boat (called a punt). Tenish pounds, not the lb kind. One long, awkward, cumbersome, heavy pole to push it all. It's practically begging for a good time. My respect for both Englishmen and the Italians who push the 'punts', as they're called, has increased. I tried my hand at punting for a bit. It went as smoothly as me playing linebacker at Springville High would have gone.

We toured the rest of the university - grabbed some ice cream, pounded some sammiches Gardner style, ate my first turkish delight. We're all getting a bit cathedraled out, frankly speaking, so we avoided those today. Too often the talks of this saint and that saint and this stained glass window and that stained glass window, never seem to satisfy the inner craving for some real gospel-centered talk that somehow involves the Savior. I felt especially so at Westminster Abbey. But like my church's eleventh article of faith states:

"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."

That sums it up pretty well, I believe.

'H&M and Fake Fires are the Cheese'

• I shopped for the first time by myself in two years, at none other than H&M. It's actually a Swedish based gig. Not Norwegian, but I'll take it. However, shop till you drop took on quite a different meaning this go-around: While I was perusing, I was listening to a little Third Eye Blind in honor of my good friend Andrew Dearden. Midway between trying some new pants on (Third Eye Blind still playing...heh...) I heard a siren-like sound outside. I took my headphones off, thinking that it was some newfangled rap song that I hadn't heard before. But it kept going. I peaked my head out the door, half dressed, you know, and it turns out it wasn't a drill. A lady rushed over to me, and using frightened English accent tones (hard to reproduce), she yelled at me to get out. I decided I'd ere on the side of burning down before I went out half dressed, so I popped my pants on and jaunted out with her. As we walked out, even more sirens. My pants and shirt were apparently still electro-tagged. Shoot. It all died down shortly after...but what a 30 minute clothes try-on!

• Ventured to a local grocery chain named Waitrose. Since it's not me paying the bills, I snuck to the pompous cheese counter and gave it a go. After speaking with a supposed Lithuanian cheese connoisseur, I ended up buying 100g 'Cropwell Bishop' marbled cheese (politically correct for odd black streaks and blotches of black stuff embedded in white stuff called cheese) and 200g of 'Mull of Kintyre', sharp as a tack. The Cropwell Bishop variety tasted like a horse pasture smells. However, I found my mouth enjoying it after each go. You know, you have to let your pallet mature. I assumed the Mull of Kintyre must be good, because the Beatles sing about it. Color me impressed on that one, too.

Well, there it is, folks. Big Ben itself. Before checking it out, we went to the famous Westminster Abbey. I've read about it a veritable grundle of times in various pieces of literature - and it always seemed more like fiction than reality. Holy goodness, it's real. We're talking, if Barack Obama were to be buried there he'd be in the back corner behind Dickins, Darwin, Newton, Henry VIII. As we were waiting in line for their evening mass service (which was decidedly different than the Mormon method), I discovered that I was walking all over Charles Darwin's grave, like it was my J-O-B.

To think, for a moment, that I was standing on the grave of the man who I had conversations about with Norwegians for a good part of two years, was striking. I'd heard his name probably a few hundred (I'd wager a few thousand) times on my mission to Norway as people explained their 'religious' views. It was quite the experience.

It was quite the interesting historical experience, but as the clergy at the church-abbey explain, the primary purpose to its existence is worship. I found that very respectable. Sure, it's not my faith - it differs a good deal in it's views of Christ. I realized, like I have on so many other occasions, that their faith is in no way wrong - but that the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ could serve as a great way to learn more truth about God as He truly is. The music, the preaching, and the ceremonies were all interesting. Everything was very well planned and went smoothly. I did miss the application part, however. What can I do about what I'm hearing right now?, was my thought process. It was quite the experience nonetheless.

Big Ben was astounding. It stood there, keeping watch over the city (town?!). And this time, it wasn't on James Bond or Peter Pan. To be honest, before this experience in London, I hadn't quite understood what Englishmen were so proud about. After all, I do come from the land of the free and the home of the brave. I thought that everything outside of America was nice, you know, with a pitiful tone. My eyes have been opened to the fact that there truly are great places outside of the New Yorks, LAs, and Springvilles (....). Around every corner I turn, and I mean quite literally, there are historical sites dripping with memorials of people who shaped how my world is today. And I haven't even downloaded a Beatles song in my life. Figures.

To sum it up - although the United States still is the country of my choosing, liking, and I daresay loving (thanks to a touch of inspiration from Top Gun), I could definitely see myself thriving here - and not just as a tourist.

The Tower of London: A 'Crown Jewel'

I had originally thought that the Tower of London was the Clock Tower that housed Big Ben. Turns out it's actually an old castle used for defense back in the day. It's been guarded since it's beginning by men in blue and red halloweeny costumes called Beef Eaters. I can only imagine what their kids say at school for career day. They're pleasant chaps at any rate.

Among other fairly plain attractions (to the American eye), was a medieval play, some interesting towers and fortresses, etc. However, I didn't know that the Crown Jewels were found in the Tower of London. Not going to lie, they were pompous in all senses of the word. They even had a conveyor belt in front of them so you wouldn't get caught googly-eyeying them for hours.

I managed in addition to pop a few pics of the red-guard man with the huge hat. I felt so sneaky...and so did the other thousand people that took a pic with him. I think he got the memo on the red, too.

'What does a Gardner do for fun?' If you guessed cruise, you're wrong.

I guess if there's any way to know a Gardner - it's this picture. Me, Neal, Owen, and Grant (future superstar) - at 6am running ourselves to near death. And we're smiling. Some people call it torture, others, unnecessary conditioning from an unhappy Football coach.

We call it vacation.

Kensington Gardens...more pomp.

Took a stroll through Kensington Gardens tonight with the fam - with conversation topics ranging from Norwegian governmental policies to how much Heavenly Father has blessed us all. Good times. Each morning, I run through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. It's quite a dream, really.

As I run through the gardens, the shiny, golden, overly-decorated Albert Memorial stares with it's LOTR-like all-seeing eyes, to add yet more to the Londonese pomp.

Pomp and Portabello

We took a trip to Buckingham Palace yesterday to see the Changing of the Guard. We took a jaunt through Green Park to line up early to get a spot, since it's such a huge event. It was quite the pompous display of red coats, brass instruments, and English pride. I was impressed by how serious the guards were during the entire ceremony, even though it happens every day. It definitely felt like they had national pride. I think I'm beginning to understand why!

Later on, we took a trip to Portabello Road. It's a famous road that stretches for a kilometer or so. It's home to probably a thousand shops or various sorts - antiques, souveniers, artifacts, horribly unhealthy but fantastic eats, and the like. There, Dad got his shoes fixed for free by a cobbler, we ate some London style steak sandwhiches, and Mom bought some fresh blackberries to her liking. There was something there for everyone, including pickpocketers.

There were also a mass of street artists playing all sorts of folky string music - entertaining stuff. Like everywhere else in London, a sardine type feeling would be an accurate description of Portabello Road!

As If London Had Little More To Offer, Along Comes...

I've been trying to keep a running list of 'to-dos' and 'have-dones' in a small, blue hardbound notebook. As soon as we jump on 'the Tube', I'll jot down a few of them. Every time I go to do this, however, the list 'runneth over'. In any case, today included:

• First time double decker experience. I grabbed a complete works of Shakespeare book the other day and got started reading 'Much ado about nothing' on the red monstrosity of a bus. I felt like a proper englishman. I might as well have read the entire book - the traffic would have allowed for it. Now I understand the why the area we were driving in in downtown London is 'Piccadilly Circus'
• From there, we took the tube to Waterloo station. I felt like a sardine in a very unforgiving can - but the experience was much more delicious. After coming out of the station, we happened upon an energetic bunch of youths playing some great energetic Jazz. It was a free, open-air type setup. It only took a couple minutes before a large group was assembled and enjoying themselves for some free Friday festivities. The setup complete with a long, curly haired Napoleon Dynamite type on the synthesizer, a red-personality type on the sax, and some giddy trombones that just looked happy to be there. Neal, Owen, Grant, and I were along for the concert-of-sorts as Mom and Dad went to the Tower of London.

V&A is Very Amazing

Just got finished with a tour in the Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum on Cromwell Road in London. We were guided by a well spoken English woman in light pink. She had a spice for the arts! Among other things, she showed and explained:

• "The Ardabil Carpet"
• Tipu Tiger
• "The Raphael Cartoons"
• Facade from Sir Paul Pinders
• Trajan Column
• The Great Bed of Ware

I was completely taken by the V&A logo. Simple, elegant. Pure class. The Museum was breathtaking, to say the least. There was a dizzying array of displays and exhibitions. I had thought it was an exaggeration when people said that you could 'spend days in that place'. I'm beginning to think that months might be a more accurate term.