To Nativity and Beyond

This has to be one of the most unforgettable Christmases I have ever had. From Slinky's bum to walking the High Street of Woodford with a minion it has been full of firsts.

Every year All Saints puts on a show for the community telling the nativity story in creative ways. This years version was called Boy Story. It was inspired by Disneys Toy Story. It was such a fun experience to be apart of. I was offered the roll of Slinky's bum and since it came with no speaking parts (which we are all thankful for, lol) I said yes. Then because I was American they offered me the roll of voicing Angel Kitty. I agreed with a bit of nervousness due to me now having to remember lines. Memorizing was never a strong suit for me. But this was a challenge I was prepared to take, it was a very short roll, thank God. 

We took the minion out to do some advertising. From the smiles and honks from passer-byers I think it was a success. 

Step aside Bekham and Victoria, you are no longer big news at the Castle anymore. A minion has taken your place of celebrity visits.

And we were given free drinks from the owner. Apparently the owner loves minions. Did that happen for them? I should say not! Lol

This is me in my roll as the bum.

I hid backstage and voiced Angel Kitty and Ken was the puppeteer.

 

This was the stage, a group of men from the church set it up. And they did amazing! 

Me loving all the props made by Ken and team! 

Decorating the cafe. The crowds waited here before they could get into the show. We did one performance on the 23rd at 7pm and then 4 on the 24th.

Woody and Buzz discussing how to spell. Lol

Goofing around in our costumes. The first time in them.

Around 1600 people came between all 5 shows and heard the good news. I am so honored to have taken part in a Boy Story. I love being apart of All Saints where they have such a huge heart for the community around them. Where they took so much of their personal time and invested it into this show. Thank you everyone for all your hard work and letting me be apart of it. 

P.S. 

How many people can say their vicar is a storm trooper!? Lol

Racing the sun

I was loosing time as I walked down Whitehall Road. I was already speed walking as fast as I could go. I could see the sun rising on the horizon. The building were beginning to show more clear as dawn approached. When I had decided to watch the sunrise while sitting at parliament (Big Ben) I thought I had budgeted my time well the night before. 

I had my coffee and breakfast in hand and walking like a crazy woman trying to get to my spot. When I researched the time for sunrise it said at 8:02am. I looked at the time on my phone and it read 7:30am. I'll make it! I was only 2 minutes away at this point! Ben was in view and soon my spot! I crossed the road easily, barely any traffic. And as I approached my spot I realized something awful! A group of people were sitting in my spot on the stairs! Out of all the places they could sit, my spot was the place they chose! What are the odds!? I mean come on, really!? 

Feeling a bit like Sheldon Cooper and understanding the significance of a perfect spot, time ticking away made me choose a different spot. 

I found a place next to the statue of Gandhi and settled in. With a deep sigh I sat and watched the sun rise. Plugging in my earphone and finding my favorite worship song on YouTube, I sat listening to Oceans. I watched God do his thang and like always he did it well!

When I first arrived to Parliment.

And the sun rose.

I walked over to Westmister Bridge to get another view.

Me...not in my spot... Next to Gandhi  

Awakens

It was a matter of life and death. Beads of sweat raced down my forehead as I fought off the attacker. My head was pounding and heart beating faster than ever. I spun my weapon of choice and blocked the pursuer. The force is strong with this one I thought and spun around like so many other Jedi's do before they defeat their adversaries.  Dizzy and a little discombobulated I looked up. It felt cold, oh so cold. I looked to my stomach and there was no denying. Dropping my light saber I fell to the ground while cries of victory came from Cat. 

-End scene-

While in the office one day Cat and I were planning our next adventure. To the movies! We were off to see Star Wars the next day and full of so much excitement. Disney! Star Wars! While in London! Could life get anymore intense? 

As we plotted the next day we were reminded about the light sabers in the children's department. We raced to the door and dug them out. We took our weapon of choice and the war began! And ended sooner than expected do to my lack of skills.

A group of us went out the day the movie came out. Dressed up, carrying light sabers and JarJar Binks head we went in with anticipation! 

We are hard core!

Ben turning to the dark side, we couldn't save him. 

Was suppose to be a Charlie Angels pose, but we kind of lost it. It still works. Lol

And so it begins!

We were ready!

Group shot! Nerds at large! And proud of it!

Season greetings part 1

When I say "Christmas in a cup" what comes to mind? I know in my head it is eggnog, and most Americans would agree. Here in England it is different.  Trying to explain egg nog to them is one thing, but finding it is nearly impossible. Thanks to Starbucks I can get room temperature eggnog, which will do. Even though I wish it was colder I won't complain.

An English "Christmas in a cup" would be mulled wine served with mince pies. Though the mulled wine is delicious, do to the extra sugar and spices, I can't say I enjoy the minced pies. (But that is just between you and me.)

Christmas in London has been everything but disappointing. Being constantly busy in a church that never sleeps, walking down the streets of central London and enjoying the new friends and family I have made. I find myself just smiling and thanking God constantly for the life I am living. Things aren't perfect and I have made my share of mistakes but I can't help but keep optimistic. 

Here are just a couple pics to share with y'all. 

Advent is a huge deal at All Saints. It is the 4 Sunday's leading to Christmas. I was chosen to co-lead with my boss Sophie (who is such a delight to work with) to take charge of Advent 2. People brought in toys for different charities and we had the Girl and Boy Scouts visit. 

Met up with an old and dear friend from the choir and we visited Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with mummy Carson! I fully recommend this Christmas market!

Christmas on South Bank and making new friends! 

Us interns with Paul in a minion Onsie. (Onsies and Christmas jumpers are huge over here). (Jumper is a sweater, not a jump suit. Lol)

I found Santa after he scared the daylights out of me. Never turn your back on Santa, even if your in a church.

Christmas presents at our intern party!

Our newest addition, Shannon, all the way from South Africa! And she is amazing! 

Enjoying mulled wine while in charge of a Christmas carol evening at the church! 

We put on many productions for different children groups that take place in the church.

And they all ended up like this! Even poor baby Jesus got a beating. Lol

Though life is crazy it has been fun. I think of how God sent Jesus down to earth. He sacrificed so much so I could live, and live well. To have a relationship with him and have a good life. That I could live out my dreams. I am so thankful that I serve a God who loves not just me but the whole world. Who did so much for man kind even though many don't even realize it. He truly is a good God.

Help me, I'm foreign

I closed my eyes and wished I could fall over dead. The heat rising in my cheeks showed my embarrassment. That phrase! Once I heard it I knew I had messed up! It's the "Ahhh you poor, sad, uncultured person you", in other words, you're dumb but I still like you "hidden undertone". I have heard this many times before. 

I had been sent on a quest by the church secretary to find the pictures of previous vicars of All Saints Parish stored away in  a storage out side the office. I felt up to the challenge. How hard could this really be? I was happy to help. 

I made my way to the storage and climbed in. I was leaning over boxes, stretching and reaching. I was dedicated. In mid search I came across a picture of a man sitting at a desk. He looked Vicar-ish. Uncertain to who this man was I climbed out of the storage and made my way to the secretaries office. She was not there so I went in search for her. I landed in the "man cave" aka the tech, music and maintenance office and found our tech guy working away. I asked him if he had seen the secretary, he said no, but offered his assistance. I told him about the task I had been sent on and turned the picture around asking "is this a previous vicar of the church?" While in my head I knew the answer was yes but I just wanted to double check. Hoping to impress at my thoroughness. 

He looked at the portrait and with a smile spreading across his face, reaching out for the picture he said "ah, bless you." Oops there it is. "This is Winston Churchill." 

Oh how that phrase did not make me feel blessed. I did it again. All confidence gone. Out the window. How was I to know what Winston Churchill looked like? I only knew of a few quotes people use every now and then. Why am I so uncultured!

Even though I was humiliated the tech was nice enough to tell me a little blip about Mr. Churchill and the reason to why we had his portrait in the church. Apparently he had an office in the parish once upon a time ago and was in charge of this area of churches. 

Good news is I did find the vicars of All Saints Past. It just came at an embarrassing price. 

This is the portrait of Mr. Churchill. 

These are the vicars I was trying to find.

This is a statue of Winston Churchill outside of Big Ben. I pass it on my way to my spot. How did I miss this?

Get the Facts Right

"No!"  I gasped as my hopes of what could have been an epic day came to a crashing failure. I could not believe I missed out. I was so close. I had spent all day in London waiting for this once in a life time opportunity. I had done the research. I checked multiple different websites. They all said the same thing. The premier of Quantum Solace was tonight. I was in the right place  at the right time. I was finally going to meet Daniel Craig... Well at least see him from a far distance. He would be on the red carpet in Leicester Square with William and Harry! What an amazing night this should have been! But when I arrived to Leicester Square I was told by the Pizza Hut man it was a couple days ago! How could I have missed it! Every website I checked said it was tonight! 6:30 pm! 

I thanked the man and walked slowly to the tube. Back to Woodford in defeat.

The hour tube ride seemed longer than usual. I had found myself in the pit of despair. I heard my phone bing and I looked at it. I had received a message from a friend asking if I saw Daniel Craig and the royals! 

Confusion and worry spread through me. I messaged them back and to my realization I had the wrong location! 

"Ah crap!" Blurted from my mouth and a mother and her child sitting across from me stared as if I was a crazy on the tube. If only she knew the distress I was facing right now. Utter disappointment! 

That wave could have been for me! Stinking Pizza Hut man!

I could have crossed of my dream of seeing royalty in person!

To top that off there had been this picture circling the internet the last 2 months. Me, being a fan of Wizard of oz, thought I should see it. After all Harrods was only a tube ride away. So a dear friend and I set off to see the witches legs! How excited I was! We arrived to Harrods and could not find the legs. How could we miss them? They are huge! 

We went into the store and I asked a well dressed man who worked there about the legs. 

He gave me the 'oh you poor foolish girl' look and said the pic was 3 years old to promote the anniversary of the movie.  

I thanked the man and walked away. Two fails in one week! Within 4 days of each other. 

Learned lessons from these two experiences, you can't always trust the Internet, or men who work in Pizza Hut. 

Footloose

"Oh my gosh! I need to go!" I may have yelled out in desperation. The music hit my ears and I spun away from the computer in front of me. Excitement and horror all at once. Excitement about what was happening downstairs, horror that I would miss out. 

"Ten minutes is all I ask!" I begged as my leader saw the crazy in my eyes. 

"Get on with yah."

I was released! I ran out of the office and down the stairs. I turned to the right and entered the main hall. I gazed on the activity that was before me and smiled! Oh this is so happening, I thought to myself and walked into the room further. Scottish dance lessons! I waited for the dance to end and then asked if I could join in the next one. To my surprise my partner came in a kilt! Could this get any better!!! I don't think so! I through my phone to a fellow intern and got in the line. And so the dance went on...

We are promenading!

Circle to the left than to the right (8 step counts)

More promenading 

Thank you Alan for the lovely dance! And thank you Sophie for letting me play hooky!