Abbey Road

One of the iconic images of London is the Abbey Road crosswalk where the Beatles so famously walked. We took advantage of having a photographer (thanks Michal!) and did our own Beatles-esque photo. I felt slightly embarrassed seeing as I normally am the one ploughing ahead through the tourists en route to run my errands--there's no telling how many pictures I've ruined. Sorry, but one must walk with a purpose. :-) Fortunately, we've scoped out when is the best time to do this picture (we've taken this picture for friends before), and Sunday- morning-London has to be at its quietest, so before church we headed out.

Our timing was a little off in the first few...

But we finally started to get the hang of it!

And now we have our own Abbey Road picture with our foursome. Someday when Parr is bigger, we'll just point to that stroller and say "there you are!"

Wills and Kate...in the home

Around these parts, we are getting a bit excited about a certain Royal Wedding. From the day they were engaged, watching how Brits responded to Kate and William has been very interesting. It is certainly an event that we, as Americans, cannot quite fully grasp. The respect immediately given to the "future Queen" is foreign. Hearing others joke about her being "common" was quite hilarious as you are reminded that it is actually something that a Brit thinks about--that ever-so-important social standing. Royalty and the monarchy--something to Americans that belongs in a Disney movie or the dreams of little girls--is a reality here, and it commands respect, fascination, and in Kate's case--a bit of envy from millions of young women across the world! Stores even are capitalizing on the upcoming event with loads of commemorative items. Here are a few should you wish to have your own!

from John Lewis

from Judith Michael & Daughter in Primrose Hill

from Cath Kidston

{click the item for the link to the website! some places, like John Lewis & Cath Kidston have other items available}

Considering London

You know you live in England when...

...bangers and mash sound like a viable option for dinner.

And then you actually cook it.

And serve it to guests in your home.

Confused? We are having sausage and mashed potatoes for dinner.

Technically we are eating early, about the time of children's tea. Did I confuse you again? No, the English don't give their children Earl Grey tea at 5. Although I thought my friend was doing just that for awhile and was quite confused. They feed their children their dinner at 5. Just the children. Then Mum and Dad will eat later, I suppose once Dad is back from work.

Another odd dish that I've had [English] friends order at a restaurant and eat: rice pudding. It's not a misnomer. They actually make a pudding (another word for dessert, by the way) that is similar, I thought, to creme brulee that has rice in it. When I questioned this, asking "But there isn't actually rice grains in it?" They said, "Oh yes, there is. And it is delicious." (Or something perhaps that sounded more English...brilliant, nice, or beautiful, perhaps? Certainly not the American awesome!) Taking on my brusque American tongue, I informed them that that was the most bizarre idea I had ever heard--putting rice in a dessert!! Upon which I was forced to try it. Fine. It was fine. I can eat it. But as I told them that I still declared that it was just not natural to put rice in a dessert. (In the English's defense, I had one friend say it was a "boarding school dish" and she didn't really care for it either.)

Well at least I'm not fixing bubble and squeak. Or black pudding. Or toad-in-the-hole.

Catch Up

We had such a fantastic time home! From seeing family and friends to celebrating Brian and Carleton's wedding, it was so fun and so busy! Not to mention the warm, warm weather! Here are just a few pictures to highlight our trip.

Hanging out with Aunt B who also taught Wiley (and me) to appreciate some of the more current music...we may or may not have a slight Bieber fever in our house.

Squeals!

Hanging out with Maddie! (And Allyebug came too!)

Playing with Pop.

It was a little sunny, but I'm not complaining.

Thanks to Cole and Raymond, Parr got to meet a lot of our friends in B'ham.

Meeting Gena and Charlie!

I loved getting bathed in T's sink!

Meeting NaNa and PaPa!

Now that we've enjoyed our trip to the States, we are back in London to enjoy the rest of our time here. We are excited to have friends visiting for the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I can do a better job of blogging about life here in London, too!