21 January 2024

 

Sunday in Watford was relaxed.  We went to church at their ward which is a group of delightful people from all parts of the world, including Africa, India, east Asia, Europe and America.  After church Martha treated us to spaghetti (both gluten and gluten-free) and sides.

We were blown away by the savory sweet potatoes.  It was so good it made Gibson pull a Burton Guster face.

Martha keeps clippings on her fridge from the produce to show where in the world they are from (top to bottom): coriander (cilantro) from Spain, green onions from Egypt, banana from Costa Rica, bok choy from Spain, apricots from South Africa, clementines from Spain, apples from France, avocado from Chile, apples from Netherlands, pears from Namibia, cherry tomatoes from Portugal.

We put together a fun circle shaped puzzle ... in 1 hour!

Monday we headed into London on the tube.

Grandpa and Grandma too!  Despite clear skies, it was in the 30s so we bundled up.

We visited the Tower of London and saw the crown jewels.  Opposite the current building where the jewels are kept is this Martin Tower where the jewels were stored from 1669 to 1842.  Grandpa researched the Cary family we are related to, and informed us that Edward and Henry Cary were both keepers of the jewels!

They kept the jewels in this tower where they also lived.

We walked along the River Thames next to the Tower Bridge.

On the advice of the gatekeeper, we walked to the docks and found this charming Dickens Inn where we had an English lunch.  Abe, Helen and Gibson had burgers and fries; Grandma and Grandpa had sausage and mashed potatoes, and Brandan had pearl barley risotto.  It didn't hurt that football matches were on the TV nearby.

This phone booth was just outside the pub.

We rode the tube to the British Library which has an incredible collection of British Treasures, among which are ...

... the Magna Carta,

... William Tyndale's English translation of the New Testament in 1534,

Shakespeare's first folio containing 36 plays, published in London in 1623,

a draft of Florence Nightingale's famous visual depiction of British soldiers' deaths due to poor sanitation,

and a handwritten letter from Mahatma Gandhi to the Viceroy of India.

On the ride home we stopped at Wembley Park station, a short walk to the football stadium where the national England team plays.

We stopped in the stadium store where Abe, Helen and Grandpa bought England football team jackets.

The grocery store has a full "free from" (gluten) section that Abe and Helen selected some treats from.

We stopped at Tesco's to stock up on English Cadbury chocolate as gifts for those back home.

Settling in for a direct flight from London to Salt Lake.  Helen couriered a suitcase full of clothes and chocolate for Grandpa and Grandma so they don't have to ship it home when their mission ends in March.  We were so grateful to spend time with them.

Not related to the trip.  Here is the posting of Brandan's Mission Spirit Award at the hospital.