Visiting with the Kids

We have been looking forward to our first visit with some of our children, no, that’s grown-up children. Steven and Jill Lancaster spent the last week with us, and it has been more than wonderful. It’s amazing just how much one can cram into a week if it needs to be done. We picked them up at the Heathrow Airport on Saturday morning. They stayed with us for the “Linger-Longer” weekend and tried to cope with a good case of jet-lag. You should have seen them at Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. They were truly glassy eyed. But, on Monday morning, despite rain and winds at hurricane speed on Sunday night, we hopped in the car and travelled up to Nottingham, pronounced Notting’m, where we visited with the Turners. The huge storm had left us without power, so it was the answer to where we needed to go first. They were gracious and generous in every way, as usual. Many thanks to them for all they have done for us too! 

"Linger-Longer"

Enjoying a real English supper at the Linger-Longer

Pictures taken on the London Temple grounds after church on Sunday

Jill and Maggie at Bella Mia's for a wonderful Italian meal

Returning on Tuesday, we prepared for a one day trip to Paris. Yes, it can be done, but you have to start at 2:30 am to catch the train to St. Pancras Station to board the Bullitt (Eurostar) train through the Chunnel and into Paris. Steven was the only one who stayed awake to experience going into the Chunnel etc. The train travels up to 200 mph in the French countryside. It was a very quick look at the scenery going into Paris. 

National Academy of Music

Beautiful Parisian archetecture

May I say that we were all very impressed with Paris. I, myself, had heard that it was a dirty old city and that the Parisians were unfriendly, but that is not what we found. It was a charming city and beautiful beyond words, the pictures don’t do it justice. If you ever visit there, be sure to buy a crepe (my mouth is watering, even now) from one of the street vendors at the beginning and another one as you leave. You won’t regret it!

This Parisian woman was probably one of the nicest people we encountered in Paris, and the crepes she made us (Nutella crepes) were DELICIOUS!!

Our first glimps of the Eiffle Tour 

Could we have picked a more beautiful day to see the Eiffle Tour? 

Happy to be together! Paris was just a "cherry on top"

Truly spectacular!

Much more beautiful than we expected!

LONG lines to go up to the top

Another spectacular sighting, L'Arc de Triumph. 

Lots of famous stores

A two story tour bus is the only way to see everything there is in one day 

(if you look up from your phone)

Eating our Croque Monsieur and Madame's in a sidewalk cafe

French Onion Soup? Yes, please!

Notre Dame. Looked for Quasimodo, but he wasn't to be found!

Both banks of the Siene

Beautiful bridge crossing the Siene

The next day, Thursday, which was Halloween, we took the train into London, but that was only when we could get Niel and Steven up and running. Honestly, they couldn’t keep up with the likes of two women who wanted to see and experience the history, beauty and shopping of London. 

Westminster Abbey

Beautiful front doors of Westminster Abbey

Big Ben

Spectacular view of some of the highlights of London

Dad and Jill riding on the Underground

And what a better way to celebrate Halloween than to see The Phantom of the Opera. WOW! We loved it. Niel and Steven were a little crunched in their seats, but it was totally worth it. 

Friday, was another day in London, seeing the Tower of London, the Crown Jewels and many of the landmarks via Big Bus. 

No photography allowed inside. 

Queen Elizabeth

St Edward's Crown

The Crown Jewels have been held in the Tower of London since 1303

The Imperial State Crown

The Sceptre Diamond (just over 530 carrots)

They've been celebrating Christmas in London for at least 2 months already now. 

Here we are by a Christmas tree at Harrod's Department store

We also visited the Victoria and Albert museum in London. What a place!! 

This photo was taken just outside of the V & A museum

V & A museum

Interesting sacrament tray

With the jaw bone of an ass

Thetis, unsuccessfully attempting to make her son Achilles immortal 

by dipping him into the river Styx 

Jill's favorite by Aimes-jules Dalou

We returned back to the temple tired and happy. Sadly, we didn’t get to see everything there was to see. That would take several weeks and a lot of driving, but we covered enough to keep us happy. I hope Jill and Steven think so too.

We are looking forward to a meeting with the new temple presidency this week. Finally, we will be able to fulfill our callings and mission. Hallelujah! We will be doing some of the cleaning up after the construction too this week. Then all will be well when November 12^th comes and we can start full-time work. We need more workers more than ever and are planning to be extremely busy. But that’s okay with us. 

To all our family and friends, have a good and safe week. 

We love you all!  

Love, Carolee, Granny and Mom

p.s. Happy Birthday and have a wonderful baptism, Autumn. We love you so much!