Letters From London: BRING ON AUGUST

I’m having a much needed “pity party” this week. It’s something that I have been holding in and I need to get it out and DEAL with it, okay? I shouldn’t feel this way—but, I feel so bad that no one ever asks me to play the piano anymore.

Hey—I’ve been playing and accompanying all my life. I must have ‘turned a corner’ and it all came to an end. The temple missionary choir did use me once and that was wonderful. I did play the organ in the Crawley Ward once and that was interesting. I have been waited to play the hymns when we hold our Hi’s and Bye’s and Firesides until Janet Christensen left, then, someone else just stepped in and took over. Well, it all came to a head last night at the Hi we attended and I just kinda caved in over it all. So, right then and there, I decided to deal with it and I leaned over to my hubby and grumbled a little. Men—they have no idea what to say. He gave me the only advice he could, which wasn’t much, but I wanted someone to know how bad I felt. I mean, this has been an important part of my life. It is almost who I am—the accompanist. My self-esteem and worth are wrapped up in this, too. The only thing I could do is have a “pity party” for a while until I felt better. This morning, early, when I was doing laundry, a little voice came to me and said: “Let it go, you have done enough, let others have the opportunity.” That’s it. Now I’ve come to terms with it and will do something else, like crochet altar cloths for the temple. Heck, I might even TAT an altar cloth, too.

On Facebook, someone shared a photo with “When I stop struggling, I float. It is the law.” And may I add to that, my own motto: “If you can’t fight and you can’t flight, then you float.” I have come to the conclusion that I’m at that “floating” part of my life. So I will crochet and float!

We hope you enjoyed a little bit of the Cotswold’s. I could go back there over and over. I am planning to go on the “Van trip” with others from the temple in September to Blenheim Palace. It is on the eastern edge of the Cotswold’s and a very beautiful place. It is where the Duke of Marlborough and his wife live and is the only edifice, which isn’t part of the royal family’s that is called a palace in all of England. (Niel will go fishing.)

We have been practicing for our next musical fireside. It is coming up on August 10^th. For this performance, the temple choir is doing a “flash mob” with primary songs. Boy, will they be surprised. Niel and several of the more distinguished men in the choir are singing, In the Leafy Treetops as their part of the mob (with choreography). Something to look forward to.

This Monday took us to a place previously visited, Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters. We wanted to visit there just one last time. The past winter was particularly damaging on the southern coasts of England and these chalk cliffs were hit hard.

Grandpa looking for rocks on the beach

You can see that some of it has sloughed off

Look, no fences! People can go right up the the edge! (this picture is from Wikipedia)

We thought it was interesting that people could walk right up to the edge of the cliff. No fences or barriers, but, as we were getting into the car to leave, we noticed this van, parked in the car park.

Here is their effort to reduce the deaths

The suicides there have been and will be a constant problem. Good intervention is always needed.

We are looking forward to serving in the temple during August. The weather is a bit cooler and less humid. That is good for us, but things are getting quite dry outside on the grounds. We have finished training the couple from India. They are a lovely and humble couple. I have to admit that I was worried about one little thing with them. Since they are from India, they eat a lot differently than the rest of us and sometimes the smell of Indian cuisine can be a bit over-whelming. We were together for two weeks. It turned out okay. Except, one day he said he wasn’t feeling well and decided he needed to drink some celery juice. They came smelling like stalks of celery and it wasn’t from drinking the juice, it was because they decided to wash themselves with it too. We all do our own thing, huh?

Niel spent some time fly fish at a pond near Nutley. The weather early on was perfect but then it started to rain – buckets. That lasted for an hour while his group huddled in the fishing shed provided for anglers. Once the rain stopped the fishing continued, but there were no fish to be caught that day. They were obviously there, but not interested in the flies presented for their dinner. So he has a new fishing idea. Fish for Carp. There are dozens of ponds for Carp fishing here. They are big, but not much fight to them.

Just a Thought, by Niel

In previous blogs, we have commented on the diverse countries and cultures that live in this land and attend this temple. Today I noticed a strikingly handsome young man, obviously of Indian descent, coming to the temple for the first time. He was probably born and raised in England. As people immigrate into this country, many will stay close to their families and customs, which I think is wonderful. I understand there is a Ward in London proper that is mostly Chinese. Other ward congregations are largely from Africa. Just like America, England is a melting pot but it is even more obvious because this country is so much smaller than the USA. Church leaders here come from all ethnic groups

So what is my point? I have come to realize more than ever before, that we are all God’s children. He loves us and, through our agency, has provided us every blessing necessary for our ultimate joy. Obviously my life, to this point, has been sheltered in many ways.

In Alma 26:37 we read: “……we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; (or from) yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth…..”

My eyes have been opened. I am happy with my own heritage, culture and especially, my family whom I hold near and dear. I know that our Heavenly Father loves all of this children.

Looking forward to a busy week in the temple. The time is literally going too fast.