Doe, A Deer, and Other Wicked Fun

A slow starting week with the best of endings. Monday, I visited the William Blake gallery in the Tate Britain; I had no idea he was an artist in addition to being an accomplished poet! My favourite of his was Christ Blessing the Little Children. Blake's work was interesting; heading up the Romantic period, I discovered that this era is not my cup of tea when it comes to taste in art. 

Christ Blessing the Little Children

photo courtesy of www.tate.org.uk

TUESDAY

Emmeline Pankhurst, suffragette

On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to see Suffragette as a class. It was incredible; it was definitely hard to watch at some points, as it is blunt, bold, and raw in portraying events common to the working women class of the day, but it was most worth it. It gave me a far greater appreciation for those who were courageous enough to take a stand. I'll be honest: after seeing some of the things the women had to go through in order to gain their vote, I do not know if I would have the strength to continue pursuing the end goal. I think I would have had a difficult time keeping the "big picture" in mind. But, as one Pinterest's and Tumblr's favourite trite platitudes states, "You never know how strong you can be until being strong is the only choice you have." My one complaint with the movie was that it did not fully encompass what the women were fighting for. True, the vote was extremely important to them, but they were also fighting for equality, a better working environment, better pay, less hours, protection from the monstrosities and abuses that occurred in the workplace. While some of that was shown, I wish they would have made it more clear that they were also fighting for that. Not just votes. However, the movie is still worth your time and money. (Side note: movies are SO expensive over here...I do not know if I will ever complain about the price of a Megaplex ticket again!)

WEDNESDAY

Our day trip this week first took us to Bladon. Bladon is the home to St. Martin's Church, where Sir Winston Churchill is buried.

Next up came Blenheim Palace...I think I liked it more than Versailles!

Library goals.

Blenheim is where Sir Churchill was born; it belongs to his cousins. Part of the palace has a Churchill exhibit, in which many of his quotes were displayed along the walls. The two above I especially liked.

Rebekah, Emma, and I hopped on the Winston train out to the Pleasure Gardens, where we found a butterfly garden, the world's second largest yew maze, and some lovely autumn trees.

Because you're never too old to jump in puddles in the world's second largest yew maze.

THURSDAY

Wicked! Row 5 seats, anyone? Oh. And get this. It was only 16 pounds. Which is $24. And goodness knows....it was wicked fun.

Getting our green on.

FRIDAY

Westminster Abbey! Such a cool place. Photography was not permitted while in the interior, so please enjoy this mediocre picture of the exterior.

Friday evening was the YSA Halloween dance! Rebekah went as the mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. I went as a deer...I found it funny that when people asked what I was and I told them "a deer," they automatically said, "oh. Like Bambi!" In my head I thought "like any deer ever?" But I was talking to one of the children in primary about my costume, and they gave me the same "Bambi" response...upon inquiry, apparently they don't have deer here. And they think that people who see deer nearly every day must live in the forest in the middle of nowhere.  

Practicing our "Deer in the headlights" face

SATURDAY

 I attended part of a YSA forum, followed by a ceilidh (traditional Gaelic dancing) dance instruction, bingo, and a dance. It was absolutely brilliant! I had such a fun time. While I don't have any pictures from the event, please enjoy this photo from going to the temple with some members of the Britannia YSA ward a couple of weeks ago. 

Spira, Spera

Paris this week! I was looking forward to going, but in all honesty, I wasn't all that excited...again, I was looking forward to going, but I just wasn't over-the-moon-counting-down-the-days excited, you get me? Well. I enjoyed Paris SO much. It was such an amazing city. I loved it way more than I thought I would! First off, the night before, we went to Measure for Measure at the Globe Theatre; we got to be groundlings, as the peasants did it in the olden days. It was a different experience, for sure...Measure for Measure is one of Shakepeare's more "raunchy" plays, so much different from your typical "wherefore art thou Romeo" and "to be or not to be."

"Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure."

  

Up at 3 a.m. to go to Paris! After riding the oh-so smooth Chunnel, we arrived in the city of lights.

 

 

"Alex, your hair is so big, it's taking up the whole frame."

I cannot express how grateful I am for these ladies. This experience would not be the same without them.

The Eiffel Tower is...gold?

Entrance to The Louvre

 

Gettin our Paris faces on.

The sunset our first night was simply remarkable, one of the prettiest I have ever seen.

Spira, Spera: Breathe, Hope.

Really, can you believe this? It was breathtaking, especially with Mr. Eiffel photobombing the back.

The new lock bridge...the old one had to be cut away, as it became too heavy.

TJ made us feel right at home.

Cheers to my habibi's

Notre Dame! Hanging out with two of the Westover children for the day was such a blast.

 If you've seen the Bourne movies, this is the ramp in which Jason drives down in the one movie...

Musee d'Orsay

Left: Water Lillies, Monet

Right: The Little Dancer of Fourteen Years, Degas

The Louvre

Winged Victory of Samothrace

 So that's Mona. And she has the entire huge wall to herself. And she's tiny. What a drama-mama. ;)

"Mona Lisa, you're so like the lady with the mystic smile."

Liberty Leading the People, Delacroix

 I think we make a nice edition.

Versailles 

  

Hall of Mirrors

October is my favourite color.

Joan of Arc

 Sainte Chapelle-my FAVOURITE part of Paris. It literally took my breath away. You walk up a narrow spiral staircase into this huge, open room with nearly floor to ceiling stained glass. Bek was telling me that if you snake around, the stained glass tells a story(ies).

Please ignore my hideous misspellings. ;)

 So happy to have had the opportunity to go to the London Temple while here!

So. We met the CUTEST girl with blue hair named Emily. She was so darling that we all became friends and decided to go adventuring south of the Thames on Saturday.

 Another lovely sunset evening.

I love serving in Primary.