brighton

still getting the hang of this British thing...

Erling: I'm going to go make a cuppa.

Anne: A cuppa noodles?

Erling: No, a cuppa tea.

food & fashion

The other day, Esther and I went to one of the most delicious places in London: Borough Market.  I've been there a couple times before, but Esther had never been.  Considering one of her goals is to have an "eating day" before she leaves London, she was a GREAT food-market buddy.  The sun was out and the food was tasty.  We got baguette sandwiches: mine had wild boar and venison, and Esther's had lamb in it.  We ate in the courtyard of Southwark Cathedral, where lots of people and pigeons were enjoying the food and the sun.

Berry cheesecake for dessert!

Afterward, we decided to follow some signs we'd seen for a fashion and textile museum.  They led us down a street right by the Shard, which will be the tallest building in London once it's completed.  It was a part of London I'd never been in before, and it was really nice!  It was a more residential area: I felt like we were in a separate, small town.  We happened upon a glassblowing demonstration--random, but fascinating!  That's the thing about this city: you never know what you're going to find down all these streets. 

We found the fashion and textile museum after backtracking--we'd walked right past it.  It was a little disappointing, because the only exhibit was one about men's clothing.  Let's face it, men's clothing is just not as interesting as women's.  It featured this guy named Tommy Nutter who designed suits on Savile Row in London.  There were suits worn by Mick Jagger, Elton John, and the Bee Gees.  Based on the suits, those guys were all pretty petite!  One thing I found interesting was this concept of "bespoke tailoring."  It refers to custom, handmade tailoring, and the term comes from the verb "bespeak," to speak for something.  Basically, your suit gets made the way you say you want it. 

We saw three brides on our way to the tube station!

around Holborn

Hillsong

I've been going to a church called Hillsong: it meets in a theatre which shows the "We Will Rock You" musical six days a week, right outside of Tottenham Court Road tube station.  I could attempt at this point to make some witty comment about how, on Sundays, people still get rocked in that building, even though it's a church service and not a Queen-based musical, but I have a feeling I'd just botch it.  (Well.  Too late.)

Anyway, I enjoy the services, and the worship team is incredible.  Apparently they write all their own music, and it gets used by churches all over the world.  Not last week, but the week before, they had a guest speaker named Lisa Bevere--from Colorado!  I'd never heard of her, but apparently she's a Big Deal: she's written numerous books and travels all over giving her sermons and talks.  And I realized that I'd never heard a woman pastor before!  Her sermon was very motivating.  It made me want to go out and accomplish all my goals and dreams and get my voice heard etc. etc. etc.  I realize those things may sound cliched and cheesy, but I think that to a certain extent it's important to buy in to them (well, of course it is!  Otherwise, how would anything ever get done?).  It made me realize how important the books you read and the music you listen to and the people you talk with are in terms of your personal development and outlook on life in general.  One cannot live on Sylvia Plath alone.

Anyway, I'm glad I found Hillsong.  I go there with one of my flatmates, Esther, who is from Minnesota.  Afterward we usually go to Chinatown for dumplings and boba tea or to Chipotle for overpriced burritos.  It's great!

at the British Museum

I enjoy looking at the people visiting museums as much as I enjoy looking at the artifacts and artworks; sometimes they complement each other.

monumental

I climbed to the top of the Monument today.  It was designed by Christopher Wren to commemorate the Great Fire of London "and to celebrate the rebuilding of the City," according to the official-looking certificate I was handed on my way out.  Three hundred and eleven steps up a narrow, spiral staircase.  The view is worth it, even though you are surrounded by chain-link fence.  It offered a different perspective of the city, since it's placed more toward the financial district, all those tall shiny buildings glinting in the sun, and hurried business people darting around. 

St. Paul's Cathedral

Tower Bridge

The Shard

The Gherkin

The Monument

  Afterward, I sat on a stone step thing surrounding a tree outside Monument station.  I saw a young woman leaning against a closed store front, having a cigarette.  She was wearing a leather jacket.  Her hair was dyed black, and she was slightly overweight, shifting herself from foot to foot.  As I watched her, she was approached twice by two different men, each asking her for a lighter.  Each time, she smiled and was polite, handing her lighter over.  The first guy was elderly; the second guy was young and handsome: grey trousers, shiny black shoes, a businessman on his lunch break.  She smiled at him differently than she had at the older man, and the smile remained as she watched him look down to use the lighter.  I was hoping he'd stay and chat with her, but he only thanked her and strolled away, leaving her with the remnants of a smile on her face, a cigarette in her hand.