This morning, Aussie and I had a bit of a lie-in. I woke her up around 9:00 and we took our time getting ready for the day.
Around 10:30, we headed out to Highgate, an area not too far from where Aussie lives in Finchley. Highgate is a very posh area— apparently a lot of footballers live there. We took a stroll down the High St and found a park. Not just any park, but probably the most beautiful park I've ever seen… except for maybe Versailles. We walked down the paved path, passing many wooden benches, tennis courts and playing, laughing children. Past a few bushes and trees, our path opened up on a green hollow with rolling hills. There were large trees, fenced-in play areas, a pond (home to some coots and their chicks) and, at the top of the hill, a lovely manicured garden, surrounding an old house. We had fun watching some toddlers playing on their scooters, their scruffy cocker spaniel chasing balls behind them.
We continued down the steep street to a bridge which provided a road over the train tracks. From the bridge, we could see all the way down to 'The Gherkin' in Central London.
We then made our way back up the hill to a shop called 'High Tea of Highgate'. To my surprise and great disappointment, they didn't actually serve 'high tea'. High tea consists of foods that are more like a meal (usually sandwiches) along with scones, jam, etc. This tea shop only served sweet things. Aussie and I both ordered cream tea— tea with scones, clotted cream and jam. It was delicious, but not quite the filling meal we were looking for. It was a very nice little tea shop, with pastel colours everywhere. They had creamers that resembled cows and they sold all kinds of tea paraphernalia. I tried the 'Assam' tea.
As I do, I began to daydream about what it would be like to run my own little English tea shop (complete with actual high tea). I'll just add that to my list of half-dreams. I've been feeling a little anxious about my half-dreams lately… becoming a teacher, working in radio… I feel kind of directionless and unfocused. What am I actually good at? What do I actually like to do?
Anyway, after our tea, we caught the tube to Chalk Farm, where Aussie goes to church. It was so nice to be back in a church where people are really welcoming and interested. The worship at this church really felt like reaching out to God instead of just singing a nice song. The message that Sunday was about mercy. The pastor spoke about mercy— in a way that really got me thinking about my own nature. He said that being merciful is not just being 'easy-going'. He said that being easy-going has been elevated to an admirable status in our society, just being able to let things slide. I would say I'm pretty easy-going… but it's not always a good thing. Being easy-going has made me stop caring. Maybe it's my easy-goingness that has helped me slide into my distracted, directionless state. I gotta focus.
Being at Aussie's church it was so refreshing and humbling to be around people who really are a family to one another. They are open about their problems, concerns and happiness and they are completely comfortable praying and praising God together. It made me really miss my church family at Oasis in Birmingham.
After church, we headed to Covent Garden for dinner… and because the two of us are often so indecisive, we ended up ordering and eating a very rushed dinner at a French café. We were late to 'The Comedy Store', where we had tickets to improv night. The place was packed, so we had to sit on opposite sides of the aisle.
The show was pretty funny. It was very similar to 'Who's Line is it Anyway?'. They took a lot of audience suggestions, which was hilarious. They made up their own musical Bible parable: "He who procrastinates loseth".
Tomorrow, we head to Istanbul! I am really liking being on vacation. I wish I could just do this all the time instead of working a regular job. Don't we all?
Around 10:30, we headed out to Highgate, an area not too far from where Aussie lives in Finchley. Highgate is a very posh area— apparently a lot of footballers live there. We took a stroll down the High St and found a park. Not just any park, but probably the most beautiful park I've ever seen… except for maybe Versailles. We walked down the paved path, passing many wooden benches, tennis courts and playing, laughing children. Past a few bushes and trees, our path opened up on a green hollow with rolling hills. There were large trees, fenced-in play areas, a pond (home to some coots and their chicks) and, at the top of the hill, a lovely manicured garden, surrounding an old house. We had fun watching some toddlers playing on their scooters, their scruffy cocker spaniel chasing balls behind them.
We continued down the steep street to a bridge which provided a road over the train tracks. From the bridge, we could see all the way down to 'The Gherkin' in Central London.
We then made our way back up the hill to a shop called 'High Tea of Highgate'. To my surprise and great disappointment, they didn't actually serve 'high tea'. High tea consists of foods that are more like a meal (usually sandwiches) along with scones, jam, etc. This tea shop only served sweet things. Aussie and I both ordered cream tea— tea with scones, clotted cream and jam. It was delicious, but not quite the filling meal we were looking for. It was a very nice little tea shop, with pastel colours everywhere. They had creamers that resembled cows and they sold all kinds of tea paraphernalia. I tried the 'Assam' tea.
As I do, I began to daydream about what it would be like to run my own little English tea shop (complete with actual high tea). I'll just add that to my list of half-dreams. I've been feeling a little anxious about my half-dreams lately… becoming a teacher, working in radio… I feel kind of directionless and unfocused. What am I actually good at? What do I actually like to do?
Anyway, after our tea, we caught the tube to Chalk Farm, where Aussie goes to church. It was so nice to be back in a church where people are really welcoming and interested. The worship at this church really felt like reaching out to God instead of just singing a nice song. The message that Sunday was about mercy. The pastor spoke about mercy— in a way that really got me thinking about my own nature. He said that being merciful is not just being 'easy-going'. He said that being easy-going has been elevated to an admirable status in our society, just being able to let things slide. I would say I'm pretty easy-going… but it's not always a good thing. Being easy-going has made me stop caring. Maybe it's my easy-goingness that has helped me slide into my distracted, directionless state. I gotta focus.
Being at Aussie's church it was so refreshing and humbling to be around people who really are a family to one another. They are open about their problems, concerns and happiness and they are completely comfortable praying and praising God together. It made me really miss my church family at Oasis in Birmingham.
After church, we headed to Covent Garden for dinner… and because the two of us are often so indecisive, we ended up ordering and eating a very rushed dinner at a French café. We were late to 'The Comedy Store', where we had tickets to improv night. The place was packed, so we had to sit on opposite sides of the aisle.
The show was pretty funny. It was very similar to 'Who's Line is it Anyway?'. They took a lot of audience suggestions, which was hilarious. They made up their own musical Bible parable: "He who procrastinates loseth".
Tomorrow, we head to Istanbul! I am really liking being on vacation. I wish I could just do this all the time instead of working a regular job. Don't we all?
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