So Happy - So Sad

Sunday (Day 105) Lugging the Luggage

The week had not been without purchases. As usual, Mom and I seemed to have greater success at finding that special memento. Without fail, Dad did remind us that the strategy upon which we had agreed included taking an extra suitcase back with them, so that all that I had brought or bought as well as anything that they had sent, which needed to come back, could be taken home. The goal was to make my trip home more manageable and less costly.

Despite a few unexpected purchases, at least that’s what we claimed, Mom worked her usual magic. It did require considerable redistribution of contents among our suitcases and bags. Having packed light for the trip and managed their arrival without too much difficulty, Mom and Dad would be returning home with two checked bags and a carry on each – all weighing considerably more than upon arrival. Getting back was going to be a hand full – actually six hands full - and Dad said we could have used a couple more.

We awoke at 5:45 AM and quickly made our way to Victoria Station. A little too much picture taking necessitated an unexpected dash for the Gatwick Express, but catching it made our arrival at the airport even timelier than we had planned. It was a sad goodbye, tempered only by the knowledge that I would be joining them soon at another airport in just a week’s time – this one in the United States.

Saturday (Day 104): Shopping and Training

Mr. Travers and Dad were out early to visit historic St. Peter’s Church. It's over 800 years old and the oldest Anglican church in the diocese, still in use today. Afterwards they visited the village bakery to pick up bread for lunch. Upon their return sandwiches, quiche, and pizza were consumed. Then it was off to the town of Macclesfield for a brief afternoon of shopping and coffee on an exceptionally beautiful spring day. After sad goodbyes at home and the station, we were back on the train for our return trip to London.

We returned to London and the Forum. Mom and I made a quick stop at the flat to pick up and drop off some of my stuff. Then we returned to pick up Dad before heading to Nando’s for a quick bite to eat.

Friday (Day 103): Chatsworth House in Derbyshire

During my week with the Travers at Spring Break, I had visited Lyme Park or Pemberley, the fictitious home of Fitzwilliam Darcy. I had hoped to return with my parents, to have them share the experience and to see the gardens in better bloom.

My Dad, ever on the look out for new and different experiences, suggested that we consider Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. He had found a blog showing an exhibition of film making at Chatsworth, which included actual props used in the Pride and Prejudice movies. Best of all, our accommodating hosts were happy to plan the day.

"When have you not benefited from my intervention"?, Dad is fond of saying. The house was magnificent and the gardens sooooooo English. Thanks for the tip, Dad. See the slideshow to the left for many pictures of the day.

Possibly the best part of the whole day!

Dinner at the Nice Restaurant and Bar in Prestbury followed our return. The Travers' prefer it for its atypical, but authentic menu. A grand time was had by all and afterwards, the girls retired to the Travers homestead for a movie. Mr. Travers and Dad proceeded to two primary watering holes for refreshment of the Isle and a lesson or two about European Football Leagues.

Ye Old Admiral Rodney established in 1730, has a living room feel, and is a favorite "after work" spot with colleagues from Astra Zeneca. The second stop was the local social club, the Prestbury Village Club, to which Mr. Travers' belongs - where dart, snooker and card tournaments are held. More like a "sports" bar, this is where football is discussed and cheered in earnest. Serious business that!

Unfortunately, the sport is relatively unknown to our family. And though Dad did not make the mistake of speaking positively about Liverpool or Arsenal, he did say that because his nephew followed Manchester United, he knew a little about that team.

As it turns out, the correct answer was Manchester City. Mark, the proprietor, a huge but friendly man, made allowances for the Yank, and treated Dad and Mr. Travers to a round nonetheless. The experience, I think, seemed to be the highlight of Dad's trip!

Thursday (Day 102): Westminster and Travers

Thanks to Matt and Freya, I have today and tomorrow off so that our whole family can return to Prestbury to share a weekend with the Travers family. We got up early, checked out of the Holiday Inn and took the Tube to Westminster Abbey, just adjacent to the Parliament building. As with St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster is a functioning church. No photography is allowed inside.

Every time I am in one of these grand structures, I am simply overwhelmed that such a building could be constructed in those days. How were such complex plans conceived? How many worked on it? What did it cost and from where did the money come?

Westminster is the burial site for MANY famous Britons. Of course a great number of royals are there as are military generals and politicians. Of most significance to me was Poets Corner, where famous authors and poets are buried. Although only a Shakespeare memorial is there, the remains of James Joyce, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen are there as well. As soon as I can scan a post card of the corner, I’ll be able to show you this favorite part of the building.

After that it was off to Victoria Station and the train to Macclesfield.

Mr. Travers, Alex and Madeline Travers met us at the station. We dropped Mom and Dad off at the hotel. Dad had arranged special accommodations for the two of them at The White House Manor – the Crystal Room no less. We headed to the Travers’ home to prepare dinner.

About an hour later, Mom and Dad arrived fresh from a short walk from the village for a delicious meal – assorted seafood as an appetizer, then lamb, carrots, peas, Brussels sprouts, accompanied by a beautiful Riesling and a luscious Barolo. The meal was topped off by homemade chocolate torte and fruit trifle.

Though we had shared many meals with the Travers family when they lived in Pennsylvania, and had hosted them at our home during their trips back to America, we never dreamed that we would be having dinner at their house. It was a "perfect evening" - words not frequently used by my Dad!

Wednesday (Day 101): Still at the Grind For ME

Believe it or not, Mom and Dad claim that my directions for the day left a little something to be desired! I thought for sure that a change of lines and a brisk walk would do them good. But after negotiating their way around, they however, contend that no change of lines was necessary and that Mansion Place is the most direct tube stop for this leg of the tour.

The first stop of the day for Mom and Dad was St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is a magnificent church, still in use today. Dad was particularly interested in "The Light of the World" by William Holman Hunt. St. Paul's version is the latest and largest version, painted in 1908.

After a tour of the sanctuary and the chapels, Mom and Dad climbed the long circular stairway to the Whispering Gallery - no easy task. The gallery is located high in the central dome of St. Paul's. The interior walkway is surrounded by Doctors of the Church, and includes both St. Augustine and St. Ambrose. A curved bench provides comfortable seating and if you place your ear to the wall in just the right way, you can hear the conversations of people sitting on the far side of the gallery.

I'm told that a visit to the gift shop in the basement was quite productive. Dad even found a small reproduction of The Light of the World, just as it appears upstairs. You can see it on his bookshelf at Villanova, as soon as he returns!

Next, they took the Millennium Bridge from St. Paul's to the Globe Theater, where they discovered that the current Globe is actually the third to be built.

No longer on the original site, it took over ten years to build as only construction techniques of the 16th century were used to create it. Although the thatched roof is an authentic replica, it does have a sprinkler system along with other safety concessions, which were not part of the original.

In point of fact, the ‘rents learned that not much is factually known about the original structure. The current building is really a compilation of what was known about it and other theaters of the day. Fortunately for me Mom and Dad learned that the 2009 season begins next Thursday on April 26th – the birthday of William Shakespeare, with Romeo and Juliet. Guess who has center section tickets!!!!!

The set for Romeo and Juliet
was under construction during their tour!

Still up for more walking, Mom and Dad chatted with guards, armed and unarmed during a very long walk of all sides of Parliament. Because the government is still on holiday, the building was closed to the public.

Since I was getting off late from work, they agreed to find their way to Harrod’s to meet me and a fellow GCPer, Tuche, for ice cream. So ended day three of the Janosik tour of England.

Tuesday (Day 100): Back to Work for Me

CPT is preparing for the opening of A Place at the Table this week. It’s an important production for us and all kinds of loose ends needed tying up. I've spent most of the day formatting and producing the program for the play.

My parents would be on their own, but yesterday’s lessons using the Oyster Card, riding the Tube and reading the local map prepared them for the day ahead. Dad will do a lot of heavy lifting on this trip, but Mom will get them where they need to go.

An informative and extensive tour of the Tower of London, was followed by lunch at the “Hung Drawn and Quartered,” where Fish and Chips, London-style was tried with a few pints of the local ale. Apparently, Mom really got into the whole Tower thing. All of the tour guides are expertly trained and very amusing. The Crown Jewels of England are kept here and currently there is an extensive exhibit on the armor of the day, including pieces worn by Henry VIII himself.

I did say "really" into it.

Then it was on to the Tower Bridge – never to be confused with the London Bridge, which is common for us Yanks. Currently, there is an exhibition featuring 22 of the Greatest Bridges in the World being shown in the West Walkway, which according to Dad, who is not even an Engineer, is worth seeing. All that being said, the first and really only tragedy of the trip occurred when the battery in my camera lost its charge. Mom and Dad were so impressed with the view from the bridge that they vowed to return tomorrow for a few more pics. Well, I suppose that they'll be able to work it in?

I met them back at their hotel for a quick wash up before an evening performance of Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theater. The performance was just as stirring as the first time I had seen it – now the best I and THEY have ever seen.

Monday (Day 99): London on the Fast Track

I left the flat early Monday morning so that I could be at Victoria Station to meet my parents, who were coming into London on the Gatwick Express. Their US Airways flight from Philadelphia had left on time and was uneventful, as was arrival at Victoria. We checked in to the Holiday Inn – Forum, and started our world wind tour of Greater London together.

Though we were greeted by light sprinkles on the way to our first destination, by the time we emerged from Kensington Palace we were able to tour Hyde Park under cloudy but dry skies.

From here we made a quick dash for High Tea at Brown’s Hotel, where the silverware is heavy and the tea sandwiches are light. Scones by the tray full and meticulously crafted desserts were consumed in turn, while a grand piano played expertly in the background. It was easy to see why the Tea Guild of England recently awarded Brown's its "Top Afternoon Tea" designation for 2009. All the GCPers I know have encouraged visiting relatives to stop there, preferably at a time when we are available to go with them!

Then it was back out on the streets of London. Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square were visited as were Waterstone's and Hatchards bookstores before heading to Big Ben, Parliament and the London Eye to cap off a first day in England.

The Brown is a "must experience" when in London!

I love this picture!

And I'll never tire of this ride.


Mom thinks they may have walked ten miles today.

Easter Sunday (Day 98): Alleluia! Alleluia!

He is Risen!

After a rainy weekend, and all of our Jane Austen plans cancelled, we awoke to a sunny Easter morning. GCPers shared Mass (in English) and breakfast together courtesy of Dennis and the boys in flat 13. Preparation for Easter dinner began almost immediately after. It was the best Easter ham, I've ever had - basted with a secret sauce of English beer and brown sugar, simply delicious.

Mom and Dad arrive tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!