English Channel in December

A trip to the sea has a little different meaning in England than in Greece. Here we are at Beachy Head and Seven Sisters.

Some American boy left his mark on the bridge (written in chalk)

Yes, it was a little chilly.

Caleb the windmill.

When you gotta wee...

Sammy on Beachy Head above the Lighthouse

Dad was nervous as the boys got close to the edge.

Mom and her boys

More from London--All together

All 5 Pineda's took a trip into London to see the British Museum and to hang out. We saw some cool things. The Rosetta Stone. Amazing.

The boys hanging out in front of some of the things our present host country "borrowed" from our previous host country from the Parthenon

Everybody is taller than Mum now.

We took some photos similar to these in Athens several years ago.

The Wesley Brothers' pulpit

Ben especially liked the many guitar shops on Denmark Street.

London Pre-Christmas

We had planned a family trip into London to enjoy the pre-Christmas excitement. However, Ben was not able to join us. He is still in Germany. His flight was cancelled and he has been trying for 2 days to get home. We missed him, but we still had fun. We went to a Christmas Carol singing at St Paul's Cathedral.

Julie, Ben and Sam in front of Buckingham Palace, watching the changing of the guard

Big Ben

Parliament at dusk

Westminister Abbey

Sam and Caleb in a phone booth. These are all over London.

A festive time of year.

Guy Fawkes Night

We had a fun time out Staurday night with some friends from church. We went to a nearby village, Cranleigh, for the annual Guy Fawkes Night celebration.

Thanks to Wikipedia, here is a summary of this centuries old tradition: Guy Fawkes Night is an annual celebration on the evening of 5 November. It marks the downfall of the Gunpowder Plot of 5 November 1605, in which a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to destroy the Houses of Parliament, in London. Festivities are centred on the use of fireworks and the lighting of bonfires.

You will notice the dummies on the top of the bonfore pile. These are "Guys" ready to be burned for their crime of treason. Townsfolk have a contest to see who can make the most creative Guy. This year one was wearing a Simon Cowell mask.

Before the fire is started, the mayor reads this Prayer:

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd (or by God's mercy*)
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring. (Holla*)
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
And what should we do with him? Burn him!

Many people carry torches and throw them onto the pile to start the fire.

The pile must be 60 feet high!!

Our own Guy.

The American spies.

Caleb's head is not on fire.

Yes, the fire was quite hot.

Very nice firework show for probably 25 minutes.

A very good time was had by all.

Beachy Head

Our good friends Randy and Kittie Trail were here a couple of days last week, so we decided to head down to the English Channel to see Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters.
It was chilly and windy, but the sun was bright! A beautiful day.
A lonely lighthouse.

What a wonderful bit of God's creation!

Randy and Kittie had flown all night, but they were full of life.

Amazing! Quite amazing!

Wales

Ben wanted to visit Wales before he heads to BFA next week, so we took the 3 1/2 hour car ride to the southwest of the UK to see the sites. Here we are in the village of Hay-on Wye. There were a million bookshops and antique shops there. Julie and Mike could've stayed all day, but the boys were ready for adventure.

Signs were in English and Welsh. We enjoyed listening to folks speaking Welsh, but we understood not one word.

Read the sign. Anybody who knows Julie knows that the sign ensured that she would see the waterfall.

Julie, Ben and Caleb at one of the many waterfalls in Wales.

Some say Mike never smiles in photos.

This is in Cardiff, the capital. We had to eat.

Stonehenge

Yes, it is just a pile of rocks, but at least they are stacked in a cool way!

London--Finally!!

Although we generally tell folks in the US that we live "in London," we actually live about 50 miles south of London. Saturday, we decided it was time to see the city. Here are some photos taken by photographer Mom. Ben and Caleb at the Tower of London, the highlight of the day. Quite an amazing place.

Mike, Sam and Ben with the Tower Bridge in the background. Photo number 1000 of the day.

Two young lovebirds, with the Thames in the background

Mom with Ben and Caleb. She is smiling because they are holding her up!!

Victoria Station. They have KrispyKreme!!

Buckingham Palace, waiting for the changing of the Guard. Nice house.

The Queen's Garden. I don't think she gets her hands dirty here, though. There are wonderful gardens everywhere here.

Big Ben and Big Ben