London Lately

A random update of life in London...

It was Charles Dicken's 200th birthday this month and since he used to live in my neighborhood; I feel a special connection to him.  I started reading Great Expectations last summer but unfortunately a little thing called grad school happened and Pip's life was put on hold.  Hopefully I'll finish it someday even if it's a year later.  Happy B-day Charlie! 

I started volunteering one Saturday a month at the London temple.  When my alarm went off at 4am last Saturday, I was seriously rethinking my decision. 

 After the most stressful term yet, my classmates and I let off steam pretending to be tourist at M&M world.  C, our British friend, had never been and was mesmerized by all the choices.  I was disappointed by the fact that there were no peanut butter M&Ms.  What is it with this continent and peanut butter?  European's life would improve if they would just embrace the wonderfulness of peanut butter!

 This was the scene out my window Monday morning.  Considering I live in a pretty urban neighborhood, I was a little confused.  But living in London has taught me a few things one of which includes NEVER being surprised by what I see on the streets.

 I got a job!  And by job I mean a part time job.  And by part time job I mean my flatmates are paying my to clean the house.  As luck would have it, I was already cleaning the house and now I am being rewarded for the effort.  It's pretty great to have a little extra spending money and the control freak in me is satisfied that the house is cleaned how I want it done. Plus all the scrubbing reminds me why I decided to go to grad school.  Basically it's a win-win!

I taught Relief Society on Sunday and my lesson was on Elder Anderson's talk entitled Children. (You can find it here).  Teaching about parenthood to a bunch of single women is no easy task.  Highlights from the audience comments included:

"Even if I can't be a mom now, I can make sure to be a kick ass aunt"

"I was told by a former leader to just freeze my eggs if I'm worried about getting older"

"You know our biological clocks are ticking so we really need to get on it"

Other then that I think it went ok...I hope.