My 2015 Fortune Cookie

 I'm really horrible at setting and keeping New Year's Resolutions. I just can't do it. So this year instead of starting myself off with what will ultimately lead to failure, I'm going to make some predictions instead. If I get them right...Great! If I get them wrong...Great! I'm sure something better came along.

 

2014 Review:

Favorite Movie: Pacific Rim

Favorite Book: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Favorite Piece of Music: Gustav Holst Second Suite in F - Movement Four: Fantasia on a Dargason

Favorite New Food: Halloumi Cheese

Favorite Place: West Hampstead, London

Favorite Smell: "It's Raining Men" shower gel from Lush Cosmetics

Favorite Memory: Honestly... It's a toss up between seeing Pentatonix as a VIP with two of my very best friends, and every moment from my two weeks in London. Even the crap parts like getting hit on by a sketchy Parisian. I'm so glad I conquered my fears and went for it.

Biggest Regret: Wrecking my Jeep, because I was stupid and thought I could drive on ice.

2015 Predictions:

I will finish my first full year of teaching. I will be exhausted and constantly on the verge of tears, but I will be done.

I'll have/be in the process of getting my first home on my own.

I will spend the summer going to places I've never been before. (My first summer without a job.)

I will stop being the type of person that takes out my job frustrations on other people. I will love my job even when I hate it.

I will get a puppy.

I will work on meeting a Male Friend this year. (Did you catch my Sex and the City reference?)

What are your plans for the new year?

9 Ways to See Free London

1. Natural History Museum

With free admission and enough interactive, interesting, and awe inspiring exhibits to fill up several days, this is number one on my list.

Exhibits here range from animatronic dinosaurs, hands on training on how to pack for a discovery adventure, and life-size whales hanging from the ceiling.

2. Evensong at Westminster Abbey

Free to see! Just be early enough to get a seat. This is a beautiful service complete with full boy's choir and short service. The programs from the service make perfect souvenirs. 

Check the schedule Here.

3. West End Live

Full-on Broadway experience without the ticket price. This festival spans an entire weekend from Saturday morning to Sunday evening. Every 25 minutes a new act from the famous West End comes on the Trafalgar Square stage to show their stuff. Shows range from Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Matilda, Stomp, and much, much more.

At this event there are free bathrooms, many booths to spend time in between sets, and ice cream!

4. Local Festivals

Check out the internet before your trip. Often times there are many local festivals in the area. The Rent Festival was a rare find and a joy to see.

Here is a picture from the London Bus Appreciation Festival we quite literally stumbled upon one day while walking the streets.

5. London Guide App

Free app that will save your life! As long as you are in the London area this app can give you GPS directions without using data or internet. It will also give you step by step underground directions, as well as lists of what attractions are closest to you at any moment.

Rare find, this one.

6. Hyde Park

350 acres of some of the most beautiful grounds in London. Conveniently located just across the street from the Royal Albert Hall. This park holds the Princess Diana Memorial fountain that is perfect for people watching and splashing around on a hot day. The pond in front of Kensington Palace is a quaint romantic spot. Perfect for adults as well as adults with children. There is a wonderful children's park located near the Kensington Palace area.

7. British Museum

Another free must see. Great place to spend a day. There are plenty of shops and eateries near by as well as a nice air conditioned, HUGE museum.

8. St. Pancras Station

One of the oldest and most beautiful stations in London. This place is beautiful and functional as a busy underground station. If you are a Harry Potter fan you will find Platform 9 and three quarters here.

9. Walk the Streets

This is self explanatory. You can't say you've seen real local London until you've taken a day to just explore the streets. You never know what you will find.

London to Paris: The Short Way 'Round

I really miss England....like REALLY bad. So I decided to make a short video of all my favorite parts. You will be a little surprised to see some of the things in this video. I'm warning you now.....there's a DINOSAUR.

British Hospitality at its Finest

 First of all this was not my accident. This was an accident that changed the way I view people.

The day that this picture was snapped was on our last day in England. It was the first and only day that it had rained in the roughly two weeks that we were there. So, wishing to not be completely soaked we stayed warm and cozy in our little flat. We were watching, as luck would have it, Singin' in the Rain.

While watching the best part of the whole movie my travel companion and I heard a really loud bang, followed by the loud sound of glass breaking right outside of our window. We were concerned by the sounds coming from outside so we ran the whopping two feet to our front windows.

When we looked outside the picture above is what we saw. A very distraught young man and an uber efficient woman. From what we could gather she had stopped and he didn't realize it, causing him to ram into the back of her car. Immediately after the accident happened both people got out of their cars and exchanged heartfelt apologies all while taking pictures of the accident. They also traded insurance information and phone numbers.

I know this sounds like something that you would see everyday in the States but what followed is what was astounding....

No one yelled.

No one got upset.

The bumper on the back of the woman's SUV had mostly been ripped off. She struggled to get it dislodged when suddenly a man walking by stepped off the sidewalk pulled the bumper off her vehicle, stowed it in her back seat, and went merrily along his way. He didn't gain anything from helping but he did it anyway. 

While the accident victims were exchanging details a man from the cafe they had pulled in front of brought them coffee free of charge. (If you look at the picture closely you can see them sitting on the curb.) He just brought the coffees out, told them they were there and went back inside.

The accident was resolved within a matter of minutes. It was handled with such dignity that I wouldn't think it to be such an unpleasant experience as some of the accidents that happen here. Everyone jumped in to help regardless of what they would gain from it. It completely restored my faith in humanity and made me fall in love with this beautiful country just a little bit more than I had been before.

Where Have You Been?

I know it's been a while, but I'm back in the States! I'm working on editing photos and gathering stories to tell you about my amazing two week adventure to the UK.

Here's a sneak peek to show you I'm serious.

(100% my own photo...I'm getting better aren't I?)