At Fighting Cocks

This is a really scary pub with a borderline inappropriate name that only the rowdiest locals go to. Every time we walk by, Nathan asks me if I want to stop in for a beer. However, I hate the taste of beer and I'm scared of the people inside.


On Thursday nights after Bible study, the Christian students from our church take over the place. We decided to join them this particular time because our car was still at my school, and the pub was on the way there. I agreed to go in for a half pint of Diet Coke because there were other girls there too. Plus, it would still be light out when we left at 10:30. Somehow that tricked my mind into thinking that it was still early.


Nathan's Bible study co-leader, also named Nathan, is making a funny face and pointing at us. He also has his mouth open, like my Nathan. It's catching on.

The Olympic Torch Comes to Durham

The Olympic torch came to Durham this weekend, and when I saw it, I teared up. Really. I hid my face from Nathan so he wouldn't see. In fact, if he reads this post (His motto is, "I don't need to read the blog. I live the blog."), it'll be the first he's heard of my emotional display of affection toward all things Olympics. He probably won't be surprised. Scratch that. He won't be surprised. Only Amy really shares my heights of affection for the Olympics.

Our town had a little ceremony and concerts and stuff in the Market Square, but it started at 7:30 on Sunday morning. I wanted to get there by 8:00, but it just didn't happen. We were racing down Gilesgate Bank at 8:15, passing lines of people who were out with their Union Jack flags.  I knew that the torch was going to leave the city centre around 8:30. 

We came upon this marching band at the roundabout. Nathan made a joke about Redcoats that I caught on camera. If you're offended by Americans boasting about winning the Revolutionary War, do not watch the video below.

We kept walking briskly down the hill. Some big buses went by, including this one with a TV screen on the side of it (?!).

And then, my eye caught a small crowd around this guy. He had a torch! We had arrived at the spot of the first hand-off of the day. See how his jersey says 002? He's the second carrier of the flame for Durham. I'm ashamed to say that I don't know his name or why he was chosen to carry the torch. I suppose I could do a little research, but I can't be bothered right now. I'm so British. xx

I probably jumped the queue to get my picture taken with him and the torch. I am not sorry.

Nathan had to get his picture with it too... in his usual fashion.

Here comes the first carrier of the day on his initial leg from the Market Square. His name is Paul Collingwood, and he is a famous County Durham cricketer.

Here's me watching the hand-off!

Go Torch Guy #2, go!

We finally made it to the Market Square, but the party was definitely dying down. The good news is that they were giving away free leftover bacon and hashbrown paninis, originally priced at a hefty 2.50.

Here's a little brass band music for you. The Brass Festival is coming to Durham later this month, and I think this was great advertising for it. They were really good!

Here's St. Nicholas's church with the London 2012 banner - my attempt at being artsy.

I'll be following the Olympics for sure via our BBC iPlayer. I hope I get to go to London to be surrounded by Olympic fever this summer, if only for a little day trip. We don't have tickets to anything, but I think it would be nice to be in the excitement of it all. We'll see what happens!

Are you going to the games? Want to come see us?

The Annivosawy

One of our favorite films is The Family Man, where Nicholas Cage has a sort of "It's a Wonderful Life" experience, but in reverse. His daughter, who knows he's an impostor, tries to get him out of trouble with his wife for not knowing about their anniversary. She says in the cutest voice (without her "r"s), "You did foget the annivosawy." So that's how we say it. 

We got married on June 16th, 2006, 11 months and one day after we met, also known as our 10th visit, if you can call a wedding a visit.

In his usual celebration style, Nathan made me breakfast in bed! I definitely poured out the butter that is swimming on top of my grits. More on butter later.

Nathan was frustrated trying to slice this cling-stone nectarine, so he decided to cut out a smiley face instead.

He went with me to chaperone a day trip to York with my international students. We gave them two hours of free time, during which we went to a very famous tea room called Bettys (no apostrophe... grrr). 

We had tea and scones.

It was overrated. Go to Crook Hall instead.

When we got home we exchanged prezzies! Normally we don't get each other anything on our anniversary, but this year I went all out and got him SIX little things for our SIX years together.

He got me this card and the gift of organization. He's planning all of the details for a trip to Scotland this fall. He knows the way to my heart for sure. We've been saving Tesco points to redeem on a hotel there. Woohoo!

He is so handsome!

I got him cheese and crackers, pencils and note cards, a manly travel mug, Belgian beer, a cube of Kerrygold butter, and a pair of shorts (his only other pair has a few holes).

We dove right into the cheese and crackers!

And we ordered Gilegate Tandoori for dinner. YUMMY!!!

I love you, Nathan. You're still my fave.

The above is our engagement picture, taken in our church library (of course!). If you want to take a trip down memory lane and check out our wedding photo gallery, you can still see it here.

Happy Father's Day to My Dad

A lot of people say they have the best dad in the world, but I actually do. This picture was taken on his first Father's Day, when he was the ripe old age of 25. Happy Father's Day, Daddy! I love you!

Hey Hey Hayes!

Back in the day, Nathan was the youth pastor and Hayes was in the youth group. Nathan and I teen-sat Hayes and his sisters over Valentine's Day weekend a few years ago. I was mesmerized by their Penley painting on the landing. It snowed. Malon, Hayes's friend and one of my students, came over. The kids sledded. The dog got shocked by his collar trying to run out of the yard. Hayes tried his hand at making jewelry for a lovely lady he admired. We spent the rest day in Middle Earth watching all. three. Lord of the Rings movies. After youth group on Sunday night we fed them gobs of leftover wedding cake that we found at church. Then we dug Hannah's car out of the mud at Jenn's house that night on the way home. Good times. It's crazy what comes to your mind when you think back on just one little event...

Hayes was in Durham yesterday on Day 4 of his month-long school trip across Europe. He and his friends were literally on the other side of a wall from Nathan, but they didn't see each other. We finally reached Hayes at his hotel in York last night, and sadly, they were leaving for London this morning. Our hearts were broken! So close, yet so far! I felt responsible, because I'm the social coordinator of this household. So, last night around 11 p.m. we decided to have a little road trip to York.

We left at 5 a.m. and had breakfast - or more accurately, watched Hayes eat his breakfast - at the Royal York Hotel, chatted about life and school and family and college and church and God, took two pictures, hugged goodbye, ordered some McDonald's for the car ride home, and got here by 9:30. It was AWESOME!

Three thumbs up for being the first CCP youth to come see us in England! Sally still wins the award for first virtual visitor (via Skype).

Hayes likes me better. Yes...

Like I said, we love visitors! Come see us! Who's next?

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

I am on my last half-term holiday of the year, which happens to coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration. We had two bank holidays in a row, Monday and Tuesday, and because of this, I think everyone in Britain has become a royalist. Anyway, our awesome neighborhood had a street party. We had lots of Union Jack bunting and amazing foods. Here are my pictures. 

I'm sorry I didn't get lots of "people pictures," as my mom would say. I don't know my neighbors well enough to warrant asking them to pose. I was just being creepy and taking candid ones instead.

I must say, this has been an exciting time to live in the UK. Harry Potter premiers, a royal wedding, all the festivities this weekend, and the Olympics this summer! What did you do to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee?

I watched this really great documentary on the BBC iPlayer. If you live in the UK, check it out! 

On Turning 31

My birthday was awesome! For starters, we had gorgeous - I mean PERFECT - weather. This is something I do not take for granted. Next, church was really great, and we finished the service with my favorite song, "Before the Throne of God Above." 

Then, my dear friend Allison came all the way from Arizona on her way to Prague (remember our trip last year?) to hang out with me on my birthday. We picked her up at the train station after church, and she bounded onto the platform shouting, "Happy birthdaaaaaaay!" and ran - balancing her enormous pack plus two more bags - all the way to me with outstretched arms. We are so American. 

We went straight to Crook Hall and Gardens, where my students met me with my good friend/volunteer extraordinaire, Robin. No pictures of pupils here, of course, but I supposed you could take my word for it that they had fun. They also made me cards and a couple of them got me little gifts, which I think deserves its own post. Stay tuned.

In the Cathedral Garden

You know it!

Robin, Allison, and me by the pond

We all had cream teas (scones, jam, cream, tea). Good thing I was done with my Whole 30! I kind of planned it that way, actually. :) Behind that black Honda is our old crib, the North Barn. 

We went for a walk on the Trail of Tears. We had only been back there twice since we moved from the North Barn. It made me a bit nostalgic!

Me and my love. Allison said I looked angelic with my hair shining in the sun. I love when she takes my picture because she always says flattering things, e.g. "You look like a movie star!" or "Girl, your skin is just radiant!"

The next day Al Pal and I went to Vennel's. I was really disappointed in my chocolate cake, which was usually amazing. It tasted dry and dense. Boo. I have a new favorite place though...

Flat White! I had the best chai latte of my life (and have since had another with Ashley), and I look forward to taking more visitors there. Like you... right?

Cullen and Pamela made me a card and brought flowers back from London. They are the most gorgeous and fragrant peonies and freesia, and they're still going strong a week later!

The Year 9 (8th grade) girls in my advisory group at school surprised me with this cake. I was so happy! They were so sweet to plan that, and I loved how it was decorated.

Birthdays are so awesome. I felt so loved and celebrated by all of this and more that has gone undocumented: cards (MAD, Joy, Amy), sweet packages (Kristi), Facebook messages, phone calls (my family, Aunt Deanie), etc. I am a blessed woman.