Worms Head

Today was Wuthering Heights day. Mr. Rick and Mrs. Mary drove me out to Worms Head in Swansea to see the view. The drive was beautiful, though the roads are so narrow. By narrow, I mean that the white lines often end, meaning that only one car can fit, meaning that I freaked out a little. However, Mr. Miller is such a fantastic driver that it ended up being really fun. We got out to Worms Head and my Jane Austen fantasy world began to unfold before my eyes. With the vast, grey ocean spread out before me like a feast for my eyes, ever looking over it, but never having my fill. The velvet green, massive cliffs were the dessert of the whole thing. With the rain and let me record here, sleet, yes sleet in August pouring over us and the thick fog blanketing the giant rocks, I couldn't have asked for a better scene. It was very cold, probably low 50s, but it was all just eye candy, no time to think about inclement weather. After being soaked to the bone, we headed for a pub to get a coffee. I have been needing a latte for days, so this was perfect. We sat overlooking the sea in quiet admiration of God's designing so many delights for the eye and soul.
We came back for lunch. The people who work at the Bible College of Wales here, all eat together. I have never experienced such community. Everyone eats together, washes dishes together everyday. This adorable old man whom I had the pleasure of meeting, just melted my heart with his "oh lovely, lovely!"s and his pure gentility. We spoke a bit of French and I just fell in love with his manner and his story. Mrs. Mary told me that He waited to marry the woman he loved for 30 years. They both lived here and had declared to keep their vow of celibacy until someone told them that they could marry. They both kept their promise, working together in love with each other for 30 years until a new director came to the school. They got married in their 60s I believe and never go anywhere without holding hands. So sweet.
That's it for now. I am just working on my itinerary for the rest of the time. It sounds perfect.

Lesson 2: For once in my life I need to wear more clothes, it's cold!!

I can't post a ton of pics on here, but check my facebook for full albums if you wish!

Swansea, Wales

Trek to Swansea

Today I was glad to get off of my flight at the London-Heathrow Airport. I had to sit next to a middle-aged man who kept telling me that he could "extract poetry from my eyes" and other annoying nonsense for eight hours. Basically, I pretended that I was asleep almost the entire time so he wouldn't talk to me and I wouldn't have to look at him. All this to say that my flight would have been perfect, but my delusion of a pleasant flying experience this time, was quickly destroyed. I got off of the plane at 5:05 London time, 11:05 Central time, mind you so the jet lag began to set in as I had to make my way through customs and onto two different trains. Customs was horrific; I almost didn't make it through because I purposefully forgot to put the address of my destination; big mistake. Being bleary-eyed and completely disoriented, I surprisingly just stared him down while he railed on me about how stupid I was to forget this information. I didn't get upset but I just gave him an alternative and he angrily put me through. Then I cried a tear or two when I was safely out of view.

The next challenge was to get on and off of the Heathrow Express in one piece. I have been carrying two big suitcases, a big backpack and my messenger bag. I am a bit petite in size so there was a lot of swaying and such that went on. I felt pretty ridiculous. However, my one success of the day was that I even told a British guy which platform he needed to get on for the Heathrow Express to Paddington. I was proud. This temporary high was brought down by my getting on the wrong end of the train to Swansea, Wales and having to drag all of my bags through the train to the back while the thing was moving. I felt so UN-chic with everyone around me in scarves and leather briefcases and there I was tripping don the first class aisle bumping the elbows of tailored shirts. "Pooh, pooh" I said to quote my lifetime heroine, Madeline, and set my self down for another three hour journey. All worked out well. I played Harry Potter in the train. It was just like I had imagined the Welsh countryside. It was gray clouds laden with rain, chilling, damp wind and David Gray playing on my IPOD that brought to life the painting I had always conjured in my head of England.

I am jet-lagged for sure now and ready to sleep. The rain never stops in Swansea supposedly, but I got to walk out to the sea today and it was beautiful; from a dream really. Pictures to come of Swansea. I plan to feel better tomorrow and explore, explore to my little heart's content!

"How can I convince you it's me I don't like
And not be so indifferent to the look in your eyes
When I've always been distant
And I've always told lies for love

I'm bound by these choices so hard to make
I'm bound by the feeling so easy to fake
None of this is real enough to take me from you

Oh I've got reservations
About so many things
But not about you

I know this isn't what you were wanting me to say
How can I get closer and be further away
From the truth that proves it's beautiful to lie

I've got reservations
About so many things
But not about you
I've reservations
About so many things
But not about you
Not about you
Not about you
Not about you
It's not about you"


Wilco

"Did you believe it,
when they told you they discovered you?
And that everything is free,
as long as you do what they tell you to.
You think it's true?

But nothing could be farther from the truth,
my love.

Did you even listen,
When they told you to change your name?
And that nobody wants honesty when looking at a perfect frame
play the game.

Nothing could be further from the truth,
my love..
And nothing is more powerful than beauty in a wicked world.
Play it girl,
play it girl,
play it girl.

Does it make you feel good,
when they tell you what you want to hear?
And after they suck all your soul,
well that's when they'll disappear.
Disappear.
They disappear forever..

Like a prince in your little fairy tale.
And you will find,
one day you put your soul on sale..

Nothing could be further from the truth,
my love..
And nothing is more powerful than beauty in a wicked world."

Amos Lee

I thought that this song by Chris Thile was really interesting. Doubt can turn into disbelief.

"Doubting Thomas"

"What will be left when I've drawn my last breath
Besides the folks I've met and the folks who've known me
Will I discover a soul-saving love
Or just the dirt above and below me

I'm a doubting Thomas
I took a promise
But I do not feel safe
Oh me of little faith

Sometimes I pray for a slap in the face
Then I beg to be spared cause I'm a coward
If there's a master of death
I bet he's holding his breath
As I show the blind and tell the deaf about his power

I'm a doubting Thomas
I can't keep my promises
Cause I don't know what's safe
Oh me of little faith

Can I be used to help others find truth
When I'm scared I'll find proof that it's a lie
Can I be led down a trail dropping bread crumbs
That prove I'm not ready to die

Please give me time to decipher the signs
Please forgive me for time that I've wasted

I'm a doubting Thomas
I'll take your promise
Though I know nothin's safe
Oh me of little faith


[Thanks to slcs_iceangel@hotmail.com for these lyrics]
[Thanks to RoguesZone@Yahoo.com for correcting these lyrics]

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