Twelve Degrees and Sunny Anyone?

I don't have time to write a real post at the moment but I just had to tell you all that it is 12 degrees and sunny today and it's been like this since Saturday! I just wanted to take a moment share that with you and rub it in, because I just checked the weather back at home and you all are getting a range of -17 to -20 today! So sorry about that. . .so here's a sample of what the weather looks like over here (and you can just imagine what 12 degrees feels like), taken in Stratford on Saturday. Enjoy!

Another Weekend Excursion and Then Some

I want to start off by apologizing for my last post, I think it may have been a little on the boring side. Anyways, I'll try to make this one more interesting! So all of our tutors are pretty young and Friday our tutor, Matt, told us he wants to take us all out for a drink in Oxford next week, so we're all pretty pumped for that! It should be interesting! Drama auditions went as well as possible with a few more laughs, we find out today or somewhere near then what roles we got (earned?) Did I mention it involves various scenes from Shakespeare plays? It's going to be fun memorizing! Friday night half of us, the ABU half, were all in Oxford for choir and formal hall so the Redeemerites -sans Tim, who was off at someone else's home for dinner- got together for a chicken, rice, veggies and wine meal! Very sophisticated! We had good girl talk til Tim got there . . . and then we still had good girl talk (kidding!) Because we called it a semi-early night, I was able to watch Good Will Hunting which I've wanted to see for the longest time - I totally recommend it! Such a great movie(I cried)!

The girls excited for some yummy food!

Saturday we went to check out Warwick Castle. It's a famous English medieval castle dating back to the 10th century! It was an insane experience to explore a place with so much history and to think about the fact that in the very rooms I was in, 1000 years ago people were living out their daily lives with no idea or thought of us invading their home in 2008!

The picture above is of the Mound, the oldest part of the castle (built in 1068),

and below is a view from the Mound of the main building.

I tried to help the poor man figure out what it said,

but I was no help because he couldn't hear me when I told him.

I think he had to much wax in his ears.

We played dress up. I'm the lady, supposedly looking adoringly at my gentleman,

although in fact I just look ridiculous!

My fellow explorers and I

We also went to Coventry Cathedral. The orginal cathedral was built in the 14th century, but was bombed by the Germans in 1940, so now the ruins remain as a 'hallowed ground' and are meant to be a symbol of the futility of war and also reconciliation. It was such a moving experience. No one really talked, and only in whispers.

These pictures, above and below, are of some parts of the ruins,

although they don't do it justice.

This cross is made of two charred beams.

A new Cathedral has been built next to the ruins and is absolutely stunning, a lot of beautiful artistry. Besides the main worship area, it has several tiny chapels each with a different symbolic theme. The choir was practicing as we walked around quietly taking it all in, which added to the sacred feeling of the place, it felt very worshipful. The one disappointment, which others agreed with me about, was that there was a booth in the main sanctuary selling items which can best be described as kitsch. These pictures don't do it justice at all, I could put so many more on, but I won't:

Enormous tapestry, 'Christ in Glory'.

The chapel of Christ in Gethsemane.

Saturday night, Sharon, Beth and I checked out an event called Green Weasel at the Shed in Charlbury. The Shed literally looks like a shed, which we thought was hilarious! The performances, which ranged from musical pieces, singing, poetry readings, and short sketches, were amazing! I've been told by a couple people that Charlbury is full of artists but tonight was the first time I witnessed it as a fact! I'm still so amazed!! They did make fun of good old George W. at one point, so when asked we were more then happy to be able to say no, we are not in fact Americans!

Sharon and I at - well it's pretty obvious!

Sunday was a chill out day, just reading and doing laundry, so exciting! Today, class has been cancelled, so I plan to start working on my essays!