Pretty Pictures

That night we went to watch some pure Spanish Flamanco dancing with some mates we met at our hostel. The dancing was amazing! 

Yup...Madrid was great fun! Goodbye!

Blessed With a Sari and Far From Sorry!

One of my dearest friends is Pushpa, a beautiful Indian who, like me, is in England to study. Pushpa lives with her amazing sister's little family who live permanently in England. Earlier this week, Pushpa invited me to her home, where I got to 'spend a night in India'! Hindu's believe that when guests come to their home (be they friend or enemy), they should be treated like God. Need I say what incredible hospitality I received? It was beautiful! For fun,Priti and Pushba got out their collection of traditional saris so that we could try them on. What to my absolute shock and delight, they generously gave me one! I still can scarcely believe it. The exquisite beadwork on the bodice is all handstitched. Ahh...I am converted to India.

This is the lovely Pushpa in her sari; Indians wears them with such grace (especially Pushpa and Priti!). I can hardly do mine justice! I cannot think of any article of clothing more flatteringly feminine. 

As if giving me a sari wasn't enough, they also gave me this little girl's outfit to send to my niece :) It is also hand stitched. Amazing, isn't it?! 

This is me with the pretty Priti who hosted me for two days. She is the most amazing cook! Priti and Pushpa made samosas, chapatis, lentil tortilla-like things, yoghurt drink, pizza, and both potato and tomato curry. Wow! So good! We also watched Bollywood soap operas on the tele. Loved it! Had the most amazing, memorable visit!!

The Ghost of Christmas Past...oooo! I still wish you a Happy Christmas Present!

Christmas 2006. Come and Gone! I spent it with Ted in London. This is Ted with his Christmas plunder. See the presents you gave him, family? 

Me with my Christmas plunder! Thanks!

 

Ted didn't have a Christmas tree, so I decorated his poinsettia! It was the best Christmas tree ever! I had way too much fun with the whole affair.... 

Part of our Christmas feast! Ted is pouring cream over his delectible Christmas pudding, the traditional, fruity after-dinner must. I am holding a bottle of Shloer...yum. We joke that Shloer is the 'Mormon Wine.' It is a non-alcoholic, dressed-up drink akin to Martinelli's Sparkling Cider, but with a bit more bite and many more flavours. It's attended every big Mormon celebration I've been to! :) 

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve was very, very special to me. One of the most memorable ever. We began our day by attending Church in the Hyde Park Chapel; the service was nice and I got to see my friend Kurt and his family, which made me happy.

Later that evening, we got ready to attend the "Carols by Candlelight" concert hosted in Royal Albert Hall. It was simply magical. Mozart Festival Orchestra & Singers came out in 18th Century, Mozart-esque apparel...powdered wigs and all! Throughout their excellent performance, we (the audience) were invited to sing carols too, accompanied by the orchestra and piping hot organ! It was amazing! While singing the last carol, I paused to listen to all the voices around me. It was overpowering to hear 7000 voices of all denominations joined together, unitied, singing praises of gratitude for the birth of Christ. I hope in fifty years the same is still possible.

Though all was absolutely lovely previous, the emotive highlight for my Christmas Eve was Midnight Mass at St. Martin-in-the-Fields at Trafalgar Square. Attending Midnight Mass was always something I wanted to do and it was the perfect Christmas Eve to do it. Wow. What can I say? It was all so meaningful to me. I observed the service with the curiousity of one observing ancient mythic ritual, but experienced a thoroughly living, enriching spiritual experience. The mode of religious expression and language used in mass lended new articulation to the sacred Christmas events; new words gave new dimension and meaning to old, familiar ideas. The music and acoustics were incredible. I loved all of the singing we got to do as the congregation...I don't think I have ever sang so many Christmas carols in one day! 

Oh--this is my Christmas Eve dress, for those of you who wanted to see a picture of it! It is something of a bizarre little dress in its own way, but it was fun to wear something brilliantly red.

Another Christmas highlight was being able to spend some time with my good friend Kurt. He was an American study-abroad student at Leicester Uni and I had the privilage of attending Church with him. His family spent Christmas together in London before Kurt headed back to sweet home USA. So we had opportunity for one last good chat in London before he followed the wu wei of the universe back to Utah. :) I am reminded of something said to me about Kurt. :) I was sitting in Church next to a middle-aged woman and she leaned over and whispered in my ear, "My, Kurt is a hunky bloke, isn't he?" Yes, I will have to agree. Kurt is definitely a hunky bloke inside and out. :) hahaha! 

Season's Greetings 2006!

Merry Christmas
& Happy New Year!!
2006

Reflections on 2006: This year has been divided into three; three different locations, three changes, three purposes. The first third began snowy and cold in Littleton, Colorado. I was working in one of the best jobs ever created by man - a special education teaching assistant for severe needs students. It was my favourite job ever! I worked with the most incredible Special Ed Team in existence and loved my three little students. Life brimmed with joy. However, as the school year was winding to a close, I started questioning, ‘What next?’ Several paths lay at my feet. I love the unpredictability of life. While treading in one direction, opportunity reaches out to turn you in another. And that is what happened to me.

Dressing Up as Vowels (See that?! So committed to Education!):
Five members of Copper Mesa Elementary’s
Special Ed Team 2005-2006 (I am the ‘U’)
Littleton/Highlands Ranch, Colorado

In March, I travelled to the UK for the first time with my friend Amy Choate. We enjoyed a whirlwind tour of London ala our wonderful English friend Ted. I was in awe; I was actually experiencing all of the places I had only known from pictures and textbooks! Loved the food, the accents, the life. We flew up to Glasgow and spent four lovely, bitter cold days exploring Scotland. I loved the sheep and castles. And kilts. And bagpipes. While in the UK, I determined to visit Leicester University. I had had my eye on their Victorian Studies Masters program since I was an undergrad at BYU. Saw it, liked it, tucked it away to think about. Then I chose.

Above Left: Sheep in Scotland; Left: Amy & Ted;
Center: Me in the Tate Modern; Right: London

Immediately after the school year ended at Copper Mesa Elementary School, I left dear friends, job, etc to relocate across the Rockies, materializing on my parent’s doorstep in the sleepy haven of Sanpete Valley, Utah. And thus began third #2 of my year: the best summer of my life. Within a few days, I found the sharpened reflexes of city-life uncoiling as I was coddled in the mildness of Spring City with my family. I found myself driving 5 miles under the speed limit rather than 5 miles over. Sunsets in the garden, listening to all of the farm animals was my favourite! The Osborne Inn (our family’s Bed and Breakfast www.osborneinn.com ) had her grand opening this summer and graciously showed off her splendorous insides. We were in business. My family had already done extensive remodelling/redecorating earlier in the year. My family is amazing! My little sisters especially! So, I became the official Innkeeper of the Osborne Inn, but my whole family worked together to make it all happen! It was fantastic. We quickly learned that running your own business meant a 24/7 to-do list! It was gratifying work though, and we did our best to try and make guests feel special. We got to meet many interesting people doing many interesting things! I feel so very, very blessed to have had that time with my family.

My Summer
Above Left: Me and Mom in Spring City; Left: Family!
Centre: The Osborne Inn!; Right: Biking on Mackinac Island

Now I live in Leicestershire, England. Wow. What a change! I am studying for an MA in Victorian Studies at Leicester Uni. I am researching special education in the Victorian Era. It comes full circle! England is great. Living here is so different from anything I have ever experienced! I have been stretched and have learned tons. I have learned to enjoy ‘English Sunshine’ (a.k.a rain) and now understand why the English get so much mileage out of discussing the weather. There are so many different cultures in England; I feel like the whole world meets here! And I get to meet them too!

Leicester, England. My new home!
Above Left: Leicester Uni in Autumn; Above Center: An English Garden;
Center: Me attempting to work a Victorian knitting machine (such a creative contraption it was!) Right: Some of my lovely, lovely new friends enjoying ‘English Sunshine‘!

Life is full and wonderful. I thank God for blessing my life so immensely. Every blessing in my life I can trace back to the goodness of the Church, His Gospel, and His promises. I am thankful for this time of year to remember the birth, life, and mission of Jesus Christ. Peace on Earth…Good Will to Men! Merry Christmas and Happy 2007!
Love to Each of You,
Brittany

Jen In Snow

This is Jen, one of my best friends, partying with her inner child after Colorado's most recent blizzard. The pics were so flippin' awesome I had to post them! I can hear your laugh from here, Jen! You rock! 

Miriam

This is my indescribably fantastic housemate Miriam

 

Thanksgiving

This is the one picture I have from Thanksgiving before my camera batteries died. :( I celebrated with Sarah, a fellow American in my course, and her cute little family. It was wonderful. She and her husband and two daughters live in Oakham, a delicious little historic community (I guess every town is historic here!). They also invited another American family from Oakham. Unfortunately I didn't get a good shot of Sarah's family...her husband's face is hidden by his youngest daughter :), but their oldest is in the foreground. The food was amazing and the company was fantastic; it was a very memorable day! 

YSA Church History Tour: Preston, England

 

This apartment on the corner is where President Gordon B. Hinckley received his father's monumental letter encouraging him to "Forget himself and get to work." 

The sun came out at the perfect moment to take this picture. The first men to ever get baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS in Great Britain literally raced across this bridge to see who would be first. :) They were baptised very near this spot in the River Ribble (above).

This is a tiny town in the countryside surrounding Preston. It has been purposely preserved in it's 19th century ambiance. Telephone lines, etc are all underground! Apparently when Mormon missionaries first arrived to this area, nearly everyone in this town was converted. One missionary writes of his departure, stating that nearly the whole town came out to wave their handkerchiefs at him in goodbye. He had to stop several different times at the creek alongside the road to wash away his tears.