Feeling Ever More British. Sherlock Holmes and The Beatles to say the least.

John Lennon

ATTENTION! It is completely mandatory to listen to this in the background as you read this post;

Let this post be all that your attention is focused on. If you don't then you are totally Yoko-ing your life. So just let it be.

Before coming to London I had caught what many would call the "British Bug" in which I began to love and devour all things English. Such things included practicing my British accent, brushing up on the Royal Family, cultivating a love for pubs, pandering to political correctness, enhancing my obsession with pets, yearning to ramble in the countryside, feeling uncomfortable when people talk about their emotions, reading a newspaper, and watching Downton Abbey.

But there's one more British Bug that cannot be squashed no matter how big your boot is. And in fact it's not just one bug but 4 big British Beatles! Indeed, perhaps one form of British culture that seems to have spread as a world culture would be that of The Beatles. I really don't have to say how monumental they are because if you're any type a decent human than you will know how big of deal it was for to visit The Beatles store on Baker st. Nevertheless, despite such awesomeness happening it is still but only one British Bug that was caught and added to my creepy-crawly collection this week.

This time I shall take you on a day-by-day journey;

MONDAY

First, class happened. That is all.

After class was much more exciting as I FINALLY got to see Big Ben and the London Eye. Two iconic London attractions that I had to wait 14 days to see. Anyhow, it has happened and here be the awesomeness displayed;

The Eye keeping watch on London

The Eye keeping watch on us.

Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, and iconic gray English skies. 

Behold the Majesty.

One thing that is dutiful to mention here is to remind everyone that right here by this clock is where one of the greatest and grandest battles of human history took place. It was nothing less than a battle between good and evil that was daringly took upon, bravely fought, and desperately won. And although photos of this battle are rare, I was fortunately able to track down one that I think paints the picture. Here it is;

(A moment of silence please for those who lost their lives protecting us from the Phantom Heartless)

  

The group and I then treated ourselves to a "Rain Forest Cafe London" that I could not have been more anxious to try. It was my first time and it was nothing but good and expensive; just what I expected.

A sign; as so many restaurants have.

Contemplating how she's going to kill me in my sleep, Jean looks into the camera thoughtfully. 

Another picture of Jean (now she really is going to kill me).

Gruel, but very delicious gruel.

I shared a table with this Elephant. He picked up the check for us, paid in ivory.

Later after all the conundrum did the lot of us travel to the famous Gielgud Theater where even more famous people performed in a production of The Audience; an obviously British play about Queen Elizabeth II and her interaction with many of UK's Prime Ministers.

The famous people included, but were not limited to Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth (famous for The Queen and Hitchcock) and Nathaniel Parker (famous for Stardust and The Haunted Mansion). It was amazing to see these two live and what's more I got to meet them after the show and Helen even signed my ticket! Here they are!

Although it is candid and blurry, it still is Helen Mirren in the flesh!

This was a pic I took of Jean and Nathaniel. This gave me the opportunity to crack jokes and make Nathaniel laugh. Level up! 

  

Tuesday

Tuesday morning started with an extended and very taxing trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum. It's basically a museum of culture and relics from the Victorian age that included artifacts from naked sculptors to Islamic prayer rugs. It felt very much like the Metropolitan museum in New York in comparison to size and grandeur. Here's the evidence!

Naked statue from the waist up naturally.

Nothing but hugeness.

After many long hours of that the group and I set off to purchase Les Mis tickets that we'll be seeing in June and then we set off to Baker Street where the British Bugs really began biting as we visited The Beatles store and the Sherlock Holmes museum. It just doesn't get more British than that now, does it? We spent many hours here.

Still smelled like pipe tobacco.

It took a little investigating to find this :D

No caption has worth to this picture.

Or this one...

Alas, the night then ended with a dinner at Byron's with awesome milkshakes and a good night's rest.

Wednesday

So much has already happened and it's only Wednesday. Beautiful.

However, much less happened this day because we as a group were just exhausted and needed a day to stick around, get stuff done, and relax. First we did have class, then went home, and later watched Star Trek at the girl's flat for those who hadn't seen it yet. A very nice day indeed.

Thursday

Wednesday didn't seem to cure me from exhaustion as I slept in till forever and stayed in my flat doing homework, but I did manage to go running through Hyde Park in the morning, something I've been wanting to do since I got here. And not only was I rewarded with health to the navel and marrow to the bones, but also came across a most iconic statue; none other than the original Peter Pan that started it all. Running was never so rewarding.

The boy who would not grow up.

Now later that night I got to see the funniest show I have ever seen in my entire life. I have never laughed so hard in such a long time. This show was called One Man, Two Guvnors about a bumbly British man who tries to make more money by taking on two jobs with two guvnors and all the nonsensical mischief involved. I knew I would laugh, but I wasn't expecting so much after having seen the original (One Servant, Two Masters) at BYU and having read the script in advance. But alas, it left me with enough laughter to last me for years.

Happiness.

Friday

Time to get all religious on y'all. The greatest and grandest of Cathedrals in England was visited by your's truly early Friday morning. St. Paul's Cathedral was massive and captivating. Unfortunately pictures were not allowed inside, so I'm happy to report that I kept the law and left pictures untaken. But I did get to journey to the top of the outside of the dome and witness the outside.

And while it is not the same place at all, I couldn't help but sing "The Bells of Notre Dame" the whole way through.

After the Cathedral it was the girl's turn to go where they all wanted to go from the beginning; shopping! At first I didn't care to go, but I went along and I'm glad I did. They took me to a place called Primark where I was able to get some nice stuff. So yeah, I actually went shopping on a vacation....doesn't happen much.

I bought some humans. These girls were in the discount section.

Later that night I got to see a highly anticipated show. I would say that it was everything that I hoped for, but I would by lying. I am sad to report that The Lion King in London was a flop. It's the second time I've seen it and the second time I've gone away disappointed. But this one was particularly sad. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they just had an off night, but it certainly was 98 bucks I would love to have back.

Saturday

Don't worry guys, we're almost there! Just hang with me. This Saturday was refreshingly fresh as I spent the morning doing a ton of homework to make sure I wouldn't have to deal with any of it next week. So I stayed in my flat and dealt with that until I had to head to what has become one of my most favorite spots in London; The Shakespeare Globe Theater! Better be one of my favorite, it's only the whole reason I'm here!

Anyway, this time around I got to see A Midsummer's Night Dream and after having been blown away with The Tempest I went in with high expectations and they did not disappoint.

It must be said that this play has special meaning to me as it was the first the play I had ever been a part of and spring boarded me into my acting and drama life. So I basically spewed nostalgia the whole time in seeing the play the got me started be performed in the most professional and authentic Shakespeare venue that I could ask for. An unbelievable experience.

Sunday

Today is Sunday. I sit here this Sunday writing my blog and just trying to hold in my anticipation for what awaits me tomorrow; for on the morrow I will board a plane and be on my way to Ireland! And that's what awaits me in the morning. So now you know that next week's blog will be all about the green country and my adventures there.

But as I say goodbye to you today, and await the time that I can share my life with you some more, I do so as I wear John Lennon's glasses in respect to the man who once gave peace a chance. Tomorrow is Memorial Day and although I reside in Europe right now I will do my best to remember the peace and freedoms that I enjoy in America that were given to me by those who gave their lives for it. And though we may be parted there is a chance that I will see. There will be an answer; Let it be.

Tomorrow I will be feeling strangely patriotic for my country as I stay in Ireland and I encourage you all to take the name "Memorial" Day to heart. See you all next week!

With country pride,

                             -Lancaster Spear

Michael Caine, Chronicles of Narnia, London Temple, Sister Reneer, and much more!

Where's my owl?? (p.s. my scarf says I'm Slytherin, but what sayest thou?) 

I arrived in London no more than 2 weeks ago and I feel like I have lived the worth of 2 lives already with 7 more to go. I have found myself in a weird paradox in my life regarding my time spent. You know how time flies by when you're having fun and it feels like no time has past at all when it ends? Well, I surprisingly don't feel that way at all. Is it because I'm not having fun? Not at all. It's all about the fact that I have lived and experienced SOOOO MUCH stuff that it honestly feels like I have been here forever. I guess my life back home is rather boring so once I hit the streets of England and begin to live my sub-conscience tells me it's been worth 3 years of my previous life.

As for what specifically is the "SOOOO MUCH" I was referring to will probably anti-climatic to you all or maybe they're just a bunch of those "you had to be there" moments, but whatever they are to you they were amazing to me. To make a quick abridged list of all the things I will just say I have; seen 9 professional shows, toured the Royal Middle Temple, Temple Church, Shakespeare church, Globe Theater, Shakespeare exhibition, the Museum of London, London Library exhibition, found 9 3/4 platform at King's Cross Station, visited the London Temple (including a very nice walk through the England countryside), found an old friend whom I haven't seen for 3 years on her mission here, toured all of the freakin' tower of London (crown jewels and torture chambers included), ate at numerous English restaurants and discovered the worst and best of the European people all the while being a full-time student keeping up on class and homework plus all in the small frame of only 2 weeks. So if you're wondering why my blog posts are few and far between...well, THAT'S WHY! There's just all too much and too little time. But enough with the text, let's get with the pics!

The Mousetrap murder mystery play. The longest running play of all time.

I think they will eventually run out of numbers.

The whole group after the show.

Our fine dining.

And our VERY fine dining :)

The next big thing we did was visit the Museum of London. While there weren't too many things to get all photo crazy about, there are a few I would like to share.

The lamp post transplanted from Narnia.

The quite amazing Michael Caine Exhibit

Irony.

And English culture equality for both man and beast.

The next few things I did after that were see 3 incredible productions that is impossible for the tongue to describe. Please enjoy;

MATILDA THE MUSICAL!

Unbelievably amazing. Family fun has never been so much effing fun.

And the colorful stage.

WICKED!

Pictures were surprisingly legal at this theater :)

Waiting for the show to start with style.

"Look how great these seats are" is what's written all over that sinister face.

THE TEMPEST!

Next was The Tempest at the famous Globe Theater. Standing room only, seriously.
Unfortunately no other photos were allowed.

With the influx of shows that have now entered my life in just these 2 weeks, I garnered a vast cultural and brag-able experience. But it certainly does not end there. Again I was defeated when we were not allowed to take pictures anywhere inside the Library of London which held some of the most ancients texts to ever be put on display. But I enjoyed it nonetheless and looked forward to my next and probably one of the most exciting parts of my London stay; THE TOWER OF LONDON! Not only did this include the prisons and housing of many of England's historical figures (Anne Boleyn, Duke of Gloucester, the Princes in the tower, Henry VIII and many many more), but it also had the crown jewels on display as well. But yet again there was a ban on any photography of them. But the whole time all I could think of was the catchy tune of an old musical; "Our pockets hold a watch of gold that chimes upon the hour. A wallet fat, and old man's hat, the crown jewels from the tower!" Yeah.....   

  

Curiosity.

Naturally the battle of Helm's Deep

Now yesterday was Saturday and it was a special day because some of the girls and I got to make the trek out to the London Temple to pump us up with spiritual steroids to keep us going. It's a funny thing though because the "London" Temple sure aint in London. It was about a 2 hour tube and train ride to where we were gonna take another bus. But as the day would have it it turned out the bus we were looking for did not run anymore. So we all knew we would have to take the hour long walk from the bus stop to the temple if we wanted to go at all. But what seemed at first to be a curse became a blessing very quickly as we got to stroll through "legitimate" England with lush green fields and pastures teeming with roaming animals and a peaceful stillness. After a while the walk did get a little tiring, so I decided to play a little song on my ipod to get us going again. Listen to it for yourselves; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frto4dOVg00. Awesomely awesome.

The beginnings of The Fellowship of the Temple Walk

We eventually made it and had a wonderful time and took advantage of the most amazing temple grounds I have seen. But no need for me to keep it to myself, you can have a look to;

Obligatory Temple sign picture.

Solemn.

Last but not least was an amazing reunion that happened today. There is a good friend that I have not seen for 3 years. This is due to me serving my mission and then her leaving on her's and coming to, you guessed it, LONDON! If I was just any old tourist or visitor I would not make the effort to see her, but seeing as how I actually live here and am no different than any other member I saw it fit to seek her. Luckily today was a stake conference where I knew I could see her. Before I came to England I had her parents give me a package to deliver to her. So I packed it up and headed off to the reunion. To say the least she was quite a bit shocked and speechless at seeing my suddenly after 3 years of absence and much more having it be across the world. But smiles were made and laughter was laughed as it happened. This is my friend Sister Ruth Reneer. She is a talented and devoted woman with solid testimony to declare. She has been out for a while and she will continue to do great things here in England.

Sister Cuvochi (I think that's how you spell it), Sister Reneer, and me...naturally.
Oh, and don't forget  Jesus in the back!

Well, that's all for now folks. Of course there's more that happened than just one blog post can share, but this will have to do for now. But of course I'm not gonna leave without giving just one sense of British humor that I came across today;

I saw this bloke chatting up a cheetah; I thought, "He's trying to pull a fast one".

I saw this bloke chatting up a cheetah; I though, "He's trying to pu

Ha...ha...ha...

Quite poshly,

                                - Lancaster Spear