I could live here. Truly. I could. Below you will see me with a self portrait of Rembrandt and there are also paintings by Gainsborough, Hall, Boucher and more. The neoclassical library with its beautiful ceiling, mirrors and books is my favorite. Robert Adams did the ceilings and it has just recently been restored. I’m so glad I got to see it. I also love the orangery. Imagine what it must have looked like when it was full of plants, with those large windows letting in all that light. Pretty! Charlotte is so sweet too. She always has so much to share. I love soaking up her wisdom and knowledge!

Yesterday for our London walk we went to Holland Park another location steeped in history. Thanks to Lesley for requesting it for her birthday. It’s just a few blocks away from us. I had no idea it was there till we went. It’s lovely.

On Wednesday we were able to travel to the temple. It was a lovely trip. We spent our train ride studying like crazy for our exam. It was so nice to be able to do an endowment session, plus initiatory work, and participate in marriage and family sealings. We were spiritually nourished for sure. I loved the sounds of the birds on the grounds. Their songs had a lovely ringing through the trees.

We have seen a number of shows. Les Miserable is a favorite! We also really enjoyed The Mousetrap. Longest running show. We had to see it.

Wow! I have been so busy. I have a lot of catch up to do. Here are pictures from our day visiting the Houses of Parliament. Westminster Hall, not to be confused with Westminster Abbey that is across the street, is the oldest parliament building in the world. Parliament here is the oldest parliament in the world. The hall was built in the late 1300’s. It is a medieval structure with amazing beams that hold up the ceiling. no nails are used in its construction. You will see with the large stain glass windows and newer art display by Mary Francson,  commemorating the women’s suffrage movement, in the building. This was once a palace. Henry VIII was the last to live there. It was the coronation banquet location for royals such as Richard II with William IV being the last. Charles I had his trial there. WWI and WWII memorials are there. Today it is considered a great honor to make an address from the hall. The place is rich in political history. The statue of a man with the lion below him is of Oliver Cromwell. Puritan leader, General and executor of Charles I.

Here are pictures of Westminster abbey.

We had a nice walk home and enjoyed a treat afterward.

I have not gasped in delight in any museum like I did this morning at the Wallace Museum. This was a private home that was used primarily for showcasing art collections that the Wallace family acquired, including entire collections that were being sold off from the palace of Versailles in France. Happily they have found a safe home here in England and the public is able to enjoy them. I also loved the armory-so much! Thank goodness for philanthropists with a sensitivity to the preservation of such amazing and beautiful art. The Rococo period is my favorite 🙂

We went to see Wicked! This is how theatre ought to be done! I was very  happy. I am also very encouraged. I watched the production with special love for Alphaba who was played flawlessly-Love, love, love her performance! I also had the overwhelming feeling of, “I/we can do this.” There is no reason in the world why I and my fellow colleagues, who are so talented, can not pull off a production just as amazing. I left with a wonderful feeling of “I can do this!” We were all so excited by the time we left. So much happiness!

This was our excursion for today. Now its’ back to the books and doing assignments. I’m glad we are staying home tonight. I have so much to do!

This is the central dome area of the museum.

I really like the work of John Constable 1776-1837.

He is a contemporary of the famous JMW Turner 1775-1851. I like this piece called Crossing the Brook.

Here are other pieces I liked.

We stopped in this really unique jewelry shop on the way home.

Wow! If you want to see spectacle go see this show. The design elements of sets, lighting, pyrotechnics, sound, costume, make-up and hair  will blow you away. This production packs in so much. There is magic, slapstick, farce, comedy, melodrama, pyrotechnics, big dance numbers and some big voices.

Today I visited Kensington Palace, residence of  former  and current royalty including Henry VIII, William III and Mary II, George II and Queen Caroline, as well as Victoria before she became Queen, and other notables such as Princess Diana. Today Diana’s sons,  Prince William and Prince Harry, and their families occupy a portion of the palace, whilst other sections are open to the public as a site of historical importance. Here one can learn about the way of living for the royals during the 19^th century. Located on the edge of Hyde park, it is a lovely focal point of the location.

I learned some very interesting things about fashion at Kensington Palace, such as:

• In the days of corsets a woman wore many layers with the heaviest pieces being the hoops and corset.
• Whale bone was the preferred material for corsets because it was relatively light.
• If one could not afford whalebone they would use wood or iron. Some weighed up to 2 “stones” or 28 pounds.
• The addition of petticoats, stockings, and dress pieces could add another 15-16 pounds.
• Girls would start to wear corsets as early as age 8.
• This kind of costuming of women made them weak and hurt their bodies, especially during pregnancy wherein often a woman could be rendered unable to walk and carry a child, being bedridden for as much as a year in total.

• Boys up to age 6-7 would wear dresses in order to facilitate potty training.
• Those who were attending court had no toilet facilities so men were given lovely pots to “piss” in that were kept in a drawer with their name on it. If they needed to use it they just pulled out the drawer in the corner of the crowed room, did their thing and closed in again. Fun, what?
• Women would signal their page boy to bring them their pretty pot (everyone new whose was whose) and it would be slipped under the skirt to catch their junk and the lad would then whisk it away and dispose of it. Fun times with the royals.
• Reaching under skirts was relatively easy and done regularly, especially by some.

This room was my favorite.

• Fast forward a few year to Prince Albert who was a lover of jewels and designed beautiful jewelry. He liked to give them to his beloved Victoria as a special present. This is still a tradition in the Royal family. Below is a journal entry of Victoria’s after meeting Albert. she was quite taken with him. The girl below is their Beautiful daughter Princess Louise who did the sculpture of Queen Victoria that is in front of the palace.

• Years later Princess Diana was to become one of the most photographed women in history and she used fashion as a tool to show kindness, honor, and respect to those around her by the use of symbols, colors, and design in her clothing. Reading the stories behind each dress was so telling of the woman she was. The last is simply my esthetic favorite.