Week 34 - Great Week with Kathie

Monday we went to the Archives to digitize as usual.  Kathie was on her own roaming the streets of London during the day.  We all participated in the "Jack the Ripper" walking tour Monday night in downtown London.  Lots of history in the tour and interesting facts about Jack.




Tuesday was back to The National Archives where Paul and Annie worked in the London Family History Center.  It was a busy day with lots of people needing help.  Elder Smart did a presentation in the "talk room" on searching techniques with FamilySearch.

Wednesday was a fun play day with Kathie (meaning we left work behind).  We took a bus out to Hampton Court Palace.  Paul and Annie had been there twice before, but it is always interesting and so much to see.  Kathie saw Henry VIII's home for the first time.  She especially enjoyed the Palace gardens.

Annie with Henry VIII and George

Hampton Court Palace

 

Elder Smart resting in the court

King Henry VIII and his fiance' Elizabeth

 

One garden view at the palace

One of ceiling murals in the palace

 Following Palace visit, we took a boat down the Thames River to Westminister.  It was about a 3 hour ride. The boat ride offered  beauty, history and lots of brisk air (Annie said "cold" air").

Annie and Kathie on the boat

One of the beautiful sights from our boat

Houses of Parliament from boat

We experienced a lock at Teddington

We then walked to a  souvenir shop at Westminster near the "Eye" to get a pin that Kathie had seen last week while we were there.  (She had found a hat that she decided to adorn with various pins.) We quickly grabbed a bite at the McDonald's and headed home on the underground.  It was very late when we got home and 3 tired tourists were glad to be back at the flat.

Thursday Paul and Annie were back at the Archives, but Annie left early to go shopping with Kathie for British snacks to take home.

Kensington Palace

We went to Kensington Palace (home of Prince William, Kate and the new baby, George) on Friday.  We also visited Royal Albert Hall,  Natural History Museum, Piccadilly Circus and Westminster Abbey.  Kathie finished her souvenir shopping at Trafalgar Square. 

Into the Center of the Earth--Natural History Museum

Royal Albert Hall

We finished the day at Helen and Paul Baden's home where they served us a wonderful dinner.  One highlight was the ride home in a car!!  We forget what it is like to ride something other than buses and trains.

Saturday morning we were off to the airport on a 6:30 a.m. bus.  Things went smoothly at the airport and we said a sad goodbye to Kathie.  She made it home for the sad game in Provo.  Guess it was just a sad day all the way around.

We enjoyed Kathie's visit.  Family is so very important to us.  Service to the Lord is also very important to us.  We are grateful to have such a wonderful family that supports us in our service here in London.  We enjoy visits and we also enjoy the wonderful Skype visits and the visits we are blessed to make on the phone.  Thank you all for your love and support.

A very special birthday wish to Audra on Tuesday.

Love to all of you,
Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie, Elder and Sister Smart