The Grey Havens

Daniel got me Kindgom Hearts II. It took me 3 days, but I have beaten it. I love it! I really want to play Chain of Memories now. Yes. Now I must finish my Scrapbook for England and pack.

The Scouring of My Room

I unpacked. It was not pretty and I really do not have space anymore.

Homeward Bound

This one is going to be short as I cannot really remember what happened anymore. Sorry... Jet lag?

Anyway namely Daniel and I drove to his house on Thursday and then to my Aunt's house in Knoxville on Friday where my mother was. Friday also happened to be her birthday, so I got to give her her presents then. (Not to mention actally be there for her birthday, unlike last year...)

We then went out to eat and came back and crashed.

Many Partings

We all went our seperate ways today. We split first at St Margaret's where 6(?) people left us to join family or travel more.

At Heathrow, I met a lovely woman (she took care of my bags and tickets). She was very nice and helped me through the agrivating requirments. I hope she is well right now.
In Heathrow Daniel and I ate lunch at an Irish place and spent the rest of our English LSD and I also bought more books. Yeah.... Umm onward!

The flight was long, but very uneventful. When we got to O'hare we practically sailed through Customs. We really did. I had a fun time finding reception for my phone and praying for battery (I fried my charger in London. Yes the voltage is different there.) I called home and the limo. We got a white strech because of our (my) amount of luggage.

On the way to Wheaton, Daniel and I practically pass out. We do get there and I run to get the car (It worked perfectly, even after no use for 1.5 months.) and we drove to Ms. Laurie's, who is the most amazing, kind, and generous person in the whole world. Her house was wonderful, we were able to shower and sleep in a familiar and comfortable setting. I really cannot tell how great it was.

And it rained (thundered) all night long.

I love the sound of rain.

The Gallery and the Admiral (Tuesday)

Today was our last day in London.
Our morning was spent grabbing items for friends at home so that they might speak to us when we got back. I resisted the temptation to buy my dad a "My daughter went to London and all I got was this T-shirt" shirt. You should be proud of me. Really.


After lunch from Salisbury's eaten in the Costa Coffee across the way, Daniel and I walked to Trafalgar Square and around the National Gallery. It was lovely, nothing compares to seeing the original painting. Nothing. I was so happy to see the paintings that I have only read about or seen imatations of. My favorite was one of St. Catherine and the baby Jesus with Mary and another lady-saint... I shall remember her later... Margaret? I am not sure.

After Trafalgar we walked home and chatted with C--- and C---- for a very long time and successfully made C--- feel 'uncomfortable.' This action brought us up another level on the Friendship ladder. Oh! Daniel also had a Llama Incident that you should ask him about. It is very funny.

But after all of this I was very tired and went to bed. It was a lovely night.

The Field of St. Martins

This was amazing. Mostly because the scaffolding that was up to clean Nelson was down so I actually got to see him and take an odd photo or two.

Daniel and I wandered around the National Gallery where we saw wonderful things. Leonardo, Rapheal, Michaelangelo, Vermeer, and van Dyck and many more. I also found lovely saints painting. One of St Catherine had the most beautiful red embroidered dress. I think I shall make it some time.

After wandering around for hours we walked slowly home.

We stopped off at St. Martin's-on-the-Fields and sat for a while. It is a beautiful church just off of Trafalgar Square. And it has the added benefit of being attached to Blanche (who is filled with coolness).

We we got back we packed up (I might be over the weight limit on 1 bag) and then went to Subway for dinner and the internet cafe (same place) so that I could finish my blog.

I have only 5 chapters left and the appendix which is going to be about my journies home.


Sorry about the short, odd posts. I really want to use all the chapters of LotR and I think I might just make it. I shall add photos when I get home to my computer. Thank you for reading. I shall post again maybe Thursday or Saturday.

Mount Costa Coffee

Daniel and I grabbed some pasties and coffee for lunch. There we met a very nice girl. It was her 3rd day there and she was very happy that there was a lull in her work load. She was very nice.

After this we walked down to Trafalgar Square. This way we didn't have to buy tube passes. Very good for my wallet and for my legs... Yeah, right.

The Land of No Shadows

I think the line 'the sun never sets on the Bristish Empire' was said by someone in the UK during summer. I think it doesnt set here or if it does it is only for a paltry few hours, between 12 and 4am or something horrible like that.

Anyway Daniel and I got up early and ate breakfast and went out to see what type of goodies we could grab for people at home. I think I have successfuly used up all my UK paper and coin monies. Did you know that you cannot exchange any coins?! Even £1 and £2 coins? Arghishness!!!

After grabbing goodies we went back to the hotel to put our things away.

Also J-- left today to meet up with friends and travel Europe.

The Tower of Big Ben

We drove to London. We finally got to St. Margaret's. I was never so happy to see a familiar face as that of D---'s greeting us at the door. I also met an old Oxfordian Lewis scholar who wants to met Dr. Martindale.

I got to my room (Number 9 on the 2nd floor, so very happy!) and found that I was in a double with S---. This is a great thing, especially since we have two fans and a huge window. Our room is lovely! Some of us went to Sansbury's after settling in to grab food. We ate in the park and then mosied our way over to the internet cafe. Were I spent a goodly amount of time. After the cafe D-- and I walked home and I called my parents. Then I went downstairs to hang out with people. I had a great night.

The Black Coach Opens (Monday Morning)

This was the longest coach ride ever!!

We drove from The hostel to Oxford with two rest stops. It took forever! J--, D--, Daniel, and I played a few hands of spades to kill the monotony, but to no avail. We were so very happy when we got to St. Anne's to get our luggage. Then we were able to walk around in a semi-familiar place for a bit, but we still had to continue on...

The Last Event (Sunday Evening)

Oh. I forgot to mention that while Tracey was sleeping I watched an airshow in the ajoining pasture. It was awesome. I was like a flock of geese with jet engines.

The Houses of Healing (Sunday Evening)

I had a lovely nap after kayaking, especially because I got a headache from a lack of caffiene in my system. But I slept it off and woke up for a shower and dinner.

That night I played cards and learned how to play Hearts. I was pretty good at it till the very end; it ended badly. I had lots of fun though. After this I called home and talked to my dad and then I went to bed.

The girls and I talked a bit and then went to sleep.

The Pyre of My Sandwiches

Located near Rohan, a clothing store. I got a photo.

Oh. K-- left us to join her family today.

Now it is Daniel's post:

Ah yes, well it wasn't quite a pyre, it was only two sandwhiches that we had at a nice little cafe. We also had tea and coke. It was very tasty. Before lunch we stopped in at a book store but did not buy anything. After lunch we ran into our professors who were talked to us for a bit and showed us some china and old furniture for sale. Some of it was very cool and some of it was very scary.
Our professors left us and we went back to the youth hostel. Several people were going kayaking on the lake so we decided to join them. We had three people on our kayak and every one else had two. We enjoyed ourselves, got very wet, and were very tired when we finished. Tracey took a nap.

The Battle of Windermere Fells

Not really a battle, but I need to use up post so that I might use all of the LotR names.

Anyway, on the way down we were attacked by a hundred fell-goblins riding wargs. Fortunetly, I was carrying my Goblin/orc-sensing blade and was warned just in time to save us both.

Aren't you glad I am proficient with my sword?

The Walk of the Rohirrim (umm me)

Daniel and I walked up the fells on Sunday morning. It was beautiful, but very very steep. When we finally got up there we sat on top of one that served as a pasture to sheep. Here is a side note: Almost all of them served as a pasture for sheep or cows.

I took several photos of Lake Windermere and of the other fells; it was very much like Tintagel without the ocean. Mom and Dad you would love it here. There are plenty of beautiful mini-mountians and 6 lakes that are perfect for sailing. I saw several sail-boats skimming across the waters of Windermere. Very picturesque.

The Siege of the Movie Theatre (Saturday Evening)

After that lovely jaunt in the rain we decided to do it again after dinner and go see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. I loved it. It was so very wonderful!! I would talk about it more, but I do not want to spoil it for anyone like someone did for me.. Lol. But it was ok.
We walked back and then went to bed. It was a lovely way to spend the evening in Ambleside proper.

The Passing of the Grey Company (Saturday Afternoon)

A large group of us decided to walk home near the river. This was both a good idea and a bad idea. We walked along the path and deviated from it in order to cross a Mulan-ish river path of raised stones. Across this path there was a field of sheep and milk cows and a cricket game going on in the next field, so we stayed an hour and wated this lovely scene. We then did not return to the path but cut to cross country (where we thought the path was).

It began to rain.

We made it back to the main road (for we lost the path) and walked back in the pouring rain. It was very nice actually. I enjoyed myself a lot.

Dove Cottage (Saturday)

We spent Saturday at Dove Cottage. It is a lovely old cottage that was once a pub that was then turned into a living place for Wordsworth, his family, and other random Romantic poets. It was very small, but interesting to learn about where he lived and wrote almost all of his major important works.

We then wandered around town and ate lunch with D--, J--, and an American girl named Kat who just graduated from University. We then walked to the bus to go to Rydell Mount, Wordsworth's house after Dove Cottage where he lived until his death.

Rydell Mount was more beatiful than imagined. It is a large house that is still owned by the Wordsworth family with huge gardens that were laid out by Wordsworth. The gardens look very much like a forest with conventient paths through it. He was a Romantic after all.
Everyone wandered quickly through the house to get to the gardens and eventually made their way to the large lawn. We very much enjoyed the atmosphere of the place.

The Choices of Mistress Tracey (Friday continued)

Greetings all, I sadly am here to inform you that I will not update my photos till I reach my hole in Hobbiton. But here is the update for Friday!!


I did in fact play some UNO after trying to call my parents twice. They were not there, but that was ok; I called them earlier in the day than normal. I also finished the book that I grabbed in the YHM. It was very good. (And completely non-school related.)

Then I went to bed looking forward to Saturday and Wordsworth. Yay!

Tolkien's Lair

Ummm not in a bad way. I am having lots of fun updating... alalalalalaaa!!
Anyway I would just like to say someone I know got to meet someone unbelievably amazing a week ago for dinner. I wanted to cry. Feel free to ask me about it later.

The Stairs of YHM Ambleside

Well not really that many stairs, it is only 1 flight to my room at the hostel. It is a former luxury hotel next to the lake (Windermere). It is very beautiful.

Today has been lovely. We left St. Anne's around 9am. I got some free books from L--, who did not want them anymore. We then journied to Convantry Cathedral. It is so beautiful, I got a few books (small ones!!) on it. When then went to a rest stop a few hours away for lunch and then another a few hours later for 15min. We finally got to Ambleside around 5pm anch got our things into our rooms. After that a few of us walked to a lovely park and walked near the water. I also grabbed a few nice photos of some birds.
We ate a lovely dinner and then most of us went to a swimming area. I did not swim, but I read a bit (from a book I got at the hostel :P).

Now I am going to call home (at least try) and then play some UNO. Perhaps I'll update some more as I has a few more minutes left. Toodles!!!

Journey to the Cross-Roads

Today we are leaving St. Anne's to continue on our trek to the north and the lake district. I am so happy that all my work is done, but I still have so many things that I would love to do here in Oxford, but I could come back later. ::lol::

I am currently copying photos to a disk and hoping that it will speed up. I want to eat some breakfast before we leave (8:45), but if not that is ok too. I'll get food at Covantry Cathedral.

La! I shall see you (well some of you) in a week!

The Forbidden Pool

Heyla All,

I am in a rush but last night was great! We had our end of the year party and it was so very funny. The boys put on a skit in which they were eacth other and D-- also played Dr. Ryken. Then we has awards and food. It was lots of fun.

I must go.

Oh I'll update about the last few days when I get to the next computer. Toodles!!

The Window on the End

Heyla all. Yesterday was great. After turning in all my papers I goofed off. I went to the Eagle and Child went some people from Wheaton and the Virginia group. While there we had dessert and heard the most horrible story about a journey to Germany gone wrong. It was horrible, but it will be the best story ever!!

We came back and played UNO in Daniel's room and it started to thunderstorm. I tried to call home, but the room with the phone was locked. Very sad. Now I am off to eat!