Shallow Pockets Brimming with All the King's Sheep

This past weekend one of my co-workers, James, was kind enough to invite me out for the day on a roadtrip with his dad.  Mostly, James had an errand to run in Nottingham [think Robin Hood!] but we turned it into a little exploration of the UK's middlands. We covered over 500 miles in one day- yowza! It was incredible how much the country changed from north to south, from one coast to another. It was eye-opening!...And it made me realize Macc is probably the ugliest place I've been in England, haha.

 Within minutes of us crawling up into the hills we were stopped in traffic because this flock had to navigate across the road. SO many sheep here [even though I see them almost daily I'm always awed by the sheep].

 This was a cute little village. They had the flags up for the Olympics!

 Again. We pulled into this little country farm for lunch. It's a pasture turned cafe and they have half a market half a restaurant in the little farmhouse. Everything they sell they make or grow. It was better than heaven.

 After we visited the gun shop James was getting quotes at [and the shop owner's right hand man gave me a history lesson about Mary Queen of Scots' beheading and Guy Fawkes' capture which both happened within a mile of the shop- now THAT'S history for you] we made our way east and happened upon an ancient church and a castle. No big deal, right?

 You can see by the comparison with the doorway how truly massive this fireplace was. There was one on every floor. It'd take an entire tree to fill the hearth!

 Original tapestries from Tattershall Castle. The furniture had production dates carved into them- year 1538!

So... I thought this was a wine cellar. On the 4th floor. Right, Amanda... No, actually it was where the royals kept their messenger pigeons! How cool is that?!

 We hiked all the way to the top of the spiral staircase. There's the church across the way and do you see the lake in the distance?

 That's THIS lake which is now a jet ski leisure park with log cabins and LOTS of tourists! Can you imagine what this lake must have resembled in the time of Lancelot [who was represented in the castle]? And now... it's just insane to think about. The sense of history is so ingrained here but also not nearly as revered as back home. Very... taken for granted? Not that we'd be any better in the reverse but it's just the strangest experience to witness.

 We kept driving until we made it to the east coast. We started in a little town called Skegness... which is a horribly tacky beach town much like PCB meets Cooney Island. It was dirty and ostentatiously neon but it was beach and once I hit the sand it didn't matter what the pier was like.

 In the middle of the channel [the English Channel, just by the way] they have all of these... windmills. Britain dropped the turbines into the channel to create wind energy and I couldn't decide how I felt about the horizon with them in place. In some ways they are quite delicate- and talk about innovative, creating use out of that space- but it's also something you're just not accustomed to seeing sticking out of the sea.

 We ended our adventures in one of my favorite UK destinations thus far- another beach town called Scarborough. Unfortunately it was twilight when we arrived so the pictures are less than stellar but god was it gorgeous. And much less touristy/tacky. It reminded me of a New England port, maybe somewhere in Connecticut or Massachusetts. There were quaint tug boats parked in the harbor, pretty lights dotting the sky between lamp posts and, oh yeah, the ruins of a once great castle sitting atop the cliffs overlooking the city.  We ate seafood straight off the boat and had a proper boardwalk style fish&chips [aka eat it with your hands while walking along the sea].

It was a truly wonderful day. And ohmyword I've forgotten what a luxury it is to be in a car! I'm so thankful for James- he's my little saving grace [or saving boredom] here. He joined Edgar Brothers about a month and a half before I did and we bonded over our newness. He hates being home almost as much as I do [just the stuck aspect, not the location] so we rescue one another in a way.

Shallow Pockets Brimming with a Change in Perception

 

The sun was finally shining in Macc.

I have been living in the UK for a little over a month now. Forty-four days, to be exact. And I have finally reached the point where I no longer feel like I'm simply on vacation. The idealized, honeymoon period I have been living in abruptly left me this past weekend and this whole experience became very, very real. I'm not sure if it was the reciept of my first paycheck [and thus financial stability- because man has that been lacking] or my first consecutive weeks without hopping on a plane/train or a bit of a reality check in regards to the working world or simply a sufficient amount of time passing... but something hit hard and with a vengance.

Thanks to the suggestion of one of my dad's closest friends, Kate, I went ahead and bought a [way overpriced] journal to keep record of not only the events of these six months but also the very personal growth and changes that occur within me during this adventure.

 

I already feel like I have learned more life lessons in these past forty-odd days than my entire last four years of school.  Not that I'm knocking my education- it's been extraordinary from a book-based perspective.  In fact, I wish I had been a bit of a better student in those less interesting, introductory courses. They're actually incredibly relevant.  No, what I mean is... I think the best lessons are taught through personal experience, especially with people. Those are the lessons we should address in school- office politics, people handling and when to listen to inhibitions.  Courses like that would be invaluable.

But this experience in and of itself will prove to be invaluable, I think.  Instead of focusing on seeing Europe [and I still will, just to a smaller extent] I think my focus will shift inwardly. I have ample time here- something I was always short of at Tech. I've always wanted to become a more adventurous cook. To learn another language. To actually keep up with a journal.  There are so many books I want to read. So much to learn about the Peace Corps and the time it takes to get through that application process. So many scholarships to look for. Other internships to apply for. There is plenty, plenty to do. There are vices to address and redeeming points to enhance... This is a transitional time- or at least it can be if I allow it to be. I was a bit stir-crazy in Atlanta.  I see now that it had nothing to do with my location, but more to do with a restriction within myself. A lack of internal exploratin.

So that has become my new purpose for this trip- get to know myself more wholly and allow for the necessary changes.

“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.” -James Allen

I wish never to be bound. Well...at the very least, I wish never to be the cause of my limitations.

Shallow Pockets Brimming with Smoking Clays

For those who do not know, the company I'm interning with imports and distributes firearms for the UK.  I know that sounds badass, however I'm part of the marketing team so I don't deal with guns, well, ever really unless I get some excuse to visit the warehouse.

BUT- I did get invited to go shooting up at a clay range not far from Edgars with a handful of other co-workers this past week. PERKS! It was my first time shooting clays and it will not be my last. It was fantastic! I was definitely the worst shot, haha, but I did surpass my personal expectations so I was content. For now, at least...

 

This is Cloudside. It's set up on the other side of some of the hills surrounding the business park and the view was just gorgeous.

There was a whole flock of sheep just behind the posts we shot from. They must have been long deaf by now because it was LOUD and the little fluff balls seldom flinched. I was flinching so badly at first it looked like I had a tick!

This was a 20 gauge rifle. I learned two very important things while shooting. 1: My arms are stupid long. A lot of the stocks were too short :/ And 2: Apparently I'm left eye dominant so the position you see me standing in above is completely and utterly wrong. I'm supposed to be right foot forward with the stock on my left shoulder... next time.

I'm not sure why this image came out so dark... but it's the only one you can see me actually hit so it's getting some air time!

The guy on the right worked at the range and he was a MASSIVE help. He took a lot of extra time helping us with our stances, how to read the clays, where to aim, etc. Thanks to him I got a LOT more hits than I would have otherwise.

The clays we were shooting. Jennie desperately wants me to make it into my new desk coaster, haha. I'm not thinking it'll work in that job position but I'm sure it will perch on my desk all the same.

  

Can't wait for another night spent at Cloudside! I am determined be a good shot by the time I make it back to the good ole U.S. of A.

Shallow Pockets Brimming with Star Spangled Bars

Over the weekend I went back to London for a 4th party at my sorority sister, Emily's, flat. Oh the flat was lovely!! Emily made a delicious spread of AMERICAN FOOD OHMYGAH: pizza dip, hotdogs, coleslaw, baked beans with bacon, pasta salad, watermelon, redwhite&blue cupcakes and rice krispies treats!! I think I had about three helpings of each.

It was a great atmosphere, lots of Brit-American mingling and country singing. I met this one guy there [forgive me, I forget his name...] BUT he rowed a boat from Miami to NYC for charity and GUESS WHO housed him in Savannah, Georgia???

PAULA DEEN SAY WHA?!

He had no idea who she was- but the food was nice, haha. Oh my goodness... can you imagine having your dinner cooked by Paula in her own house? Oh my arteries are envious.

As per usual I'm shit for taking pictures... we got one.  And a blurry one at that :/

Thank you for the invite, Emily! It was such a nice reminder of home.

Afterwards Kelsey and I headed to the Captain Cook for Stephen's birthday celebrating. My leggings got a lot of attention on the Tube. All jealous attention, of course...

The birthday boy playing a love song to Toonie.

We ended our night with kebabs and WATER [thank you, Kelsey!] and slept in late Sunday... well, late for my current weekly schedule.  Kelsey was nice enough to take me to find the brunch my traumatized tummy was hankering for in Brixton Market.  This place- amazing!  Full of shops and little tiny restaurants and lots and lots of people watching.  I had a hearty breakfast of french toast with POWDERED SUGAR AND MAPLE SYRUP- a rarity here, I assure you. Mmmm- my stomach is still happy about it.

 

 

 

 I just find everything here to be adorable. LOOK at that tea set- the 7 year old in me was quite green with envy.

 

 Spicy hot chocolate- delicious.

Mmmmm.

You were a wonderful host, Miss Eichhorn. Thank you kindly!!

Shallow Pockets Brimming with Territorial Cows

So the stereotypes about English weather are wholly and completely true... it does rain 90% of the time. However most days have a nice mix of clouds and sun and I finally took advantage of a sunny lunch to head out of the business park and take some long overdue pictures of the beautiful country I currently call home.

 

 Apparently I sat perched on the stacked stone fence for a bit too long because I sincerely pissed off this guy.  He started running at me stomping and jumping... so I thought maybe it was time to go ahead and find some other picture worthy spots.

 

 

  

A canal! Did you know they have canals all over England and they all connect?  Apparently they dug them hundreds of years ago and used them to transport goods around the country.  None of them are very deep- they had to be shallow enough for horses to pull the rafts- and nowadays there are canal boats all over the UK. I'm determined to try and finagle my way into a ride someday.