Ina and Magdalena in back "garden."
Magdalena
Ina and Magdalena having lunch at Harrod's
This last week I had a wonderful time in London with my "German daughter" Ina (Isermann) Lacher and her daughter Magdalena. Ina's husband, Germar, is a German officer assigned to NATO for 3 years, so they are living in a NW suburb of London, Pinner. When Libby and I were in Munich last year we were just a week too early to see Magdalena. But this was better than seeing a newborn, anyway, because at 16 months, she is so delightful! She looks so much like her daddy.
Ina treated me to the play "Wicked" at the Apollo for my birthday present, which I have wanted to see forever. There were missionaries there that afternoon, so it was fun to talk to them in line and waiting for the play to start. Our little excursion before the play was to Harrod's, which is always a treat. I don't think I've ever bought anything but food there, but it is a feast for the eyes to be in such a beautiful building. Negotiating the tube is always a challenge in London, simply because there are so many closures, especially now that they're trying to "spiff up" things for the 2012 Olympics. And they don't have lifts at all the stations, so Ina ended up having to carry the stroller with Magdalena in it up many stairs! Grateful for escalators wherever they were.
On Sunday I went to Sacrament Meeting at the Hayes Ward in Ickenham, only about 10 minutes from Ina's home. They were so warm and friendly! Quite a good sized group for that little corner of London. They even had to open the overflow section! Parking lot was under the building, chapel 2 floors up from ground level. I wished later I had stayed for all the meetings, but I really wanted to spend as much time as possible with Ina.
Ina really misses her mother, who was such an angel. It was nice for me to answer questions she has about kids and parenting and that sort of thing. She is really a sweet mother, and I had nothing but compliments for the way she is teaching Magdalena. She is expecting another baby in March; too soon to know the gender. Oh, and I got to hear about the lovely British National Health Service...But there are some good services for mothers and children, which I wish we had here.
Tuesday we went to Windsor Castle. I had never been there in spite of my numerous trips to London, so it was a nice treat. At Ina's house I fell in love with scones and clotted cream, and must now try to make it at home. I have never particularly liked scones because they're so dry, but put cream and jam on them, and wow! She misses--and so did I--the wonderful bread that you get in Germany. And the little bakery just around the corner where her dad buys fresh rolls every morning.
The new BBC production of Sherlock had been on the telly a few months ago so Ina bought the DVD and we watched all 3 episodes. I really liked it, but I think it's a good thing I can watch it on Masterpiece again starting Sunday, as the plots are rather complicated, and I didn't follow everything...Oh, dear, that really makes me worry about my brain!!
I have been asked to teach a different class at UVU next semester. It is the one I was going to do this semester that didn't carry. I think one a semester is enough for now, although if I could have gotten 2 sections of public speaking that would have been doable.
Libby wrote on her blog about our visit to Uncle Ralph Halterman a few weeks ago. My October has been filled with travel, and with stake and General Conferences and various other things, I haven't attended my Branch for about 2 months!! But I'll be teaching Sunday School two weeks in a row.
I'm thinking I'm mostly over my travel passion. At least for now!!
