Week 7: The Return To Routine

Hiya!

This week has been a much calmer week here, the children are back at school, and so our regular routine of working in the schools, visiting and having Bible study is back. Little Charis started nursery today, and is loving it. So is Grace, as that gives her three hours of relative quiet in the house every weekday.

One last update on last week, at church Sunday we had a family service, where the kids stay in during the whole service. We advertised it at the holiday club, we had 63 people at church on Sunday! Praise God! Many were kids (naturally), but we got the parents also. We had parents of kids we have been praying for and watching for a while now. What a blessing to see God bring people to hear His Gospel.

Picture doesn't do it full justice.

Tuesday, we had a meeting with someone in Newark, so after the meeting, we explored Newark. For those who came with me in May, the team from PRCC went to Newark one day, and their leader bought a bunch of stuff at an antique shop. We went into that antique shop just to look around. I'm not sure I could have found enough small things to fill a extra suitcase, but then I don't have the eye for that kind of thing.

Miniature roulette table.
I wonder if James Bond practiced his gambling skills with one of these...

We walked around the remnants of Newark Castle. Built in the 12th century, it became a royal castle under Henry VIII, but during the English Civil War, the castle sided with the Royalists and King Charles. They lost in the Battle of Newark and Parliament promptly ordered the castle be demolished. The only thing left is the castle wall facing the river, because that was the hardest part to get to. Many of the good stones used to build the castle were looted by the townspeople for their own homes.

River view of Newark Castle.

From inside the castle.

For lunch, we ate a "chippy," this chippy came well recommended by a mailman on the street. He was right though, it was quite delicious. I had a double cheeseburger and chips. Sidenote: all mail in the UK is sent via RoyalMail, so the mailman is in the service of the Queen. This means that when you put your letter in the post, it immediately belongs to the Queen until it reaches your intended recipient.

Delicious. Bring it, Mickey D's.
"I'm lovin' it."

Newark has the closest Starbucks to Grantham, so naturally we stopped there also, and the closest Marks and Spencers. We picked up more Percy Pigs there.

The Salted Caramel Mocha. Pretty good!

Thursday was Halloween, and while some people here do go all out for the holiday, we really didn't do anything. It was nice, I am also with the Howson's, and their house is a good distance from the road, or anyone else, so it makes for a quiet Halloween.

Friday night was Harby Bonfire Night. They had a huge bonfire, and some fireworks. This is their celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. If you have ever seen "V For Vendetta," you know who Guy Fawkes is. He had a plot to blow up Parliament because he didn't like what they were doing. His plot was exposed and he was executed, but the people in England still celebrate him. "Remember, remember the fifth of November." Mostly, it is an excuse to burn stuff. Bonfire night is the only time where you can legally burn anything in a bonfire or any outdoor fire.

The fireworks!

This thing was pretty big.

The ticket.

Today I had the pleasure of going to my first football match. Football here means soccer to everyone in America. I went to the Nottingham Forest v. Blackpool match. Lois is a big supporter of Nottingham Forest. We had solid seats, and it was a very good match, and fairly clean through much of the game. It was a draw, 0-0, at the 90th minute. The referee added 4 minutes to the game because of stoppages. Blackpool then scored in those four minutes. Blackpool won 1-0. While we were all disappointed that Forest didn't win, it was a hard fought match, and the Forest goalie was named Man of the Match. The topic of football reminds me of two things on my bucket list for being in England. One, was to go to a football match, check. The second is to find a premier league to support. Forest is in the championship league, so I can cheer for them, but it doesn't fill my bucket list. The reason why I say premier league is because in America, no one really even knows of the other leagues beneath the premier league.

The stadium.

The sky was gorgeous.