London 2025 and a GRANDSON!

Tomo's birthday buddy, Elaena - June 1

I thought this statue in Westminster Abbey was really funny

We searched out a lot of famous graves in Westminster Abbey

The coronation chair

Beautiful jewelry, accessories, etc. by Cartier. It was fun to see all of these after touring a diamond place in Amsterdam

This is the crown that Rihanna wore on W Magazine

I love this courtyard at the V&A

Chad took us to see some famous buildings in London's financial district. This is known as the cheese grater

This one is known as the Gherkin

Me, Ashley, and Bruce at the Tower of London

It's always fun to see a new group enjoy the craftsmanship of couture items at the Fashion and Textiles Museum

This is a super old and fragile Dior gown

Oh my goodness, we loved SIX

I love seeing the custom patterns

This store (Daniel Hansen) specializes in silk and wool dressing gowns. Elton John owns 70 of their gowns. They cost about $2,000 each. 

This is Queen Elizabeth's childhood dress

Queen Victoria's mourning top

Having a sandwich and Dr. Pepper in my kitchen area. I bought the cute floral socks in Glasgow.  

Scones with clotted cream ad jam. Fruit and yogurt. I love scones with clotted cream and jam, so when I didn't eat all the clotted cream and jam that came with my scones at Kensington Palace, I bought more scones at the nearby grocery store. YUM. 

Churchill's bow tie

Churchill's hat

Actual work rooms under ground in the war rooms

Some alone time

Cute photo at the museum of the home

Modern art

I recognized this

This is a famous piece called Babel. It's made of radios, each of which is turned on to a different frequency. Pure noise. 

Poppy fields at Hampton Court

Look at those roasting fireplaces

It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed sitting in the vegetable and flower gardens

Fortnum and Mason

Me on my flight. I ended up with the craziest seat...right next to the bathroom. I know I didn't pick this seat. 

Some of the cuties. Lily, me, Paige, Avery, Ashley, Sarah

While we were finishing up in Edinburgh and traveling to London, Allie was in labor back in Indianapolis. My little grandson, Tomo, was on his way. This was so exciting. I had arranged to leave study abroad on June 7 and go straight to Indianapolis to help Allie and Tommy. Lane was already on her way there. Mel and Kobi were arriving on Wednesday. I kept checking my phone during church for updates. Allie ended up having a c-section because Tomo was "sunny side up" and wouldn't turn over. Allie was dilated to a 9 for 6 hours. The c-section was successful. Tomo weighed 8 lbs. 5 ounces. He's a cutie. Everyone on study abroad is very excited for the baby. 

London is fantastic. I love it. The students stayed in FIE housing near Kensington Gardens. We directors stayed in Grand Plaza Serviced Apartments. I loved the place and would stay there again. The facility was a step or two above FIE housing, but the location wasn't quite as posh as FIE housing. Dawna Baugh always referred to FIE housing as luxury living on the outside...dorm living on the inside. 

We took the students to Westminster Abbey, saw a Cartier diamond exhibit at the V&A and saw "Wicked" and "Phantom of the Opera." We had awesome seats for "Wicked." Everyone was so excited. I had never seen Phantom and so many people love it. I did not like it. I will be fine if I never see it again. I enjoyed "Wicked" more this time than 2 years ago. Maybe that's because I'm more familiar with the story due to the move. We enjoyed a tour of Savile Row with Cindy Lawford. On this tour, we learn all about the history of men's fashion, especially the evolution of the suit. We went to the Tower of London, Fashion and Textile Museum, Tate Modern Museum, and painted a mural in the graffiti tunnel. On a very rainy day, when we had free time, Natalie and I went to the Chruchill War Rooms. Wow, there was so much to see. It could take 4 or more hours to see everything. After that, I went out on my own to the Museum of the Home. The group would be going there after I left and I wanted to see it. It's fun to have an adventure alone, too. I enjoyed a quick walk through the museum. The kids didn't love the Tate Modern Museum. It had some explicit exhibits that they didn't appreciate. We had warned them that art in Europe can be different than what they're used to in Utah. Modern art isn't my favorite either. 

I really wanted to get a perfume that I wish I had gotten in 2023, so I made my way to Floris and bought Honey Aud. I now wish I'd bought a travel sized bottle of it too. I wear it everyday. The reason I didn't buy any perfume last time is because I didn't wear perfume. Then I brought home samples and loved them. I decided I didn't wear perfume because I didn't have any that I loved. Now I'm so happy to have a favorite scent. I also bought a small bottle for Allie. I let her pick her scent and she selected a floral scent. 

A bunch of us went and saw "Six" one night and that was great. Natalie, Nellie, and I also saw Agatha Christie's "Mousetrap" too. It is the longest running play in London's West End. We really enjoyed that too. We went as a group to Hampton Court, King Henry VIII's home. All of his wives lived there at one point or another. I had never been there. I learned that the staff in the kitchen cooked 3 times a day for up to 400 people. The kitchens and fireplaces for roasting meats were HUGE. I bought mom a tea towel there that has all of the wives on it. I think she'll think it's funny. 

I flew out on Saturday, June 7. Nellie Ashby also left on the 7th, but on a different flight. That was everyone's free day. I missed some great appoinments. I missed Latest in Fashion and Ballgowns to Bumpsters tour with Cindy. I missed Harry Potter Studios. I missed Sunday roast lunch and Angels Costumes tour. I missed St. Paul's Cathedral, but I don't care about missing that. I've been there before. All the churches start to look alike after a while. I know that's horrible to say, but it's true. Finally, I missed "Hamilton," which I could watch over and over. Natalie and Chad took care of things after I left, and I really appreciate them for that.