sunshine

So the first few days here it was blustery and cold and all I had was a cardigan sweater (I learned a new word too -- "jumper" -- it means a big fluffy sweater that you pull over your head). But yesterday... yesterday the sun came out and it's been glorious. We had lunch in a park filled with beautiful flowers, ducks and geese, and little green wooden rowboats for which you could pay 6 quid and take a tool about the little lake. The flowers not only in this park but all around the city are so lovely. The city is filled with green parks and gardens and at this time of year something is always blooming. Funny thing is, I finally felt quite comfortable with the weather yesterday and today, but my English friends have complained about it getting a bit hot. They should come to Texas sometime!

We also had a bit of an adventure in several different places of worship. On Tuesday we went to Swaminarayan Mandir -- the largest Hindu temple outside of India. It was an amazing place and so beautiful and peaceful. You have to take your shoes off at the front door and place them in a rack, so throughout this huge temple, museum, and even the little bookshop everyone is walking around in their stockinged or bare feet. There is something equalizing about all being shoeless... Then yesterday (Thursday) we went to the London Central Mosque and learned about the Muslim faith. The guide sat with us and answered questions for two hours -- it was so fascinating to find parallels (and differences) between these two religious traditions and my own religious background.

I've got to dash off now to visit a social service agency but more later...