The United Kingdom: Church, Chinese food, and RoHo!

This day was another super fun and full day and sadly our last day with the Brinks and Carla!

We got picked up in the morning by Zach and Shara and headed to church in Staines! The whole drive, Aaron and I got to chat with Zach and Shara and get to know them better! It was hilariously encouraging to find that we had a ton in common and as fairly newly married, Aaron and I were able to relate a lot to the common arguments and disagreements they were experiencing. Most of their relationship was long distance and only recently as Zach had moved to England, were they able to properly date each other and see each other in day to day life. Their relationship dynamic was so incredibly similar to Aaron and I and we laughed at how many times either couple said something that sounded so familiar to the other! It was almost like mini pre-marital sessions the whole day.

We stopped for coffee on the way to church on the Staines high street and I got to quickly show Aaron where Phoebe and I had spent many a Wednesday eating out, shopping, and seeing a movie. Then on to Hope Christian Center for church.

Their church is a small international community with a lot of people who have come to England from Africa. It is full of worship and spirit and I loved going there when I was studying abroad and was excited to be back! Deborah actually called Aaron and I out during the service and welcomed me back. Granted there were like 50 people there, so it wasn't hard to stick out anyway. After the service (which was so wonderful), we all went downstairs for tea time and everyone was excited to meet Aaron and I. I kept hearing over and over again that Carla talked a lot about me and did a pretty spot on impression of me now that they had met me in person. We both felt so welcomed and honored to be there with such fun and lovely people.

After church photoshoot! Carla and I try to stock up on pictures as much as we can when we're together.

The Brink women and I (minus Candi Grace who was off playing) 

Candi Grace dancing with her mum

After church we all went out to lunch or Stuart's birthday!! He chose a Chinese buffet spot and it was delicious! Just like yesterday proved, the Brinks are not shy about food portions and they ordered way to much food! I was frustrated because I didn't pace myself and by the second course had stuffed myself too much to eat much more. I did get a taste of everything though and I wish I could go back and eat more!

seriously, this was just the first course of food!!

The whole gang for Pastor Stuart's birthday

Carla and Shara's friend Rachel and Stuart's mom joined the party! We had to say goodbye to everyone save Carla, Shara, and Zach at the restaurant, since we wouldn't see them again this trip.

And I just want to gush again about how amazing these people were to Aaron and I. I don't think we paid for anything the whole time we were with them. We felt so loved and accepted and just thrown into their family like we had been there the whole time. Just a beyond perfect weekend!

also, this picture of Zach and his future in laws makes me smile

Since we were so close to Royal Holloway, I told Carla I would love to head over and show Aaron around my university! So we headed there with Shara, Zach and Carla.

It was just how I remembered it! Imposing and breathtakingly beautiful! I still can't believe this was where I lived! Aaron was quite impressed by its grandeur. We got to go into the building, but were a bit nervous about being caught, so we didn't stay long. I showed him the dining hall and the chapel. And we took a TON of pictures! Carla is a great photographer and captured some sweet moments of Aaron and I.

So good to be back!

modeling after Mr & Mrs Holloway

the love birds... their modeling game is way stronger than ours

I took Aaron over to one of my favorite spots on the campus. I only discovered it in the last couple of months of my time here, or else I would have spent WAY more time by the water.

tree hugger

I want to live right here

Inside the Chapel

Last pose with Queen Vic!

As with every spot we stopped at on this trip, I wish we would have had more time! I would have shown Aaron my exact room, and where I took classes, and taken him to Egham high street to see it all. Every trip we say this, and especially knowing it on this trip, that we will be back and be able to see things again someday.

We drove back to Reading and said our goodbyes! Carla and I talked a lot about her coming to visit when the baby was born, so I knew I would see her again soon, but that didn't make it easier to say goodbye. I hate that she lives an ocean away. And I hate that I couldn't spend more time with the rest of her family. I can't wait for our next visit with them and I hope that one day, they will all come to Arizona and visit us!

The United Kingdom: A day by the seaside!

Carla and I have been friends for over 6 years! When we met at Royal Holloway at the beginning of February. She was just a sassy girl who sat in front of my at Royal Holloway's Got Talent evening, performed and won the competition and had a stellar voice! Then a couple weeks later, we met again at a small group event in honor of Valentine's Day where her parents spoke about relationships and love and Carla and I got to talk properly and instantly realized we had way too much in common! We were both Pastor's kids, both involved in and passionate about Worship, both single, the same age, and still figuring out what to do with the future! Our hearts were immediately knit together.

We would get lunch occasionally at a pub in Egham during the week while I lived there and then any Sunday where I wasn't off galavanting around England and Europe, I would got to her families church and your parents quickly took me under their wing and checked in with me about how I was doing. He mom had a knack for coming up to me and telling me something she had on her heart or had been praying about in regards to me and it would knock the wind out of me it was so spot on to what God was stirring in my heart or something I had been struggling through or praying about. God ministered to me so much through them and I was so incredibly grateful for their presence in my life while I was away from my family and home.

Carla has been able to come out to visit me a couple times since I went back home and it is always such a renewing time for my heart to be with her. But this trip, was my first time being back to visit her in 6 years and I was so excited to get to spend uninterrupted time with her AND her family again!

The night before when Carla was picked up in Reading by her parents, I was able to tell them our happy news that I was pregnant and so all weekend you would have thought I was an invalid, they didn't let me lift a finger and did everything for me! I didn't fight it, but instead allowed them to pamper and take care of Aaron and I so beautifully. I cannot say enough how incredibly blessed and humble I felt to be loved and protected and cared for by them. I seriously get choked up thinking about it because it was like all the remaining weight of jet lag and exhaustion was able to slip away as I relaxed and just soaked in the relationships and time with them. Aaron and I still think back to this weekend and marvel at how much we needed that weekend!

When Aaron and I were planning our trip out to England, we mentioned to Carla how we wanted to try to get a day at the beach, and she immediately told us that her family and her would love to plan a day that like that for us and so we decided July 4th would be the perfect day to do it! Shara's fiance, Zach had just moved to England from L.A., so we thought he might need some solidarity in celebrating our nation's holiday! So we were a party of 5 South Africans and 4 Americans celebrating The US Independence in England!!

Our day started by being picked up in Reading by Carla and her mom Deborah. We hit the road toward the beach and met up with the rest of the party at a rest stop along the way! Aaron and I got to meet Zach and I got to see Shara again in 6 years! It was so sweet catching up with her. We quickly set the baseline that Carla had shared a ton with me already about her and Zach's story of dating and falling in love, so we were able to dive in about relationships and marriage right off the bat! I loved getting to spend time with them. I also got to meet Carla's new sister Candi Grace, who had been adopted just a couple years before! At 7 she was SUCH a delight and loved the sweet gifts we brought for her from the Disney Store! She also was fascinated by the fact that I had a baby in my tummy, even though my tummy was still pretty flat. She would ask about the baby and tell me she couldn't wait to meet the baby!

It took us a bit to finally make it to the beach as everyone in England seemed to have the same idea we did, especially in light of the heat wave. I slept a TON in the car on the way down there and Deborah, Carla and Aaron got to chat and get to know each other more. Seriously, the nap in the car was probably the greatest gift anyone could have given me!

We made it to Bournemouth and set out to find a spot on the crowded beach!

It couldn't have been a more perfect day to be near the ocean! It was warm in the sun, but there was a cool breeze blowing around us. The water was ICE, but we didn't have plans to swim anyways, and mainly just laid on the beach soaking up the sun and relaxing and eating...

... theme of our time with the Brink family - these people know how to feed you!! They picked up a feast of sandwiches, salads, snacks, and treats to munch on!! At the rest stop we stopped at, we picked up groceries and they were so sweet to make sure to get things we liked and that I was able to and wanted to eat in my condition. So I was happy to grab any food in sight!

This was probably my favorite day of the trip! Aaron and I were just along for the ride and was able to let everyone else to the planning! Aaron and I quickly decided that now that we had done a ton of big must see touristy stuff in England, when we came back some day we just wanted to sit back and let the Brink family show us around the countryside and relax! They know how to host you!

Cabanas and beach gear storage along the beach walk!

Candi and I! She is showing off her Princess shirt we gave her!

Carla and Candi!

Stylin' on the beach!

Aaron and Carla's dad, Stuart!

Zach and Candi Grace

These faces are not forced! This is a picture of 2 very refreshed and relaxed Americans!

After a few hours at the beach, we had gotten out fill, and so we packed up and went for some food! They took us to this amazing fish and chips place nearby that Carla's dad, Stuart, LOVES! It was awesome and the food was amazing! It was so fun to laugh and see the dynamic between the whole family -  teasing and laughing a ton! We gave gifts to everyone that we had brought from the US. Deborah and Stuart were so excited about their See's candy since they had had it before and LOVED it.

We headed back up to Reading and they dropped us at our hotel just as we had hit out wall for the day and were ready to sleep!

This, again, was seriously one of my very favorite days, if not my VERY favorite day of the trip!! Not expectation or timetable and we just got to be loved and pampered and didn't have to lift a finger (seriously, they wouldn't let me).

Thank you Brink Family for an amazing day at the beach!!

The United Kingdom: Elementary my dear Watson

This day was largely uneventful and yet much needed! It kind was a day we left open in order to take it easy and so we decided to head back to London for a a quick stop at the Sherlock Holmes Museum and them some souvenir shopping in Picadilly circus.

of course we start with tea!

Elementary my dear Watson!

We didn't actually go inside the museum because so many reviews said that it wasn't worth admission. But we did take pictures out front with some hats and props that were provided for tourists and then we poked around the gift shop! 

The rest of the afternoon was largely uneventful in London, and included a stop at Lillywhites in Piccadilly to check out their football (soccer) swag and a late lunch on the edge of Covent Garden in a pub.

Aaron's favorite Premiere League Team!

A view of Trafalgar Square from our pub window! Also love the Tudor Rose details in the window.

We then headed back to Reading to spend the evening with Carla! 

When we planned this trip, we wanted to make sure we got in a HUGE chunk of time to spend with Carla and her family, so the whole weekend in between England and Scotland was just going to be spent with her. So on this evening, we met up with her after she finished up work and had dinner at Bill's (like I said, it was a favorite of hers) and then just hung out at our hotel talking and processing life and just being together! It was so wonderful and set the perfect tone for the rest of our weekend with her.

getting to try Eaton's Mess dessert! Delicious!

The United Kingdom: the waters of Bath

It is amazing what a full night of sleep can do! Especially when you wake up when your body is done sleeping and not on a timetable (however self imposed it might be).

After a harrowing day in the countryside with Miss Austen, exhaustion, and a good amount of tears, we decided to revamp this travel day to allow us time to sleep in and relax! This was a wonderful idea and MUCH needed. We had originally planned to head to Bath for the first half of the day and then catch a train to Cardiff, Wales for literally like a hour just to say that we went to Wales. But after second thought, we decided it just wasn't worth it to our emotional and physical health.

We started our morning sleeping late and then slowly got ready for the day and headed out to a proper breakfast! This was Aaron's first chance to have a full English style breakfast and it did not disappoint... although I had to help him finish it a bit! We chose Bill's Restaurant just on the other side of the High Street in Reading, mostly because it was conveniently close, but later discovered from Carla, that it is a favorite of her families! So the day was already starting out splendidly!

enjoying some tea!

I want that wall of tea! It is so cute... also look at that breakfast!

The temperatures had cooled down significantly, so this brought much joy to my heart and relief to my body. I struggle with a deep and abiding hatred of heat, so when a heat wave hit England just as I was in desperate need of an escape from the Arizona heat, I was disappointed. However the hot weather had passed and this day actually brought us from cloud cover and rain!

After our later breakfast, Aaron and I set off for Bath.

My first taste of Minstrels on this trip at the train station! Welcome back friends!

I was excited to show Aaron Bath, because it offers so much history in such a beautiful setting! You have the Roman Baths for a bit of medieval history and then you also have the rest of the city, which is heavily featured in many British novels, several written by Jane Austen.

stepping off the train and into the misty rain!

 We had brought umbrellas with us, but I didn't even want to use mine, I was so excited to feel the cool rain drops! We did however have to duck into a department store to escape when it started coming down quite heavily.

Entrance to the Roman Baths

 This was my 3rd trip to Bath, but it was still fascinating and so lovely to explore. ALSO, they had recently opened a new section of the Baths to tour that was recently excavated, so there were parts that were entirely new to me! Aaron LOVED Bath. He will tell you it was his favorite day of the trip and made him realize how much he hoped on our next trip to the UK that we would stay farther out from London for more of our time.

these were "curses" that people had purchased to be put on their enemies... so cool.

seriously - England and their tiny doors

taking in the healing waters

heavy stones!

a view of Bath Abbey from the main Bath

Sipping the Bath water

yep! That is the reaction I would expect

After our tour of the ancient Baths, we were ready for food! I remember coming here with my parents on their visit and walking through the main tea room and hoping that one day I would be able to sit and eat there! It was crowded then, so my parents and I couldn't get a table. So when Aaron and I popped our head in, we were delighted to find it quite open and immediately got a table! We ordered tea and a tray of tea sandwiches. I felt so fancy!

As we had lunch, we met a sweet older couple at the table next to us. They were on vacation in Bath and the gentleman mentioned how he use to come here with his wife many years ago, which almost led me to believe they were having some sort of an affair, but then it was clarified that his wife had passed away and he was now married to the woman he was with. She explained her husband had also passed away and the 2 couples had been friends for many years. When both of their spouses passed away, they started spending time together in their grief and eventually fell in love! So incredibly sweet! I love the people I meet and the stories I hear when I travel. The best ones always seem to be from older people. I hope when Aaron and I are old, we will recount our story for other young travelers all over the world.

We finished our meal just and sunshine broke out over the city, which was perfect timing cause we were ready to explore the Bath streets! We made our way up to the Royal Crescent, popping in and out of shops and leisurely strolling at a comfortable pace. I loved the easy pace we had.

The Royal Crescent really is awesome! My favorite part is the HUGE lawn in front of it. I was so happy it was sunny out, but still comfortable so we could stroll and relax on the grass.

Love this guy right here!

People use to come to Bath as a sort of resort/spa town! They would talk about taking in the healing waters of Bath and feel refreshed and restored in this city. That is exactly how we felt, except we didn't drink the water or bath in it. Instead it was the part of our trip where we slowed down and reset. We killed ourselves in London and set a pace that would have been impossible to maintain, so a day of leisure was exactly what was needed. It was as if the rain in Bath had quite literally washed away the weight of exhaustion and tension from the day before and the harried adrenaline tourism of the days before that. Bath is definitely a highlight day!