Pudding!!!!!!

Sunday, we braved the backwards roads and driving again, and ventured into London.  We met up with our friends Andy and Jodi Gray at their amazing church plant, CityHill at Metro Garden Restaurant and Bar.  Worship and a message were refreshing, meeting the people was fantastic (can I just say the accent over there is suburb), but best of all, Gordon and James proposed to Shelly and I, and Andy got to perform his first and last marriage ceremony!

We weren't aware of the tradition of wedding breakfast, but apparently it's a big British thing.  Since we were already at a restaurant and bar, the transition to Sunday Roast was flawless.   Um, YUM.  

Sunday Roast with Mash, Broccoli and Parsnips, and a gigantic Yorkshire Pudding paired with a mild Malbec hit the SPOT.  I could literally eat this every day for every meal.  

More pudding for dessert (sticky toffee pudding made me fat).  We stayed away from Tom's Stinky Cheese Board.  Seriously.  If you're ever in London, make your way to Clapham Common and try this place.  It's called Metro Garden.  

James and Gordon were HUGE fans of the roast and hugs....

We set out to explore downtown London.  We took the Tube in, and walked around the London Eye, Parliament, London Bridge, and Big Ben.

Big Ben was green for St. Patricks Day!

What kind of London tourists would we be without all cramming in a phone box?

We headed back to Clapham Junction, loaded into our little Cactus car, and headed home, exhausted but so very happy!

A Quick Hop Across The Pond

March 12, a day which will live in infamy: the day that James, Gordon, and Sara revealed a year long secret that Shelly Warren was going to London.  Do you KNOW what it's like to keep a YEAR LONG SUPER AWESOME secret?!?!?!  I can almost guarantee you do not.  She THOUGHT she was dropping Gordon and I off for our annual European vacation to which we would be visiting Iceland before driving to Dallas with her husband.  She. Was. Not.  I know, I know, you're wondering,  how did she have her passport?  How did she pack?  I'll tell you.  Jesus and three near sociopaths.  It makes sense in my head.  So, here we are at the airport as things are sinking in.  There was a lot of crying and smiling, and more crying, but I think this is where she really got it:

We boarded the plane for a 7 hour red eye:

When we landed, we took a cab to the rental car pick up spot.  They really are like in the movies!  James and I sat backwards and we jostled down the road on the left side with the driver behind ME!

We picked up the car and CAREFULLY drove (and driving is a story all of it's own) to Windsor. First of all, did you know everything in England is metric EXCEPT the speed limit?  50 MPH is a LOT different from 50 KPH.  Driving on the left is terrifying!  You don't just have to switch sides, you have to switch your spacial awareness four feet in a moving death trapl...er....car.  We made a quick stop at a pub got us breakfast and beer/cider, but more importantly, OUT OF THE CAR.

The royal crest adorned the ceiling of the restaurant.

After some duck pate, we were ready to start exploring.  She looks, happy, right?

Windsor Castle was BEAUTIFUL.  The weather was cool and crisp as we walked the grounds.  

Windsor Castle is still one of the Royal Families main residencies.  The Church they attend is inside the gates.  We walked in as an orchestra and choir were rehearsing.  There were truly no words to express the beauty of the building and the music within.

Windsor Castle is also the home of the oldest Tudor castle in the UK!

We could have spent DAYS, just touring the castle.  We were jet lagged, tired, and dreading the 45 mile drive to our hotel.  

We came back to our rental car and received our first UK souvenir, a parking ticket!  Apparently, even the parking signs are polite.  When we asked the meter maid about the ticket, he apologized, and recommended we stay parked there for free for the rest of the day.  Toto, we weren't in Kansas anymore!  We found it rather humorous that the rental agency gave us a Cactus.  Do you think they were politely mocking our Texas origins?

We took the M4, on the left side of the road, with Gordon on the right, with the stick shift on the left down to Lingfield Surry where we were staying.  Jet Lag, Stay Away!  The WarNigs have things to see!