Tyndale House

While still jet-lagged and disoriented from our recent travels, I went to the Tyndale House library for the first time today. I saw my study desk where I will spend virtually every day for the next 4 1/2 months and was very pleased. Though obviously a clear down-size from my office at RTS, it is cozy, quiet, and has a nice view out the window. I also met a number of the other scholars studying here from all over the world and had many interesting conversations about each others research and writings interests (one of which took place in the nearby dining hall at Selwyn College at Cambridge University). In the midst of these visits, I realized again what is so stimulating about research institutes like this: scholars get to interact with peers rather than only with students. As much as I love working with students, it is refreshing from time to time to engage with academic peers where you can present your ideas with greater depth and thoroughness and benefit from insightful responses (rather than blank stares!). Research times like this are a gift.

I also had a chance to make my first pub visit last night at The Anchor, a historic little pub located on the river and (apparently) a former hangout of the guys from Pink Floyd. A nice selection of Ales, with some new options I have not had before (I particularly like the locally brewed 1229). The inside was standard wood paneling, cozy tables, and fireplaces, and populated largely by university students. However, as much as I liked it, it lacked the charm and simplicity of the pubs of Edinburgh, particularly the Jolly Judge off of the Royal Mile. Oh, those were the days...

The Garden

More pictures of the garden... Emma and John are playing under the plum tree.  The other picture is our garage beside the house.

I think I'm Bilbo

Mike is currently reading the kids "The Hobbit".  As I've listened over the past few evenings, Bilbo's reticence for adventures keeps popping up in the story.  He is described in the following way:  "People considered them (the Bagginses) very respectable... because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected;  you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him.  This is the story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected."

After we collected our bags at the London airport, we lugged our seven 50 lb. bags, carseats, five carry-ons and three children across the street and up to the fifth floor of a parking deck to pick up our rental car.  I waited outside with the kids and bags, while Mike went inside to rent the car.  All of this happened around 3am body time, with no sleep.  As I tried to keep John out of the lane just next to us where cars were zooming by, I decided that I was Biblo and that new adventures really weren't my thing.  Thirty minutes later, as we loaded and stuffed all of our belongings into the rental car (yes, they fit - we just had to unpack one bag to distribute the contents all over the car), I told Mike in no uncertain terms that we weren't doing this again.

We then drove an hour and a half to Cambridge.  Finally, the last thirty minutes of the trip, all three kids succumbed to sleep.  As we arrived at the house, I experienced a different side of Bilbo that is described in the book:  "Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick."  Upon seeing Hawthorne House, I was all of the sudden filled with the amazement of getting to live here and fell in love with the house.  The house is everything I would want:  quaint and old on the outside, with new plumbing and furnishings on the inside.  The garden is simply my favorite thing.  It is full of rambling paths, stone fixtures, herbs, flowers and even a plum tree.  The pictures below just don't do it justice. After wandering the garden, I turned to Mike and told him how glad I was to be here, with him, on another adventure.  I would gladly do the packing, logistics and travel all again.  He's the Gandolf to my Bilbo, pushing me out the door for a new adventure.

On the plane

Doesn't it look like everyone is sleeping soundly?  Oh, how a picture can lead one to believe many false ideas.  Actually, the kids were awake almost the entire flight.  Finally, around 1am body time, John fell asleep.  Kate did get around two hours of sleep, however, she keep having bad dreams.  She would half-awake, crying and kicking violently the seat in front of us, and then five minutes later, fall back fully asleep.  I'm sure the lady in front of us is telling people what an awful flight she had because of the little girl behind her... am I supposed to discipline her for sleep kicking?  Emma stayed awake the entire flight - didn't sleep a wink.  However, she thankfully refrained from kicking anyone.

Getting Ready in Greensboro

On Friday morning we headed to the Greensboro airport to begin almost 18 hours of travel.  The kids were excited to get on the plane.  I think Mike and I already look tired - maybe a bad sign?

All our bags are packed

It is Thursday morning and we're packed and ready to head to Greensboro.  All of our world for the next few months has been reduced down to seven bags.  It feels restful already, just to have less stuff to manage.  We'll spend the night with Mike's parents and then fly out tomorrow afternoon.  Our route is Greensboro to Atlanta and then on to London.  Once in London, we'll rent a car and drive down to Cambridge.  Jessica should be there already and I'm sure she will be a welcome sight to our travel weary eyes!