Estranged from her family since just after World War II, Mary Browning has spent her entire adult life hiding from her past.
Now eighty-seven years old and a widow, she is still haunted by secrets and fading memories of the family she left behind. Her one outlet is the writing group she’s presided over for a decade, though she’s never written a word herself. When a new member walks in—a fifteen-year-old girl who reminds her so much of her beloved sister Sarah—Mary is certain fate delivered Elyse Strickler to her for a reason.
Mary hires the serious-eyed teenager to type her story about a daring female pilot who, during World War II, left home for the sky and gambled everything for her dreams—including her own identity.
As they begin to unravel the web of Mary’s past, Mary and Elyse form an unlikely friendship. Together they discover it’s never too late for second chances and that sometimes forgiveness is all it takes for life to take flight in the most unexpected ways.
This has been a funny sort of week for me. While I have been productive in some aspects of my life, I have completely ignored some other aspects.
I have been very lax in updating my habit and expenses tracker this month and I hope to get back on track this week. I really don’t know why this happened.
I guess I was in the funk that creeps up on me every now and then and this is what happens when that comes by. I pretty much lose interest in myself and then have to become conscious of what I am doing and come back to becoming a normal person.
Anyway, have loads to do this week and hopefully this week will be a stark contrast to the previous week.
There’s really nothing that stands out this week in terms of BB & GG in school.
Weighted assessments and common tests start soon and the children are beginning to feel the pinch of having national exams at the end of the year.
I had a talk with BB earlier in the week about his future plans. I had given him time till the end of the week to think it over and then we can discuss it further. I will be speaking with him later this week on this topic.
I always wonder how it is that two children, born at the same time, given the same education and opportunities are so different. GG is so ambitious, diligent, driven to succeed and motivated. BB, on the other hand, likes to take things easy and will work hard only when it is imperative to work and seems almost disinterested and unmotivated. I really am hoping that he ups his game soon so that he is able to do the course he wants to do.
On the mountainous border of China and Tibet in 1708, a detective must learn what a killer already knows: that empires rise and fall on the strength of the stories they tell.
Li Du was an imperial librarian. Now he is an exile. Arriving in Dayan, the last Chinese town before the Tibetan border, he is surprised to find it teeming with travelers, soldiers, and merchants. All have come for a spectacle unprecedented in this remote province: an eclipse of the sun commanded by the Emperor himself.
When a Jesuit astronomer is found murdered in the home of the local magistrate, blame is hastily placed on Tibetan bandits. But Li Du suspects this was no random killing. Everyone has secrets: the ambitious magistrate, the powerful consort, the bitter servant, the irreproachable secretary, the East India Company merchant, the nervous missionary, and the traveling storyteller who can’t keep his own story straight.
Beyond the sloping roofs and festival banners, Li Du can see the mountain pass that will take him out of China forever. He must choose whether to leave, and embrace his exile, or to stay, and investigate a murder that the town of Dayan seems all too willing to forget.
Today’s travel bucket list is slightly farther than usual and unlike previous entries where I spoke about specific countries, this time it’s an entire continent!
GG and I are history buffs while BB also enjoys history, but not to the extent we do. So it’s only natural that Europe, which is the cradle of western civilization is definitely on my bucket list. I am going to break down Europe into countries and places I want to visit and will post periodically on this.
The starting point for our Europe adventures will most likely be England and more specifically London. I have family there and so this is the best way to combine meeting them and starting our journey of discovery.
The United Kingdom which is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has been colonial masters of both India and Singapore and we have all learnt a fair bit of British history, especially the parts which intersect with our own country’s history. In addition, I love reading Victorian and Regency historicals and GG loves the history of the country, especially that of the various kings and queens. I am not going to bore you with the country’s recorded history which is long, varied and certainly interesting, but will go down straight to the sights I definitely want to visit.
Since we will be flying into London and keep the city as our base, I will start with the capital and then move outward to other places in the country. I would start with historic monuments and then move to other sights in the city. GG and BB are huge fans of Harry Potter and GG is a self-proclaimed Potterhead, so of course, a visit to the Warner Bros Studio and to Kings Cross Station is a must!
Buckingham Palace: This is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and mourning. One thing not to miss is the Changing of the Guards Ceremony.
Tower of London: Throughout its history, the Tower of London has served many purposes, including royal residence, barracks, armoury, prison and museum. The Tower of London is a 900-year-old castle and fortress in central London that is notable for housing the crown jewels and for holding many famous and infamous prisoners.
Tower Bridge: Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London. Because of this, Tower Bridge is sometimes confused with London Bridge, situated some 0.5 mi upstream.
Hampton Court Palace: The magnificent and favourite royal residence of Henry VIII, the Hampton Court Palace bustles with the sights and sounds of the Base Court and the breath-taking grandeur of Henry’s State Rooms. Wander around the vast Tudor kitchens, stroll through over 60 acres of enchanting gardens, lose yourself in the famous maze and appreciate the beauty of one of the greatest palaces on earth. You can also creep along the Haunted Gallery and discover the Baroque Palace, full of intrigue and gossip from the Stuart and Georgian era.
St. Paul’s Cathedral: St Paul’s, with its world-famous dome, is an iconic feature of the London skyline. It is the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the Diocese of London and is 1,400 years old. Step inside and you can enjoy the Cathedral’s awe-inspiring interior. You can also venture down to the crypt and discover the tombs and memorials of some of the nation’s greatest heroes such as Admiral Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington. You can also try out the acoustic quirks of the Whispering Gallery and continue on to the Golden Gallery to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views across London.
Big Ben: Technically, Big Ben is the name given to the massive bell inside the clock tower at the houses of parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which weighs more than 13 tons (13,760 kg). The clock tower looks spectacular at night when the four clock faces are illuminated. Unfortunately, only UK residents can visit the inside of the clock by writing into their Member of Parliament. Foreign visitors can view it from outside and tour the houses of the Parliament.
Houses of Parliament: The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Most of this iconic building was built in the mid-19th century following a devastating fire in 1834. Westminster Hall survived the fire and dates from 1097. Visitors can book tours through the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and are welcome to watch debates and committees when the Houses are sitting.
Kensington Palace: Kensington Palace is a working Royal residence. Of great historical importance, Kensington Palace was the favourite residence of successive sovereigns until 1760. It was also the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria. Experience life as an 18th-century royal courtier whilst making your way through the magnificent King’s and Queen’s State Apartments adorned with remarkable paintings from the Royal Collection.
10 Downing Street: 10 Downing Street is home to the British Prime Minister. Look through the gates from Whitehall, and see the famous 10 Downing Street door which can only be opened from the inside. There is no access to the house or street for the general public, and it is not possible to do a 10 Downing Street tour. You can’t visit 10 Downing Street; but you can still head to 10 Adam Street, only 800 metres (2,624 ft) away, where you’ll find a very similar door, now a hotspot for tourists wanting to take a souvenir photo.
Warner Bros. Studio The Making of Harry Potter: This is something we all are really looking forward to. This studio tour provides an amazing opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter franchise. The unique walking tour will take you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props as well as reveal some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world. You can also step inside and discover the actual Great Hall and explore Dumbledore’s office and discover never-before-seen treasures. Another must-see attraction in the studio is the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium and also see iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle. You can also learn how creatures were brought to life with green screen effects, animatronics and life-sized models. Other sets available include the Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.
Kings Cross Station: The iconic station where students to Hogwarts are sent off. Students to Hogwarts enter platform 93/4 by dashing through a brick wall between platforms 9 and 10. Meanwhile, in the real King’s Cross, platforms 9 and 10 are separated by tracks, but you can find a platform 9¾ on the wall in the station concourse. There’s a luggage trolley embedded in the wall, and you can pretend you are off to start on your magical Hogwarts journey.
This post is becoming very long and I am going to stop now and do the rest of London plus outside of London very soon. And the way I am adding attractions, it looks like we will need a couple of weeks just in London and then another few weeks just for the UK! How on earth am I going to do a full Europe holiday in just a month or so? Watch this space! And
Memories and Such 