Midwinter Chillaxing!

I'll be honest, January isn't my favourite month... But it does have one thing going for it...

Nothing beats a solitary mid-winter walk on a sunny afternoon!

Absolutely beautiful! Crisp clean air, blue skies, sideways light --all courtesy of January!

Made for an absolutely relaxing chill out session in St James's and Hyde Park!

So proud of my niece...

Sister Smithee stepping off the plane in Warsaw, Poland to begin her mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Бялата зала- любимото ми място в Лондон

Haven't seen the sun in two weeks so I decided to post these photos to remind myself what it looks like.


London Eye from the Embankment



Георги Дечев в съзерцание


Two Saturday's ago it was absolutely beautiful outside so I decided to go for a walk in my favourite part of London: Whitehall


Not only is it loads quiter than Trafalgar, Leicester and etc, but the architecture is amazing!


For example ^


Джордж near the Foreign Office and War Room Museum


The Cenotaph


Lady Europe (Foreign Office)


Lady America (Foreign Office)


Liking the architecture


...and again.


Cenotaph at dusk


Entrance to Horse Guards Parade


Horse Guard Parade


Георги впечатление на Камерън


St James's Park


And finally, me looking for a grassy patch...


To fall asleep! ...NOTHING beats a sunny day in Londontown!

Random photos taken for no particular reason!

Yeah... so... now since the worst month of the year is finally out of the way, It's time to start blogging again! This year, I decided to start things out with a redesign. I also gave my blog a new name... The name is almost as creative as the last but this time it's in Cyrillic which makes it better. For this, I have to thank my best friend George and my other best friend Mr Google Translate for their assistance.

Ok... so... now for this weeks blog posting. I've decided that random photos are always the best so here are 5 random photos taken from the last week.

This is a picture of my favourite gargoyle. Perhaps it's a little weird to have a favourite, or to take a picture of one for that matter, but I think it's a cute little guy. This church is across the street from my flat so I see him every day and my friend Andreea has named him 'oggie'.

Maybe it's the Seattle in me but I think London's beautiful when it's grey outside. This is a photo of the Houses of Parliament taken from Lambeth.

River Thames in 'ANGRY' mode. Sometimes it looks like only a stream but when the tide comes in, I feel like it's going to wash the whole city away!

My neighbour on the first floor is a smoker which means our whole building smells like it. This is our main entrance and I've learned never to breath until I get to the top of the stairs. I've also learned never to open certain cupboards in the flat because it lets all the air from the downstairs in.

Boris Bikes! I've been thinking about joining the scheme ever since the Mayor launched it 7 months ago. Only problem is the closest docking stating is a 10 walk from my flat. Is it really worth it if it means I still have to walk??? Maybe in another 7 months I'll actually make a decision.

I think I'm going to give up on Blogging...

It's too much work and I'd rather sleep. :)

I've decided to take up the piano... again.

My story is a typical story. Something along the lines of:

-Boy gets put in piano lessons by mother.
-Boy pretends/fails to practice.
-Mother tells boy he'll regret it when he's older if he quits.
-Boy quits anyway.


In my case, I quit about 15 years ago (yes, I really am that old). But, lately I've been wishing I didn't. In fact, I'm now even thinking about taking it up again.

So, to make a long story short, today I went to the Hyde Park Chapel to practice the piano. Once I got there I spent the time downloading videos with the security guard---but hey, it's a start. Plus, I think my maturity was clearly demonstrated by the fact that I actually showed up with an 'intent' to practice. Who knows what might happen next time!! (I'm envisioning something along the lines of actually practising and even learning a song).

So to be short, this is what you can expect from me in the future:

A Christmas thought...

‘Good King Weneslas’ has always been one of my favourite Christmas songs. The lyrics tell of a noble King who amid the inclemates of winter weather, has compassion on a poor man seen searching for food. The Good King then calls his page and together they travel with pine logs and wine to help the man in need.

Along the journey, however, the wind picks up and the darkness sets in. The cold of the night makes the trek almost unbearable and the page pleads with his King to stop. The King, however, knows how to help. He states, 'Mark my footsteps, good my page. Tread thou in them boldly, thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly'.

The lyrics then tell how the page is warmed as he treads in his master’s footsteps and together they are able to accomplish the task of helping the man in need.

Historians agree that this song was likely based on Bohemian king who was known for giving alms to the poor. Whether events occurred as the lyrics indicate, however, is less certain. Despite this fact, what I love about the song is the fact that it is a perfect analogy to our own relationship with our true King Jesus Christ.

I’ve never understood why He loves us so. When I think of my own faults and inconsistencies, I am amazed He’d even bother to ‘look out’ into the cold dark night. Nevertheless, He does just that. Over and over again, He shows us compassion by giving us forgiveness and a hope that allows us to change.

After being nourished, however, he asks us to follow him by seeking out and strengthening others. This isn’t always the easiest task. It wasn’t easy for the Prophet Joseph Smith who was eventually murdered for his faith in Christ. It also wasn’t easy for Alma, Ammon and Moroni nor was it easy for the Apostles of the New Testament. Nevertheless, these men went forward searching those in need. Once they found them, they nourished them with the one thing they knew could save--the gospel of their Good King, Jesus Christ.

I have always been amazed at how these men were able to accomplish their tasks despite at times experiences the same cold and icy nights as the story’s page. The Prophet Joseph Smith, for example, was imprisoned for extended periods of time and often witnessed abuses and wrongs committed against his people. The Prophet was able to go forward, however, because like the page, he knew his master and followed in His footsteps.

I know I have a long way to go. But just as prophets such as Joseph marked and followed the footsteps of his King, I hope to do the same. Our Good King has shown us the way. The nights may be dark --the winds may blow-- but nothing beats the warmth of the spirit as we follow in His footsteps taking them one step at a time.

I love my Good King who has had compassion on me and marked the way that I may go.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2010!