Lincoln Cathedral

This is the most exciting post so far.  I spent the day in Lincoln today, walking for seven hours around a beautiful little town.  I'd like to say the most challenging part was a walk up a very long and steep hill but I topped it off with a climb up 326 stairs (equivalent to 20x up and down your regular staircase at home) to the top of the tower at the Lincoln Cathedral.  I had hoped to visit the Lincoln Castle also but that will have to wait for next time.  Withe the fare being only 11.60 pound by train, I can afford to go many times.  I took my big camera, but I won't do that again.  I used it very little and my point and shoot is all I need to capture the images.  I can't decide which ones to show you, so I'll show them all.
Enjoy

I thought this was funny, BARF

Yum.....

This is the start of the incline up to the Cathedral.

I love this place, old fashioned sweet shops are everywhere.  This one was truly inspiring

That is the tower I will eventually climb.  Yes I said climb.

Clever street name.

Front door of the Cathedral

Pipe organ

Pulpit

This has to be one of my favourite shots of the day.  I was descending from the library and this is in the courtyard/patio of the restaurant.  I sat and enjoyed the view twice.  Once for lunch and another to recover from the climb.

This is the reflection of the stained glass in the above picture.  LOVE IT!

Looking directly above at the roof.

This is the "eye", you will see it again from the outside.

Pipe organ.

The choir area.  Again the light is streaming in from the windows in all the gorgeous colours.

This is a tomb for a former Bishop.  Not sure which one, many are buried here.  None so as ornately as this.

There is the eye again.

So here is my badge of honour.  I earned it.

See that tiny circle, bottom of the square.  It is 5' in diameter and I am soon going to be standing on it.  And that is only the first of two respites we get during the climb.

Looking down from the first climb.

This is the mechanism for the bells.

Gears used in the bell tower, you cannot estimate the weight but they are about 3' diameter, they are resting on the first respite where the mechanism is.

looking up

second respit.  This is looking above the bells.  Eventually I will be standing on this section of the roof.

Here are the bells.  The bell you can see is about 10' high.

The following is a small movie.  I can't explain how loud the bells were, you have to hear them.  You will see me jump when they start.  Keep in mind your speakers are not able to capture the floor vibrating underfoot.

From the top

Don't mind the hairdo.  It was windy and I almost died several times on the way up.

This is the courtyard where I sat for lunch.

These are the stairs during the descent.  They are only slightly wider than my shoulders and very steep.  You hang onto the rope on the left, there are no stair rails.  They asked me if I am claustrophobic before the climb.  I think that after the hour long elevator/mine shaft escapade in NorthBay that I proved myself capable of a stair climb. LOL

So this is the diagram I prepared for you.

Note: the Steep slope of the road.

On the way down the hill.  My legs were so fatigued that as I tried to walk directly across the street from one shop to another, the gravity/slope caused me to walk in a diagonal line.

It's not a phone booth, well it was, now it is a cash machine.  Very creative.

The Cathedral is primarily used by the Church of England but they share it with other groups.  The day I was there The Knights of the Templar were using the facility.  When the lady asked me if I was familiar with there organization I replied yes.  She seemed surprised and I told her "just what I've read in the DaVinci Code".

What I could not show you was the library in the Cathedral.  (Maureen I thought of you)  There were books over 600 years old.  And the benches that scholars of the day used.  I saw a book of Psalms that was the oldest in the collection and it made you just think about who held it over the years.  It was a personal book (only about 4"x 3"), did the owner know how to read or was it for show.  It was magnificent.

I hope you enjoyed my day, I sure did.

Good News?

I received some good news today.
My appeal has been granted and I can now send in my passport for my visa.  I felt like this was a slap in the face.  But looking on the bright side, I am already here you stupid government agency.  THE JOKE IS ON YOU.
Not really, I was the one who paid for it all.  They get to yell "Winning".  Which, if you ask me makes them look like the losers, right?

Beautiful Day

Another beautiful day in Grimsby.  It's abnormally warm and sunny here so I am told.  All day it was around 20 degrees and a bit windy.  It cooled off later but still it was a nice day for September.
I went to the local market and got a new haircut.  Not at the market mind you,  That would give new meaning to turnip head.
Then I enjoyed a nice meal at the beach with Ross.  We had some delicious fish and chips then walked down the beach.  This is like stepping back in time.  The amusement rides are ancient and the street scape is depressing.  I still enjoyed myself.  Then we went back to his place to watch a movie.  I highly recommend  "Fishing on the Yemen".  I had to bring the bus home in the dark, which was fine but the walk from the stop to my home was brisk and somewhat unnerving.  There were only a few people I met along the way but I wasted no time.

New haircut.  I got so tired of wearing a ponytail to keep cool.

A beautiful clock tower that probably goes unnoticed at a local train station.

I think this is finished for the year.

A merry go round, love the taxi.

An enclosed slide

The Ferris wheel, you could not pay me to go on.  It looks as though it could fall apart at any minute.

These curious mounds were all over the beach, I'm not sure what they are.  I think they may be from sand crabs.

Look out Ben

I thought you should know that the English have an incredible taste for sweets yet they seem to be very slim.  I was looking for something to eat at school this morning and I came across this incredible invention they call "Corn Flake Tart"  Its Corn Flakes rolled in honey and a layer of jam inside a pie shell.  You might question this invention but I can assure you that it would give Ben Franklin a run for his money in a competition.
I taught in most of my classes today and had a great time.  I sometimes complain to myself that I do not have my own desk and I have to move about the art rooms to find a place to work.  Then I realized that I had to travel around the many different art rooms.  I wish Ontario had an appreciation for art in the curriculum as this school has.  It is run very business like but the opportunities within the department are incredible.

This is the Sixth Form (grade 11) conservatory/art room.  There are about eight other rooms, not as incredible as this but still pretty good.

Same room, different view.  The eye's have it.

This is the tart, sorry but I had eaten half before I thought you might enjoy a picture.

Bon Bons Anyone?

Busy day at school today.  But it was what happened afterwards that was so enjoyable.  I met up with Ross (a fellow student from Nipissing) and we went out for a drink after work and a talk.  Then we journeyed around the town of Grimsby.  We walked around the town church but could not find any distinguishing sign telling us it's denomination but I think it may be the Church of England.  He is so funny, he was taken by a sign over a store front "News and Booze".  The owner came out and started a conversation with him and I just watched.  He'll talk to anyone, I guess that's why his dorm voted him most congenial.  Then I went out with some girls that Ange hooked me up with and we went to a fundraiser at their church.
This girl's name is Meagan and she comes from Lucknow and went to school at Laurier in Waterloo.  Then to make this world even a little smaller, her brother and his wife and children attend Creekside.  He is one of the sound crew and I believe his first or last name is Duncan.  The fundraiser was great, it was a Chinese cooking demonstration and then dinner.  I helped make dumplings and Kung Pow Chicken, Fried Rice, Shrimp crisps, Ginger Beef.  But the best part was the Sweet shop (See Pics) I was in awe of how many candies that I have missed out on.

 St. Martin's Church in Grimsby, detail over door.

 St. Martin's Church in Grimsby, side view.

The sweet shop inside an old school that has been converted to a tea room/giftshop/community centre.

Long road home

Great day in school today.  It was a long one and I had to bring the bus home with all the children.  My favourite line of the day today was when I stopped two boys from fighting over who had the right of way on the side walk and I uttered the words "give him back his bike, don't make me be a teacher out here".  LOL  They listened.
The children here all all interested in wether or not I know Justin Bieber and whether or not I own a moose.  They look very disappointed when I tell them I have never seen either.
I'm very sad for a fellow classmate that I met up here.  He has had a family emergency and cannot stay.   That being said he is struggling with the work load and the process.  It worried me that I might experience the same but so far I love the kids so much.  The school has been very disappointing in its strictness and lack of creativity but I think I will adjust.