Community and Charity

This post is third in my current series, things I love about England. This particular love comes from reading the Cambridge News and Crier, an odd little newspaper reflecting the oddness of the English. Each week there are inevitable stories of protest regarding proposed developments. The people take very seriously their grade 1 and 2 listed buildings, meaning the buildings are historical and protected. Improvements to buildings that change the appearance or layout, new developments next to listed buildings that could detract from their beauty, or large developments that increase traffic and congestion are definitely not in the cool. Tradition is more important than growth, and as an American this is refreshing, as much as it is frustrating for those businesses wishing to "modernize". What is most refreshing to me about it is the commitment of the community to writing letters, distributing leaflets, and really showing up at council meetings.
Equally impressive is the massive push for charity. There are many races and runs for various groups, but even more astounding are the really creative endeavors. For example, Perfect Pizza, down the street from us, has raised all of their pizza prices by 25 pence and absolutely all of those 25 pences will go straight to the teenage cancer fund. The local veterinary hospital needed new equipment and so they created a naked vet calendar, artistically and modestly posing around the office and with the animals; self produced, it is really very funny and touching. And there are scores of other examples.
In a sense, they are very thoughtful about both the emotional needs of people and a people's history. Perhaps my favorite example so far is a neighborhood who grew tired of being pelted with apples by unruly youth (yobs), so they bought an apple press together and are using those apples for juice to give away. In a society where healthcare and housing are a given, the people are freed up to raise money for science, preserve their local history, and create mercy from restlessness.

India

Deep red curries are my favorite, lots of chillies. On our street alone there are four curry houses within walking distance, two Indian grocers, an Asian grocer (the only place to find seaweed!), Algerian, Thai, Brazilian, French, Italian, and Chinese cuisine. Also there are several kebab shops and a truly authentic Italian grocer, with lots of baba and limoncello. Perhaps one of the most sensuous experiences living here is the color and texture of the international population.
Today the kids and I took out my big Indian cookbook (no particular region, it is made for Westerners), choose three recipes, walked to the grocer to get our spices and spent four hours cooking. Yummy delectable delightful delish~ Onion Seed Chicken, Coconut Laced Eggplant, Plain White Rice, and something like Indian style fry bread complete with saffron, almonds, raisins, and the like. You see, I am not sure if Britain changed India or India changed Britain more, they are really so enmeshed that I would not be surprised at all to find little daffodils in window boxes should I ever get to visit the subcontinent myself...

Goregeous Land

This is what we have been missing! England is gorgeous, when you get a car, get free of public transport, and drive about, stopping to walk and breathe and practically fly. This is the peak district, made up of smallish mountains, fern, plateau, pine forest, heather, sheep, goats, rabbits, old stone fences, and miles and miles of shiny windswept sky. I could walk forever out there, sleeping in crevices, drinking from streams, falling into the wind, bleating in peacfull joy...joining in song with Mr. Tom Bombadill. Blessings!

The boys in Wales

Apparently hiking and camping is not common on the Isle of Anglesy, people tend to walk from one B&B to another across the landscape. For our boys, though, the sun shined at least one of the days :) They came back truly refreshed and full of life ~

10K

This 10K, 6 mile course, was in Peterborough, a town about an hour north of us. Out of 401 runners Kevin placed 356th and Kaiah 130th. Kaiah's time was pretty good at 45 minutes 08 seconds. There were lots of running clubs who ran in little packs, and kids under 14 years old ran a 3k prior to the big race. We are thinking about running as a family in the future.....we'll see :)

Sun Showers N' Fog

Here comes the rain again, falling on down like a memory.... Yesterday we experienced sun showers: the sky is blue in every direction, bright sun glistens off every leaf, pebble, flash of bicycle, and still the rain is thudering down in torrents and sheets. It is truly beautiful and amazing, so much so that it's not a big deal to get wet. And also, the comparitve warmth helps with the wetness, when not shivering the rain can actually be quite refreshing.
Today has gone more somber, dark clouds touching the rooftops and hanging just out of reach, almost fog, not quite poetic. Five minute monsoons alternate with restless blue and moods are equally mercurial. Now, back to those three Zeus's of mine! :)

B Boys Get Down

Kaiah has been dancing with the Cambridge University Breakdance Society several nights a week. It is an open jam and the more advanced dancers teach newcomers cool moves. I am totally free to integrate my breaking with my modern, as some other dancers do. Kaiah is working on a variety of 6 steps and freezes, which you see here.