onto the scene like fireworks! The "dotters" (Richard's term for those
who are dotty), in this case, his mom and her cronies -- that includes
me, of course -- headed for Cleethorpes, the seaside/resort kind of
place which is as close to Grimsby as Jenny's work from our house in
Provo. (I am getting a better and better idea of distances!) It is
right on the Humber Estuary (please refer to your Google maps) -- that
big gash on the northeastern side of England, as I pointed out to some
of you. Going down to the beach for the first time (last time you may
recall , if you are following this closely, we just charity shop
hopped), I discovered that I could find ocean nowhere, only miles and
miles of sand, going out as far as my eyes could see, with teeny, tiny
little rivulets, here and there which children and teens followed
splashingly along. Al in all a perfect place for small fries to frolic
and play, with never the fear of being washed out to sea. (Sandra
tells me that the tide ebbs and flows there, though I have not seen it
myself. Though I will, because Leah and family are coming next week to
make it a beach holiday, and I know we will be spending a good deal of
time at the beach. It surely is a perfect kid place to be. As school
is on recess there were many families lining the streets, eating ice
cream cones and parading about in their best summer outfits.
Passed a sign that read, Traffic Calming Zone. Sounds like a place
where you give your car a shot of Prozac to keep it under control! And
then there's the rental signs often found on the side of buildings,
and usually way up high, that say To Let. I've been amused by that
sign ever since coming to England for the very first time. You know
why, of course?! 'Cause it's like the word toilet – having dropped the
middle "i". Pretty silly, huh?! For more intriguing signs, refer to
the photograph. A sign just calling my name!
When you purchase a round-trip ticket for the bus, an out and back,
the term is you want a DayRider. (Now I know the reference for the
Beatle title, Daytripper.) Speaking of The bus, had the opportunity
for another missionary moment again today. I have decided, to keep
myself from feeling guilty on account of basically I live a pretty
selfish life with no obligations, that being friendly, though a tiny
thing in the great scheme of things, is my job in life right now. I
hope people will see the light in my eyes and have the desire to ask
about it. As we were riding along I had the opportunity of asking a
nice old gentleman behind me a direction question and we ended getting
in a discussion about religious matters. It is a common thing that
first you are asked - as you're the one standing out for a change,
with that unusual accent -- Where're you from, then when the
conversation leads to Utah, often the next question is "Mormon?" and
it goes from there. This man's first comment was where was Jesus when
Jews were being killed like flies in the concentration camps? I
wouldn't labor you by going any further into this conversation but I'm
sure our positive interaction planted some seeds. He did say, I spoke
with two young men just the other day on the street, who also happened
to be Mormons. Actually I know those very two young men -- happened to
see them just yesterday -- and have bumped into them street tracking
in various places around town. Frist met them at Sandra's when she fed
them and they painted her fence. I teasingly refer to them as Elder
Idaho and Elder Georgia, as I have a hard time remembering names – but
I can remember where they're from!
The dotters spent their time eating out, sunning themselves on a bench
overlooking the beach, or "giving to charity," and . . . opening bank
accounts! --speaking for myself. Yeah! I had had such a positive
experience at Lloyds back on my first whole day in England when Sandra
had taken me to Cleethorpes, that I have just been waiting to get back
there. Yes, there's a nice, large, local Lloyds right in Grimsby where
I hang out – in fact, my friend, Maureen, is even a customer service
person there -- but nobody has said the right words like the gentleman
in Lloyds in Cleethorpes had: Yes, we can do that!! All I needed was
my passport (in Grimsby, they had just hemmed and hawed around and
said, things like, well, gosh I don't know, and gee, I'm not sure.
Well, the heck with them! (Wait till I show Maureen tomorrow. Serves
'em right!) Of course, Cleethorpes is just a branch, so all my banking
needs from now on will be conducted close to home. Just had to git
down th' road, on th' bus, to gitter done! Yeah, a major goal sorted
out. Now I am all set to do my part to help ramp up the floundering
British economy!!
Such a big girl! Identified and rode the bus home from Cleethorpes all
on my own and knew just where I was when we entered back into Grimsby
home territory. Wow! Good Job!!
[On a side note, my thumb is looking good, coming right along in the healing process. I was reviewing the regimen last night. My gosh, the doctor wrote down 10 weeks of do this, then that,etc. I am following it carefully. Don't want to mess with your thumb. And besides, the splint and I have become fast friends!]
Photos
1- The bee helping the British Heart Association be healthier
2- A sign meant just for me
3- On Cleethorpes beach
