Monday, June 6, 2022 by Averil Spence-Clarke | Uncategorized

Hi Everyone&GreetingsfromEngland!!  

First, I miss seeing all your "happy" faces!!

Second, it is so good to be here and to be seeing Christopher in person!! ☺x a million

Getting here was a bit of a challenge (my flight from Windsor to Toronto was cancelled at the last minute, but thanks to good friends I made it to London to make the connection).  On arrival, my driver from the airport to the apartment/hotel that I am staying at was new, so what should have been a short ride because a real tour of the city to my benefit.  Happy to say that I made it and am now ensconced in a lovely studio apartment overlooking the Thames (thanks to my brother).

Being able to attend Christopher's second year recital in person was awesome.  He did an amazing job (a one hour concert BY MEMORY). As soon as it is available, he will post it to his YouTube channel.

On Friday, I was able to attend a screening of "2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick (one of my all time favourite movies) accompanied by a live Orchestra - fabulous performance and it added so much to the emotion of the movie.

I have been "walking" London - upwards of 15 km per day, just sightseeing and relearning the city.

Saturday, had a chance to see the Bloomberg Space "London Mithraeum" exhibit, built on the original site of a Temple to Mithras and discovered during excavation for a new building.  Very exciting!  Then spent some time at the Tate Museum - some amazing contemporary & surreal art exhibits.  Of course, I could have tried to attend the Jubilee Party at Westminster Castle but did not feel up to battling  30,000+ people, so watched it in comfort from my apartment while dining.  I did get to attend a street part in this neighbourhood & danced a jig or two in celebration.

Yesterday, attended a church service and concert at St. Paul's Cathedral - the organ & organist were awesome.  I plan to attend a few more concerts here - it is just up the hill from my apartment.

Getting ready to head out  to the Victoria & Albert Museum - hope that I don't get lost in there. It is huge & I know that I will probably have to spend more than one visit there.

Re: Lessons:  I do apologize but there is some major construction going on in the neighbourhood (two new & huge high rise buildings being built), so internet & Wi Fi have not been very consistent.  I usually have to wait for messages to be sent.  That means that I do not have the ability to schedule lessons with any accuracy.  I am disappointed but I know that all of you will be cheering.☺  Hopefully we can make it up over the summer and into fall.

I'll keep you updated and if anything changes re: schedulling, I'll email.  

Take care & look forward to sharing lots of stories on my return & hearing all of your exciting ones about the start of summer & holiday plans.

Till then, Cheers

Mrs. A.