St. Paul's Cathedral

Pain.  That is the only thing my back is feeling because of standing all day and being on kitchen duty.
Wet.  That is how my hands are.  I feel like I've permanently had them submerged under water for a week straight....oh wait I have washing dishes!
Tired.  That is how I feel at the end of every night...and every morning.

But that is not what I wanted to tell you all about.  What I really wanted tow write about was my visit to St. Paul's Cathedral today.  Our nice "friend" (that's what his name tag said) Tom took us on a rather extended tour of it.  Photography wasn't allowed in the cathedral but we were allowed to snap some pictures of the spiral staircase leading up to one of the bell towers.  This specific staircase is the exact one used in the Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban film; Harry picks up a glass ball that has rolled out of Professor Trelawney's classroom and climbs back up the stairs to return it.

The whole time I was in awe of the ornate architecture and artwork on the ceilings.  I wish my parents could have been there to appreciate with me; too bad I couldn't take pictures on the inside.

Things I learned from our friend Tom about the cathedral:

• It was the first ever Anglican cathedral built after the reformation.
• It took 36 years to build.
• it's ironic that cathedral was destroyed by the great fire in 1666 and the money that helped rebuild it came from a tax on coal, which helps fuel fire.
• The bells only ring when royalty dies.  The Duke of the Wellington and Winston Churchill are the only two non-royals to have the bell ring in honor of them.
• About 10 years ago it took 4 years and £10 million just to clean the cathedral.
• To make a church a cathedral there needs to be a bishops chair.  If it has a bishops chair it is a cathedral; if it doesn't have a bishops chair it is considered a church.

The staircase used in Harry Potter 

Sarah, me, Jessica, and Rachel 

St. Paul's Cathedral

Being on kitchen duty all week has really increased my appreciation for my mother.  I only have to suffer through 7 days of helping prepare dinner, setting tables, clearing tables, and washing dishes but my mom has been doing it my whole life.  In addition to all that, she makes the most incredible food I have ever tasted.  I am a little biased, yes, but she is superwoman.  She cooks, sews, quilts, knits, crochets, ties rag rugs, bakes, appliqués, gardens, and has many other accomplishments she could put on a resume.  I am an extremely spoiled child.  But the number 1 reason why I love my mom is because she loves me back.  Thanks for the tribute mom, I love and miss you!!!!