December 24-31, 2018 - Christmas and New Years Eve

While many of our British ordinance workers go to their homes during the holidays, the black badge (foreign) missionaries stay here at the Temple, so we organized a Christmas Eve Dinner and a Christmas Brunch.  Following are a few pictures from these get-togethers. 

We had four round tables with 5-6 missionaries per table.

Here's the table with ham, baked potatoes and the spicy British mustard.

The salad and vegetable table.

Elder Wolsey ordered an ample supply of Dad's root beer from Amazon!

Following dinner we played what all older folks play - BINGO!

Elder Burkinshaw his Irish alter-ego, Brother Murphy (we kid him a lot about his "law" - i.e. Murphy's Law) enjoy a joke while playing bingo together on the same team.

We had a program with singing of most of the favorite Christmas carols. 

More of the group singing Christmas carols.

Last picture of the Christmas carolers.

Elder McQuivey reading the Christmas Story from Luke 2.

The "white elephant" gift exchange with the other temple ordinance workers after the Christmas-Eve Dinner.

Sister Wolsey read a fun version of the "Night Before Christmas" which told us which way to pass the gifts.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw in front of the Christmas Tree after our Christmas Eve dinner with the other temple ordinance workers in the Accommodations Centre dining room.

Elder Burkinshaw demonstrates how to get an Oreo from your forehead into your mouth.

Elder Burkinshaw finishing off an Oreo by sticking out his tongue to capture it once he gets it onto his cheek.

For Christmas morning, we had a Christmas brunch with the missionaries that were still at the temple.

First course for the Christmas Brunch was breakfast casserole.  Sister Burkinshaw's casserole in the one on the right which is almost gone.

Elder Burkinshaw carved the sage seasoned turkey, which was a delicious part of our brunch.

We had lots of delicious vegetables including salads.

Fruit, rolls and juice rounded out our brunch.

Sister Jensen (Ogden, UT) and Sister Burkinshaw at the brunch with Elder Burkinshaw's plate of brunch front and center.

Sister Carla Haines (Phoenix, AZ), Sister Cindy and Elder Lynn Turner (Blackfoot, ID), and Elder Marvin and Sister Stephanie Smith (Provo, UT formerly Atlanta, GA).

Sister Brenda and Elder Ron Linford (Casper, WY) and Elder Barry Wolsey (Raymond, AB)

Sister and Elder Mueller (Herriman, UT) and Sister Ruse (Logan, UT)

Elder Burkinshaw eating some authentic British Christmas pudding.  Very interesting,  which is a euphemistic description! ;-)

After several months of on-line study for the written test and hazard identification test and later, driving lessons for the driving test, Elder Burkinshaw finally received his UK Driving Licence for Christmas!  Here in the UK, you can drive on your US license for 1 year but after that you're required to have a UK licence or give up your car.  

Sister Burkinshaw serves as a ministering sister to Sister Cheryl Ann Guenther so for Boxing Day, we invited the Guenthers to attend the new movie, Mary Poppins Returns and for Nando's chicken afterwards.

After a morning movie, Mary Poppins Returns, we enjoyed peri peri chicken at Nando's with Brother Jim and Sister Cheryl Ann Guenther.

Our dear friends, Elder Raul and Sister Karen McQuivey will be returning home after serving for a year here at the London Temple.  Saturday, December 29 was Sister McQuivey's 80th birthday so we took her out to one of our favorite restaurants, The Red Barn, which is less than 10 minutes north of the Temple.

The Red Barn Country Pub and Dining.

The Red Barn decorated for Christmas.  Note the bookshelves along the back wall behind the Christmas Wreath.

Sister Karen and Elder Raul McQuivey (Oakton, VA) out for dinner at the Red Barn restaurant in Blindley Heath.  The Sister McQuivey and Sister Burkinshaw had fresh trout and Elder McQuivey and Elder Burkinshaw had steak.  The occasion was Sister McQuivey reaching the status of octagenarian!

For New Years Eve, we went into London for a group dinner and to see the matinee performance of A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic theatre in the Waterloo section of London.  It was a great way to celebrate the end of the Christmas season and our lunch, the music, singing and acting were exceptional.

We had lunch at an upscale Italian restaurant a short distance from The Old Vic theatre called La Barca (Italian for "The Ship").

Sister Burkinshaw in front of La Barca Ristorante in Waterloo, London.

Our group included ten temple missionaries:  Elder Raul and Sister Karen McQuivey, Elder  Barry and Sister LuAnne Wolsey, Elder Ron and Sister Brenda Linford, Elder Jim and Sister Cheryl Ann Guenther and Elder Jeff and Sister Stacey Burkinshaw.

When we arrived at The Old Vic theatre for the show, there was quite a line even though we all had reserved tickets.

The Old Vic stage is quite unique in the center with the audience all around.

  

Our tickets were in the Dress Circle which was the first balcony and there was a second balcony as well.  It appeared that almost all the seats had an unobstructed stage view.

A selfie and Elder and Sister Burkinshaw up in the Dress Circle.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw in front of the theatre after the performance. The show began at 2:30 pm when it was still light but when we exited about 4:45 pm it was completely dark.

One brief experience.  On the last veil of the last year in the Temple, Elder Burkinshaw was receiving when a brother was struggling with the ceremony and it was obvious that English was not his primary language and without any indication of his native language - normally a foreign language speaker would have a language card pinned to his shirt.  Then, as he sighed, Elder Burkinshaw recognized a word and immediately switched to Portuguese.  The brother excitedly responded and was obviously well-versed in the Portuguese veil and completed the ceremony without hesitation.  The fact that this patron came to the only veil where there was someone who could speak Portuguese was a tender mercy, an reminder that Our Father in Heaven is aware of each of our needs and provides lovingly for His children.

 As we come to the end of the holiday season, we recall the words of a reformed Ebeneezer Scrooge,

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.’’

May we all be changed for the better by our increased understanding of the Savior of all men, His longsuffering, meekness, humility, diligence and love for all, including those who may appear to be unlovable.  "God Bless Us, Every One!"

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw