day 3.

hell-uh from Edinburgh, Scotland! (i tried to make it accentish...)

today was pretty wonderful! mom and i took the train from Chester to Liverpool and spent the day with an older couple (Stan & Irene Sharington) that are friends with our family. they cooked us roast lamb and we drank tea! he gave us a little tour of Liverpool when he picked us up from the train station. i was able to see (from the car) the Beatles museum! he also pointed out a clock tower in which one of his friends lived in because he maintained the clock...crazy! Liverpool was really cool (rhyming intended).

and now for the things i learned today...

1. a "cark park" is a parking garage

2. i have seen 2 Bentleys while being here. in fact, everyone has pretty expensive cars (for the U.S.) over here...and they're usually tiny

3. there are a lot of dark haired people over here! it's like little 'arry Potters everywhere!

4. it cost about £1000 to get caught talking on a cell phone while driving (that is about $1,500)

5. the zig-zag lines on the streets mean the same thing that yellow sidewalk corners mean in Savannah (don't park here)

6. Scottish people are VERY hard to understand...you might as well just smile and nod.

7. England makes me happy in the morning

8. Scottish hair dressers are wonderful (we met one named Brad today and he was lovely...helped us with our bags)

9. speaking of which, i overpacked :/ so i will send a bag home with mom..

10. i am ready to finally shop!

i'm pumped to explore Scotland tomorrow!! i'm sure it will be wonderful. we'll also try to go shopping early (since it appears that most places close down around supper time..)

here are a few photos from our day in Liverpool...it felt a little documentary, so that made me happy.

day 2.

hello from Chester, England!

we took the train from London today and headed over to Chester...we met a lovely lady on the train and talked about The States, Edinburgh, Italy...

ok, so...top things i've learned today:

1. there are a lot of sheep in England...(little lambies!)

2. every building looks old. EVERY one. (picture Pride & Prejudice)

3. England is quite dreary on a rainy day...and it might make you miserable :/

4. British people use the words "fantastic" and "rubbish" a lot

5. accents are pretty easy to pick up...but it's almost embarrassing when you slip on saying a word in an accent and the rest of your conversation is without. (examples: mum, saw-ry..)

6. people have really cool haircuts. i'm almost tempted to get mine done over here..

7. stores close around 5:30pm (which is pretty unfortunate)

8. the Carriage House in Chester has the best fish and chips. literally - amazing.

9. taxis are fun to take...but pretty expensive.

10. the commercials over here are either hilarious or terrifyingly awkward

we are headed to Liverpool to visit a friend tomorrow, then on to Edinburgh, Scotland tomorrow night. hooray!!

here are a few photos from Chester..

day 1.

greeting from London, England!

it is almost 3:00AM here, but almost 10:00PM in Savannah...so, now you know why i'm awake!

i won't bore you with a load of details, so i'll make a list of random things that i noticed:

1. everything you've seen in British films is real...(messy brick homes w/ clotheslines, huge old buildings, little black taxis)

2. it seems there are 3 shoes of choice: converse, pointed leather shoes, and awesome shoes that noone in America has ever heard of

3. there's a lot of tall people! it makes me happy :)

4. all of the accents are very distinct...like, if i lived here long enough, i would be able to tell what part of England they are from

5. double decker buses are fun...especially sitting in the front on the top floor.

6. speaking of buses, we almost ran over 4 people. these cars/buses stop for noone!

7. i was relieved to see Pizza Hut and Starbucks...though i'd much rather try local places

8. top 3 things Brits love to do: walk, run, and smoke (ha)

9. oh! the signs here are so polite. instead of "watch your step" it's "mind the step" or if you're at a train, it's "mind the gap" (which is a big deal, actually...i'm getting a t-shirt..)

10. bathrooms are "toilets", your name is "love", and almost every sentence is ended with "eh?"

we are headed out of London tomorrow, but will be returning on Sunday to photograph and tour all the really cool places! (Big Ben, the London Bridge, etc)

i didn't get many chances for pictures today, but here are a few photos that i caught tonight...

goodbye united states of america!

Bryan & Alicia

i shot engagement photos today!

it's been forever since i've broken out the digital, but it feels good.

i'm still in love with film...

anyways, Bryan and Alicia are an awesome couple and they make me smile :)

hope.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. - Psalm 55:22

(this photos was recently chosen in an art show hosted by my church with the theme "redeemed". the judges must have liked my sister's face.. :)

this year's love.

i have heard this song many times before, but i finally downloaded "this year's love" by david gray...and it is currently changing my life :) i recommend it.

i have finally finished up with Bobby & Sara's wedding! it was so much fun to work with them as a couple and with their families and friends. they are one of the sweetest couples i have had the opportunity to photograph!