A new level of cold.

It is has been snowing in Utah this last week.

It also has been snowing here.

Picture?

Nope.

Because by the time I realized it was snowing it had already melted.

The little snowflakes didn't look like snow at all but cotton in the spring.

Do you know what I mean?

The tufts of cotton that don't seem to fall to the ground but just kind of float on the breeze in the spring.

That is what the snow looked like here.

Despite the lack of snow we do not, I repeat do not, have a lack of freezing temperatures.

Don't let the number on the weather channel fool you, I am learning that the combination of a decently cold temperature and high humidity = death to all warmth in my body.

I am understanding where the phrase "bone chilling cold" is coming from.

I felt pretty validated in this when I received my weekly letter from Grandma and Grandpa W.

Grandpa wrote to me about the South Pole explorer Admiral Bird.

Admiral Bird apparently said that the coldest place on Earth is an English bedroom.

True story.

Which is why I am in LOVE with my duvet, kettle, and biscuits.

They keep me warm and happy.

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Besides being very cold, things are going splendidly.

I read articles and books for hours every day (my eyes are quite fatigued at this point), I eat all my fruits and vegetables (I even eat fish now), and I walk at least an hour every day exploring Durham and walking back and forth from the science site.

Healthy, happy, and still hungry.

A good sign I think.

:)

Durham Lumiere

I had a great time last night wandering around Durham for the Lumiere festival.

It was a great opportunity to practice shooting manual with my camera as well.

View of the cathedral and the river from the bridge below St. John's.

Views of the cathedral from the river path.

The flying fish in the Market Square.

Unfortunately they were not up while I was out.  I saw them the night before but didn't have my camera.

I couldn't get a good shot of this installation but it is a projection of a whale on the River Weir.

It reminded me of Disney's World of Colors.

Another installation over the river on the other side of the city center.

The streets of the market.

In a show of respect and solidarity for France, the colors of the French flag were projected on the cathedral and castle between shows.

Here is a gif of the light show on the cathedral.

I may have taken a video if I had a tripod...and remembered how to do so on my camera.

No judging.

I also FINALLY was able to take pictures in the cathedral.

Usually it is prohibited but because of the light show on the ceiling, pictures were allowed.

The lighting wasn't great but I tried my best.

The lack of lighting inside made the architecture gloriously creepy.

My manual settings vs. my camera's automatic no-flash settings.

I like the manual better for the light and the auto settings better for the architecture.

One day I may master both.

:)

Non-light show pictures of the cathedral interior (manual settings).

This installation was made from recycled plastic bottles and was in the courtyard of the cathedral (where scenes from Harry Potter were filmed).

The Palace Green in the rain.

I was pretty soaked by the end.

Final installation before I walk into my front door.

Awesome night overall!

Photos of the last few weeks.

Whew, things have been crazy and awesome!

I knew that I would be busy here but I kind of thought that research degree = more free time.

Nope.

It is a lie.

Don't let anyone tell you differently.

Because if they do, then they are doing it wrong.

I guess the best way to explain it is that I have a ridiculous amount to do, I simply get to be the adult and decide the order in which it is done.

Do I sleep or do I work?

My choice.

Just because I do not have a lot of free time does not mean that I am not having the time of my life.

I LOVE DURHAM!

I LOVE MY WORK!

I LOVE MY LIFE!

Let's see, since I last posted a month ago...
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I went to Newcastle to shop a wee bit.
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I taught in Nursery and went to a Young Women's activity which was a bit traumatic.

(yeah, I forgot how to do all non-single adult related things in my last decade of singles wards)

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I have done some MAJOR preliminary work on my thesis.

Organizing data,

deciding my research questions,

planning out the next 9 or so months,

and presenting to my research group.

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I walk EVERYWHERE.

Which also means I see random things...

Like silly graffiti...

and a creepy fire-pit area.

Right now I am averaging AT LEAST an hour a day just wandering around.

Although, I call it "productive wandering".

It is my stress coping mechanism which is WAY better than eating junk and watching Netflix.

Walking is good all around, it makes me feel better from blood and endorphins pumping through my system and also seeing the wonderful place in which I now live.

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I drink tea...well, herbal tea.

There is a reason the British are constantly drinking tea.

Warming yourself from the inside out is the only way to stay warm in this place.

Between the humidity and the temperatures I can't seem to get warm.

Tea helps.

I bought a box of mixed herbal teas to try to pick a favorite but I can't.

I like them all.

Peppermint, peppermint and nettles, chamomile and vanilla and honey, echinacea and rasberry, lemon and ginger...yum, yum.

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I went on a geophysical survey in Gloucestershire.

I have never done magnetometery before, so I was super excited to learn some news skills.

Little did I know I would learn geophysical survey AND how to work in the rain.

When we weren't drowning, the scenery was beautiful.

I did miss the blue skies between the rain that you get in Durham though.

It was an awesome experience and now I understand the British obsession with wellies.

They are not an obsession - they are a necessity.

It was a lot of back and forth in muddy fields in the rain but I was a swimmer...I can do meaningless laps all day.

I also went to my first pub (thank you Anna for prepping me on ordering non-alcoholic drinks), and had my first REAL fish & chips during the survey.

I am now a lover of fish & chips.

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I also joined the Durham Canoe Club.

I have only been once because of schedule conflicts but the one time I went it was a blast!

Even though I fell in the freezing river,

and shortly thereafter succumed to the "Freshers Flu".

I still love it and will continue doing it when my schedule frees up after Christmas break.

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I was visited by my first American friend!

Anna helped me while I was applying to Durham because she went here a decade or so ago.

We had a great time walking around town and her introducing me to some of her favorite British foods...they were all sugar or pastry related and are now all my favorite British foods.

Yum.

Although, we did have to finish the day eating a pizza because that is how we roll.

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To close, here are a few more pictures from my new home.

I truly love it here and am so grateful to be here.

A British soldier leaving the Durham Cathedral after Remembrance Day Services.

The Durham Cathedral.

♥ ♥ ♥