Yuma to London: End of the Year, 26

More first time experiences for us. We were in the Holiday Inn and enjoyed a good night's sleep. A full English breakfast was provided with other foods as well. We both enjoyed the selection of foods.

We were surprised at all the people in the hotel. There were loads of families and extended families. Last night when we checked in there was a full fledged party going on in the lobby. The chairs and tables had been pushed back and a live band was providing music and song while guests danced the night away. Young children were everywhere and they were all dressed in party dressed and Sunday attire. The hotel had an indoor swimming pool and on the way to breakfast we noticed it full of guests, mostly children, enjoying a swim and water play.

I guess I had never thought of other ways to celebrate Christmas as we have always be at home, with family, or with friends, in a home setting. Not sure I have ever thought of going to a hotel for Christmas. Yet, here we were spending Christmas night in one! Too funny. We then recalled one of the British missionary couples was going to a hotel with their extended family for Christmas.

We were on our way to the American Cemetery and Memorial located in Cambridge. The sat nav took us on a goose chase until we called and got clear directions. We were about a mile away and drove right to it. The sky was starting to clear some and the sun shone here and there. We stepped out into a sharp cold wind so jackets were snapped and zipped up, earmuffs and caps in place, and a mental resolve: "I can do this!" If we waited for the weather to clear to go sightseeing, we would never go anywhere.

This is the only World War II American military cemetery in the United Kingdom. The site was donated by the University of Cambridge. The British government authorized use of its land in perpetuity as a permanent burial ground without charge or taxation.

After forestalling German invasion in 1940, the United Kingdom became the hub of offensive action against Axis powers in Europe.

Old Glory flying proudly on the flagstaff at the end of the cemetery.

The demands of World War II called again upon American youth to defend the liberties of free peoples. Young Americans lost their lives long before Pearl Harbor, as merchant seamen rallied to the British cause in the Battle of the Atlantic and American Eagle Squadrons joined the Royal Air Force in the skies above Britain.

Graves from the flagstaff to the back of the cemetery.

The U.S. commitment to liberty and democracy brought more than 3 million Americans to the British Isles in World War II.

Those buried here lost their lives in the skies over the British Isles, and in preparation for the battles to be fought on the continent. There are more than 3,800 graves.

From the back of the cemetery toward the flagstaff.

Looking down the mall to the memorial, you can see the wall with the tablets of the missing on the right. There are 5,127 Missing inscribed on the wall. The four statues (a soldier, a sailor, a pilot, and Coast Guardsman) guard the tablets of the Missing.

The doors going into the memorial.

The memorial interior contains a large battle map and a chapel.

There is a seal of each state on the windows of the memorial. Dad is watching me take the photo.

We headed home from here and stopped at Blue Water Mall to look around. Dad had gotten me a bracelet for Christmas and it was too big so we got it exchanged with only a 15 minute wait in line. The mall was buzzing with shoppers all over the place. It was a true Boxing Day sale, much like Black Friday in America. We included lunch at Five Guys and then were back on the road.

We hadn't been home very long when the Jensen's invited us to play Pinochle. Off we went and had a fun evening. They have moved into the lodge and are only two doors down.

The last few days in the temple this year were interesting. We worked the a.m. shift and did not know what to expect. There were very few periodic workers in, so it was just the missionaries. Patrons surprised us by coming in each day in good number and there was plenty of work for everyone to do.

I received an email from Joel Campbell. His parent's family has been friends with my parents and our family for years. He came across photos of my dad from when he lived in Corrine, UT and had emailed them to me. What a surprise and very much appreciated.

Barbara Burnett Redford and Jack Farar, abt 1943. Joel said these two pictures were taken at a ward social recognizing those in the military.

Barbara Burnett Redford, Jack, Lois Read, wife to Douglas Campbell, Joel's uncle.

When dad graduated from high school at Box Elder, his brother Herb and his mother took the bus to be there with him.

We did the regular tasks of cleaning the flat, laundry, ironing, errands, shopping, etc. Our shift ended on the 31st and we were ready for a break.

Our 31st celebration consisted of dinner with the Jensen's and then games of Pinochle. Just before midnight we went to the lounge where the Brooke's and Rayton's were ready to bring in the New Year watching the fireworks celebration at Big Ben and the London Eye. It was a fantastic display and worth the effort to stay awake to watch! The photos turned out so well I could not leave any of them out!

From the ground.

Big Ben is the coolest! When I listened to him striking 12, I remembered on our tour standing right next to him when he struck 12 that time. It was awesome!