Evening Lights ...

I was leaving central London at dusk last night and I had not realized before how magickal London is at night!  So I snapped a few and will be going back for more!

Central London on a Clear, Fall Day

I had an interview today off Haymarket and came home through Trafalgar Square - it was one of those crisp clear Autumn days that are tops!

Diwali

Tomorrow - weather permitting - I am off to Trafalgar Square to attend the Diwali celebration.  Diwali is the Festival of Lights and signifies the Hindu New Year.  Lamps are lit in recognition of the Light of God (by all names) in all of us and how we must light ourselves as well to attract all that is positive.

A Lakshmi puja is celebrated during Diwali to attract the Goddess Lakshmi's favor in bringing health, wealth and prosperity.  The most beautiful Diwali I participated in was several years ago and the puja was so uplifting.

Blessings of Diwali and Lakshmi to all - may your lights burn bright!

I found this poetic description of Diwali and thought I would add it:

"The word "Diwali" is the corruption of the Sanskrit word "Deepavali" - Deepa meaning light
and Avali, meaning a row.   It means a row of lights and indeed illumination forms its main
attraction. Every home - lowly or mightly - the hut of the poor or the mansion of the rich -
is alit with the orange glow of twinkling diyas-small earthen lamps - to welcome Lakshmi,
Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Multi-coloured Rangoli designs, floral decorations and
fireworks lend picturesness and grandeur to this festival which heralds joy, mirth and
happiness in the ensuring year.  This festival is celebrated on a grand scale in almost
all the regions of India and is looked upon mainly as the beginning of New Year. As such
the blessings of Lakshmi, the celestial consort of Lord Vishnu are invoked with prayers.
Even countries like Gkyena, Thailand, Trinidad, Siam and Malaya celebrate this festival
but in their own ways.  This Diwali festival, it is surmised dates back to that period
when perhaps history was not written, and in its progress through centuries it lighted
path of thousands to attain the ultimate good and complete ecstasy."
-  Malini Bisen, Diwali Festival, India

Get On Your Walking Shoes

Last night, for the first time since I arrived, I actually had a dream about driving a car.  I was a little surprised that I have not had one sooner since I have not driven in a bit and have no immediate plans for the future to do so (hearing Peter sigh with relief :)).  For sure, London is not a driving city.  It is a walking city and I have done more walking in the past 2 weeks then in the past 2 years.  A good thing too, since most of my time is spent admiring the architecture and gaping at the sights, I would have surely crashed into something by now.

I walk every day to the markets of which we have several excellent ones very close by.  Shopping for food daily has been a great experience.  Everything is fresh - veggies, meat, bread - and to cook it that way has made me fall in love with cooking all over again.  No issue with quality at all, except for the beef but the availability of French products has made that a good swap!  

I had to stop converting pounds into dollars tho - it was making me a little nuts.  A pound feels like a dollar even though the conversion rate tells us that a pound is worth 2 dollars.  So - I keep it to pounds and try not to cringe toooo much.

I did find an awesome little veggie store in Belsize Square (right around the corner but off the high street) and their prices were much better than the high street markets. 

The area that we live in is awesome.  It is full of gorgeous architecture and little surprises all over, like the Keats House which is only a 5 min walk away.  Hampstead Heath as well which is an amazing sprawl of green park is only a little over 5 min away as well.  The area has been home to many artists and poets over several hundred years and it definitely still has that artsy and mellow vibe.

We have good access to central London as well - I can be in Trafalgar Square within 15 min by Tube and a bit longer by bus.  

I am going to be loading lots of pics and giving their descriptions as well as keeping up the blog of my adventures in London.  It is a bit late (I was waiting for Zach man to get home) so I will add some more tomorrow and keep up as I go along!