Sugary High

Greeting everyone,

From Portsmouth England. Please someone tell me why we pronounce Portsmouth – Portsmith? Where in time or geographical relocation did we completely change the enunciation of this ancient seaport town?

Anyway, that’s where our travels have taken us. Bring in the Navy, Harry has a deep rooted love for Naval history. So we took a leisurely scroll over to Portsmouth England.

We arrived late in the evening just after every tourist attraction had closed its doors. So all the sites we visited were through the gates, windows, bars, or just from afar.

In World War II, this strategically placed port received severe damage. German bombers leveled the city by hitting 90 percent of its buildings. Today, the city is a booming oasis of port life. The coastal resort area attracts vacationers near and far. Frequent ferries, large shopping centres, restaurants, and pubs line the present day landscape.

The British Navy has called this epic port centre home for the past 500 years. An important shipyard housing a vast part of military navy history. Portsmouth famously houses the oldest and greatest commissioned warship in the world. Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory. It resides behind a gated Museum that closes at the normal business hours of 6 pm. We were able to sneak a peek from the opening of the huge wooden gate. The 1860's HMS Warrior, was actually outside the gates and visible. Powered by steam and sail, she was the largest and fastest warship of her day. Her most radical innovation was her citadel - an armoured box housing her guns. Also within the museum gates lies the Mary Rose. Mary Rose is the flagship of Henry VIII.

HMS Victory

HMS Warrior

And for me…. Portsmouth is the birthplace of my favorite book’s author. (Notice I said favorite book, not favorite author. My favorite author is Agatha Christie.) But my favorite book of all time is Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

The greatest piece of nonfiction to encompass every single human emotion is Tale of Two Cities. I love it. I admire Dickens ability to construct characters and continue to develop with a complex story line throughout the book. To read the plot and grow ever increasingly engrossed with the outcome. And what a tragic time period with disastrous societal relations. Yet, Dickens allows the readers to admire and be devoted to various characters. Then there are the characters like Madame DeFarge. Mean old Madame DaFarge and her knitting.

Oddly in looks quite similar to our house in Atlanta.

Also, in Portsmouth…. D Day Museum, Southsea Castle built by Henry VIII as a coastal defense, and many naval monuments. Again…. All seen in the darkness of night.

Harry & Rob (the chaperon) D Day Museum

Before we actually found any of these sights…. we had to detour a little…. Harry was lost again.

Unlike our first driving venture….this time we had a chaperon. One of Harry’s classmates and a fellow Navy Chaplain tagged along with us. He had no idea what he was getting into!

We were enjoying the fellowship and the shared Chaplaincy stories… when we missed our exit. Once we realized we were traveling away from our destination we stopped. Where we stopped?….. A shopping complex!…. And in this complex? ….. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts! A Krispy Kreme right there in front of our eyes.

"Thank you Lord… for the little things in life!"

"Thank you Lord… for the sweet things in life!"

"Thank you Lord… for the scrumptious delicacies in life!"

"Thank you Lord…for the sugary coating of a Krispy Kreme doughnut!"

And yes Lord….

"Thank you for allowing Harry to get lost and find such an amazing treat!"



So not only was Harry on top of the world seeing such awe inspiring sights for a navy blooded bloke, but I was literally on a sugar high. As you can see... we ordered a dozen.





Blessings until next time,

Kristie