The People You Meet On The Road

I continue to tell anyone who will listen,
that you never know who you will meet if you
just keep an open mind.

Out shopping this week I spoke with one of the employees to find he is a writer, a poet to be precise.  So today I am featuring  Adrian T Pearson, better known as The Prolific Penman.

Below is his bio.  Who knew he was so accomplished and famous?

My name is Adrian T. Pearson I am also known as The Prolific Penman. This is a name chosen

for me by God when it was introduced to me I questioned could I live up to what the title meant,

 as time passed I came to see that the name not only fit me but it was who I had grown into.

The more I spoke it the bolder I became. The Prolific Penman is my new lease on life this name is not just a representation of me but another testament as to what God can do if you are willing to be obedient to him. My faith in God and in myself has allowed me to write from pain, anger, fear, love and hope; all of these emotions have pushed me to become a fighter. This is not just a name change but a movement, poetry is only the start of better things to come for me

Twelve years ago poetry helped me find myself, saved me from depression and allowed me to define one of many calling that God has for my life. I have been awarded the International Who's Who for Poetry for 2012, I am also published with The World Poetry Movement.  I was also selected as the best Poet for 2012 by The World Poetry Movement as well and in October 2013, I graduated from college while being homeless.  You can follow me or checkout my blogs  on Facebook under https://www.facebook.com/prolificscorner,  or at http://theprolificpenman.wordpress.com/  you can also  read some of my recent work at http://theprolificpenman.poetrycraze.com,  
For more information and event bookings contact theprolificpenman@gmail.com or 770-376-7638.

So the next time you pass up the opportunity to chat with someone or say more than 'how are you' without really caring what the answer is, think twice.  There could be an amazing person behind that smile.

Eating in an ancient Church: St Bartholomews London: Cafe is not the same

The striking interior will draw me back on every trip, even if the cafe is not worth a trip

While in London last week I made a special trip back to St Bartholomews to have breackfast.   http://maturesolotravel.blogspot.com/2013/05/travel-warrior-day-4.html
I wrote last year about the great selection and staff at the cafe.   The architecture is wonderful and the setting is so peaceful.

So I was very sad to see the major changes to the cafe:
NO FOOD selection
NO fresh food
NO customers

It could not have been the day I was there nor the time (late morning).  It was the cafe.

I have to complement the man who staffed the cafe.  He tried to offer me a selection (3 or 4) of cakes from the day before.   Lunch was not available until noon (I arrived at 11+ am).   Having skipped breakfast so I could enjoy the cafe, I was hungry but did not want to leave this quiet spot in the middle of a city with so many people.

The wifi connection is great here so I sat and uploaded photos while I enjoyed the BEST cup of coffee I had been served in the 2+  weeks I was in the city.    I also drink tea but a good coffee is wonderful.

Chatting with the staff I was told it was a special blend and a drip process, something I did not find elsewhere.  NOTE:  I drank coffee at McDonalds 1.20 pounds and not bad, very, very hot'  at the multiple locations of take away foods, warm, bitter and not worth a refile.    So this cup of coffee was wonderful.   WARNING:  the coffee is VERY hot.   If you have ever had a pizza burn (a USA event) you know what to expect.   I had a burn for 7 days after this coffee, my fault, not the cafe's.

By this time it was lunch time and the kind staff asked if I would like soup.   Great!   not so.   It was vegetable but from a can and 4.5 pounds.      Again NOT the staff's fault.  He was trying to offer me something because I said I was hungry and not willing to pay $5.00 us for cake!    The french bread served with the soup was good.

I shall be sending a review to the management of the cathedral.   A great cafe in London has been replaced with something that resembles a bar with a microwave.   If you have visited this year, please give me your opinions.

London Highgate Cemetery: The Dead Share Their Secrects

Highgate Cemetery:  London

One of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ historic cemeteries around London, Highgate Cemetery was described as the best example of Victorian architecture.

I have had a fascination with stone angles and other tomb sculptures for years so a visit to Highgate was on the top of my list.    I was not disappointed.

Highgate is divided into East and West sections.     Visiting the east side required a reservation and a ticket that I booked weeks in advance for Halloween, an appropriate day.

How strange that you must have a reservation and pay to visit the sleeping.

Promptly at 2 PM the small group was allowed to enter the chapel in the two story stone building at the entrance.   We were introduced to Peter and started our adventure.  For the next hour we were entertained, informed and gained a little insight into Victorian burial practices.   Dating back to 1839 there was much to learn.  A wonderful book available in the ticket office, “Highgate.  Saved by its Friends” was a good source of details on the history of the cemetery, the more famous people buried here and the distinctive architectural styles found.

My goal was to photograph the monuments throughout the cemetery, particularly the angles.   But there were many other buildings and decorative carvings that were equally as interesting.   Highgate is a rolling terrain of natural growth of trees and plants that surround the monuments and border the trails.  This is not the trimmed grass and standardize monument cemetery we find in many American locations.   At first glance you think the many acres are not tended.  Peter explained that invasive plants and trees are being replaced with other plants that will not damage the monuments.  

This is a very peaceful place.  Although only families of the interred and paid tours are permitted to visit, there is no sense of sorrow or dread.   The most noteworthy avenues lead you to the Joshua Tree which is believed to be 100+ years old.  The impressive Egyptian Avenue leady to the Circle of Lebanon.  You could easily spend all day in this beautiful ‘forest’, strolling and reading the inscriptions on the monuments.

Peter (our guide) pointed out some of the symbolism that the carvings depicted:

Lotus
Pointing angels
Wreaths
Inverted Torch
Broken Columns
Draped Urn

To describe each monument and give the history of the more famous ‘residents’ would become another book on this one of a kind locations.

www.highgatecemetery.org

Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust