Wednesday, 16 July 2025 by Sagacity

Leaving London

Today is officially the last day of our trip to Europe. Can you believe we have passed a full six weeks in Europe??

We visited St. Paul’s, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the Globe Theatre today. I shared the photos in the previous post. They were all cool. However, at this point another cathedral and I will injure myself. Sir Christopher Wren did a great job on the inside, but the outside seems to be lacking some. Perhaps it is years of paint and wear. Perhaps it is war. The interior was amazing.

A couple of thoughts to wrap it up.

Amanda figured out that in the ‘To Let’ signs around Europe, meaning ‘For Rent’, if you put in an ‘i’ it becomes ‘ToiLet’. We wanted to get up and alter one or two of them, but we did not.

Secondly, on my second to last day, I was the target of a pigeon. On the front stairs of St. Martin in the Fields, I sat pondering life when a large drop fell on my right knee. I thought it was some water until I realized it was warm. Looking over, I saw the signs of whiteness indicating a deposit by some bird. It was a laugh, some disappointment, and disgust. Reminded me of the seagulls leaving a deposit in the Roman Baths in Bath.

Alas, I am humming along with John Denver about leaving on a jet plane.

Somewhere above the British shore flying home

Tuesday, 15 July 2025 by Sagacity

Westminster, Wicked, and Wandering

A brief update of our past two days.

Yesterday was Westminister Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and more. We went to see Wicked at the Victoria Apollo and we both really enjoyed it.

Paul Ross with Palace of Westminster and Clock Tower with Big Ben

Amanda Ross and Clock Tower, now Elizabeth Tower

Oliver Cromwell and flag showing parliament was in session

Westminster Abbey north door entrance with rose window

Amanda Ross with one of the lions at Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square

Sunday we went to Hampton Court Palace. It was a very fast tour, but we made it through the entire house.

Jeppesen gave us a good laugh pulling out bangers and beans s/balls

The rest of the time was enjoyed with the Jeppesen Family.

Paul Ross ascending the Hampton Court King’s staircase

Friday, 4 July 2025 by Sagacity

Northern Welsh Castles

First, Happy Birthday Dad. As always, I am sure you will have all the neighbors celebrating with fireworks. Happy Birthday Jan, I know it was a week ago, but I am still thinking of you. Happy Birthday America. May all of you live long!

Yesterday and today we were off visiting several castles of Northern Wales. They are all built under the direction of Edward I in the late 1200’s. If Amanda wasn’t sick of castles yet, hopefully we have advanced her towards such a state.

Yesterday we visited Conwy and Beaumaris castles. There isn’t really any way for us to describe it rather than show you the photos. Which we will have to upload.

Fireplaces looking down into a Conwy tower

Amanda Ross in the rain on a tower of Conwy Castle

Paul Ross with layers at Conwy Castle, look at the fireplace and holes for floor joists

From Conwy we drove to Beaumaris Castle. We had to cross the Menai Suspension Bridge to get to Anglesey.

Beaumaris yard from wall with Amanda Ross

Amanda and Paul Ross at Beaumaris Castle

Paul Ross reading up about Beaumaris Castle

Today we drove straight out to Caernarfon Castle and it took about 4 hours to work our way through it. We ran into a lady named Gaby, and found out she was going to take a bus to Harlech after Caernarfon. We invited her to go with us to Harlech.

Location of Charles Investiture in 1969 at Caernarfon as Prince of Wales

Amanda at Caernarfon with Welsh flags flying

Looking inside one of the Caernarfon towers

Amanda Ross and interior of Caernarfon Castle

We all drove to Harlech when we finished Caernarfon. It was another beautiful castle situated high above an estuary. We spent a couple of hours there and then cut through Northern Wales. She was going to take the train back to Chester so we volunteered to drop her off. She effectively became our gate opener and closer as we drove through pasture after pasture in Wales. It was beautiful!

Do not try to ascend these Harlech stairs!

We finally made it back to a main path near Pentre Gwynfryn and cut back down to a main road. We took a turn at Penrhyndeudraeth and headed inland. We went right through the Welsh Mountains and it was beautiful.

We had lunch at Blaenau Ffestiniog. We haven’t a clue how to say it but I did get a fairly decent donner kebab. We also drove through Mold. We definitely have to mention that one! We dropped off our new friend, Gaby, in Chester and came home.

Liverpool skyline in the distance from Frodsham Hill, you can make out both cathedrals and other landmarks of the Liverpool skyline

Last night we went to visit some more friends who I knew as a missionary. As a credit, they all remembered my name even though we almost 10 years on. One of which was a man we baptized, Adam Dawson. Dawn’s parents, Ray and Joan Holmes, I have written of previously.

Dawn and Adam Dawson, Paul and Amanda Ross at their home in Runcorn

Anyhow, we are traveling maniacs!

Wednesday, 2 July 2025 by Sagacity

Chester, England

Some of you have already noticed, but I uploaded a whole lot of photos yesterday.

About 250 actually were in the batch. It includes the rest of the photos from Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France. I did not upload any photos from Scotland or England. They will have to wait for the next chance I get.

We are now staying with the Byrom family in Runcorn, England. Today we went to Chester and walked the walls.

We went through the cathedral and went down the main shopping streets. It was a beautiful day for what we were doing. We quite enjoyed ourselves. We each had a pasty and a vanilla finger. She liked it but it was too much.

We stopped by Ellesmere Port on the way home at a outlet mall. We picked out a couple of suits and bought them. However, we were not convinced we had the best deal, we took them back. Interestingly, on the way out, we stumbled upon another store. I found better quality suits that were on sale for almost half of the cost for the other two suits. Hands down, Amanda and I both liked the second store over the first. Now I have some new suits, one of the reasons I wanted to come back to Europe.

Homes in Chester, outhouses, plumbing, from Chester Wall

We had dinner this evening, some amazing lasagna. Rose has always made great lasagna. Afterward, Rose, Amanda, and I went to visit an older lady I taught on the mission. She was such a sweet soul and she proved to be the same. We have all aged, but the sociality has not diminished or changed with time. I think Amanda quite enjoyed Jane Young and her quaint little home in the English countryside.

Rose Byrom, Jane Young, Paul and Amanda Ross

Yesterday, we had dinner with Jack and Brenda Millington from Howe Bridge. Jack used to cook us as missionaries some wonderful homemade pot pies. Visiting with him on Sunday, he offered to make me and Amanda one. We agreed and met with them yesterday. The pot pie was as wonderful as ever, boiled cabbage, and homemade trifle. We really had some good laughs. Jack even sent us off with a couple of parting gifts.

Amanda and Paul Ross with Byrom Brothers, John on the right, their family in front

There are so many people that nearly 10 years have changed nothing. We don’t always remember each other’s names, but the feelings are still the same. Memories seem to come back quickly, surprisingly. What will heaven be like?

Monday, 30 June 2025 by Sagacity

Liverpool, England

Today was our visit to Liverpool. It is a short report as Amanda was feeling ill most of the day.

We visited Old Rufford Hall in the morning, drove to Liverpool, and visited the Anglican Cathedral and Albert Docks.

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral – highest and heaviest peal in the world

We also took a series of photos from the top of the bell tower:

Liverpool Anglican to the west – Birkenhead

Liverpool Anglican to the northwest – Liverpool, Vauxhall, Bootle – across the Mersey my first area, Seacombe, Liscard, and New Brighton

Liverpool Anglican up the Mersey to the Irish Sea

Liverpool Anglican looking at Liverpool Catholic Metropolitian Cathedral

We had to stop at Albert Dock. Amanda and I both had many family lines that came through Liverpool docks, very likely through Albert Dock.

Liver Building, Cunard Building, and Port of Liverpool Building from Albert Dock

Albert Dock looking at my first missionary area across the Mersey, Seacombe and Liscard

Albert Dock Promenade along Mersey River

Afterward, we drove back to Wigan through Upholland so Amanda could see the church where one of her family lines lived.

Upholland Church – St. Thomas the Martyr

Paul Ross at St. Thomas Church in Upholland

Tonight we had curry for dinner. That was definitely a treat.

Brenda Millington, Paul Ross, Jack Millington

Brenda Millington, Paul and Amanda Ross in Howe Bridge

And lastly, we stopped at my sacred grove location. It is somewhere between Roby Mill and Skelmersdale. I tried to locate it on a map, but it has changed enough I cannot locate it. But here are some photos. I located it on that trip in 2008. Amanda did not want to hike to it, so I went by myself.

View at the top of the hill from the quarry

Out building remnants not far from the quarry

Just for fun, a picture at some of the same remnants with Elders Gavin Wright and Joseph Hulse in 2000

Saturday, 7 June 2025 by Sagacity

Victor in Vianden

We have just returned from a trip to Luxembourg. I really am exhausted and don’t want to take the time to tell a whole lot. So you are only going to get an abbreviated version.

Yesterday we went to visit the Catholic church in Harelbeke, Belgium.

We then went to Kortrijk, Belgium and of course Amanda had to go to the chocolate shop for Belgium chocolate.

We did some window shopping, being tempted by some of the goods in the stores.

The suits were out of my range, as is about everything with the exchange rate with the Euro/Dollar.

We did snap a couple of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Afterward, we made our way back to Oostrozebeke and prepared for the trip to Vianden.

We drove through the beautiful Ardennes on the way and into Germany.

There was a storm the entire way so everything was highly misted and especially green.

We drove past Brussels, Liege, and stayed at the Grand Hotel de Vianden.

It was very pretty. Amanda and I went for a late night walk through the city for some photographs.

The bars were full but we enjoyed the sights. Victor Hugo lived in Vianden for a spell.

We saw the house he lived in and the bridge with his name and bust.

Today we arose and went for a tour of the Vianden Castle/Chateau. It was beautiful.

Originally there was a fort on the site in the time of Julius Caesar.

The current castle was built during the 13-14th centuries.

It fell into ruin but was restored in the 1970’s – 1980’s.

Vianden was the last town to be liberated in Luxembourg in 1945.

Afterward, we drove through the beautiful mountains to Luxembourg and went on a tour of many of the cities sights.

Catherine and James Cazier, Paul and Amanda Ross at Vianden Chateau

We saw the Notre Dame there. It was gorgeous with a huge, high wall.

Who would ever have thought?

Amanda and Paul Ross, Notre Dame, Luxembourg

We ate lunch at Pizza Hut of all places. Talk about going for the local cuisine.

I did have toasted bread with goat cheese on them (at Pizza Hut!) Did you know Luxembourg had a 1,000 year celebration? 963 to 1963. How is that for old?

The downtown market area reminded me much of London or Manchester, but the architecture is different.

We finished our trip to Luxembourg and came back to Oostrozebeke, Belgium. We will visit Antwerp and Brugge in the next couple of days before we make our way to Paris.

Sunday, 1 June 2025 by Sagacity

Welcome to June. It is already all planned out!

So, in the next few weeks, I am re-posting a series of posts from 2008. Back then, the glorious internet did not easily allow for photos to be included in a blog. Those photos then had to be posted separately as an album. With the updates of technology and wanting to more fully integrate those photos into the original posts from 2008, I am redoing all the posts from our 6 week European trip. This will help me link the photos with the steps of the trip. So, this is the 17 year reunion of this trip with photos integrated into the posts. This will also be fun to reconstruct and give inserts to the trip from 17 years more experience!

I freely edit any and all the posts to correct or update.

Boy, am I glad June is here! My wife has joined me from Virginia after our long separation due to job and school. What a relief! I don’t have to worry about her stressing herself out or pursued by a much more dashing, intelligent, catch of a man.

We leave this week for what may be the trip of a lifetime. How many times in a lifetime, if ever, does one get to go to Europe for 6 weeks? We will be starting with friends in Belgium, working our way to Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Germany, The Netherlands, England, Wales, Scotland, and who knows where else we may stumble. We cannot afford it, but why not live with some reckless abandon for a little while? We leave on the 4th to return on the 16th of July.

We signed a purchase contract for a home this month. Somewhere around the 22nd of June we will be closing on a humble home in Oklahoma City. Who would ever have thought my first home purchase would be in Oklahoma City? Did I ever think I would move or live in Oklahoma City. Most certainly not.

Amanda and I just hit all three of the Idaho temples this past week. Amanda had never been to any of them. We have now hit all three Idaho and 11 Utah temples. Before year end, we will have three more in those states to hit to make it complete once again. I am very sad I will be in Oklahoma City when the dedication of the Twin Falls Temple takes place. Amanda and I will be helping with the open house in July. I guess that is some solace for missing the dedication. I believe Idaho Falls and Manti are still my favorite temples. The Rexburg Temple has so many beautiful rooms. However, for some reason I still prefer the sessions that are split up into all their sections. Manti and Idaho Falls Temples both have you moving between all the rooms. Manti has the pioneer value and beauty with a live session, but the simplicity of Idaho Falls with its rooms and movement make it a favorite. Salt Lake certainly has the beauty but the place seems more like a zoo than a temple, especially in the summer with all the sealings.

This past week Amanda spent a day with me at work doing bench testing. It was a beautiful day and we spent nearly all of it in Minidoka. The Minidoka Longhorn Cafe and Whitesides Dairy were enjoyable for me. The wastewater we play with is less than beautiful but it is part of life. Whether we like it or not, we all have waste and somebody has to deal with it. I thought Amanda was going to throw up at one point when we were doing some filtration. She kept it down, luckily. The day turned out well. Except for the fact Amanda picked up a tick somewhere. Not only did she pick him up, the tick dug in and started to sup near the middle of her calf. She was not a happy camper when she discovered him. A little polish remover and it backed right out. Hope it got plenty to eat for the long stay in the septic tank.

For the first time in 8 years since Grandma Ross passed away, all my siblings were back together. Becky was coming through Southern Idaho so Scott organized a BBQ. All five of us where there. It was really quite a bit of fun and I enjoyed myself. Vicki, Dad’s first wife, was there. Dad and Jan were there as well. Andra brought Brian and Daniel and little Daniel was certainly a favorite.

I know I have not been writing as much. Despite more people reading the blog than ever before, I just don’t feel like I have much to write. A couple of people want me to write more relevant things that would pertain to them, but how does one write interesting things for everyone? Then, how does anyone write for someone else and keep their voice and soul into it?

Tuesday, 6 May 2025 by Sagacity

Riverton Classical Academy secures land donation in Heyburn

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