I know we just updated the website yesterday, but today was so nice that I, Toby, wanted to write about it before I forgot it.
It started as any good Sunday should - not until about 9:00am. First, a shower where the water drained well. Tom had snaked out the tub drain which was a real slow drainer (even after a good shot of drain cleaner 2 weeks ago). Then I turned on the computer and, after checking for email, got hooked on a new game: Alchemy. Uh oh. While I was mesmerized by the screen, Tom went out and got the Sunday Times which we then read on the living room floor with sun streaming in the front windows.
At about 12:30, we headed out to take our first walk down the towpath to Oxford city center. To towpath runs right along the canal and it is about a 45 minute walk from our flat to city center. It was a sunny day, about 60 degrees - perfect weather for the walk. Unfortunately, we didn't think to bring the camera - sorry. There were a number of people on the path, walkers, runners, bikers, families, dogs, ducks and even a few swans. One of the swans even had her tail fanned out (or whatever it is you call what swans do with their tail feathers). I don't think I'd ever seen that before up close and personal. Way cool.
There are also a good number of narrow boats in the canal - long, skinny houseboats of sorts. Most of them looked pretty ratty from the outside, but most had gardens on the roofs (flat roofs with potted plants) and bags of coal they must use for heat. Some folks were working on them, some eating breakfast, some just hanging. Pretty tight living quarters, but a nice concept.
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| A few pics of the towpath, found on the web somewhere (i.e. not taken by us). | |
Despite the wonderful surroundings, I got a headache shortly after starting due to my sunglasses not fitting well anymore - I think a number of you who are reading this have probably sat on them at one time or another while getting into my car. Thanks. (Although I guess you can't really expect much from $10 sunglasses from and auto parts store, now can you?) Given that it was such a nice walk even with a headache, I am looking forward to doing it again without one.
Once downtown, we stopped into a pub for lunch and to lose a few pounds - money pounds - in the fruit/slot machines that are everywhere here. It's pretty fast and painless when you lose, but twice now I've won some money. That's all it takes to keep me coming back. It's one of the things about me that scare Tom. Oh well. At least I know my limits.
We continued on to Cornmarket Street, the main shopping street (a pedestrian way which makes it really nice), where we saw street performers. An Irish group, a quintet playing Greensleeves and what seemed to be a 5 member clarinet group playing A Klezmer Wedding. Just a perfect day for it.
We did some shopping, got me some new sunglasses (thanks Tom) and Tom a few books, 
and as we were heading towards Blackwell's (big famous book store) we noticed that the gates to Trinity College were open. It just so happens that today is National Gardens Day all over England and there are a number of gardens around the country that our open to the public for a fee (which goes to charity). Some are normally open, others aren't. You can get a tour of Trinity College but you can't just walk in any time you want. None of the college campuses (as far as I know) are generally open to the public unless by tour.
Anyway, for a small fee (which I believe went to the Radcliffe Hospital's Haematology and bone marrow something or other) we got to go in and stroll around the gardens. Plus we got to see the chapel which looked and smelled pretty old. It was long and narrow with really uncomfortable pews facing the center. The whole place had a really old, classic feel to it. They were selling tea and scones in one of the dining areas that had the long tables with rows of chairs on either side - just like in all the movies. It really was like stepping back in time - way back in time with a quick stop by the early 80's when I was at Wellesley.
The gardens were lovely. Lots of green grass, pretty flowers, a fountain in one of the smaller gardens, and people hanging out in the sun. Again, where was our camera??? Tom stole (sorry, took) a pine cone from under one of the trees. It's pretty cool because it hasn't opened up yet.
At 4:40, we boarded the 6A bus to come home where once again I could sit and be mesmerized by the computer while Tom sat in front of the TV with a computer book (so he can do more funky things with the website!). The other thing we did when we got home was to fill out the health club application and make health assessment appointments for tomorrow night. We ARE going to join the gym. Phew.
Tonight it is pasta for dinner, The West Wing and 24 (Kieffer Sutherland show Tom's into).
Maybe it was the weather, or the obvious proximity of spring, but for what really was just an ordinary day, today seemed magnificent. So I thought I'd share.
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