The Ginger One Is Leaving

I went to Wallingford to meet up with Hollabird for a farewell catch up.  We had (as usual) a very civilised evening chatting and having a giggle.  It was the day before the big move and a Friday so I was feeling a bit tired so I knew/hoped it wouldn't be a late night.  At about nine we decided to call it a night.  We said our goodbyes and promised to keep in touch.  I texted GO, and planned to snuggle in my bed (for the last time ever).  "Why don't you come and join us?"I arrived just as the parking was free (always a good sign), my plan was to stay for a while and then head home.Five hours later, after laughing, dancing and eating the place almost dry, we said goodbye and headed home.  It was a fun night and I'm glad I went.  GO has made some good friends at the pub and has lots of laughs it was lovely to see them sending him on his way in style.

A bit of autumn sunshine

I bailed on last nights late date night, I had spent the whole day cleaning and packing and just couldn't move off the sofa.  So I arranged an early morning date instead.  

9.30 this morning we set off to the bells calling the parisheners l to Sunday morning worship, we were planning a fellowship of our own.  

I wonder why GO finds this sign so funny?

After parking and passing about a dozen cars packed with duvets, lamps and kettles (the students are returning), we found a seat at a little eatery on George Street opposite the Old Fire Station and placed our orders.  

A quiet street in Oxford is rare

GO ordered a breakfast wrap (sausage, bacon, egg and a hash brown) and I ordered my usual breakfast of choice (because I can't make it myself) Eggs Benedict.  Apart from the eggs being overdone, it was yummy and I inhaled it quickly. One of the benefits of the restaurant was the unlimited coffe refills.  Need I say more?  

Never seen him before

GO is working until 9pm AGAIN (and is finding the workplace rather stressful) so I decided to go for a bit of a bimble around the Jericho part of Oxford. 

We held our engagement party here

It's not a side of Oxford I am that familiar with, it's not on the bus line and to get there is a bit of a walk.   We did have our engagement party in the Freud bar there four years ago, apart from that I have no idea what it's like.

I wandered through streets that reminded me of Bath and BBC costume dramas (The Bucaneers), taking photos and just absorbing the gorgeous autumn sunshine. I will miss days like this when we move.

Date Night

In the past month I can count on one hand how many days where GO and I have spent time together.  Most weekends I have been spent on the sofa watching X Factor.  

A few weeks ago, GO was finishing at nine, I decided to surprise him and meet him in town for drinky poos.  The draw of the sofa was too much.  Tonight, however, I am going into town for an evening of cocktails and to make sure I have laid out my outfit.

So at nine o clock this evening (when traditionally my dates I'm single life used to wind down) I will hop on a bus straight to Oxford Hogh Street to meet up with my lovely husband for a late date.

UPDATE

We had a blast, I met GO outside the Radcliffe Camera, I was walking to meet him at the White Horse (the COCO café was closed), he was walking towards the COCO and we just passed each other in the street.  It was a wonderful moment  we just looked up and saw each other.

 It was terrible romantic, meeting so unexpectedly under the spires of Oxford. To increase the romance GO was holding a single white rose for me.  My heart nearly exploded out of my chest.  We headed to the Turl Street Kitchen for our first drink. It was the end of the evening for them so the bar was quiet and meant we could have a nice long chat and a catch up.  Then we headed to the Caslte Quarter to The Living Room (a huge cocktail bar). It wasn't too full and we managed to find somewhere to sit, the music was very loud, and awesome retro noughties vibe, so we spent the rest of the evening dancing and singing.  We had a great time.  Arriving home just after midnight for a cup of tea and toast.

Bank Holiday Shenanigans - Part 2

I'm walking to Oxford 

"I have to go in and do a split shift!  I work until four in the kitchen and then at nine in the bar.  You can come into Oxford at four, we could wander around the parks of Oxford. There are some lovely parks (repeating a phrase I always say to him) and then we could have dinner somewhere nice."  I could see the tension in his eyes.  Would I be disappointed or would this be a good idea?

A Break in the rain

"Sounds like a plan!"  I said, "although I might not take the bus.  I might walk to Oxford and meet you.  There is a street food fair on in the Castle!"  It was sorted.   Sunday was going to be quite fun.  When I opened the curtains on Sunday it was very grey and over cast.  Thankfully it looked like it had been raining but had stopped.  I pottered about the house, Skyped my parents and very quickly decided that I wouldn't walk as it had started raining again.

A bit wet out!

I had a long soak in the bath and planned my outfit, I decided I'd wear my new summer dress (a bit optimistic I know) with a long sleeved t shirt and my tan boots, perfect spring/summer warm/cold weather.  I looked out the window, blueish skies and  it felt quite warm.  I decided to walk, I wouldn't make it to the pub at half four, but it wouldn't be far off.  Off I went walking poles in hand, I packed a jacket and umbrella just in case.  I ha just started to climb up the hill to Shotover when it began spitting.  

I think for me that's a good time

I was a quarter way up the hill when it began tipping it down.  I stood do a while and pondered what to do.  I could turn back and walk to the bus stop, I'd get to Oxford in plenty of time and I wouldn't be soaked!  But.....  I had wanted to walk to Oxford for quite a while now, the rain wasn't too heavy and had already started to slow down.  I decided to carry on.  

The hill is a killer, I've never made it up in one go and is the most difficult part of the walk.  It took me half hour to walk up it.  I will have to try it again to see if that is a good time or not.  I sent various messages to G.O and my family, "I'm walking to Oxford and want a shandy ready when I get there!" responses varied from "well we're off to town for an ice cream" from my papichen, "What you mean [sic]" from mamilein, I can't be any more specifc than that surely? and from G.O "can you bring the rug sack [sic]?"

I made it up and over the hill in one soggy and muddy piece.  I was sure G.O would have a spare jacket or something (Spoiler Alert - he didn't).  

Doggers

On the decent I passed some stones, as I got closer I was able to read the sign.  "These 'Doggers' were formed before the ice age and are found all over Shotover."  I am glad I was alone because I found that hilarious, yes, I have the mind of a teenage boy.

Quicker than apple maps

The rest of the walk wasn't particularly interesting, it was a slog and the closer I got to Oxford the more tourists who would just stop in front of me.  i wanted to shout "I've just walked a quarter marathon, move it!"  But that just doesn't sound that impressive.  

After 1.48minish I arrived at the pub and the first order of business, rehydration, I knew what I needed it just wasn't what I wanted.  I downed a pint of milk.   To celebrate G.O took me to Byron Burgers, which just serves the most amazing burgers and chips, perfect! We did make it to the street fair, but we were too full to even think about food! 

Did I walk home again that is the question?

Oxford wanderings

No sibling rivalry here.

Mid December I received an email from my brother informing me of the intinarary he had planned for his stay.  Once a military man always a military man.  After visiting the parentals in Deutschland he would visit his bestie by the beach and was then planning to come and visit us.  The first day he wanted to do an Oxford Harry Potter tour, just a walk around Oxford looking at some filming locations, and the. Go out fr afternoon tea.  I managed to co once G.O to come in to town with me, if only for the tea.

As we were chatting about times to leave, I asked what time the tour started, perhaps we could meet up afterwards.  It was then that brother informed me, "oh, I have a map you can do the tour for us."

Before we set off I decided that we would have to line our stomachs, nothing sets you up for the day like a proper breakfast.  And what better place to get a good and budget friendly breakfast, why whether spoons of course.

Full English

Eggs Benedict are my guilty pleasure.

He turned blonde with grief

You never know what you will see when you pop into Oxford

A devil, a knight and Father Christmas put on a little play in the pub, all in the name of charity.

They put on a little skit which involved Santa killing the devil and knocking the knight on his bottom.  

Which is when someone dressed like a doctor came rushing in to revive him.  All while the other customers sat and had their meals/drinks.

Only in Oxford!  To which G.On replied "it's like this every night!"

An age old invite - first meeting

 

 

Hey Dirk/Girls,

 

It was good to catch up the other weekend, albeit brief!  Please find attached an invite to my Oxford pub crawl leaving do on Sat 27th October.  Kick off is at 3pm, though you can come for as long or short as you like.  You're welcome to crash the night in our living room, though it might be a little tight if you're all coming.  The best way to get to Oxford is via coach (Oxford Tube from London - http://www.oxfordtube.com/) or rail from London Paddington.  Give me a call on my mobile if you need anymore info or email me bharvey83@gmail.com.

 

Very much hope you can make it!!!

 

Thanks,

Ben

I was sorting out my Hotmail email when I came across this.  It's the invite to the leaving party in Oxford where I met G.O, not many people have the invite to meet the love of their life.

 

 

Lovely Lovely People

This has been the summer of visitations and felicitations, after all of the stresses and strains of working in the little village school I made a conscious effort to go and see the people that I love and who make me feel good about myself.
Some of them are near by and I see on a regular basis, but some special people live a little bit further away, so seeing them requires lots of planning and forethought.  Whoever I am spending time with I always enjoy myself and wish I could stay longer.

Breakfast Date

As G.O often works evening and weekend shifts and I'm a usual Monday to Friday 9-5 (ish), it's often hard for us to fit in quality time away from TTC.

Recently we have been going on breakfast dates, we get up early on a Sunday (I know) and head into town for a breakfast and coffee, then he goes to work and I bimble around.

Bill's is a favourite venue of ours, and also of the of other people up and about at sparrows fart. 

After we have parted I have take strolling around town, before it gets busy with students and tourists.

Oxford is a lovely town, full of history and beautiful architecture.

One of my favourite places to go in Oxford is the covered market.

 It is full of little shops, cafés and Boutiques.

It's like a secret place away from the rest of the world.

Apart from all of the tourists and students  all know about it.

It is a little piece of heaven on Earth.