Oxford

Upon entering Oxford you pass by college after college which all form part of The University of Oxford. All in all there are 39 colleges that make up the University of Oxford, bet you didn't know that!

My first time in Oxford was in 1999/2000 when a friend from College was a Rhodes Scholar so my friend Andrea and I came over to visit her. We came during her winter recess since there were many people and we could actually stay with her in the dorms. Erin, the Rhodes Scholar, was rowing for the University of Oxford Women's Lightweight 8 and therefore at school for training over the break.

Back to May 2008, as we were driving in everyone was looking to me for directions, and as I didn't say much but to go straight because nothing in that vicinity was looking familiar I insisted we park the car and walk. Much to my delight, when we started walking it all came back. I remembered a club that we went dancing at down a little street, the pubs that we walked by that we went to and then little breakfast shop that Andrea and I frequented about everyday for Scones and Tea! Great! I know where I am now!

So first stop then, Christ Church College.









Luckily the rain had basically stopped when we were in Oxford as this was an all outdoors trip since school was out and Colleges were closed. After walking around Christ Church and Corpus Christi Colleges we headed to the main part of Oxford.

Here is a picture from the inside garden of Hertford College (the one you could go into that day).





Then on to New College (Erin this is for your memories!) Erin went to New College when she was studying there for 2 years.






(Merton College)

Some Random Pictures throughout the rest of Oxford:

Stratford-upon-Avon

We are still alive and kicking! We have just been very busy, but we will get to that is a later post. On to this past weekend, which was a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK, and with visitors in town we were off to Stratford-upon-Avon in our rented Nissan Note.

You must be wondering what there is to do in Stratford-upon-Avon??

1. Anne Hathaway's House

2. William Shakespeare's Birthplace

After an hour and 45min. drive up the M40 we arrived destination number 1 above, Anne Hathaway's house. We paid our entrance fee and walked in with our raincoats on and umbrellas fully extended. It was pouring.

Anne Hathaway's House (pictured with Aunt Judy, Scott and Mom Tune)

































To the left is a picture of the 'Willow Cabin'


















Some of the gorgeous flowers that were in the Garden:

This is my favorite one there and I need to find out the name of it.

Some facts learned at Anne Hathaway's House:

1. To clean the chimneys in the old days you would put 1-2 chickens down the chimney and let them flap their way out which would cause all of the soot to come loose.

2. A wheat thatched roof only lasts about 30 years whereas a water seed thatched roof lasts about 70years.

3. The first picture above of the house has two roofs. The roof to the right was just replaced and work finished 3 weeks ago. The total cost was £80,000 ($160,000). Imagine doing that every 30 years :-(

Below is Shakespeare's Birthplace and some photos from around his gardens.

Facts learned at Shakespeare's Birthplace:

1. William left in his will to his wife their 2nd best bed. Scott's thoughts too. Why just the 2nd best bed? Well the first best bed in a house was for your guests.

2. William's family paid some debt off for the Hathaway Family

3. William and Anne had to file for a special marriage certificate since they were under the age of 19.

It was all in all a great time in Stratford-upon-Avon but could have been better if it weren't raining. After leaving Stratford-upon-Avon, we headed to Oxford for a quick trip around the town/city and to show Ma Tune and Judy Oxford University. Pictures to follow later.

Random

It has been a few weeks since we posted anything and there is good reason for that. We have been busy.

A quick glimpse of the what is happening in our life right now:

• Scott is going in for Lasik surgery tomorrow morning to hopefully rid himself of contacts/glasses that he has had for the past 19 years.
• John, Stephanie and their daughter Katie are visiting us now until Sat. am (John is my brother's best friend and what I consider my other brother).
• We are going to get our Russian visas tomorrow (if I can get Scott's without him being there otherwise he will get his Friday)
• Libby is traveling to South Africa for the next 8-10 weeks (on and off)

So lots going on in the next week!

This past weekend we had a great time though as we were in the US. It was a semi-surprise visit as my family knew that we were coming in and Scott's mom did but the rest was really a surprise.

We landed Friday afternoon and ran a few errands before heading off to Yankee Stadium to watch the NY Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners. The YANKEES WIN!

Saturday morning we jetted off early (7am) for Binghamton, NY to watch Ryan (Scott's brother) and Kayla (my cousin) row in the NY State Collegiate Rowing Championship Races. We only watched the heat races since the finals were on Sunday and we were not staying over night for that. Iona College's rowing team did extremely well in the heats! Congrats to all! Saturday night we had friends over for dinner and then headed out to the local bowling alley and bowled 3 games and had a good time!

Sunday, Scott and I met our friends Andrea and John (Andrea is due in August) and gave them a baby gift as I will not be able to make it home for the shower. We had a lovely time with them and it was great catching up with friends!

Monday we met an architect about renovations to our house and should hear this week on pricing, etc. for the architect and within a month have drawings! We can't wait!!!! We then just rand some errands and packed for the airport to fly home.

It was great seeing everyone at home and Scott and I are more excited as the time ticks down to move back to the US! 7 months and 3 days!