University town

Wednesday the kids finally finished their current school year and were let out for summer, in an attempt to keep them somewhat stimulated throughout this break I came up with a list of things to do with them. I wanted to come up with things that would hopefully entertain them but not be too painful for me to be involved, and as my daughter was given several homework assignments and they are going to learn a little more about the work I do around the house as I am getting a little tired of the 'What DO you do all day' question, not too time consuming. I thought it might be fun to show off the efforts of these activities as they are completed, or at least the ones that go well. Thursday we made microwave chips, and although our first attempt were tasty we agreed some tweaks needed to be made and then next day I applied the changes and the results were very nice.

Returning to a Pinterest recipe for Fridays stimulation, we tried a homemade chocolate sauce recipe. Both the kids were anxious to try this one and to sample the fruits of their labor. Which is why it was tried in milk and on ice cream, both which we enjoyed, luckily as the recipe made more than I would have expected so we will be having that for pudding and nothing else.

Having heard much about its beauty and many offerings too look at and explore I was happy to spend Saturday exploring Oxford. The home of 34 individual universities all within very close proximity, that make up the Oxford university, it is a beautiful city of learning. 

Very compact and heavily populated they encourage you to park outside the city and take a bus into the center of town. This weekend was also graduation ceremony time and the streets were spilling over with accomplished students and proud families attempting to get the perfect photo op and shower congratulations. I admit I wished I was wearing the long gown with fur trimmed collars standing with my scroll in front of the historic building as it was very easy to get caught up in the excitement that was palpable in the air. As so many people opt to not bring their cars into the city Oxford becomes a very walkable place to be. The campus's are not only close together but are also interspersed with shopping and restaurants making it very easy to imagine living the student life there.

It is a city full of libraries, bookstore, beautiful architecture, and galleries and so made you feel somewhat intelligent just by walking around its maze like street systems, as if the walls themselves can teach you. As so many of the buildings have been standing for hundreds of years there is a distinct possibility that these particular structures could in fact teach me more than one thing. Despite the threat of rain that hung over us ominously all day, most green spaces were filled with people soaking up the vibe of the place with artists drawing and singers singing, adding to the development of self this place seems to create. Crowded, noisy, and for me easy to misplace myself but still a place I will encourage my children to someday attend, enjoy and grow from being in.

  

Reflections

Life settles into a routine, it always will, and so it has for me. Every weekday morning I get up have breakfast and start a load of laundry. This is not an exaggeration, if I don't do washing every day I will never get the clothes dried, the kids would be uniformless and the machine would never hold a load, so each morning I put in the clothes before I do almost anything else so that it has the most time possible to dry. Then of course the work it requires to get the kids off to school with homework done and lunches packed. Once this is done I put in as good a workout as my living room allows. Then I shower and get myself ready for the day. Most days will require a walk to the shops for groceries or other supplies one can't live without, but even if nothing is required I still try to get in a stroll through the neighborhood. These are the everyday, routine things that I do, this week I also visited a friends home, went for lunch with a different friend, did a bunch of baking and finally finished the furniture projects I had on the go.

You can see from the picture that my current hobbies fill my living room as I work on them. The table, chairs and entertainment unit have all been refinished and this week the final top coats were applied and I was able to finally put them out of the the way as much as possible. Of course this meant I had to search out and find what my next project should be. I also cut my sons hair, this was a two part job as I didn't have clippers and had never used any before even if I had. I know that many women out there will be rolling their eyes at me right now but after walking over to the store to pick up a set I then had to read all the instructions before I would even be willing to go near his head. Finally Thursday we gave him what we are calling his summer hair which makes it sound like I went that short on purpose instead of the truth which is that I picked to low a number. This weekend my daughter had a big fancy dance over in Wales, her first since being in the country, and this required a new dress, a manicure, pedicure and the day of a elaborate up do and make up application. The point I suppose is that I keep myself pretty busy, perhaps even busier in some ways than I did in Canada. I am making friends, something I don't do great at, developing new hobbies, trying new recipes, getting outside, planning trips and visiting new places. It is odd then that I can still have so many moments of feeling lost and out of place. Interestingly I still have times when I succumb to boredom and find myself wondering what I should do with myself.  As I asked myself the question this week 'why', I discovered the truth about me, I am a leaner. I realized that I had always counted on my family and friends to simply be there when I needed them, if there was a time that I found myself at a loss I would dial one of them up or pop out for a visit. Now with all of them so far away instead I stare at the clock and calculate how long before it is an appropriate time to face time. I am glad to be in this beautiful country and am loving the opportunities that it affords me but I wanted to let those back home know that without you, I will always be a little lost.

Today was another remarkable sunny day so after church we packed a picnic for tea and headed to another of Swindon's parks. As I know some of you count on photos and travel tips I thought I should include these.

The park has a fairly good sized lake, that I am told that people used to swim in but opt not to these days, with a walking trail that skirts all around. In the park there is also an eighteen hole golf course for those into that kind of thing and for those at my golf skill level a mini golf course as well. There are plenty of grassy spots to lay out and work on your tan and lots of shade to lay out blankets and enjoy a meal in the outdoors. When the heat get too much or after working up your appetite circling the lake there is also and ice cream vendor that was doing roaring business today. Kids can also play on the playground or in the sand pit  so really there is something for everyone and it is easy to see why so many people head out there on a sunny Sunday afternoon, much to the chagrin of some seeking more private interludes, like for example the couple enjoying each other a little too much on the next blanket over from us. After some significant coughing and loud talking they did seem to get the hint and we were all able to go back to enjoying nature as was intended. 

Lydiard Park

We decided that this weekend we would stick closer to home and explore our own city and everyone said that we should check out Lydiard Park, so being obedient off we went. It was another beautiful weekend here and so a picnic lunch seemed in order and an afternoon walking the expansive park was the perfect way to spend our Saturday. The park is actually the grounds of a house owned now by the borough of Swindon but up until 1940 was owned by the same family that built it in the 1400's. Now converted into a bit of a tourist spot with a couple of cafes and ice cream shops, a large playground, a lake, miles of walking trails and even more green space to lay out on and enjoy an alfresco meal. We were not allowed to photograph inside the house which you can tour, but an amazingly passionate employee showered us with additional information about the property and the homeowners. I think at one point she was worried she was bothering us but I found her information interesting and even the kids would stop what they were saying to listen and learn from her.

One of the women who was mistress of the house was an avid gardener, and so before her marriage broke up when she left with her lover, a beautiful walled garden was constructed for her enjoyment. As I walked through and marveled at the beauty I couldn't help feel a little bad for those women in their long heavy gowns that would have taken a turn in the almost shade free paths. In fact I felt pretty bad for the gardeners who were working the grounds in the 30 degree sun we were enjoying.

Also on the grounds and built for the use of the original homeowners and their future generations was a chapel. The old structure has a sign posted right inside the gate informing you of all the worship times that are available to attend but as you walk around it, it is very difficult to imagine sitting all that comfortably through a service in the somewhat decrepit building. 

Of course the kids were anxious to see the large playground and were pretty insistant that after some ice cream that should be our next stop in the park. Sadly not very long into their exploration of the equipment offered they settled on the swing set while it was available and my son fell in a most spectacular way that is really very hard to explain directly onto his head into the wood chips below his swing.  Despite an impressive bump on the back of skull he was fine but it did do a masterful job of ending time on the actual playground as we left in search of ice. However despite this first introduction they are both determined to go back and try all the apparatus available, presumably without the head drop.

We still managed to walk some of the trails once the tears had dried and found a lovely shaded spot right by the lake to enjoy the remainder of the waning afternoon and devour our packed dinner before we headed home for the evening. We all had something we still wanted to explore and as the park is really only about 15 minutes from us I assume that we will be back for more picnics here. The also host many theater in the park options that we may draw us back as well.

Today we were invited to spend the afternoon visiting some friends who live about 30 minutes down the road in a village in the Cotswolds. I felt disappointed that I forgot to grab my camera as they walked us around the charming village. Small, intimate and full of the beautiful white brick houses that I have come to truly love, I found the place completely endearing and well worth the drive.

Off to the Beach

Okay I admit, I find planning activities here very stressful. Every week I face the decision of what we should do or where we should go, and every week I feel totally overwhelmed. The problem is that there are so many things to see here and so many places that I am dying to visit that picking one means not picking potentially something better. I know that I have many weekends and will undoubtedly will get to see everything that I want to but as it is still all very new it can sometimes be a little daunting. But this time it was all clear, the sun was shining, not a cloud to be seen and the forecast was as optimist as the view from my window, we needed to get to a beach. We asked around and looked online and discovered a place called Bournemouth, and from everything we learned this was the beach for us. So Saturday morning bright and early we got up and headed off in hopes that we could beat the rush and find our own patch of sand to claim as our own.

If you get a chance you really should check out the Bournemouth tourist page, it will show you pictures of the beach and city, inform you about surf lessons and give you a rather amusing comparison of Bournemouth and California. Having visited both places I can see why they feel they can compare the two places, both have long sandy shorelines, both have green cliffs that can line the beach side, both are full of surfers and paddle boarders, both are beautiful. I can't say knowing that Bournemouth is only two hours away doesn't make me long for the beaches of California less but it is a pretty good place to spend some time and I will certainly go back.

The stretch of beach goes on for seven miles, I am told and as far as I can tell there was not one section not at least somewhat populated but anything around the piers was densely so. Around the two piers is where the restaurants are located, where you would find someone to teach you to surf, and any shopping to be found by the beach is also found here, which is of course the reason for the crowds. As the two piers are quite a distance from each other they provide a little train to take you between the two, for a fee of course but having walked between them I can see the appeal of using the moving transportation.

Also running along the cliffs and nestled neatly facing the coastline are these tiny cottages that you can rent, inside they have a camp stove and chairs and some small amenities that make a day at the beach enjoyable. They also offer something that the rest of the seven miles of coast doesn't, shade, so again you could see the appeal of shelling out the cash to secure one for yourself.

We spent a glorious day basking in the sunlight, splashing in the frigid water, well the kids did as it was far too cold for me, and walking the coast and planning our next visit. We got burnt and tired and came home full of all our adventures. 

  

  

Weekend in Dover

We took our first weekend getaway this week and went to the Dover area of Kent. Along the coast line within very few miles of each other there are three impressive castles and we spent all of Saturday exploring them. We started our day at Dover castle, the largest and truthfully most interesting of the three.Parts of Dover castle were originally built in 1066 and the castle was garrisoned uninterruptedly until 1958. Part of the castles early history involved secret underground tunnels that were dug during the Napoleonic age and played an important role in WWII. A rescue operation called Operation Dynamo was run from these tunnels where some 380000 soldiers were rescued from Dunkirk and brought back to the castle. You can in fact tour the tunnels and experience an interactive telling of this mission that is very moving, however the taking of photos while underground is not allowed. I wish I could have captured on film for you the experience of our journey through the underground. The noise, smell, and dankness of the tunnels added to the feeling of closeness to the many thousands of young men who walked those halls and experienced a life most of us will hopefully never have to. Etched into the stone walls throughout the tunnels were the names of those who helped dig it out and some of those that served later in the already dug caverns, it took great self control not to place my hands on all the names and say out loud that they are not forgotten.

Th the heart of the castle stand the Great Tower, built between 1180 and 1185 it was home to King Henry II. Most of you will know that as a king he was impressive but as a man he left a little to be desired and touring through the tower you learn all about his tumultuous life. Obviously confused about who he was I heard one small child say to his mum after learning some new fact about him, " He doesn't sound like the Robin Hood I know". He certainly does not! Interesting for those who have seen it, this is where 'The Other Boleyn Girl' was filmed so there is a certain level of authenticity to that movie.

As you walk around the expansive grounds there is an extra challenge to guess what years the various buildings would have been constructed in. Some obviously bearing a strong Roman influence while others have an almost modern feel being built as late as 1913. Having spent many of its later years as a military structure you can definitely see the impression that its various commanding officers left on it, as a military man himself I was struck over and over how much my dad would have gotten from the area that I undoubtedly overlooked.

Okay, I am going to prove my girlishness and say that the next stop on our tour, Walmer Castle was the prettiest we've been to yet. Most castles are dark and dank and make you wonder how uncomfortable they would have been to live in but with its relatively modern fittings and its beautiful gardens I could see the appeal of taking up abode.Not surprising as Her Majesty, the Queen Mother made regular visits to the castle and had her own garden built on the grounds presented to her on her 95th birthday. 

I got some artistic shots of foliage on the ground that I won't subject you to but will tell you that when they build a garden for the Queen they don't mess around. It housed some of the most spectacular array of flowers and greenery I have seen in a long time. And anyone who has visited either my mothers or my mother in laws gardens knows that is saying something! Inside the house you can tour many of the rooms that the Queen would have frequented during her stay and as someone who studied furniture and house design I often paused to see how our modern designers were influenced by these early craftsmen.

In the same way I wished for my dad at Dover I couldn't help feeling like my mum and mother in law were at Walmer to walk the grounds and tell me the names of the different flowers. Despite having two amazing gardeners in my life it somehow passed right by me and I would have liked their guidance.

We ended our day at Deal Castle which as it was the least impressive of the three it was a somewhat deflating way to end our adventure. This particular castle was a good reminder that living in these stone fortresses would have been uncomfortable, cold and quite frankly smelly. This small castle had none of the comforts that the other castles had been fitted with and it was by far the coldest of them, which would probably have been a delightful feature in the summer months but would have made even mild winters long and  intolerable. However the view was nice and you could see why a person might chose to settle in the area.

Welcome to Wales

This past week my daughter had an activity in Swansea, Wales and we decided to all drive up. The two hour drive was somewhat lengthened by our GPS getting set to avoid toll roads and so we enjoyed an extra half hour meandering through the motorways of Wales. The road side scenery was pretty and the sun was shining but what kept as all amused travelling along were the street signs, which showed us the Welsh translation of whatever was written on them. Trying to pronounce warnings and city names kept the car filled with laughter and speculation. The ones on the freeways are far more interesting but as only those with a death wish would stop on well populated road way here, I took a photo of one on a much safer street corner once in Swansea.

Once my daughter was set up with her group my son could not wait to head over to the beach which was just a five minute walk away. As you begin moving toward the sea side the view of the water was completely blocked by tree lined path ways that skirt along the sand edge but also leave you wondering just how close the water actually is.

However just past this trail, really feet from this spot you break through and the vast shoreline stretches out in front of you. The tide was out but this left miles and miles of the softest sand and a plethora of shells to sort and collect.  

We spent time basking in the sun, letting the sand push between our toes and thinking our life was charmed. Although the tide never did come in while we were on the beach, we picked up a nice sun burn and so felt we really had been to a beach after all. Admittedly I didn't in my mind associate Wales with sunny days and beautiful beaches I enjoyed both in my day there and have since been coming up with reasons why we would need to go back.