Best Western Jersey Arms Hotel Oxford

Right...23 Days to go!! Not long now since i started counting at 385!!!
Only 10 actual days of my "real" work left to do then i'm out of here! I can't actually belive i'm going it somehow does not seem real!
I think the nerves are setting in and the waves of happiness and fear come and Go!!!!!
I never though for a minute i would leave the comfort of a perfectly good job, home and my family and friends to travel on my own ...

With time rapidly dwindling I went down to Banbury way this afternoon to visit my brother et famille before I leave, taking the opportunity to say goobye to two young nephews - one of whom was able to appreciate some of the implications of what I am doing, "But what if you get sick?" he asked. :-)

Back up to Stoke in the late evening. Last day of preparations tomorrow.

About 16 months ago we were walking down the street with my then boyfriend, Michal, discussing what we wanted to do in the future; buy a house, move to another city, travel for a few months. We both agreed that travelling was a far more appealing option than buying a house. Funnily enough when we said that, we'd just passed Trailfinders in Oxford. It would have been a sin not to go in and at least ask about the trip so this is how the idea ...

... our way and then had to hitchhike back as no buses run on Sunday. Then we got lost finding my friend Dominic's house in Oxford. So it was an adventurous day. Our camera broke, but valiantly, with over 600 pictures just on this trip. We got another one though.

... contained within their own walls, eerie gargoyles, and parapets and each just as beautiful and historic as the next. The grounds are always impeccable with manicured lawns and walks of pebbles, none of which have strayed from their path. Most of the colleges are closed to the public, but a few allow visitors in for a small fee. We decided to check out a couple - Magdalen College and Christ Church College. Both were ...

... Road, Oxford - my new address. It is a quant little lodging, with a blue door, lots of small rooms, and a messy thicket of a garden as our backyard. I have my own room adjoining the common room with a view to the back, and there is a gloriously large and truly fully equipped kitchen as well. I even have a miniscule washroom on the bottom floor. After hurriedly looking through the house, I noticed a page in my orientation packet informing me that I was currently missing 75% of my ...

... just been bitten. He started shacking it wildly as it was starting to burn. If you have been keeping up on the blogs you have probably already figured out what just happened. He showed me his arm and sure enough it was turning red and white spots were starting to appear, it was our long lost friend stinging nettles from last weekend. At least this time we could see what it looked like as we knew exactly which bush he just ...

... live and work. It overlooks the plains where the Civil War was fought and was built after the war in 1750. It had a lovely lounge in which we had a drink and then drove back and did our packing.







We walked around to the local for a drink by the fire and then ordered Thai food.

... and we had a great view of course over fields and little villages.













We did heaps of mud and stiles and Stephen entertained us with two face plants. We eventually found our way to the village of Weston-sub-Edge. It had a 13th ...

... back to the river. We went and did a brass rubbing for 7 pounds 50p ($17) of the Earl of Warwick from 1406. We were so cold when we got home that I had to put my feet on the central heating pipes for ages. Called Lavinia in London and arranged to have dinner Monday night. Went to the local for a drink and then home for Coq au Vin.