Last Wednesday I went by train to Oxford. It takes less than an hour from my home, with one change of train. I had arranged to meet Gattina who was staying at Balliol College for three days. It was a hot, humid day and the streets were thronged with tourists of all nationalities. The sightseeing buses were much in evidence as were cyclists. The smell of fast food permeated the air.
We had lunch, not in a riverside pub as we had wished – we couldn’t find one and it was too hot and busy to search for long - but Ingrid was happy to find the non-alcoholic beer she likes. After tasting it, I can understand why she likes it.
Afterwards we returned to Balliol College.
We went into the chapel . . .
. . . and the Great Hall . . .
. . . and then went to sit in the green peace outside the Buttery where we talked and talked. The sights and sounds and smells of the street were muted (can smells be muted?) by the 13th century buildings.
All too soon it was time to leave – my daughter and her son had arrived unexpectedly the previous evening - so Ingrid walked back with me to the railway station and we said our farewells. It was so nice to meet someone I felt I had come to know through her blogs. Now I know what she sounds like and she knows my voice, too.
Thank you, Ingrid, for a lovely dayJ
Super for both of you! Dick and I met Ingrid in Brussels. She drove in from Waterloo to take us on a tour — what a day that was!
ReplyDelete— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
It's strange, isn't it? You start a blog, you 'meet' people, you never think of actually getting to know them, but then you might. Blogging IS part of the real world, after all!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a lovely day.
What a wonderful day, and how lovely to meet another blogger in person :o)
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you were able to meet a fellow blogger. I often read about these meetings and think it looks like so much fun. Your day of getting to know one another in the green peace looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pleasure to meet another blogger with whom oe has had frequent contact.
ReplyDeleteI only 'met' Gattina today, though your blog.
How nice that the two of you had such a nice time togethera1
ReplyDeleteJ - How fun! I'm glad that you two had the chance to get together and had a great visit.
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
And now it's nearly a week that we sat there and it was sooo hot ! I enjoyed our meeting very much too, time went by far too quick ! Your pictures came out real nice !
ReplyDeleteDid you get my mail btw ?
The stay at Beliol college was a great experience and I loved it ! I will write about it soon, I first had to finish my Eastbourne excursions ! Today I have the "Long Man of Willmington".
A lovely story, simply told - we don't get enough of that sort, maybe. Thanks for it.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to meet a fellow blogger face to face. We get to know each other through our blogs and when we finally meet it's like talking to an old friend.
ReplyDeleteIt was really neat to read how the 'blogging world' turned into a real life meeting. The then again....blogging IS the 'real world,' isn't it?
ReplyDelete