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
