Thursday 5 February 2015

Inklings

Hello! I've rather cheated on my Friday Happy picture this week, choosing instead to post a little collage. Wednesday saw me beetling off to Oxford to visit my darling L - always a happy moment. I was really lucky with the weather as it had snowed on Tuesday and I was worried about the roads. Fortunately, it mostly thawed overnight and it turned out to be pretty plain sailing. Anyway, here are a few of the pictures I snapped walking to her college:

Mostly they are views taken from Christchurch meadow. There is also a picture of the outside of 'Alice's Shop' and a photo of the lovely chap outside L's window - I think he may be a grotesque, rather than a gargoyle. 
We were very lucky with the weather - sunny but very cold. We spent a while wandering around Gloucester Green market, oohing over the size of the pomegranates for sale (sorry, I should have taken a photo!) and buying a ludicrous quantity of clementines for just a pound. Then we decided a spot of lunch might be in order and came here:


We tried coming here for lunch in the Summer, but couldn't fit through the door because it was so popular. As it turns out, there are considerably fewer tourists on a cold day in February, so we were in luck!
The sign on the wall explains its popularity:

I took a couple more snaps inside:


It was very atmospheric and lunch wasn't bad either; I can understand the usual crowds. We then went for a walk around Jericho, an area of Oxford I'd heard about (probably from Inspector Morse/ Lewis!) but never seen. It turned out to have some really quaint houses and was really rather lovely. Sorry about the lack of photos for this bit - I couldn't feel my fingers at this point! We finished off with a coffee and shared cake in the cafe at the Ashmolean. 
It looks like the hedgehog on L's jumper is eyeing up the stem ginger cake! Then, all too soon, it was time to say goodbye and dash home for the school run.

Other happies this week include:
Doing some of the 'Graduation' Quilt.
 Snapping more shots of Hamish and E having a cuddle:

 Flowering tete-a-tetes.
Waking up to this:
 
So, deciding to light the stove and do a bit of this:
 In an attempt to bust some more of that stash, I've started knitting some blocks from this book:
 Here are some of the ones I've done so far:  
 I started off doing this with a view to making a picnic blanket and then discovered this on Planet Penny's Happy Friday Links. Linda had had the same idea - I love her colours (mine will be a bit more of a mish-mash owing to using up the scraps) and the fact that she cleverly backed hers with fleece. I think I may try doing the same when I eventually finish it. It may take me a while - I'm not a natural knitter and I find I have to concentrate REALLY hard, otherwise I lose where I'm up to. I also can't 'tink' yet, so any mistake and I have to start all over again! Not a project for doing in front of the TV then!

One final happy this week:
 'Loaf of the week': Farl
I haven't tried it yet as it's still cooling but it certainly smells yummy. That's all for this week's happies. I'm just off to see if I can add Planet Penny's linky button to my sidebar - I'm not the most technically minded, so it may take me a while! Wishing you a warm and fun-filled weekend.
Toodle pip for now. x

20 comments:

  1. I've never been to Oxford but your photos have made me really want to go. A cosy stash-busting fleece-lined blanket sounds like just the thing right now. x

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  2. That is my kind of spot friend! How cool that C.S. Lewis was a regular!! Loved that atmosphere in there! And your walk about around your daughters college is outstanding!! The architecture is beautiful! As are your makings! I always enjoy your happies!!! Have a great weekend you! Nicole xoxo

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  3. Oh, I so enjoyed reading your post and seeing all the lovely pictures. How amazing that history is so close to you! I absolutely love England and hope to visit again soon. Please pass on my greetings to adorable Hamish. Happy Friday :)

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  4. Beautiful pics of Oxford, i can imagine that pub must have a great atmosphere. Your knitted squares look fab, the colours are so pretty all together. Your loaf looks delicious! x

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  5. What a lovely day out you had with daughter....I loved hearing about the inklings, two of my favourite authors there!!
    Respect with the knitting, I haven't a clue....probably too old now!
    How lovely Hamish is!
    That snow and your log burner are priceless.xxx

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  6. It's great visiting places "out of season" isn't it - long time since I visited Oxford but feel inspired to visit again now! Love your photos and how you report your weekly story.

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  7. It looks like you had a lovely day in Oxford with your daughter. We haven't been there for a few years, but the photos look familiar. I love the word 'Inklings' - I'll have to visit that pub sometime. I'm interested to see your knitted squares, as I've been knitting my scarf this week, and don't find knitting as easy as crochet, even though I learnt to knit first. You've knitted them very neatly :)
    Cathy x

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  8. Ooo it's been years since I visited Oxford, you have certainly encouraged me to visit again! What lovely sites and weren't you lucky with he weather! Xxx

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  9. Ooo it's been years since I visited Oxford, you have certainly encouraged me to visit again! What lovely sites and weren't you lucky with he weather! Xxx

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  10. Oxford is a place I've never visited, I live close to Cambridge and love the old buildings and the history.
    Sometimes it great to visit popular places out of season :)
    I love the idea of the hedgehog eyeing up the treats
    Jan

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  11. Oh what a lovely week you've had. We visited Oxford at the height of tourist season and I think it spoilt it slightly. I loved your photo of the fire it just looks so cosy and I wish I could smell your bread. I does look delicious. Have a lovely weekend.
    Ali xx

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  12. I visited Oxford last year - these photos bring back fond memories!
    And the photo of the snowed bench in the winter wonderland is amazing.
    Amalia
    xo

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  13. OOOh you've had snow!! I love the knitted blocks, I've just finished a little block cushion for my lap cat Indiana. I have been promising to finish it for ages and it was the ta-dah moment last night! She seemed very pleased with the result. Knitting in front of the fire is my favourite pastime currently too!

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  14. What a lot of lovely happy things! I'm very tempted by the Nicki Trench book...I need another book of patterns like a hole in the head! Enjoy your weekend.

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  15. I've never been to Oxford but it's on my list of places to visit. You must be so proud of your daughter studying there, it's quite some achievement! Your loaf of bread looks amazing, just the thing to eat with winter soup xx

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  16. It looks as though you had a great week and a lovely day in Oxford! I am off there soon and looking forward to it even more now having seen your pictures, it looks like a very beautiful place indeed! xx

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  17. Beautiful, beautiful Oxford. It's been so long since I've been there, I'd love to visit again soon. The Eagle and Child looks wonderful, oh to have been a fly on the wall back when the Inklings were there. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I love the knitted squares, and backing knitting with fleece is a great idea. Enjoy your Sunday. CJ xx

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  18. Your bread is beautiful, it must be bread-baking week the world over because we did it too. Well, my husband did it, mostly. I ate a lot of it. I love the look of Eagle and Child, it's so beautiful and historic. Definitely a place to try to see when I ever visit there someday. :)

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  19. I have just discovered your blog and I love it and look forward to reading more of your posts. Oxford is somewhere I really must explore more, I pass it on the A34 regularly but very seldom stop off as I am usually on the way to my friends house in the Midlands. Your bread looks very tasty, really made me feel hungry!

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