Happy Sunday, everyone. This begins our final week in Oxford and we certainly plan to use our time wisely. We have tours, meetings, lectures, dinners, and more on the calendar for the week, so it should prove to go quickly, which will suit me just fine.
Yesterday was a busy day as we wanted to show Ryan a few more things around Oxford before he met the 3:00 bus. I had loaded his suitcase and the extra one he brought with clothes I don’t plan to wear this last week to make room in our suitcases for souvenirs and Christmas gifts. 2 Papa took him to the bus station and all seemed to be on schedule for him to catch an early flight this (Sunday) morning, but we’ve already heard from him and he’s had a two hour delay. Since he has a six hour layover in Houston, he should still be home as scheduled tonight around 9:15. Please say a prayer for his safe travels today.
We met Kelly at 4:00 yesterday and went for tea at a nice little café. They had tea and I had hot chocolate. It was definitely colder this past weekend and I was freezing! The wind chill all weekend was around 32 degrees so walking around is quite COLD! BURRRRRRR. I also had a hot buttered tea cake, which probably isn’t anything like you think it would be or at least it wasn’t for me. It was like a toasted raisin bagel with butter. It was very good, just not what I thought a tea cake would be.
After tea we walked to Christ Church College for another Evensong service. A friend at our college had gotten us tickets as last night begins the Advent services and are so popular that it’s better to have a ticket to attend. If you don’t have a ticket, you will not be turned down; you just won’t have a good seat. The service is very mechanical in that it consists of Bible readings, songs by the choir, hymns sung by the congregation, and prayers. This is all written out in a little book telling the congregation exactly what to do---when to stand, sit, kneel, and sing. So, indeed, very mechanical. But, it’s also very moving as the singing is heavenly and the readings, all done with these beautiful British accents, are inspirational. The boy choir has boys as young as six in it and watching their faces was worth being there. One adorable little blond headed boy, who looked to be around eight (judging by his teeth), was so precious to watch. He opened his mouth super wide and swayed and bobbed with every changing beat of the music. He was definitely a very serious musician. Very cute. We were grateful to be able to attend. We also got to see the dining hall at Christ Church College which is the one used in the Harry Potter movies. Christ Church was founded by Henry VIII so his portrait takes center stage. (See photos above.)
We had dinner reservations after Evensong at the new, upscale, quite trendy, Ashmolean Dining Room in the newly remodeled Ashmolean Museum. It was raining again so we quickly made our way across the city huddled under umbrellas for our next adventure. We were thrilled to get reservations as this new dining experience as it is all the rage in Oxford. Not to be name dropping or anything, but the Queen will be here on Wednesday to take her place at one of the ultra modern tables. Certainly we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to experience it as well. After all, what’s good for the Queen is good for us. The restaurant is on the rooftop of the Ashmolean with a spectacular view of the city; however, since it was so dark, this is only hearsay to us. But, the food and the service were both spectacular and we were sitting next to the rock group, Radiohead. At the end of our dinner, Kelly asked our waiter if he would get lead singer, Thom Yorke’s, autograph. So he did. Cool. 2 Papa tried to discreetly get a picture of him as he signed his autograph, but the lighting wasn’t good. Oh, well. Life will still go on.
That’s it for Saturday on the 2 Mama and 2 Papa Oxford train that’s moving pretty quickly now and will soon arrive in West Monroe.
As I listened last night to those beautiful young voices singing the Psalms and other hymns, I thought of our family members who are in Heaven and how they must thrill at the heavenly songs being sung to them and for them.
“Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.” Zephaniah 3:16
Have a blessed Sunday.
Hugs, 2 Mama
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