The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

... is the first day of SCHOOL! Happy? Me? Hmmm... I think ECSTATIC might be the word! Believe it or not, the kids were all very eager to get going this morning (even though you couldn't guess it looking at Evan's face). They won't admit it, but they like school and I like their school too especially when it is in session. They even tolerated the picture ritual. Owen's photo and the group photo I took didn't download properly so I will post new ones when I take them. Year 11 (10th grade) Year 8 (7th grade)
As soon as Owen was on the the school-run pay-as-you-go-"yellow"-bus-which-is-actually-red (but they call it "yellow" because deep down it's all about the USA envy hehe), Craig and I hightailed it outta the house to meet our friends, Amy and Scott, who were also off work on this fine Labor Day holiday in a country that doesn't even celebrate Labor Day (did I mention WITHOUT KIDS?) and we went to Oxford for most of the day to walk around and take in the sights. We had a great day being all leisurely and all grown-up and the rain held itself at bay all day except for a quick shower while we were inside Christ Church looking at Harry Potter's chow hall. Enjoy the snaps.
Outside of the Sheldonian Theatre Look, bad British teeth even back in the day! I think I could fit into this get up. Inside the Sheldonian Theatre
Lions with swords emanating from orifices, check...
Gorgons on the ceiling, check...
All is the norm. Reflected view of Radcliffe's Camera from the top of the Sheldonian Theatre
I gave myself the 'artsy' nod on this one. Sometimes one just has to toot one's own horn a little. Oxford's Bridge of Sighs
This is the third Bridge of Sighs we have seen: Cambridge, Venice & Oxford. Oxford is all about the spires.
A spire at Oxford; Aspire at Oxford... weak pun, needs some work. Exterior and interior of the Bodleian Library View of the Radcliffe Camera from inside the Bodleian Library courtyard Sundial inside All Souls and gate decoration (below) from same We asked a policewoman who was missing most of her front teeth to recommend a pub, but she told us she didn't drink much. Twice. We wound up at this place just down the street. Okay food, better drink AND we got to see how they store kegs of beer in the cellar via a keg elevator. The weary and thirsty travelers surrounded by... framed ties from like everywhere. These two are military organization related. Last stop: Christ Church Cathedral and Great Hall Outside park surroundings The nave of Christ Church CathedralFor all of you Lost fans Look closely at how this creature's spiky tongue is licking its scales. I think this guy died of deep thought! Not only is the insignia of Christ Church on the fine porcelain... it's also embedded into the stained glass... and carved into the backs of the dining chairs. I am not sure what the red bolero matador's hat has to do with the university but I am sure I could Wiki it if I was desperate to know. Okay, my curiosity won. It is from the coat of arms of Cardinal Wolsey which are "depicted beneath a red cardinal's hat with fifteen tassels on either side". So there! Duh, where ELSE would I buy my Oxford Chinese dictionary?????