Dreaming spires 'n' stuff

J.R.R. Tolkien's house. (Thanks Gina for telling me to go here!)

Failed attempt to get a readable shot of the plaque that still included the chimney, etc.

Just a neighboring house and apple tree that caught my eye.

Tolkien's road, I believe.

Gina said that The Inklings used to meet at the Lamb and Flag when they didn't go to the Eagle and Child (across the road).

Part of the Bodleian, I think.

Went to the Magical Books exhibit at the Bodleian, at Gina's recommendation (sensing a theme?!). Great fun!

Radcliffe Camera.

Cool sundial.

Made me think of Moonrise Kingdom :)

Autumn

We walked this at night, too. It was just oozing atmosphere.

Replica of the Bridge of Sighs.

Now you know how much I think of you all, since I'm posting this less than stellar picture of me, post race. Half-marathon time: 2:07:43.

Back in London, on Portobello Road.

Lovely colorful buildings/flats in this area.

The Battersea Power Station, viewed from the north side of the Thames.

Planet or star?

So as you can divine from the pictures, I went up to Oxford recently. We made merry for Gina's birthday Friday night, Saturday I explored a bit, and Sunday myself and several other SOLE Sports Running Club members ran the Oxford Half-marathon. Rainy, but fun nonetheless! Other than that, I've just included a few pictures taken around London. Enjoy.

"A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life."

Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches

were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light.

But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river

would flow again after it was frozen.

[Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast]

  . . . Hopefully you enjoy the above quotation, even though the first few pictures aren't much in keeping with the coming season. (Yes, there has been more than one sunshine-y day in London!) I may have to make the official transition to calling this time of year autumn though, as people here don't seem to understand why we Americans refer to it as fall. Nevermind that it's easier to say and that it literally is the time when leaves fall from the trees! Oh well, I suppose autumn does sound more poetic, and I do use it from time to time anyway when I'm trying to be sophisticated.

One of the warmest days since I've been here. I was able to sit outside at the Barbican Centre and work on writing. I also got to see the crazy things Londoners do when it actually is sunny. One older, bald man with a long white goatee was sitting with his shirt off, just soaking in the sun.

Tipsy (just the camera angle, not the photographer) view of the London Eye.

Royal Holloway.

This old part of the campus houses the Founders Library as well as a lovely chapel.

The chapel.

Yet another view of the Founders Building.

This was taken near a corner where a three man band was rocking out to some old-school sounding music (I think CCR may have been in their repertoire, although they weren't doing vocals).

Because no one else was around, I felt inspired to take some pictures--not sure which station this was.

If you haven't seen Dawg the Bounty Hunter, your life is incomplete. I think it's set in Hawaii--definitely a US show--but apparently people also watch it over here?

I don't know if I'd really heard of the term "snog" until I read/watched Harry Potter. Yet to be convinced of its efficacy as a name for a frozen yogurt chain.

And the Barbican by night.

Obligatory self-portrait. Sadly, you can't see my new haircut/color that well.

The Barbican is in the really old part of London, which is known as "City of London." Confusing?

I think they call this the highwalk. You can walk to and from the Barbican Centre up above the din of traffic (and they give you lots of helpful hints on which way to go, which is great if you're like me and get lost quite easily in London).

Title quote courtesy of Coco Chanel.