oxford 4/11

After a much appreciated sleep in we made it downstairs at the guesthouse just in time to catch breakfast before the cook knocked off. We enjoyed a lovely cooked breakfast.

Our Guesthouse and car by the door (Ford Kuga)

We met Thom and Laura outside and walked to church in the drizzle along the canal paths and through some park areas as well as some smaller roads.
They meet for church in a school gym, and the music is not great. It was mission Sunday, so they had a visiting speaker telling about life for kids overseas.

We walked with Thom afterwards and saw old school house that the church has bought and is planning to use for worship and community activities. A very ambitious and exciting project which Thom is working on as part of his role.

We then walked to the old chapel (the original church) where we shared lunch with the church community and met some more of their friends.  Lunch was outstanding , with people offering to help cook and bringing some shared food also if they are able. Plenty for everyone plus more.

Pick of the meals was a delicious chicken, chorizo and bean stew. I found a similar recipe which I have put here to try to remember it. I will try this at home at some stage and see how it goes.

We walked back into town with them and out to our place down Abbindon road, picked up our washing and took it to their place, where we put the washing machine to much needed use while we chatted in their cosy lounge room and drank tea together.

Thom resting under his quilt from the HSS staff

How nice to be able to do these things. Then we put the washing into the dryer (what a luxury compared to hanging it over a rail and hoping...) before heading out to Brasenose College.

Frewin to Brasenose via Brasenose lane

We attended chapel at the ancient Brasenose Chapel,

The Chapel Ceiling

Looking towards the Organ from our stalls

 (communion with bishop of Dover) and then attended formal dinner at Brasenose complete with Brasenose Cab Sav. The dinner hall is an ancient and impressive room, with long tables and a head table. Portraits of the founders hang on the walls and a gavel is sounded to announce the arrival of the important people. At this time all stop talking and stand while they wait for Latin grace to be said, before resuming seats and conversation.

At this visit to Brasenose we also had a chance to visit the Hume Common Room , where Thom and Laura spend so much of their social time, and Thom sometimes speaks to us from.

It was then back to Thom and Laura's place at Frewin Annexe, before picking up our dry clothes and heading home to sleep