The Elvis Experience

One of Catherine's Choir colleagues, kindly gave us ticket to go and see the Elvis Experience at the Bell Centre. I have never been to the Bell Centre, and so I thought this was great! So after dinner on Crescent, and a speed walk to get there, we sat amongst clucky French-Canadians when didn't quite realize they didn't need to shout at their friends to be heard.
I thought the performance was great. I heard lots of the classics, and they were all performed live! I'm Catherine would have enjoyed it more, if the woman sitting next to us could keep time as she clapped. I said to Catherine "listening to her clap to the beat, is like watching two windshield wipers going that aren't in sinc!"
The only creepy thing was when people started swarming the stage, wanting to shake hands with, or kiss 'Elvis'...I turned to Catherine "wait...they're not plants!"
Good times :)
xox

Happy 1st Birthday, Grace!

One of our younger parishioners turned 1 this past Sunday. She celebrated her birthday having tea, biscuits, and chocolate cake with her friends, and family. She's growing like a weed, and we've only seen the beginning!
Happy Birthday, Sweety.
xox

Grace, and her big brother Thomas, devouring chocolate cake!

CONGRATULATIONS FI AND DOUGIE!

This Saturday, Fi and Dougie were married! The whole day centered around, and reflected them perfectly: Colourful, cheerful, and an overall feeling of joy would only begin to describe their wedding. My Mum and Dad met Fiona's family in the late 70's, when Fiona's father was the Vicar here. Now, my Dad is the Vicar, and both my parents are still friends with the family. Through the Vicarage, and Tew our two families have something to relate to. When Fi, Dougie, and Fi's brother Andrew ("Roo") came for tea a few months ago, we traded stories about the vicarage and it's garden, and general church life. I've never laughed so much with people I've just met- I felt I had known them for a while.
I hope all the best for you both, Dougie and Fiona. You're both friendly people, and deserve all the best.
xoxox

Finally, I have the perfect occasion to wear my dress that I've never worn) and I've onyl had it 5 years :).

My Mum; the Bride, Fiona; and my Dad (co-Vicar for the ceremony).

Fiona's niece, Chloe; Fiona's older brother, Paddy; and my Mum.

Fiona ad Dougie, cutting the 'cheese' cake. The cake was made out of cheese: brie, stilton, and one other.

Bride and Groom, dancing the night away.

Bells Night

Monday night is our usual evening to practice bells in Tew. For the first time, Ed was actually here to give it a try. Recognizing all the puns of how Ed was "roped in" by me, and "shown the ropes" by Sue, he did very well. (Rope burn goes away, Hun!) :) If only he could see how much of a wimp I was when I first started, he'd be pleased with himself. Plus, Ed was showing the early signs of 'rope sight'!
xoxox

Up in the tower, Tew's 8 bells. They are the oldest ring of 8 outside Oxford city!

Quite impressive to look at for the first time.

The old ringing chamber (which is now at ground floor level). Last rung in, in the 20's. The walls are blue, and have names of the ringers painted on the walls.

Ed having a go for himself.

Happy (Belated) Father's Day!

My Parental Units were away in the Isle of Skye over Father's Day. I spent some time, while they were gone to flip through some old family photos. On my sister's Father's Day post I mentioned that my dad used to look like a 'hippy'. Though he wasn't a true one, he sported the long hair. When I was little, I have loads of memories of my Dad at McGill as a professor, dressed in a jacket and tie, with his briefcase in hand. By the time I came around, scissors visited my Dad's hair more regularly. My dad's great, and though I think he works too hard (you do, Dad!), I know he's following his dream of 30 years.
Love you, Daddy!
Your little Toad
xoxoxox

Out for a Stroll

This past Saturday, Ed and I went for this long walk that I've wanted to take him on for a long time. Down through the village, and around on a bridle path up through a corn field, along the North side of the park, and out along side the pub. It takes roughly an hour and a half, and we set off into the sunshine early so we get back to have a cool swim in the pool. I somehow forgot how easily I burned and didn't bring any extra sunscreen with me (silly head). We got back to the house after an ice cream at the shop, and hopped into the pool...then we started to feel it...the burn! While Ed got away with just the back of his neck getting singed, and a surfers' burn on his nose and cheeks. The nerve! We still had a good walk, and enjoyed some BBQed burgers to end the evening.
xoxox

My Handsome Man, in among the corn fields.

Me, hair done by Ed.

We walked through an entire field of this. It'll eventually turn bright yellow.

Vicarage Roses

Everyone's saying it's a good year for roses this year. Something to do with the rain earlier on, and all the sun we've had recently, all the roses have bloomed en masse. Every where we look in the garden there are big beautiful roses blossoms of all colours: white, yellow, light pink, dark pink, deep red. There are big blooms, small blooms, thorns, no thorns, so many!
These blooms would cost you zillions (I'm sure) in the shops, and we are lucky enough to have them for FREE!!!
xoxox

The Horse Trials
(These pictures are for you, Allie)

Last year was the first year the horse trials were held. This year, we actually made it to see what was going on. My Mum is involved in the show, as she is giving a spinning demonstration, so I spent the day walking around looking at the horses, spending time with Mum, eating a waterbuffalo burger (for real!), and walking around with my almost 4-year-old neighbour, Lily.
The horse trials encompass several events for the riders, such as short jumping tracks, a cross country course with sponsors putting in the jumps, and various warm up rings. The dogs can also have some fun, as there is an agility course for them. There were tents selling clothes, tack, and other horsey things. There were other stalls and vendors doing non-horse things, all attracting hundred of people. The weather was perfect, and hopefully, tomorrow it will be just as good!
xox

The tent Mum was in.


A horse going through the short distance jumps.


The cross country jump our neighbour made.


My Mum with two of our neighbours, turning fleece on the drum carter.


Mum with her 'flock'.


Skilled hands at work.


The Hooky beer cart being pulled by two Shirehorses.

First Swim in the Pool

For the past week, it's been at least 28 C here. No comparison to the 41 C my sister had in Hamilton, but I find 25 C hot... We had the Horse Trials in the village today, and I got home feeling sufficiently warmed by the sun, so I thought that it was good opportunity to have a swim! True, it's not heated yet, but I was hot enough that I didn't care. There's no better way to cool down than to immerse yourself in cool water, and float on a pool noodle. With a cool, tall glass of rootbeer (though it's not real), and I'm happy as a clam!
xox

The Water Baby herself!


The pool in the sunlight.


Mmm... more tempting water.


This is what the sky looked like... as far as the eye could see!


I have to add...this is what the water looked like before! :S

A London Getaway

This weekend, friends of ours from Tew, offered their house to Ed and myself for the weekend. Thank you so much, C&S!!!

This weekend was intended to be something after my exams that I could look forward to. It turned out to be better than imagined. Ideal weather, a beautiful place to stay, and lots to do in London. As both of us were in no mood to tour the entire city, we chose what we wanted to do in advance, and went with the idea that if we didn't get it all done, that we'd get it done the next time we were there.
Our main priority was to get to the Natural History Museum. Neither Ed nor I had been there in about 15 years, and thought it was hightime we revisited the place that gave us great childhood memories. I had forgotten both the size and splendour of this place. As a five year old, I saw the Dinosaur bones, and knew I wanted to be (as I was later told by my Mum) a Paleontologist. The exhibits within the museum are both expansive, and well displayed, and I'm sure they've inspired many people. As we spent a while in the NHM, we didn't have the time, or energy to go to the Science Museum. This will have to be our priority for out next visit, because we didn't get there today either. Instead, we went to Holland Park with a pic-nic of pickled baby gherkins, carrots, oranges, Easter eggs, and Quizno's subs. Not traditional, but very tasty...and filling.
I came back to campus feeling I had stopped time, and forgotten about what I had just finished, and what I had yet to plan. We were in our own private world, in London.
Tomorrow, I'm packing up my stuff and leaving campus for the last time. Next time I come back to this corner of England, I'll have packing boxes and a set of keys for the house I'll be renting.
Now, I'm going to sleep.
xoxoxox

The house we stayed in, from the back garden.

The back garden, from the conservatory.

Ed, doing washing up.

Ed, outside the front entrance of the Natural History Museum. (check the blue sky!)

The main hall and entrance to the Museum.

T-Rex, and Triceratops heads.

The Bluewhale! Those are whale skeletons above it.

I'm Done!!!

The clock flipped to 4pm, and I knew I was done! Now, I can look forward to a relaxing weekend in London with Ed. My first year exams weren't as scary as I thought they would be, way back at the beginning of the year. But, taking in all the advice and scary stories I made my own plan. I prepared well in advance, and didn't stress. I had no wishes of leaving the hall first, and the people scribbling next to me, or asking for their third pack of extra paper didn't deter my concentration. Just like my Dad said to me, "you already know it!"...and it's true. I felt this year my exams were more of an opportunity than a test. But I'm still glad they're over, and now...the Summer begins!
xoxox

Fifth and Final Exam Today...

I woke this morning, knowing that tomorrow when I wake up and go to the gym I wont need to bring notes to study. Today I have my last exam at 2pm, and it will be on "Life Systems and Processes". It was a one semester course that we did the first semester of the year, so the facts are a little dusty in our brains. I've reviewed my notes, and I'm feeling good! I'm typing while eating my cornflakes (Sainsbury's value), and sipping my coffee that I boiled in the microwave (kettle's still broken)...aint student life grand?! In a way it is though....strange, eh?
xoxox