Oxford, Stroud & anywhere in between

It's been a bit of an emotional week for myself (I'm ok), just with frustration & the lack of communication between jeff & synabor the recruitment company..  i am still enjoying myself, seeing lots of places etc, its just been a bit tough being in 'no man's land' with regards to a permanent spot.  but my tears on friday night, jeff's patience in ringing 3 other synabor offices, we are on the move to set up in Basingstoke.

basingstoke is about an hour from london, south westish between london & southampton which is on the coast.  we move on sunday 22nd and staying in a motel for a few nights while we look for a rental property - hoping we have something in concrete by the end of the week.  an address will follow when we have it..  jeff will be a supply teacher for the time being around the basingstoke area, and the company says that they can also organise a contract for him pretty soon..  but, he is guarenteed work for most of the week, paying 100 pounds a day..

Oxford - second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. it was bitterly cold, but braving the weather, it was a lovely day.  we got hold of the sightseeing bus tour guide and instead of paying @40pounds, we drove the course ourselves in our little skoda which is marvellous.  now, some of you may know that im not a map reading person, so we (i) kind of got jeff a little bit lost, but we eventually got back on course and went the reverse way because that's the only way i could read the map..

Saxon Tower of St Michael at the North Gate

Saxon Tower dates back to 1040 - The Oxford Martyrs were imprisoned in the Bocardo Prison by the church before they were burnt at the stake in what is now Broad Street nearby, then immediately outside the city walls, in 1555 and 1556. Their cell door can be seen on display in the church's tower.

Martyrs' Memorial

The Martyrs' Memorial is a rather imposing stone monument positioned at the intersection of St Giles', Magdalen Street and Beaumont Street in Oxford, England just outside Balliol College. It commemorates the 16th-century Oxford Martyrs.  Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the monument was completed in 1843 after two years' work, having replaced "a picturesque but tottering old house". The Victorian Gothic memorial, whose design dates from 1838, has been likened to the spire of some sunken cathedral.  The inscription on the base of the Martyrs' Memorial reads as follows:
"To the Glory of God, and in grateful commemoration of His servants, Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, Prelates of the Church of England, who near this spot yielded their bodies to be burned, bearing witness to the sacred truths which they had affirmed and maintained against the errors of the Church of Rome, and rejoicing that to them it was given not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His sake; this monument was erected by public subscription in the year of our Lord God, MDCCCXLI".

Our last day/night in somerford keynes and i was pretty keen to go for a short drive so we went to Stroud which is 12 miles from here.  A nice little town, and i couldn't help but take this photo - jeff & i are interested in some of these little towns names and we always have a laugh "where do you live?"

well, it's goodbye to somerford keynes and hello basingstoke

bye for now.  xx