It’s Sept 12. We must be in Oxford! Yes, another home for the next 6 -7 weeks. We’ve unpacked, made a note of the address and telephone number, and shopped for survival groceries until we get our bearings. It’s great to be back in Oxford. This time we’re in the posh area – Summertown. (Last time we were in South Oxford.)
Our Toulouse stay was as wonderful as we expected. Perfect weather, the café scene, strolling the pedestrianized streets of the old town with its numerous lively squares, old buildings of architectural styles from different periods, and gorgeous fountains and sculpture scattered around the city. The locals smile and greet you warmly and farmer’s markets are everywhere. So we ate well – yes, cépes, chanterelles, French green beens, tomatoes, basil – and drank a lot of the regional wine. I feel fat after rich, creamy, cheesy restaurant meals. I’m ready for simple leafy salads for the next 6 months to recover!
Toulouse buzzed with rugby fever – France is hosting the World Rugby Cup. A park beside the River Garonne was transformed into a Rugby Theme Park. An enormous outdoor screen was set up with a big seating area for the public. Cafes, food areas, and a kiddies play area were also set up. And around the city there was rugby excitement, so much so that you couldn’t help but know what teams were playing and who won, etc.
So, here we are – back in England, back in the city of spires. Sitting in my home office I look out onto a gorgeous green field with the River Cherwell – a little tributary of the Thames – running across. I see several trees of different types and sizes, and pretty birds – some quite large and black. It’s all very picturesque and uplifting. The city center is a little over a mile away. Time for me now to be more disciplined about my writing. I’m working on two projects. One is a middle grade novel set in Durban, and the other is a sort of personal narrative. I hope to make significant progress on these before we depart for the next destination.
No comments:
Post a Comment