Bookish History in Oxford

 

Everywhere you turn there is bookish history, buildings, bookshops. Colleges house libraries. The Bodleian Library is several locations. The history of the Oxford University Press spans from Broad Street out to their huge building up in Jericho north of town. That's where this day led us. 

Everyday begins with breakfast in the dining hall. It's a true Oxford experience. A great way to get the day started with a plate of fried eggs, tomato, baked beans, hash brown, bacon, a cup of Earl Grey, and some fruit. Like a typical day in college, people are buzzing to and fro getting set for a day with some schedule ahead. 

The journey up to Jericho had a nice long pit stop at Gail's Bakery for coffee. The essential of everyday is time in a coffee shop. I fill pages in my journal as I do every morning. It's something I do every day normally, so it's the most natural thing to me. Have you tried journaling each morning? It's a wonderful way to get thoughts out, process through thoughts and ideas, write out prayers, and sometimes come to answers and conclusions by way of exploring them. 

Wanders by foot are always the best. Along the way there's so much to see. Shops, buildings, post boxes, architecture, trees and blooms, all on the way to the eventual lunch at a favourite Rickety Press for a burger. Good fuel before our tour of the Oxford University Press. I had taken this tour many years ago, and it was fun to re-visit the huge site to visit the museum, library, hang out in the employee lounge area, and make friends with an employee who led us out via the usually restricted main quadrangle and the main gate - I felt so official and I love getting to see the insides of places you don't normally get to access. 

The Oxford University Press location employs about 3,000 people and has a library they can all use, a gym, coffee bar, big cafe, lounge, and very cool modernized interior spaces within these old buildings. The OUP is a department of the University of Oxford and began its printing in the 15th century. The current location has been there since 1830. Before that, it was located on Broad street first in the Sheldonian Theatre from 1669 - 1713 and then the Clarendon Building from 1713 - 1830. 

In 1675 the King James Version of the Bible is printed at Oxford for the first time. The Oxford English Dictionary began in 1884 and was completed in 1928. J.R.R. Tolkien worked for the OED and it's so fun to see his handwritten entries for the "W's" as he worked on the etymology of words in 1919.

Ask me something I love about Oxford? It's all the bookish history everywhere. With so many things to explore and discover, I am always eager to learn more and feel more inspired by it all.

Oxford Sparkles in the Rain

 

Celebrating the rainy, cosy, warmth amidst the winds, and all things English weather.

Oxford Sparkles

If you ask me, Oxford is more beautiful in the rain
The stone buildings glisten and shine,
Bookshop and cafe windows glow with warmth,
As the umbrellas pass by, I duck inside
to scope out a spot by a window and watch.
With a sense of glee the city doesn't halt.
Students on bicycles glide by along with
jacket-donned people splashing through puddles
(better if they had wellingtons, but none do).
If you ask me, Oxford sparkles in the rain
Before, during, after. It doesn't matter.
The delight is all the same in me.
The dreaming spires reach up into the low slung clouds
Sparkling stones of ancient buildings reflect street lamp light
And the pitter patter of water droplets
Dance on your umbrella as you step across
Broad street seeking a dry atmosphere and perch.
A wet journey to a place makes a place
all the better, all the cosier.
Duck into Blackwell's and browse awhile.
The rain will stop by the time you leave.
Tuck yourself into a table at Vaults & Garden,
with a tray, cup & saucer, and pot of tea.
You're all set for moments of sheer reverie. 

Greeting Oxford

 

Oxford, England

April

It's a long journey across that open ocean - over 4,000 miles. It might as well be 10,000 miles, for the land of England is so very different from my usual tropical location much closer to the equator. The journey takes place by way of car, airplane, bus, and foot. An overnight journey with no sleep leaves me feeling tortured by the want of sleep. Sitting is the worst possible thing, so as soon as I step off the bus and my feet hit the ground on High Street, in Oxford, my luggage pulled along next to me, backpack on, those feet are trotting along saying hello to all the Oxford places so familiar, I feel at home immediately. Exhaustion is forgotten. I am all smiley. Ask my mum. She will tell you.

I say hello to all the places - hello Queen's College, hello Bridge of Sighs, hello Bodleian Library, hello Rad Cam, oh hello Weston Library, Blackwell's, Sheldonian,.... I stay awake by saying hello. Greeting my beloved city of Oxford.

Spring is well underway, in fact, we have missed the Magnolia season, those trees hold to some final blooms and are bursting in fresh green leaves. In consolation, we enter Cherry Blossom season. Such trees are radiantly bloomed and gorgeous. Early Lilacs spill over the wall along Queen's Lane. Tulips are planted in every pot and container and are glorious to see. The horse chestnut tree is wearing its full green leafy look over the Jesus College wall. Daffodils are very much dancing in the gusty winds along all the parks. There's so much to see and appreciate. 

Typical English rains come and go daily. Always keep the brolly handy. Wear a raincoat. It's windy out there. Be sure to have a place in mind to stop for tea/coffee or book browsing. These are important things to pay attention to.

The first days are always about acclimation, getting over the exhaustion of travel, and greeting a place that feels ancient, yet is modern in so many ways. It's an intersection of the old and the new. Waking up the next day feeling refreshed is always such a joy, for there is so much time ahead to go out to all the places around the city. There is so much, I can never fit it all in. 

But - It all starts with books, after a proper English breakfast and greetings to Oxford, of course. That's the first requirement upon arrival. Then, it's the books. Oxfam provides that perfect welcoming book browse, and I come out with two new (old) books in hand. That's just to get warmed up. Oxford is a city of books, which is like a dream to me. 

We continue on Turl Street, Broad Street, Catte Street. Checking into our room but going right back out again. Venturing around saying hello to Oxford until we are too tired to continue as the travel catches up with us. We finally sit down for our first of many pizzas. Yum. It's so lovely to be back.