One Day in Oxford

Let's start the day with some breakfast in hall at Somerville College. I had the hall almost to myself that morning. Each morning I liked to imagine Dorothy L. Sayers blazing in with her friends for a chatty breakfast when she was an undergraduate here early in the 1900s.

 

After breakfast, coffee time as I walk into the center of the city. This was my new top pick I had never been to before, Tree Artisan Cafe. They had the best coffee. It's a tiny spot, but very much a local spot. It was fun to hear the locals chat about their lives and their day ahead.

Arrived at the Old Bodleian. Those dreaming spires make me smile every time I approach this amazing library building. I am about to head up to the reading room behind those third floor windows.

I took the stairs up to the top floor - the upper reading room. Collecting my books from the self-collect shelves - books I had requested from the offsite Bodleian storage. I love having a little stack there waiting for me to dive into.

Settling down into a desk on the corner I like to sit at. The window to my far left looking out to the Rad Cam is usually cracked open, offering a little breeze and fresh air. 

I had requested an interesting book, a collection of poets from Magdalen College over time. Of course C.S. Lewis was in there.

Lunch time - I headed over to Theo's Cafe, which is on Broad street. It is a family owned small cafe. They get jam packed for lunch, so I sat downstairs for the first time. The best chicken club sandwich and chips.

A little walk after lunch through the Bodleian quads to head to....

Blackwell's for some book-browsing!

The ground floor of Blackwell's

I decided to spend the afternoon in the oldest library possible. The Duke Humfrey's Library. It makes smile each time I get to step foot in there. The silence, the age, the history, the ancient books. Sitting there to write is such a dream.

My little desk spot near a window. My old Latin companions in front of me.

The wonderfully old books from the 15th - 16th centuries, some were chained to the shelves here

Pencils only, please and thank you.

I stayed until they closed the library. They chime a very loud bell to indicate they are closing, and you better get out of there. Don't forget your notebooks.

The Oratory for daily Mass.

What a joyful kind of day, filled to the brim with my favourite things. Thank you for coming along on this particular day in Oxford.