Just like the US Census, the UK surveys their residents to learn about the economy and the cost of living. In what can only be explained as a gross computer glitch, the UK Office of National Statistics selected Mike and I for their Living Costs and Food Survey. We received a letter in early May
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Knocking ’em Back
Plymouth, England is a port town a mere 3 hours Southwest from Oxford by train. If you are an experienced drinker, you might also know it as the birthplace of Plymouth Gin, and a tour of their facility may be reason enough to go. The tour takes place in a 16th century Black Friar monastery
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The Lectures of Oxford
Every week within a 20-minute walk of our flat, there are dozens of open lectures where world-renowned experts share insight on diverse topics. Attending seems a reasonable idea since we don’t have a TV to learn about diverse topics from Jeopardy. Our first lecture was from an elected official and legal scholar, who was comparing
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Philosophy of a donkey
I’ve always wanted to go to Sicily, so we went for a long weekend. I expected the crazy drivers, who had no use for the rules of the road, creating lanes, as needed, or using the sidewalks if necessary; the beautiful weather, the amazing food, people with total disrespect for queues and timetables. But, I
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Christmas Crackers
I thought it would be fun to bring an English tradition to Thanksgiving dinner at my Aunt’s house in Ohio. I found brightly wrapped cardboard tubes, with a twist at both ends, called Christmas Crackers. Traditionally, children grab the ends and pull them apart like wishbones and inside is a small toy, a joke, and
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Spooning
Not since college have I had this much joy over bringing home a mismatched set of two forks, two knives, and two spoons. But we had been living for weeks sharing one spoon. Six utensils was a considerable upgrade. It is with great embarrassment that I share with you the story of how we came
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Halloween in Oxford
I was curious to see if Oxford celebrated Halloween. There were billboards with spooks and goblins leading me to believe there might be sweet children dressed as the Prime Minister, rugby stars, or Dr. Who walking down the street. I found a Dracula and a few witches working in my local grocery store but no
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The VC’s Garden Party
We were invited to a garden party at the home of Oxford’s Vice Chancellor. Locals refer to him as the VC, it’s a similar position as a university president. In a town comprised mostly of the University, this is a powerful post to hold. I hope you are impressed because I am. It was fortunately
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Ladies Who Lunch
I had lunch with two women today. While that may not sound remarkable, it marks a milestone in life in Oxford and should be noted on calendars worldwide. After eight weeks with only husband as a companion, an hour of comfortable laughter and conversation with women is utopia. This happened because I joined an elite
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Homesteading
At noon we received our keys to our flat at Ivydene (Ivy-Dean). Then we quickly prioritized life’s necessities to move in. We grabbed our work computers and a bottle of wine; the espresso machine would arrive that afternoon, having been ordered in anticipation a few days before. Clothes would move in over the next few
