today was that day

Went to lectures about populations (am now slightly put off conservation >_<) and came back with Jeremy who helped me find a book in the RSL. Gave him a quick tour of Hertford and introduced him to Marja, Amelia and Alice before showing him my room (he was a bit puzzled by the BMX). After he'd returned to Wadham I quickly had lunch and rushed back to finish some tute work which needed to be handed in by 4. Joe rang to see if I was still able to go for the meal.

Sped through the work and went tohelp Johnny and Sinnead with theirs. I went in the evening for a meal at Branca with Joe which was really fun. We shared a pizza and rissotto which was VERY filling. Afterwards, we walked back holding hands towards Hertford. On the way we saw Ben who'd just come back from a May ball with his friend from home. Once back at Hertford we decided to cycle somewhere out of college so I changed into jeans and we went to the Hertford sports field. When we got there the gate had been locked (probably because last term we'd all played there and ran around screaming at about 11pm). So we cycled back and went up on the roof from Tom D's room. I was so scared about getting caught |(I don't understand why..I'd been up there before!). We lay on the roof and watched the clouds go past the bright moon and stars. The moonlight was so bright that you could see all the Oxford spires in the distance in a silvery light. It was beautiful. We then took this picture a few minutes before midnight in NB quad. Joe really didn't want me to miss another picture.

Seedlings

Just wanted to catch the sense of crisp clean air and fresh spring light coming in through my window onto the growing cress, basil and chive seedlings.

My first time punting...

Today I went punting with Ben along the river. It was very short but the weather was pleasant and we ate KitKats after tying the punt to a tree. He brought an old film camera which he'd managed to get to work and showed me how to use it. It didn't bring my Nikon in case we fell in or something (punts are very unstable) but it was fascinating to see how cameras have changed with the advancement of technology.

The day I..

...learnt how to play "Failure" by Laura Marling and "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals

Bluebell Woods

Finally went to Wytham woods with Ben. In the morning I went with Sam to a carpark in Oxford where I picked up a bike I had bought on a website in Oxford. I FINALLY had a bike! Its a Raleigh Vogue which was second hand from a Polish couple (I was a bit paranoid that it was stolen to asked them to sign a paper proving that I'd bought it). In the afternoon I was then able to cycle with Ben up the canal to Wytham Woods where we took pictures and lay in the bluebells listening to the sounds in the wood. It was so relaxing and a beautiful break from the Oxford bubble.
We then cycled back to Leckford (where Ben lives) and ate some supper followed by singing loads of old songs like "House of the Rising Sun"

Raise the Red Lantern

Went with Alice and Manasi to watch a Chinese film, "Raise the Red Lantern" at the Magdalen Film Society. People say Oxford isn't posh (well, Most of it isn't) but Magdalen College has its own cinema! Although slightly long, the film was really good and especially interesting as Manasi has seen it before and explained all the hidden meanings and its anti-communist theme.

May Day

The day I got married. After Marja's celebration (later joined by Felicity) we all went to sleep to wake up a few hours later (4am!) ready for May Day in Oxford. It was still dark as we all made our way down to Magdalen bridge (Tom Smith, Tom Davies, Sarah, Manasi, Alice, Helena, Talia, Sam, Emily, Matt, Claire, Nabeelah...). Once there we waited with the crowds which were slowly growing below the tower to hear the choir sing. It was packed with people as the sun began to rise and the choir sand. Then Tom Davies and I got married by Matt while the choir sang. Our rings were made from some plastic Ivy Tom had taken from Exeter Ball. We then followed the huge crowd towards the centre of Oxford. On the way to College people stopped for food and crowds gathered around Morris Dancers in Radcliff Square. Sadly Brown's cafe was closed so people went to Weatherspoon's. However, Tom D and I met up with Emily on Hertford Bridge to get the best view of the dancing as a crowd had gathered underneath us to watch the dancers. In the crowd a little girl copied the dancers by waving a handkerchief in the air. There was also a person dressed as a life size tree with actual Sycamore leaves walking around...We then had breakfast in the early morning sun in OB quad. I then went to my 9am lectures absolutely shattered.