Nemphis Regatta

Today was the day of the Nemphis regatta. Its not as big as Christ Church, which is this weekend, but still important all the same. I met the rest of the crew at the boat house and we had a brief meeting with our coach. He wasn't too happy to hear that we hadn't rowed as an all eight before, had never done racing starts or feathered our blades and had never rowed together either. Hm. It was very encouraging to see him rush off to phone Sarah and ask why the hell we'd been entered. However, in the end, they decided to just see what happened. We had a quick 10 mind warm-up on the ergs and it was then out onto the river. As we rowed past the gut Joe, our Cox, tried to get us to practice rowing all eight. It wasn't too bad, a bit splashy, but all the same pretty good considering the circumstances.
Our first race was against St.John's B novice crew - we were all pretty nervous but as soon as the race started just concentrated on doing our best. About half way through I could feel myself getting sick. My stomach was all knotted as if I was about to throw up. However, we gave it our all and it was a brilliant feeling to just be concentrating on those crucial milliseconds as your blade reaches and pushes through the water. From the corner of my eye I was aware that we were neck-and-neck with the other crew and somewhere up ahead was the finish line. We made it and everyone assumed that we'd lost. However, it turns out that we'd won by a bow-ball - amazing! It was such a close race but we were all over the moon to have won it - our very first outing as a team was a success!
However, we didn't get to celebrate too long as it meant that we had to go through to the next round - against Trinity A team. Arg! We all ate some malt bread (they were sponsoring the race) and got back into the boat. By this time it was getting cold, windy and a bit rainy so this only added to the creeping exhaustion. My hands hurt and I could already see blisters forming. This race was not as dramatic - Trinity won by a whole boat but we still powered through. To be honest, we're all just delighted to have won our first ever race against a better team. I guess it shows all the potential we have and, if all goes to plan, Christ Church will certainly be as exciting if not more as today!

The day Alice and I went to formal hall at LMH

After another long Saturday Alice and I had a delicious meal with Liz and her friends at their college, Lady Margaret Hall. Thats another one off the list... another twenty something to go! We ate roast vegetables with green pesto and bread for starters, roast duck for main and vanilla panacotta for pudding all with a nice glass of rose - yum!

You, me,

(and your guitar)
I found this book on the free table in zoology - I had to bring it back for Alice and Amelia. We have to go travelling sometime..

Today I realised that this is not how I feel. I was cycling down Banbury road, on my way home from lectures and was just really content. It was a bright crisp day and I just felt so content with all the different things I'm doing asides from my work. While I sped down the cycle lane I realised, "I do not need to be in love to be happy".

Bubblsh

Pinned this to Alice's door as a thanks for letting me borrow her shampoo and shower cap (not both at once..).

Henna

Ok, so I should technically be doing the reading for my essay but yet again find myself uploading the picture for today. This was taken of Amelia after Alice and I covered her feet and hands in Henna. It gets addictive, honest, and we spent about 3 hours completing it while chatting like the old times. It looks really striking against her pale skin, almost like some kind of weird tribal tattoos...
Later I made Mexican burritos with the help of Alice. Mum would be proud - there was chicken, Mexican-style rice, home-made guacamole, pico de gallo, tortilla chips and beans to fill the wraps. I was quite pleased that I managed to pull it off and even got a culinary compliment from Amelia! Proudness indeed :D

Where I meditate

I woke up at 1, having had the best night's sleep in a very long time. Everyone was out and I wanted to enjoy the most of the sunshine that was coming through the curtains of my room. So I took my bike and camera and cycled down the canal path to Port Meadow. Before reaching the path there is a row of Victorian-looking workers houses very similar to those found in the north. They're packed together along the curved street with different coloured front doors leading right out to the pavement. All the roofs are aligned and, although each house is the same shape and size, they all look individual and bright. The houses opposite the canal tow-path are very different and have gardens leading right down to the water. Some had dingy boats or punts moored alongside the riverbank and treehouses overlooking the water. Living out of the center of town has really helped me appreciate all the quirks that make Oxford such a unique place to be. It seems that around every corner is something intersting and different - I hope that I don't let any of it pass me by.
The meadow was a striking as I had imagined this morning. There were families and people walking there dogs so it was quite busy. However, the magic of this place is that it makes you feel asif you are the only one who knows about it. For a moment, I stopped to look out across the expanse and felt asif I was the last person on this planet. It was not a notion of melancholy loneliness but more of clarity and happiness. Being alone isn't necesarily a bad thing as it gives you time to reflect.