On Monday I went down to Oxford, for a Preparation Day for the 2014 Women’s World Day Of Prayer. This year’s theme is “Streams In The Desert” and has been prepared by the women of Egypt. I had a very good morning with Kath, Mary and the Oxford ladies.I needed to go, because on Saturday I am running a Preparation Day myself in Lincolnshire, and wanted to see how it should be done!
Afterwards, I met up with Bob, who’d enjoyed his morning wandering round the city, remembering his student days [and buying books!] We had lunch in “Pie Minister” in the Covered Market. I had a Chicken Of Aragon pie [chicken, bacon, leek and tarragon] with mashed potato, shallot toppings and rich red wine gravy. Bob had a “Matador Mothership” – his pie contained beef, olives, sherry, butterbeans, chorizo and more, plus mash, plus mushy peas, cheese toppings, crispy shallots… and still more gravy…
All very delicious on a cold wet day
Then we went for a stroll round the Pitt-Rivers Museum. A bizarre place, full of the 20,000 objects collected by one slightly bonkers Victorian guy. There was way too much to see in our brief visit, but it was good fun. I was particularly amused by the lowest gallery where all the animal skeletons were in temporary plastic wrappings whilst refurbishment was going on.[see clarification in comments below!!]
In the museum shop I treated myself to an Ankh – I shall need one to show the ladies of Mablethorpe – and this is slightly more interesting than a printout from the computer!
I have absolutely no idea how I am going to manage to fit in my preparation for everything I need to do this week [School, WWDp…] especially the Egyptian stuff.
You could say I am in De-Nile!
Sounds like a lovely day, so many great places to eat and wonderful things to see in Oxford, a favourite place to visit so I loved reading about your day.
ReplyDeletePitt Rivers was an ethnographer, slightly less bonkers in his own era than he seems from our contemporary view point. There are so many wonders to explore in the Pitt Rivers Museum, not just the items on open display but visitors are encouraged to open all the drawers underneath each display case & to find more wonders there. The Pitt Rivers Museum shares it's entrance with the Oxford University of Natural History, which is the lower gallery that you walked through to access Pitt Rivers. This Natural History Museum is having a refurb and it's exhibits are under wraps for the duration, the museum is closed during the refurb but curatorial work continues. Well worth a visit when it reopens. Sorry, couldn't resist a little clarification. As ever I love your blog, & stop by every day, have a great day, xx
Thanks Vee - I confess I was a bit confused at the time, and didn't realise I had gone from the P-R Museum into the NH Museum.
DeleteThanks too for kind comments x
I always love hearing about your adventures, Angela. I'm sorry I don't always have time to comment. And I always love your witty way of coming up with blog titles! lol
ReplyDeleteOhh, he was the Father of Modern Archaeology as well as being taken up in classic Victorian bonkersness (if that wasn't a word before it is now). Love the Ankh too - I had a Christian friend who got all creeped out by them, but I can see your use of it is going to be perfectly appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI've done a post on portion puddings and linked to you - I loved your post although I suspect that I didn't have time to comment...
Oxford is a place that J and I would love to visit, but haven't managed to yet. We remain hopeful that we will make it there one day.
ReplyDeleteWow, interesting day indeed! That last pun was definitely groan-worthy Ang!!!x
ReplyDeleteWWDP = stress!
ReplyDelete