A day in Oxford; blogger meet-up

Hello All,

I hope you are well.  I am fine and dandy despite some mean swollen tonsils for the past few days and having a serious case of 'Not getting to bed when I should do and not really doing anything useful in the time'.

However, I DID have a lovely time last Saturday.

I have been blog friends with the lovely, inspiring Lily Fang at Imperfect Idealist for quite a few years now and she is one of those wonderful writers who just exudes sensitive wisdom and insight despite her youthful age.  She's kind, clever and really generous and I have always enjoyed her writing.  And, she is also a musician! However, I never thought I'd get the opportunity to meet her until she said she was spending a semester studying at Oxford University at Hertfield college.  However, it somehow reached the last fortnight before Lily goes home to the US and we still hadn't met up!  So I arranged to go to Oxford to meet Lily last Saturday and she would spend a few hours showing me around and we could have a chat in real life! I also decided to combine it with a visit to my uni friend who lives in Wallingford which I could get a bus to later.

It's always so surreal to meet a blogger friend who you have only ever seen in photos online.  When I saw Lily at the station, it was so lovely to see her in real life. 

First, we walked from the staiton through the market near the bus station where they have a great vintage and food market. I was tempted to have a rummage through all the clothes there!

Then we headed to Lily's college library which non-students can't usually visit.  

This room is wonderful!  Lily, knowing my love of books, had arranged for us to see various book establishments! Wonderful!

 I went to a relatively modern University for my undergraduate and my post-graduate was also at a modern building so to see this made my heart  flutter and somewhat regret my choices. This is the type of environment I'd love to work in.

 It was hushed and beautiful.  Luckily, the slightly disapproving students who I tried not to make a sound around, didn't get cross with my excited whispers!

 Yes, I did indeed wear a book-print dress for visiting Oxford.

 And here is the lovely Lily!

 After that, we headed through the streets and saw the Bridge of Sighs. It is actually called Hertford Bridge and it links the two parts of Lily's college, Hertford. This features in Harry Potter.

 I asked if you could walk on it and Lily said we could as it is part of her college. Yay! Another 'not for the public' experience!

 Inside, it was still interesting although not quite as picturesque as the outside!

 Next, Lily had arranged a visit to the Bodleian library.  This also features in Harry Potter as the Restricted section of Hogwarts' Library.  Alas, photos are not allowed but it is utterly sublime! And ohh, to go and do work in there would be amazing!

 We were wondering how old the library was when we saw this chronology.

 I love these ceilings. I'm not sure what you call this type of ceiling work? Stucco?

 Hello again!

 This is another library building which is oh so picturesque.

 After that, we headed for Christ Church College. As there was a wedding ceremony in the Dining Hall, we had to wait a little longer.

 What a wealthy and opulent college it is. Such vast and imposing-looking structures!

 As we waited, we strolled along the Christ Church meadows. I loved seeing the various river-navigating crafts here.

 Finally, we were allowed into Christ Church's dining hall which, yes, you've guessed it, features in Harry Potter as the Hogwarts Dining hall. To eat in such a refectory every day is frankly astonishing! Is this anyone's Alma Mater?

 As it had been closed to the Public all morning, it was extremely busy so we were rather walked through on a conveyor belt.

 It was wonderful to finally figure out the differences between the American Educational system and the British one- I've been wondering for a while...

 Alas, at long last, it was time to part. We hurried back to the bus station to find the bus to Wallingford, only to find out you had to pick it up from outside Christ Church college!!! Typical.

My bus was there as we arrived so we had a hurried Goodbye.   Lily gave me a beautiful pencil brooch made out of recycled colouring pencils which she said reminded her of my Pencil hairclip.  It was lovely of her. To my shame, in my haste, general disorganisation and last minute nature, hadn't brought Lily anything with me although I had something I had thought though of her with but the thought hadn't gone beyond there in the general haste so I hope to send it (again, general disorganisation, haven't sent it yet and she goes on Monday!) 

It was really lovely to meet Lily at long last. She was as lovely and intelligent and kind as she is in her blog and the only other great fun thing would have been to play music together! Another time- I am sure she will be back as Europe is in her heart! My second international blogger meet-up was as lovely as the first one!

Thank you so much Lily.

Head over to Imperfect Idealist to meet Lily!

xx