Trains, boats, ducks and geese

My daughter and her family sold their London flat before Christmas and moved to a village just a few miles from Oxford. My husband (the MM) and I took granddaughter Millie into Oxford one day last week. The train journey was an exciting experience for each of us in different ways: Millie was thrilled when the engine driver waved to her and then entertained all our fellow passengers with her commentary on everything that she could see from the window on the 7 minute journey into the city. It ran something like this: "Bye bye tree; bye bye ubber tree; bye bye ubber tree; bye bye horse; bye bye ubber horse; bye bye dog; bye bye ubber tree ....." There are many trees alongside the track!

The exciting elements of the journey for Grumpy and Grandma included negotiating 4 flights of steps and a bridge with a pushchair and toddler; discovering that nappy-changing facilities at Oxford station are in the LOCKED disabled toilet and the man who has the key is well-hidden from the public; finding that many people, especially young men, were helpful when they saw obviously inept grandparents struggling with doors etc.

First familiar sight in Oxford - not a dreaming spire but....

We didn't think that Millie would be very interested in the colleges but here's a glimpse of a spire, just to prove that these really are Oxford bicycles

 I did say a glimpse

Of course, what Millie really wanted to see was the Oxford canal with its narrow boats.

 

Some have interesting names such as this one, named after Frideswide, the 7th century Abbess of Oxford and patron saint of the city. Many are decorated with pots of flowers and herbs and most have bicycles tied up alongside, ready for the last minute dash to seminars.

If only this were a real lock, we might go sailing up to Coventry!

Although I have had a boating holiday on the Thames and spent many a pleasant hour punting on the Isis, I have never been on board a narrow boat. I have always considered them as attractive and rather romantic vessels but I am currently reading Terry Darlington's Narrow Dog to Carcassonne and my views are being seriously challenged.

The boats share the canal with ducks and Canada geese

Millie was delighted with these but puzzled by this headless creature:

The purpose of our visit was to buy a present for Baby Benjamin so we had, reluctantly, to leave the canal and walk along to Cornmarket Street, where it is advisable to look up to see the splendid architecture above the modern shop fronts:

This beautiful Tudor house is also a mobile phone shop and sandwich bar!

At this point the heavens opened and we ran for shelter and the camera was put away for another day.

Home

I arrived home yesterday after my thirty-three day visit to Oxfordshire. It is good to be back but leaving the little family was very difficult. Benjamin is settling in well and Millie is treating him with the combination of fascinated interest and total indifference that only a two-year old can perfect.

All this 'stuff' for such a little thing! But the Moses basket makes a good boat for Millie and her dog

My strained wrist is still troubling me so, although I am now back at my trusty PC, I will be doing short posts for a little while. It is still quite difficult to type and absolutely impossible for me to do any cooking or housework!

A grandson!

A strained wrist has kept me off the keyboard but the birth of Benjamin Patrick James two hours ago has made everything else pale into insignificance.

More news and photos to follow, in the meantime, here are a few pictures from Millie's birthday. She doesn't yet know that she has a baby brother and I won't be waking her to tell her tonight!

Millie helps Grandma decorate the cakes for her party

Some of the presents

Thank you for all the kind messages. I will be here for another week and then back home, where I'll be able to catch up with everyone.

Millie draws a winner

Rabbit and Lottie help Millie to pick a name out of the box

 

I think this is the right one, says Millie

 

Can you read it, Rabbit?

It's a bit tricky

 

Grandma can sort that out while we have a game with the other papers

I 

As you can see, Millie was a great help in drawing out the winner of the Jane Austen Sewing Box. It will be on its way to Belgium in the next few days. Congratulations to Breussell, and thanks to everyone who entered the draw.

All is going well here in Oxfordshire. We are just hoping that Baby#2 waits until after Millie's birthday on 10th March before putting in an appearance.