London, Forest of Dean, Oxford & Reading

Down to my last day and a bit in England. Got back this evening from a day with cousins in Reading. Met my cousin Julia's three year old Alex and then month old Sophie which was special and it was lovely to see them all again. Last time I saw most of them was at Julia's wedding 7 years ago but I have seen Julia and George in Rome since then before they had children.

After returning from York I went to London the following day from Oxford to meet up with my sister Beth and her boyfriend Andrew. Had only otherwise met Andrew briefly when I first arrived so it was nice to get to know him a bit more. We explored the perimeter of Kew Gardens and enjoyed all the autumnal trees as well as the hot houses. We nearly had our lunch taken by the Canadian geese. We then caught the underground to Trafalgar Square and the British Art Gallery where we went round the Impressionists. Was special to see Monet, van Gough's sunflowers and Renoir in particular. Thanks for the recommendation Heather! Was amazing that it was free entry. We then walked to Covent Garden and Beth treated me to Romeo and Juliet by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House. We were right up in the auditorium - more stairs. The costumes were all in rich autumn colours and I loved the full orchestra playing Prokofiev - I do enjoy that music.

Managed to catch the underground in time but the bus was really late. On getting on it turned out the driver was Zimbabwean and I thought typical but it actually wasn't his fault - there seemed to be a big accident on the motorway which had us sit for two hours. Meant I only got home at 2.30 in the morning and I had to then be up at 6.30 to get to the bus for the Forest of Dean to see my friend Alix and her parents. Although the trip to Gloucester should only take an hour I had to go via Leamington Spa on the way and then Bristol on the way back. Was a little worried getting off the bus in Leamington Spa that I was at a different bus stop to the one I needed to be at next but luckily it was the same. It was super to see Alix and her Mum and Dad. Went for a walk with Alix along the Wye River and we went to Ross-on-Wye on the way to Gloucester the next day.

Back in Oxford I went with Sarah who I'm staying with to the Botanical Gardens, met up with my friends Bronwyn, Lauren and Jaimie who are studying at the university and went to an exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum of Titian and some of his contemporaries. Lots of detailed studies in ink, chalk and charcoal and then an interpretive piece by a modern artist following their style. We also found the Egyptian artefact section with some amazing mummies and other things. Will have to try go to the Pitt Rivers Museum next time. Have had it recommended. Went to the movie Suffragette at the Odeon which was good. Had remembered that Switzerland only gave women the vote in the 1970s.

Well the next time you hear from me will probably be from back in Zim electricity supply permitting. It might be a bit of a reverse cultural shock returning. Am looking forward to seeing my dogs and to thunderstorms (and my Mum and friends). Will see if I may save up to come teach scientific English next summer. Will in the meantime look into maybe working with the Cecil the lion research group in Zim. On the bus to Headington tonight chatted to a lady who is a lecturer at Oxford in law and ethics. She was suggesting I look at work done in California on wetlands.

Nottingham and York

Well since last I wrote I have visited Nottingham and tonight is my last night in York. Travelled up to Nottingham from King's Lynn on Saturday and it was lovely to see my school friend Heather Toovey again. We walked from the bus station and stopped for tea near the city centre. We then went to a pub for dinner with Heather's boyfriend Tom. Heather whipped up all sorts of yummy things for a braai on Sunday at her parents' and my friend Delfina and her boyfriend George drove up from Milton Keynes. I haven't seen Heather since 2008 and her folks since they left Zimbabwe in 2009. We watched some of the Rugby World Cup and I learnt a bit more from George and Delfina on the intricacies of the game. Really was great to see them all.

Nottingham

Nottingham

On Monday morning I walked around the centre of Nottingham for a bit and had a cappuccino at Costas before heading north via Leeds to York. My phone map app didn't work but got a hard copy map from the train station and made my way to a friend of Jessie's who I was to stay with who had the key for Jessie's flat. Jessie is a doctor and was on a shift outside of York but had arranged for her friend to give me her flat key. I left my bags in Jessie's flat and then went exploring. Went along the Shambles and wound my way to York Minster and then to the York Art Gallery and Petergate. Caught up with Jessie when she got home and we planned the next day's trip. We hired a car (a hybrid electric/normal car) and went to the North Yorkshire Moors. We used the sat nav but got as far as Osmotherly. We thought that was the car park we were looking for but then got directions to go back and further on. We found where we were looking for and hiked up along the Cleveland Route. Had great views out to the dales. It was a little uphill and Jessie was very forbearing as she is a lot fitter than I am. When we reached the summit of the hill we were climbing we had a picnic looking out across the heather and countryside. We even had some sunshine. On the way back we got a little disorientated but Jessie steered us back and we found the car park. Along the way we saw three runaway sheep and a dead one.

York

Osmotherley

North Yorkshire Moors

Back in York we went for dinner with Jessie's friends as it was her birthday. The friend hosting lives in a National Trust Tudor house not far from Jessie and we had a scrumptious roast lamb. Today it turned out to be sunny too despite predictions of rain. On our way to York Minster I turned the corner and bumped into Miranda Prendergast and her little boy. Miranda and I were at school together. Such a small world and what are the chances. Didn't know Miranda had just moved to York.

Jessie and I then went round the inside of York Minster and climbed up the tower - again Jessie was very patient with my less fit self. The last few stairs were quite torturous and seemed to go on for ever - they weren't kidding when they said you might feel claustrophobic and I felt the 276 steps. Under the church they had the original foundations and history of the Romans and Vikings. My history is a little out I thought the Vikings were before the Romans - my bad.

York Minster

York Minster

This afternoon we went to St Mary's Abbey ruins in the Museum Gardens and then wandered down Davygate past Bettys Cafe and Tea Rooms chocolate shop. We then walked along the River Ouse and saw lots of autumnal trees.

St Mary's Abbey

River Ouse, York

Tomorrow I head back to Oxford.

Oxford Half Marathon and Norfolk

Last Sunday was the Oxford Half Marathon and had friends running in it. Went with Sarah and Helen to cheer on Jessie and also saw my friend Alex from South Africa run past near St Giles. Had lunch with Jessie, Helen and Sarah and then went to meet my former house mate Jess who had come down from Scotland to run it.

Monday I got on the National Express to Norfolk and have spent this week with my friend Xenoula. Went to Dereham and Norwich on Tuesday and had a board meeting for Xenoula's dance project Xenarts on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday we went to Walsingham Abbey and then on to Wells. I then went through to Peterborough to see my school friend Sarah. We went round the cathedral and had lunch together. When I got back to King's Lynn Xenoula's Dad drove me back past Sandringham and we went to Holkham for tea. Saw deer and lots of pheasants along the way. Today we visited Swaffham and went to Cockley Cley where my Grandparents had lived. Brought back lots of memories. This evening going back through to Norwich and then tomorrow I head to Nottingham.

Walsingham Abbey

Wells By the Sea

Wells By the Sea

Peterborough Cathedral

Swaffham

Into London

Got on to the X90 yesterday to Victoria Station in London. From there I made my way to South Kensington on the Underground and took the subway to the Natural History Museum. The Underground proved easier to navigate than I thought and a McDonald's map of central London also helped me. Met up with my sister Beth there. The special specimens at the museum were interesting but I wasn't so keen on all the stuffed dead animals. The dinosaur skeletons were pretty cool though. If I had had longer the geology section was fascinating but it went on for miles.

From there we raced up the street to go see the Royal Albert Hall. Along the way someone was doing bubble art with children. We also passed the science faculty of the Imperial College London. From there we hot footed it to Oxford Street to a friend Nigel Marumahoko's restaurant Roka where he treated us to lunch. It's a Japanese restaurant and it was delicious. Was good to catch up with Nigel.

Beth and I then headed down to Regent Street and we popped in to Liberty and Hamleys. We then took the underground to Holborn and walked to Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House. I walked around the market and then made my way to Strand Street and Beth returned to Virginia Water. I passed Charring Cross, Nelson's column and the Charles 1st Statue. From there I briefly popped in to Boyd's where my friend Heather works but she wasn't quite ready to leave work so I walked through Admiralty Arch down the Mall and then cut back through the Horse Guards Parade to Whitehall and then the Embankment from where I could see Big Ben and Westminster Bridge. I then returned to Boyd's and Heather and I went and had a glass of wine.

From Strand we walked back to Covent Garden and joined some other school friends and a friend of mine from when I was in Switzerland at Bill's Restaurant. On the way we passed people queuing to see shows at some of the small theatres around Covent Garden. It was lovely to see the others. My one friend I haven't seen since she left Zim when we were 16 and a few others almost as long. I then had to make sure I caught one of the last trains through to Epping to spend the night with another school friend Teresa and her husband in Harlow. Again I haven't seen Theresa since we left school. This morning we went to a lovely park called Lee Valley and fed water birds and visited a bird hide before I caught the Underground back to Victoria and from there the bus to return to Oxford.

Jessie, Sarah's daughter came down from York this afternoon to run the Oxford marathon tomorrow. Will go with Sarah to watch her. I had dinner with friends from South Africa in their student house for Wolfson College this evening and they too are running tomorrow.

Marlborough, Froxfield & Avebury

Today Sarah kindly drove me to see a family friend in Froxfield. My sister was supposed to join us but her train got delayed. Was good to see Jo Jones as I haven't seen her for at least ten years. En route we stopped in Marlborough and then went to Froxfield and had lunch at The Pelican Pub.

On the way back we stopped at Silbury Hill - an ancient artificial hill made of chalk that they still don't know what it was built for. We also went on to Avebury and walked around the circle of Stonehenge like stones. How they got them all there is unfathomable.

Driving back we took the wrong turn from Swindon but ended up seeing the Cotswold which was pretty and the countryside was lovely.

Have spent this evening trying to work out the Underground map for my trip to London tomorrow. Will be going in to Victoria Station and then going to the Natural History Museum.  I will then meet friends in Covent Garden and spend the night with another friend near Epping. Little nervous of navigating it but can always ask people.

Oxford Day 2 & 3

Yesterday I met up with my Mum's cousin Trevor at The Black Boy Pub in Headington. Have been corresponding with Trevor and he had put together the family tree from my Gran's side of the family. We hadn't met in person though since I was 3. It was great to meet up and he gave me some photos of great and great great grandparents.

I then went through to the city centre and found the Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library and Bridge of Sighs and went past Blackwell's and Trinity College. Met at Java Junction with my Sister Beth after she finished her shift at the New Theatre. Had seen Beth and her boyfriend Andrew on Sunday evening after I arrived. Tomorrow she is joining Sarah and I to visit a friend in Froxfield near Newbury.

Today I went to visit the language school on St Michael's Street. They are keen for me to teach there next year. Have been given books to look at while I'm here. Did get an email inviting me for an interview at Arundel in Zim for this Saturday. Told them I'm away but could try via Skype if that would work. Will see. Think it's for literature too though which I can't really do.

Also visited the Gloucester Green market this morning and it was a fun vibe with people calling out their wares and lots of colourful veggies. Had dinner this evening with Helen, Sarah's daughter and her husband Simon. We had what is known as the cellar bottle roulette, whereby Sarah selected a random bottle of wine that is in her cellar for dinner.

Have been enjoying the autumn colours and the flowers in Sarah's garden.

Oxford Day 1

After the sunshine yesterday I woke to rain today but I am enjoying cooler weather. After breakfast Sarah and I headed into the city centre from Headington on the bus. We made our first stop Shuropody to find shoe implants for my plantar fasciitis. I was given a free consultation by one of the shop's chiropodists. I had to have my walking observed so I walked barefoot across the shop. He then gave me exercises to do and got some implants that I have to wear for increasing increments of time each day. They were a little pricey but hopefully will help. Also have to ice my heels.

Sarah then showed me where the language school is for my meeting on Wednesday and where Gloucester Green was for the bus station. We then walked around the Covered Market and a bit of the rest of the city centre and headed home for lunch. I was meeting Andrew Loveridge from the Widlife Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University at 1:30. The WildCRU department is based out in Tubney near Abingdon. Sarah kindly dropped me off and I caught the bus back. There may be some work for the lion project in Zim when I get back.

Tubney near WildCRU

When the bus reached Gloucester Green I walked down some other streets and followed the road back to Headington as far as Headington Hill Park before catching the bus when it started to rain a bit more heavily.

Tomorrow I am meeting up with my Mum's cousin Trevor.