Cassie's Cuddles

I arrived in Edinburgh on Saturday, it is already a blur and it is only Tuesday! On Friday we went to Bath. We had to take a 2hr bus trip. We did the whole tourist thingy, and walked everywhere. It is a very pretty place. On the way home on the bus, a young asian woman fainted, and fell onto the bus floor. Everyone just looked at her. The bus driver pulled over, and just stood over her, and said “hello, are you alright?”, duh! She ended up waking up, he helped her to her seat, but then she came almost running out to the front door and out of the bus nearly falling. The bus driver was just letting her go, she was delirious. I suprised myself by handing Jared my purse, and walking out to help. I layed her on the ground, took off her cardigan (as she was extremely hot), the bus’ air conditioning wasn’t working, and it was very warm. The next minute a passer by handed me the phone and I spoke to an ambulance officer, about her. Anyway, I gave her some water, and stayed with her, until she was checked by an ambulance driver and put back onto the bus. We got off at the same stop, and she was looking much better. When we got off, the bus driver shook my hand, and said “Thank you for your help”. When I sat down, Jared said that he had never seen me take charge like that before, he thought I was cook. That was the biggest buzz, knowing that my husband thought that I was cool.

AS I said, I can’t put up any photos, so when I get home I will put up some photos. In the mean time let me just say that we have been to St Andrews (where Will and Kate met), Dundee, Glasgow today, and the highlight for me was David Livingstone’s home in Blantyre.

I can’t wait to come home. Thank you Nicky for the lovely email, but I can’t email back…Thank you for looking after the children, they will miss you too. Nicky wrote to me that the children had one of the forzen meals that I had left, they said “ah, this is mums cooking smell”, ain’t that sweet. I Can’t wait to cook for you again 😀

Happy Birthday to me…that sounds a bit sad doesn’t it? Even though it says that the date is the 22 april, it is only the 21st here in Oxford, so I have had an extended birthday.  I was hanging out for the children to Skype me, which they did. They all looked hyper, holding paper masks, and in some cases no one was in front of the screen at all! I think that it was their tea time. My dear sister is going to be exhausted, she is giving them the world. Dear Nicky, try not to spend your life’s saving on the children, even though I’m sure that they are enjoying it 😀

Jared had his last Latin lesson today, so now he is officially on holidays. I went off on my own for the morning, and met up after his lesson. He took me out for lunch for my birthday, a hearty man’s breakfast. Then he did the unthinkable, he took me to a Cath Kidstone shop. I was embarrassed when the sales assistant said “oh, hello, are you here again?”, um, awkward! He went against his own better judgement, and said “Go for it”, wow, how cool is that? I ended up buying a lovely bag with a matching purse. Have a look. Before I left Australia, mum also gave me some money, so I bought this (we need an extra bag anyway to bring everything home in), that’s what happens when you take a teeny weeny suitcase with you.  I gave my mum a quick call on my mobile too, it was nice to hear her voice. Thank you for the lovely bag mum.

Jared also took me out to tea.

Last night we had the worst raquet outside. Really loud middle easten music. Someone yelled out to stop, so they turned it up louder. It was a little  to be honest, with all the shouting. Jared’s tutor told him that we are in the part of Oxford where all the “bad” things happen, ugh!

Today we also went to a castle in Oxford, that was built by the Normans, but in later years it was used as a prison. It was very interesting.I couldn’t resist blowing these puffy flowers, what are they called again? We also went to the natural museum, to see large dinosaur bones. It was actually very warm today. I even saw a pale Englishman riding his bike without a top on!

I also popped into the library where I found this great book, all about the ministry of food. This is a reproduction of all the information given to the householders during WW2, it teaches you how to make a vege garden, and how to c ook without waste etc. I like the art work too.

Michelle! Congrats, Michelle, and sorry Lily. I hate it that not everyone can win. Michelle, I will pop your book in the post tomorrow.um, did I leave out an “L”?

Jared has been very good, and spending most of his time studying. Me on the other hand, has been doing way too much window shopping. I would have liked to have made a few friends, but I don’t think that is going to happen. I get the feeling, that nearly everyone here is either a tourist, or too busy to have friends.

Yesterday we went to the Bodlein Library  I had to go and book the tour in the morning, and then go back at 2pm for the tour (which, may I add was a rip off). We went into one room, climbed some steps (which was the actual library, but I wasn’t allowed to take any photos).This is Jared waiting for the guide.My son would love to read through all of these graphic novels.Look what I found in the op shop (yes, I know, I’m a horder). The big question is how am I going to fit this stuff in my teeny weeny suitcase?You  have to love these cute pillows.Some of the library books that I have borrowed.

Now remember the giveaway here, you have until tomorrow night to put your name down. Find it here:https://cassiescuddles.hoodfamily.org.au/?p=3339

If  you would like a chance to win this knitting book, and a couple of other wedding bits and pieces, just leave your name, and email me your address so I can send it to you, as soon as I draw the name out of a hat. email me at cassie@hoodfamily.org.au I will draw out the winner on Wednesday this week, UK time 8pm. If I don’t have your address, I won’t be able to send it, because we are heading off to Edinburgh on Friday/ Sat morning. All the best.

We headed off to Church this morning, after googling for an appropriate one.  Of course, we wanted a Church that was faithful to the Gospel. We caught the bus.We asked a passanger and then the bus driver if he could stop at the Baptist Church, neither knew it, because it wasn’t a large 300 year old building….well, now they both know where it is 😀It’s wonderful to see and hear other people who love the Lord. Afterward we went for a walk, we saw baby ducks, squirrels, and what I thought were flies (but have since found out that they were bumble bees).and…so cute, but I hear that they are a pest. We then indulged in this, believe it or not,this was a small cup.Now I’m thinking of a giveaway…to celebrate the Royal wedding. Stay tuned.

Today Jared and I headed off to Blenheim Palace. It is about 30 min from Oxford. It cost 19 pounds each to enter, ugh! A very expensive day. It was a long walk just to get to the front door.We went on two tours. Evidently Winston Churchill was born here in a cloak room! He did not grow up/live here though, but he did visit his grandparents here. This house was actually given to John Churchill by Queen Anne for his victory of many battles. I wasn’t allowed to take any photos inside (rats!), so I only have outside ones.The grounds were huge. We have really sore feet after all of the walking.lovely, lovely, lovely.I found a little place of trees, that I just had to sit amongst. This little area reminded me of my childhood, when I would go and play in the forest at the top of our street in Tasmania.I saw some cute flies. They are all fluffy, with an orange bottom.I also found a cute little coat for 1 pound in the local op shop. I know, I don’t have a little girl anymore, but I can still give it to someone, it’s so cute.Today in the paper, which costs 80p, you get a free dvd on the royal marriages, so I got two.

After lunch on Friday, Jared’s tutor took us on a tour for two hours! She also took a German student and his mother. We got to see about 6 colleges (and didn’t have to pay for  any of them). Jared’s tutor is actually younger than us, I would think that she was about28/ early 30s? She is a very clever cookie.The front able is for the clever guys and gals…this was in Christ Church chapel.The grass is very green, and the gardens are beautiful.This is where Jared studies, he is working very well.

There are many observations to make when one is in England. There are so many people speaking French and Arabic, it has taken me by surprise. It is during the school holidays though, so I guess that might have something to do with it. Also, the little green man on the traffic light doesn’t beep when it’s time to walk (some do, but not many), it makes you aware at how much you rely on your hearing. I have also noted that most girls here are big busted (is that weird to note?). One girl was standing in line wearing one of those 1950’s bras that are like rockets, with a little tank top on, that didn’t cover her. Even I had to look, but I did notice that none of the men in the line were staring (what a nice change), but then it occured to me, that large busts are everywhere..which means…..the bras here are very cheap, and cute, for the “well endowed woman”, hey, even I could get polka dots here 😀 Enough said, I have embarrassed my children enough (no photo here).This is the door where we live. Looking the other way, you can see how close we are to a bus stop.

What a great adventurer I am. Today I caught the bus to London from Oxford all by myself. I realise that I am no longer an adventurous, or confidant person, so I had to force myself..I caught the bus to Victoria station, then three buses (I actually read a map) until I got to Wesley’s Church. Remember that the cemetry opposite wasn’t open the other day? Well, I went back for Jared.  John Bunyan was buried there.and Susanna Wesley. The grave was behind a gate, but you can see it in the middle of the picture, the white one.This is closer up.I then just pottered around, caught the bus home, and picked up a few items for some friends. How cute are these? I’ll have to line up in the post office tomorrow.It is taking me ages to upload, so that’s it for now. see u