Hey all (and by all I mean the 3 people that have any semblance of patience for my infrequent updating of this site). Sorry (again) for the lack of posts. I don't really have any excuse so I won't attempt to make one. I'm not going to try and fill in on everything since the last post but I'll start with my England trip. This post will be all the pre-wedding type stuff.
It was the first time I had been back to Oxford since I defended my thesis over a year ago and considering my trip came the day after I finished SERE training it was very very very highly anticipated and I was so excited to finally get on the plane to Heathrow and the bus to Oxford. Simon was kind enough to come pick me up at the Park and Ride at about 7am (saving me about 30 minutes on my trip) despite having had his stag do (bachelor party) the night before. We went back to Chez Kim and Si, Kim woke up from her post hen-do (bachelorette) slumber long enough to say a quick hello, Si went back to sleep, and I just chilled in the living room until they actually rejoined the land of the living.
Once they woke up, Simon went off somewhere (can't remember where exactly) and Kim and I walked into town for breakfast. We ate at the News Cafe off of Cornmarket and got a great chance to chat and catch up a bit. We then wandered up to the Botanical Gardens and enjoyed the nice weather. We eventually met up with Adam and Soupy for a few drinks at the Head of the River. It was a lovely first day back in Oxford that made me feel so at home, as if I had never left.
The next day (Monday) I got in a quick workout (during which I spent far more time talking and catching up with Matt and Jack than I did actually training) and then headed into London for the afternoon. I walked through Green Park and my favourite park in London, Hyde Park, and got to see the new Bomber Command Monument. I then headed over to the Museum of London (it was under renovation for the whole time I was living there) and it was truly fascinating. They had a great exhibit that chronicles the history of London from Roman times through today. There was also a special exhibit about the history of Radio Times which was really interesting as well.
I had some time to kill before dinner and so I ran over to the British Museum (because you could go there about 75 times and still never see everything) but unfortunately the skies decided to open up in the truly English fashion and I got soaked. Oh well, such is life. I looked at the prints exhibit but then got frustrated by the horrible crowds and headed over to Kings Cross to meet up with Sonny and Udds for dinner. It was so good to see them and chat while we ate, getting to hear all about their lives and get excited for Sonny about her recent engagement.
Tuesday morning, Kim, Jenny (Cameron's girlfriend who I had yet to meet but was absolutely lovely) and I headed up to Bicester for Kim's final dress fitting. It was my job to lace up the dress on the day so I needed to learn how to do it. While practicing the lacing up, many jokes were made about my ability to fly and airplane so hopefully a little ribbon wouldn't defeat me. I was succesful on my first go and told I was a natural-- if this pilot thing doesn't work out, I have a fall back! After the fitting we had dim sum for lunch and then just chilled around the city for a bit.
I then made my triumphant return to circuits and got to hang out with Leon, Emma, Matt, and Bonnie. Bonnie and I then went over to the Uni Club and had some drinks with Kim, Si, Soupy, and Rouse.
On Wednesday I had lunch with Bonnie where we got a change to chat and catch up a bit (not nearly enough but better than nothing) and then hung out with Tommy for a bit. I had curry for dinner up in Summertown with Soupy and Rowan and then we headed over to Cowley to meet with Kirsty, Katie Warnaby, Bonnie, Shiv, and Rouse for a few drinks.
On Thursday I had lunch and a few drinks with Si and Neal (who I hadn't seen since he left Oxford!) and then headed over to the club to meet up with Kim and the rest of the wedding party ladies for dinner and drinks. It was great to really meet the other bridesmaids, as well as meet Kim's mom and aunts and family friends. We had dinner at Pierre Victoire and drinks at the Duke of Cambridge in Little Clarendon.
I can't for the life of me remember what I did during the day on Friday but in the evening the whole wedding party (as well as some additional friends and guests) had a rehearsal dinner at the Uni Club to get all the details sorted for the wedding the next day.
It was the first time I had been back to Oxford since I defended my thesis over a year ago and considering my trip came the day after I finished SERE training it was very very very highly anticipated and I was so excited to finally get on the plane to Heathrow and the bus to Oxford. Simon was kind enough to come pick me up at the Park and Ride at about 7am (saving me about 30 minutes on my trip) despite having had his stag do (bachelor party) the night before. We went back to Chez Kim and Si, Kim woke up from her post hen-do (bachelorette) slumber long enough to say a quick hello, Si went back to sleep, and I just chilled in the living room until they actually rejoined the land of the living.
Once they woke up, Simon went off somewhere (can't remember where exactly) and Kim and I walked into town for breakfast. We ate at the News Cafe off of Cornmarket and got a great chance to chat and catch up a bit. We then wandered up to the Botanical Gardens and enjoyed the nice weather. We eventually met up with Adam and Soupy for a few drinks at the Head of the River. It was a lovely first day back in Oxford that made me feel so at home, as if I had never left.
The next day (Monday) I got in a quick workout (during which I spent far more time talking and catching up with Matt and Jack than I did actually training) and then headed into London for the afternoon. I walked through Green Park and my favourite park in London, Hyde Park, and got to see the new Bomber Command Monument. I then headed over to the Museum of London (it was under renovation for the whole time I was living there) and it was truly fascinating. They had a great exhibit that chronicles the history of London from Roman times through today. There was also a special exhibit about the history of Radio Times which was really interesting as well.
I had some time to kill before dinner and so I ran over to the British Museum (because you could go there about 75 times and still never see everything) but unfortunately the skies decided to open up in the truly English fashion and I got soaked. Oh well, such is life. I looked at the prints exhibit but then got frustrated by the horrible crowds and headed over to Kings Cross to meet up with Sonny and Udds for dinner. It was so good to see them and chat while we ate, getting to hear all about their lives and get excited for Sonny about her recent engagement.
Tuesday morning, Kim, Jenny (Cameron's girlfriend who I had yet to meet but was absolutely lovely) and I headed up to Bicester for Kim's final dress fitting. It was my job to lace up the dress on the day so I needed to learn how to do it. While practicing the lacing up, many jokes were made about my ability to fly and airplane so hopefully a little ribbon wouldn't defeat me. I was succesful on my first go and told I was a natural-- if this pilot thing doesn't work out, I have a fall back! After the fitting we had dim sum for lunch and then just chilled around the city for a bit.
I then made my triumphant return to circuits and got to hang out with Leon, Emma, Matt, and Bonnie. Bonnie and I then went over to the Uni Club and had some drinks with Kim, Si, Soupy, and Rouse.
On Wednesday I had lunch with Bonnie where we got a change to chat and catch up a bit (not nearly enough but better than nothing) and then hung out with Tommy for a bit. I had curry for dinner up in Summertown with Soupy and Rowan and then we headed over to Cowley to meet with Kirsty, Katie Warnaby, Bonnie, Shiv, and Rouse for a few drinks.
On Thursday I had lunch and a few drinks with Si and Neal (who I hadn't seen since he left Oxford!) and then headed over to the club to meet up with Kim and the rest of the wedding party ladies for dinner and drinks. It was great to really meet the other bridesmaids, as well as meet Kim's mom and aunts and family friends. We had dinner at Pierre Victoire and drinks at the Duke of Cambridge in Little Clarendon.
I can't for the life of me remember what I did during the day on Friday but in the evening the whole wedding party (as well as some additional friends and guests) had a rehearsal dinner at the Uni Club to get all the details sorted for the wedding the next day.
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