OXFORD

Today we decided to take off for Oxford which is almost 100 miles away. We made to mistake of being lazy about getting away and were sorry when we realised that we were spending more time driving than we had to sightsee in Oxford!

So after finding a car park ($13 for 3 hours) we walked into the city centre and there was just so much to goggle at. It is a bit like Cambridge but with much wider streets to accomodate the hundreds of bicycles. The other significant thing was the continual procession of coaches and buses - there is a coach service to London with a coach departing every 10 minutes!

We headed for the University college area and spent quite some time in Christ Church which is both a college and a cathedral. It dates back to the 12th century and is awe inspiring. The tower at the entrance (photo above) was designed by Christopher Wren who I am sure every one knows designed St Pauls Cathedral in London.

Both John and Charles Wesley studied here and were ordained in the cathedral - going on to found the Wesleyan faith. Bob Hawke also spent time here drinking yards of beer although there does not seem to be memento of his incumbency!!

Walking away from this College you are immediately amidst many of the other colleges and the Bodlian Library -sadly all off limits to visitors. Hunger struck and we had an excellent lunch of fish and chips (how do they do it so well) and then we had to hurry off to the carpark before our time expired. We really haveto go back to Oxford and spend a lot more time there.

The drive home was one of Carol's map reading specials avoiding the motor ways! We passed the Woburn Safari Park. This is part of the magnificent Woburn Abbey estate which is the home of the Duke of Bedford who's family have lived there for over 400 years. The estate comprises some 3000 acres of parkland stocked with many types of deer, and there is a brick wall around the whole thing! It seems t o go on forever. The safari park was an initiative of the current duke's parents who decided post WWII to underake extensive renovations rather than pass the property over to the National Trust to settle enormous death duties. We are certainly going to return there for a visit