Oxford! Part II and Tolkien

olkien in Oxford! (cross-posted from my writing blog)

I had no idea when writing my A to Z Blogging Challenge on the Inklings posts that we would take a spur-of-the-moment weekend trip to Oxford the month after the challenge!

Here's a belated A to Z linked post, then, sharing all the main Tolkien-related photos from our trip.

The Lamb and Flag, across from the Bird and Baby -- er, the Eagle and Child, two pubs at which the Inklings used to meet.

I've had drinks at the Eagle and Child before, and we didn't have time to go in this time around...

The Botanical Gardens.

I wanted to see Tolkien's Tree, a black pine, but apparently it was felled a few years ago!

All that remains are these celebratory illustrations. Very sad.

Magdalen College, where the Inklings met in C S Lewis' rooms on Thursday nights:

Starting point of Addison's Walk, frequented by Lewis, Tolkien, and Dyson

The view of the grounds to the north, which is the direction Lewis' rooms looked out on.

He could see deer, but I'm not sure if there are any still there.

Croquet

Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense

Booklets and postcards -- the owl is by Tolkien

Merton College, Tolkien's college:

And T S Eliot's college too!

Visit to Wolvercote Cemetery:

Lots of people seem to leave coins from various countries, so we left a few Swiss coins, as we didn't have any Canadian coins with us.

It's been 105 years since Tolkien's trip to Switzerland.

I won't be sharing ROW80 updates at the start of the current round, as I'll be away on a work trip for a lot of the time and I'm hoping to get some editing done on my own stories while away! Hope to have some real updates when I get back. And to catch up on all the comments, too!

If you'd like to sponsor an ROW80 round, please sign up!

Also, if you'd like to write a guest post for this blog, please let me know!

I'd like to do a series of summer/autumn guest spots.

Oxford! Part I and Knitting

wo posts for all our Oxford photos, of a weekend away last month (cross-posted from the writing blog). I've saved all the Tolkien-related stuff for next week. Although, of course, most things in Oxford are Tolkien-related, by definition...

Also got some knitting photos for my ongoing Knitting in the Wild series... I'm a few rows away from completing a blanket for a cousin's baby -- it's nice to finish off an ROW80 round with at least one goal completed, even if it's not writing related!

Outside Christ Church college

Knitting shop!

Really yummy homemade ice cream

An ox for Oxford, outside the train station

St Giles Church neighbourhood. Apparently there's a labyrinth on the grounds -- I'd like to explore it some day!

I hadn't realised Oxford boasted coffee shops from the 17th century!

Blackwell's Bookshop -- I shared an anecdote that took place in this shop, during my A to Z on the Inklings

Radcliffe Camera

Bodleian Library grounds

The living cell was first identified in a house on this site

The Einstein blackboard!

Keble College grounds

Keble College chapel

Keble College -- we stayed here! Leving the Hall, after breakfast...

I hadn't known before that the original of this painting, The Light of the World by William Holman Hunt, is in the Keble College chapel!

More photos from Keble

Mind the gap!

Atmospheric train photo...

Images from the Ashmolean history of science exhibit, including Lewis Carroll's camera. The Oxford English Dictionary was in this building back when Tolkien was on the staff of the dictionary

Baby blanket!

I've done two more bands of colour since this photo was taken. Only one left to go!

And here's some Knitting in the Wild:

Girl in a Field Knitting by Hans Dahl, 1879

Saw this quote from Moontide by Mercedes Lackey on Twitter

Marge Simpson knitting!

Knitting in Paris, 1951

Hope you've enjoyed all these photos!

Are you planning any trips this summer?