Long journeys

Back to the Oxford story. I set out last Sunday, well, two weeks ago Sunday actually. It doesn’t seem that long ago. I knew where I was going to, and I knew vaguely how to get there - up the A30 as usual and then once more along the M5, after that I just had to follow the signs. Not that I want to boast, but I surprised myself by finding my way pretty well.

One wrong turn off the last road into Oxford (very badly signed, obviously) and then I made it to the city centre. I’d glanced at a city map before I left as a rough guide to where the road I needed was and somehow I’d memorised the shape of the route. Fortunately by the time I got there it was evening and the roads weren’t busy. I followed by instinct where I was going and after a few minutes thought about looking out for the road, and there it was! My sense of direction improves by the day. The family I was staying with were family of friends in Falmouth, who very kindly had let me stay in their basement flat for the two weeks I had in Oxford with a contribution to bills, which I was more than happy to give. I much prefer not to live free.

I liked them immediately, I’d spoken once on the phone to them, and they made me tea my first night, and had put a lovely vase of flowers in the flat. A little kindness which made me very happy.
And they made Cornish pasties for tea, brilliant. Even a special vegetarian one for me. On a side note, Cornish pasties seem to be ubiquitous everywhere I go - last time I was in Chester there was a stall, and in Oxford city centre there is one.

Coincidences. I keep noticing them, little synchronicities. I often do and forget to note them. Words sometimes that are echoed, things you see again. I had been reading a story called ‘Don’t go gently’, and I was sent a text message on my journey telling me to go gently; various things. Coincidences come in patterns too. None for the last few days, but they will appear again and I’ll try and note them.

Oh dear, another ramble away from the path I started. Must concentrate. When I have finished this, I’ve promised myself a CSI NY episode, having discovered that my laptop DOES play DVDs. I can see another distraction coming up. It’s either going to be CSI or Lord of the Rings, and the latter is rather long for a late evening viewing, so guess it has to be the former. Shame : )
I had thought that I might have to be away from the internet, and all it brings for the two weeks away from Falmouth. Not so though, for better or worse. I even had access to broadband. And a television! I indulged in The Simpsons, and Great British Menu - not the best fare, but I had been starved for along time.
Despite apprehension about the next day, my first full day working for a long time, and in a completely different place, I slept very well. Too much TV had exhausted me.