Christ Church, Part III

I dined in The Hall for the first time on Sunday evening, not at the head table mind you (that’s Monday evening). However, still in The Hall. The weather cleared and allowed us to have the wine reception in the Tom Quad. The meal was impressive – asparagus spears for an appetizer, the main course – roasted lamb chops with currant jelly, thinly sliced potatoes, and broccoli with cauliflower. The dessert was baked apple with whipped cream. Who says the words British and cuisine are incongruous? Do the undergraduates eat this well during term? Speaking with persons who have participated in years past, I can expect to eat like this every evening. I will need to plan on taking more and more trips up and down the stairs to and from my fourth floor room.

One of the most impressive features of The Hall is the numerous very large portraits of famous graduates or patrons of Christchurch. I had the opportunity to dine under the thoughtful gazes of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Lord Grenville, John Wesley, William Penn, Lewis Carroll (there is even an Alice in Wonderland stained glass window) and W.H. Auden.

The bell in Tom Tower rings 105 times every evening at 9:05 for the 105 founders of Oxford University in the 13th century. It tolls the time at five minutes past each and every hour. Why? Because Oxford is on its own time, Oxford Time. And, because Oxford is literally only five minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time.

My class met with the instructor this evening. There are ten of us. Chris Sykes is the instructor. He writes for the London stage. He is also a published poet. Currently, he is trying his hand at songwriting. I spoke with him after class and discovered that his preferred style of playing and writing is acoustic folk and that his guitar and mine are both Robert Taylor’s. His is an 814 and mine is an 810. Same woods, different body designs. I believe I am going to enjoy the class. Chris stated that he became a writer because he loves “making things up in order to see what becomes of them.”

That’s it for the moment. Peace.