SOLVING THE MORSE CODE IN OXFORD

The weekend just past I spent in lovely Oxford.

I had a delightful couple of days in one of Britain's oldest and historic cities.

Of course, this is the City which houses England's oldest University. There was something about the University- possibly its architecture, is history, its inhabitants past and present, its academic excellence or perhaps something else, that adds flavour to the City.

It was a first for me. I have never so much as stepped a foot in Oxford over my 23 years and a bit of living. After stepping off my train, I felt a sense of the unexpected- something I always feel when visiting a new place. There is nothing like actually experiencing something yourself.

I obviously had a visual of what Oxford would be like. I expected it to be snobbish and slightly up itself. I mean this was King Charles I's Headquarters during the English Civil War- and he was an arrogant sod.

However, I found the old place delightful. I strolled around the streets on Saturday afternoon lazily and just enjoyed the fresh air and quietness of the City. They value their fresh air in Oxford which is why many people cycle/walk into and around of town.

Then of course, I remember that Morse strolled his way around Oxford. With his old sidekick Lewis in toe, they attempted to solve grisly crimes in deepest darkest Oxfordshire- in a pub called the Turl. This pub has had some famous clients- Bill Clinton smoked dope their apparantly during his student days. Former Australian PM Bob Hawke drank a yard of ale there in seconds flat. This is in the Guinness Book of Records. Then you had the parliamentarians attempting a coup from the same street the pub is on. And of course Morse....

Their fish and chips are delicious by the way....

So I found it all delightful. I drank i some pubs in the evening with my mate Juan before heading off to his house and bed.

All in all pretty delightful.

Tomorrow I may even digest into my visit to Churchill's birthplace and ceremonial home- Blenheim Palace. I'm sure you'll all be back for that.

M x