Sorry it’s been a while since I lasted posted. I’ve been getting to grips with a new job, commuting, and a new life in general! All is going well I think! I haven’t had much time to spend in the kitchen at the weekend as each weekend is filled up with exploring new places. It does feel like we are on holiday when Saturday morning comes around. What shall we do? Where shall we go? Are there any markets on? I’ve also discovered some amazing cook shops! Luckily one is near us in Witney.
Over the past couple of weekends we’ve been to Witney, Stratford Upon Avon, Cheltenham, Oxford, and Biscester; we’ve walked along the canal banks; explored the local area on foot and by bike; and managed to squeeze in a pint at the local village pub whilst being amused by the local Pizza van that comes around every Friday (fully equipped with a proper pizza oven!). This weekend we’ve heading off to London to watch a friend run in the London Marathon (memories of running it last year might come back to me!)! So it’s pretty much all go!
Having moved to a city from a very rural location, there are lots of things that I witness every day that amuse / bemuse / confuse me. I must admit that on my first day of work last week, being a bit early, I decided to stop of at a well known coffee chain to grab a cuppa and watch the world go by. Obviously I was too keen to get into work by 40minutes! It seemed that everyone gets a coffee and pastry on their way to work... at £4.00 a pop how do they sustain that!?!? I know I won’t be doing it!
Commuting is OK. Drive to the park and ride, catch the bus, walk the last ½ a mile to the office. It’s the return leg that is a nightmare with everyone scrabbling to get home. I can’t wait to get back on my bike and beat the traffic. Traffic in Oxford is a real nightmare. I can’t understand, as the bus is approaching the Park and Ride on the way home, that everyone starts to get up, clamber down the stairs of the double Decker bus (whilst still in motion, holding their shopping / coffee / keys) and fights to get off. I see people running to their cars and it’s like Wacky Races to get out of the carpark! All for saving 30seconds to only get caught up at the traffic lights / roundabout. I sit, wait, get out, walk to my car, and by the time I leave, all of the bedlam has passed and I normally end up catching this people up on the dual carriage way!
The only good thing about commuting is that in two weeks I have read two books! “Eating for England” by Nigel Slater and “Bone in the Throat” by Anthony Bourdain (both food related and both very good). It will be knitting on the bus in the winter!
I’ve been very good during the week, taking my packed lunch into work and finding a nice location to sit and watch the world go by. I did have to venture in to the metropolis one day and was almost washed away by the hoards of people rushing about. It’s like one of those scenes from a film where you see the person stood still, yet everyone passing them is in fast forward. It’s even worse when you don’t know a soul to way to, to say hello. You just stand there, watching.
I was brave enough to pop into M&S to grab some yoghurt (we had ran out at home) and the queuing of people was immense! Again, linking back to my morning coffee theory, how do people afford, everyday, to buy their packed lunch? And then don’t forget about the essentials that you need to buy for tea tonight (having already done the shopping at the weekend) and oh, I must have that pair of shoes! I’m glad that I am organised enough (and enjoy) making my own packed lunch and leave my purse at home. I think that you can be easily dragged into the spending game if you have lots of shops on your work doorstep!
Though, I have to confess, I do go over to the local antique market on a Thursday – there is allsorts there! From antiques to general tat, but you never know what you will find! There are also a few stalls that sell fabric, vintage haberdashery and other goodies! And the first Thursday of the month there is a local farmers market with lots of baked bread, cheese etc. I was very good last time, I didn’t by anything but just enjoyed a bit of chat with the local producers and the smell!
Luckily for me I’ve got some time off coming up over Easter and the Bank Holidays so I will be looking forward to spending some well deserved time in the kitchen and whipping up some goodies so I will make sure that I do some foodie posts!
All the best,
Nic
xoxox
