To Blenheim And Back Again: A Biker's Tale

Well folks, we finally did it. After our plans to visit Blenheim last November were thwarted by Will's mouth attack we have talked and talked about rescheduling our trip out there. And because we are people of action it only took us 5 months to do it! We packed a camera, 5 different tubes of sunscreen infused chapstick (because, like Napoleon Dynamite, "My lips hurt real bad!"), and bike tools and hit the trail. And by trail I mean sidewalk.

The weather started out chillier than uk.weather.com had initially advised (typical England) but the skies were clear and the wind was calm and I did my best to keep up with Will, all the while video taping and/or picture taking with one hand and steering with the other.

Yes, my confidence in my bike riding abilities has increased--slightly.

The scenery was incredible! Between the flowering trees and the beautiful skies and the green pastures... well, just have a look for yourselves.

The little green sign says "footpath." Don't mind if I do.

Just another of my many future English cottage homes.

I just can't get enough of these pink trees! If only I knew what their name was... anyone have any ideas?

Seriously people--if you know what tree this is let me know! I intend to plant them all around our future (imaginary) cottage.

Riding a bike AND smiling! Progress, people, progress!

After going through all of our pictures I decided that such a sunny day deserves an equally sunny video with sunny music. So here are the rest of our pictures in video form. Enjoy!

Springtime On A Sunday Afternoon

Spring has sprung! The weather has taken a turn for the glorious and, once again, I have discovered another season that I actually enjoy! First it was Fall and now Spring, too, has swept me off my feet. (FYI, I blame my Houston upbringing for my lack of appreciation or understanding of the seasons).

As the weather was particularly beautiful and inviting yesterday afternoon, we decided it was the perfect day for a spring picnic! While Will pumped tires and adjusted handle bars (my demon bike keeps attempting to kill me by turning things loose en route) I packed our springy sandwiches--roast chicken, pesto, mozzarella, and tomato--and we set off for Cutteslowe park and sunshine.

Sure, the bike looks innocent while chained up next to a tree, but don't let it fool you...

Our sunny picnic spot along the stream.

The daffodils are everywhere!

Spring rejuvenates the old bones. :)

Dad, Mom and Laura--when you come over in July we MUST go punting.

All this green refreshes my soul!

It wouldn't have been a Spring day at the park without an ice cream cone! Also, these soft whip cones need to go on the list of "Things Brits Do Better." A-ma-zing. Will and I have found a new Spring Sunday tradition...

Oh the poppies.

How I love the poppies!

Aside from the beautiful weather, the bright colors, and the warm sunshine, Spring has most surprised me with its transformational powers. I mean, I always thought of Oxford as picturesque... until Spring happened. It has multiplied Oxford's beauty to the tenth power. Will tells me that there is no such thing as multiplying beauty to the tenth power... but you know what I'm trying to say, right? Hey, I never claimed to be the mathematician in this relationship!

The Housing Crisis of 2011

Hello, my name is Caitlin and I am a first-born-child-drama-queen. Which is why I like titles with words like "crisis." Life is just more exciting when seen through a dramatic lens, dontcha think?

Back to our crisis.

Remember how we were homeless, oh, six months ago? And how a British angel by the name of Peppy took pity on us and allowed us to stay in her quintessential British home while we desperately searched for a place to live? And how there was nothing, NOTHING I tell you, available to rent in October, so we snatched up Flat #28 in Summertown House, courtesy of Oxford Graduate Housing?

Of course you do. How could you forget my trials and tribulations so quickly?

After the initial "hooray-we're-not-homeless-we-don't-even-mind-that-this-place-is-furnished-with-furniture-made-from-Lego-like-plastic" high wore off, we began to take a closer look at our abode. Not in the ungrateful kind of way, but in the weighing-our-options kind of way. We both agreed that we'd like to move come the end of our lease on July 31st and had hoped to find somewhere slightly closer to town, with slightly nicer furniture, a washer, and, if we were really lucky, a place with a smattering of English charm. I had casually begun exploring various letting agencies' websites for our future English flat when two weeks ago we received a notice from our landlord, aka the Oxford Graduate Housing Department, stating that we must give notice as to whether or not we'd be moving out by APRIL 11th! As in this coming Monday!!!

I have spent the last 2 weeks pouring over website after website, desperately hoping to find some charming yet cheap flat available in the summer and not way-the-heck out in the Oxford countryside. I have discovered some amazing (and some not so amazing) places to live but have been thwarted by price and move-in date: my two new arch nemeses. Places like these:

Feast your eyes upon this charming 2 bedroom flat located in Jericho (the cool part of Oxford)... which we will never inhabit as it is £1, 395 per month (excluding utilities and council tax, of course).

But wait! A charming 3 bedroom English cottage for only £775 a month? That is perfectly within price range... and only a mere 11.3 miles from Oxford. Next.

Could it be? Only 1.8 miles away from city centre, with beautiful floors, a washer/dryer, modern kitchen and bathroom at a very affordable £775 a month? So long, Summertown House and hello, new, beautiful... oh wait. Available now. And if we break our lease we have to continue to pay for our apartment until the end of July? Right. I'll just cry a little cry and move on then...

So here we are, on Thursday night--optionless, despondent (ok, maybe that's just me), and running out of time. Summertown House, you may be stuck with us for another year...