Aout and abaout in Oxford and Oxfordshire

Posted by Tom in Connecticutt.

Batawitzes Morgan and Nicky teamed up with Tomnbecky for a night of great indulgence at Gerry Stonhill's Individual Mason Arms in South Leigh, Oxfordshire. It proudly claims to be the tackiest and probably most expensive pub in England. It certainly makes the best dry gin martini yet experienced in this mortal life by Tomnbecky.

A quiet read before absolutely stuffing yourself at the Mason Arms.

Becky's family's preferred section of the Mason Arms library.

Not bad grub, what. Nicky, Morgan, Tom, and Becky well on their ways to being utterly stuffed and (3 of us) sozzled. The Mason Arms, South Leigh.

Becky photographs Nicky, Tom, and Morgan at the gates of Blenheim Palace.

The top of England's most opulent palace, Blenheim.

Marlborough's splendour, Blenheim Palace.

Blenheim Palace gardens.

Nicky under gathering clouds in the shadow of Blenheim Palace.

Morgan thinks he sees a way to keep Gibraltar, Blenheim Palace gardens.

Tom reminisces about Agincourt at the birthplace of Churchill.

Blenheim Palace gardens.

Blenheim Palace gardens.

The Falkland Arms Hotel. Voted best affordable pub in Oxfordshire by everyone we took there.

Another aspect of the Falkland Arms. How good is that serenity?

Great Tew, Oxfordshire, where Richie Benaud used to take special voice training retreat weekends. Nicky and Tom.

The Radcliffe camera: a library reading room in central Oxford.

Apparently a rally in session: cars parked outside St Mary's church and crypt cafeteria.

Gargoyles on Queen's College, Oxford, overlooking the High St.

This is an artistic photograph of a car.

Remembering Catholic martyrs outside the New College (14th Century) on Holywell St, Oxford. Protestant martyrs generally get much more prominent places of remembrance. Atheist martyrs not sighted once in 5 months.

This back porch is very close to the centre of Oxford. Life must get pretty tough when the mercury climbs.

Canal action behind Oxford railway station.

St Aldates, Oxford city centre, looking down the hill to Old Tom, the bell tower of Christchurch college cathedral.

Niall, LLB, an ornament to Wadham College (and a superb tour guide if you ever want to know the fascinating parts of Oxford University).

Oxford was a real party town. And on this particular occasion I attribute the loss of focus to Seaview sparkling brut. Very cheap and surprisingly cheerful. Ellen, Tom, Alana.

Tomnbecky travel(-s) to Dublin for a long weekend with Katherine Johnson

Posted by Tom in Connecticutt.

Model architecture for a model prison, as it was originally intended. This is Kilmainham Gaol, where just about everybody who made Ireland free was previously executed by the Poms. Mind you, the Irish Civil War in the 1920s saw more executions per year than the British ever ordered in Ireland.

Molly Malone and some cheap-thrills tourist or other.

As you will see below, Becky en joyed some Twisties on the train to Howth, an old Viking fishing town at the north end of Dublin.

KJ on the hill outside Howth.

Barking mad. Tom looks over Howth on a fine summer's moment.

Katherine/KJ and Tom on the Howth train.

Australians abroad make their own fun on the cheap. But Twisties would have to pay a lot to get Becky's smile on their posters. Note the Deblin football team guernsey, below centre.

The streets of dear old Dublin.

One the way into Croke Park to watch a double-header of Gaelic football. Becky is often a bit too radiant for her amateur photographer I'm afraid.

The first match, between Wexford and Kilkenny, opens with a fair bit of getting-to-know-you.

It always hurts less when they fail to score.

Between matches, a marching band.

Keen-eyed blogwatchers will recognise the colours of Dublin (viz Becky's guernsey) and Meath. It is a very close game.

This is the one they want.

The crowd goes mild with excitement as Dublin stretches its perilously narrow lead over Meath.

Stephen Kernahan lives on in the Gaelic Athletics Museum, Croke Park.

Happy but happy after a day of much Gaelic sport, Katherine and Becky outside Croke Park.

Katherine Johnson helps Tom avoid the water, central Dublin.

A rare cloudy summer's day in Ireland's capital.

Memorial to the great famine, Dublin.