Another Incredible (Graduation) Day in the City of Dreaming Spires: Oxford, Here I Come!

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Oxford: Another Enchanting (Graduation) Day in the City of Dreaming Spires

Getting Out of London:

I am always excited on a trip to Oxford. It brings sharply to my mind my very first journey in 1987 with my friend Firdaus by my side, as we made our way to Oxford to become students there. Other than the fact that we really got to know each other on that journey, I remember sheep in the meadows, cows in the corn. Since then I have done this journey countless times. So, I left my house at 6.30 am, caught the 44 bus from Battersea Park Road to Victoria, got to the Coach Station and since I had over 45 minutes to kill, began to look for breakfast. Sainsbury Local was just across the road, but it only opens at 7.00 am—I had a few minutes’ wait and decided to take a stroll along lovely Elizabeth Street to windowshop.

Window Shopping on Elizabeth Street in London:

I am familiar with Elizabeth Street as the place from where Jo Malone first launched her business in perfume. After she sold Jo Malone to Estee Lauder and gave herself a five-year break before launching another new parfumerie from scratch (Jo Loves), she based it where her love affair with perfume began—on Elizabeth Street. I have been to her lovely fragranced shop here on more occasions than I can remember and this time too, I made a bee line there. Of course, everything was closed and the street, which is basically, a pedestrian plaza, was very quiet. Other shops that caught my eye were Phillip Treacy’s store (he is the millionaire milliner) from which he sells the most amazing hats to a very discerning clientele. The ones I glimpsed from the bow windows were just exquisite and I had visions of Ascot and royal weddings as I took in the sight. There is also Peggy Porchen who makes one-of-a-kind cakes and a couple of antiques shops, including Joanna Wood, whose English Country interiors have been my own inspiration for decades. In fact, I was so enchanted by a pair of lamps in the windows that I could have easily made off with them, if the circumstances were right and I was still living in another era of my life!

Sainsbury’s Baked Goods for Brekkie:

It was time to return to Sainsbury’s (which had just opened) from where I picked up a pain au chocolat and an almond croissant. I did not bother getting coffee as I had a bottle of water in my bag. Inside the coach station, I looked for departures from Oxford on the board—only to find none. I then dug out my ticket to find that National Express has commissioned the Oxford Tube to run their passengers to Oxford. Of course, it meant running across the street to find the coaches lined up there and, in a few minutes, to get my preferred seat (upper deck, front and center) and off we went at 7.25 am on a Saturday morning, while the city still slumbered.

I love the journey out of London—down Buckingham Palace Road, on to Wellington Arch and Apsley House, then around the bend to Park Lane with its expanses of green at Green Park and The Dorchester and the grand sculpture and gardens all along Park Lane until we arrive at Marble Arch, make a sharp left to sail down Bayswater Road past Notting Hill and Lancaster Gate Tube stations and then on to Holland Park (which always makes me look for the home of my friends Loulou and Paul) and on to Shepherd’s Bush and the Westgate Shopping Center. I munched my breakfast pastries en route and thought I would sleep once we did the highway (as has happened in the past), but no luck this time around. I feasted my eyes on sheep and brown cows and black horses as the coach ate up the miles and we took the turn to Lewknor and then the Thornhill Park and Ride before we passed through Hillingdon and entered Oxford at St. Clement’s. From this point on, I began to shoot video footage of the city and our approach into it, past Magdalen Tower and the Botanic Garden and onto Queen’s College where the coach makes a stop before turning left at Carfax to get to St. Aldate’s.

Hopping Off on the High:

Oxford was still asleep (or just awaking) when I hopped off the coach at 9.10 am (right on schedule). I caught a glimpse of a woman in a grand sari, her husband in an Indian achkan. Besides them was their son, a graduating student obviously, already wearing his cap and gown in time for the day’s later formalities and festivities. One of my favorite gift stores in Oxford, Babylon, was still closed and I decided to visit it again after an hour. Although I would usually have simply crossed The High and entered Queens Lane to begin my customary favorite walk, this time round, I decided to do something really different.

First Delightful Walk of the Day:

I retraced the steps of the bus and peered down the stone balustrades over Magdalen Bridge to see the calm Cherwell below. Crew members were getting ready for the day and dozens of punts lay slumbering along the banks of the Botanic Garden. I had the opportunity to take several pictures (including a few selfies on a really windy day) and then crossed the High to begin my walk alone Rose Lane, on the opposite side. I whipped out my trusty map and discovered that if I followed the lane that runs alongside the outer wall of the Botanic Garden, I would reach the Cherwell. It was worth exploring. Not another soul was in sight—so for that brief blissful morning, I had the city and its dreaming spires to myself. En route, when the shot caught my eye, I took pictures of the lush summer bounty in the Botanic Garden where spillage tumbles over the wall: I saw early bunches of grapes on a vine, white Morning Glories, clematis in royal purple and a bunch of wild mauve flowers (gilly flowers) all of which I photographed.

Across, on the other side of a wrought iron fence, I saw the Gothic walls of Merton College across Merton Field. In a few minutes, I reached a bend in the Cherwell. It was still too early to spy punts but on the other side, I saw the pavilion of the cricket ground and the emerald-green expanse of the pitch. Following my map, I walked alongside Merton Field until the spire of Christ Church Cathedral came into view. Then followed more spires, more honey-toned Cotswold stone walls and, in a short time, I was parallel to the Broad Walk that would have led me straight to St. Aldate’s. I decided to walk back to the High past Merton College instead. A small gate brought me to Merton Strreet, the beautiful cobbled oldest street in Oxford on which stands Merton College, the oldest college in the Town, dating from the early 1200s. The bells of Merton College were chiming, and I shot some video—highly atmospheric—before I inquired inside the Porter’s Lodge as to whether I could visit the chapel alone. They said I would need to buy a ticket for 5 pounds to see the entire college. I decided against it (perhaps I shall do it someday with Llew as his nephew as a student at Merton, on a Rhodes Scholarship, when he had studied British jurisprudence here, a few years ago).

I crossed from Magpie Lane back on the High after what was one of the most charming walks I have taken. The early dawn light and the rising sun gilding the Cotswold stone, permitted many delightful photographs across the bright green lawns. I also shot chestnut trees that are getting ready to produce their nut-filled cases.

It was a walk that lasted a whole hour and I looked for a place to sit and perhaps get a hot drink when I realized that Babylon, my preferred gift shop, would be open. I browsed inside but did not find anything that called my name. Leaving quickly, I crossed the street and decided to start my second walk of the day.

My Second Walk in Oxford--One of my Favorites:

I have, in past blog posts, provided details of the history of the colleges I pass through on this, my favorite walk in Oxford (so I shall refrain from doing so this time). Suffice it to say that you pass by New College and spy the spires of All Souls College and then the dome of the Radcliff Camera. In the spring, this walk is more enchanting as wisteria cascades down the college walls bringing a punctuation of mauve notes to the grey and honey toned walls as you pass by old-world gas lamps.

At Hereford College, you go under the Bridge of Sighs and there I made a right to get to the Broad. I noticed at once that the crowds had increased considerably in volume (it was almost 10,30 am by this time). The precincts of the Sheldonian Theatre were out-of-bounds as graduation formalities would be going on inside Christopher Wren’s masterpiece of a building, Oxford’s most recognizable (together with the Radcliff Camera--James Gibbs’ masterpiece). Indeed, Oxford in an architectural paradise and if it is not Wren, it is his pupil Nicholas Hawksmoor’s work (as in the Clarendon Building) that catches the eye. It is an endless visual feast and I ate greedily of the offerings.

I saw down on the bench opposite the Weston Library just for a rest and gazed up at the camera in St. Martin’s School—it is the one place I look at every single day when I am in my usual home as there is a 24 hour streaming service offered by this device. Next, I decided to go along to the Oxfam store where I always look for DVDs and other vintage treasures. This time I found The Monuments Men, one of the most mesmerizing of stories for an art lover. I grabbed it for 2 pounds and then sat outside the store for a while in the pavement café area where tables and chairs offered my feet some respite. I found the city simply heaving. Large crowds of students (some looking no older than high schoolers) were out taking guided walks with certified guides (obviously all taking summer school courses at Oxford). I listened to the commentary from some of them and discovered that St. Frideswald, a Medieval saint whose personal story of chastity is closely linked with the city, has a church somewhere close by and that Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) studied Engineering at Trinity College, across the road from where I sat.

By then it was about 12 noon and I had a 12.30 pm lunch appointment with my friend Dr. Fiona Mann who was driving in from Upper Compton (or Lower?) to meet me. I joined the throngs on Cornmarket Lane, popped into Boots to find clip-on sunglasses and then turned the bend at Carfax to enter St. George’s Street before getting to the Westgate Shopping Center. I popped into Jo Malone, spritzed myself to freshen up and then walked along the High to get to Whittard’s to meet my friend Christophe who works there. Alas, I discovered that he left over a year ago and no one knows where he now is. Oh well…

Lunch with My Friend at Vaults and Gardens Café:

On cue, at 12.30, I found myself gazing at the dome of the Radcliff Camera and at the vast crowds posing for pictures along its wrought iron fencing. When I entered the Vaults and Gardens Café that I know well as I have eaten here at various times, over the years, with various friends, my friend Fiona spied me right away. We had an affectionate reunion hug before we found a table and settled down for a right royal natter. It has been exactly 14 months since she took Llew and me in her car to Waddendon Manor, a totally unforgettable experience, in the Aylesbury countryside. This time round, we decided to get lunch (my treat—after all, she had driven a long way to see me) and then sit down for a long catch up.

We went inside the restaurant to order: the menu changes daily and is up on the walls on large blackboards. I ordered a Squash, Celeriac and Coriander Soup (served with sourdough bread and butter) and an Oxford Cheddar and Gruyere Sourdough Rarebit. Fiona ordered the rarebit and a coffee and took our trays outside, found a lovely table at the side and focussed on enjoying our chat and our meal. The afternoon was simply gorgeous, weather-wise, with the cool wind tempered by the warmth of the sun. After we had exchanged family news and talked about our respective current academic projects, that is a good two hours later, we parted company having taken some pictures in Radcliff Square.

Third Walk—This one in Exeter College:

It was just past 2.30 pm when Fiona and I said our goodbyes. It was the perfect time for me to visit my own college, Exeter College, and so off I went down Brasenose Lane, only to realize that the Fellows Garden and the ramparts of the wall that overlooks Radcliff Square, would be completely out of bounds, long-term, as a huge renovation is occurring in the Library of Exeter College.

When I entered the Porter’s Lodge, I discovered that almost the entire college premises were taken over by a wedding party. There was a large white marquee on the main Quad lawns and the Porter informed me that although alumni were permitted to enter, they were requested to stay away from the chapel where the nuptials had just taken place, the dining hall where the luncheon feast would shortly occur (in the marquee, drinks and cocktails were being served) and the Fellows Garden (where full-scale construction had shut down the entire venue). Fortunately, I was able to enter the Margary Quad where my room was located and where I was able to take a few pictures.

Museum Exploration Begins—The Weston Library First:

A little later, I got out of Exeter College and decided to cross the Broad to get to Blackwell’s Book Store where I could rest my feet. I was beginning to feel seriously fatigued by this time and needed a rest. Inside Blackwell’s, I found one of my favorite books on Oxford, It is fully illustrated by George Byfield whose watercolors I simply adore—I own the companion book on ‘London’ and someday I will buy the Oxford book too. Only not on this occasion. I took a picture of Lady Margaret Hall College from the book for my Repatriates Group friend, Deborah, before I left. I had given myself a 45-minute rest and I was ready to leave.

Next door, I found myself in the gift shop of the Weston Library. I browsed around and found a lot of new merchandise. That’s the great thing about these museum stores—they are constantly changing their wares (so there is always a pleasant surprise). The cushion covers and the tote bags based on the Medieval tapestry out in the lobby are fully sold out. I am so glad I had bought the tote bags, a year ago, and fashioned cushions out of them myself. I spied a nice scarf printed with books from the 1940s, but I have too many scarves and could do without it.

I used the facilities at the Weston Library and then decided to take a look at their newest exhibitions. These too are always changing and one can be fascinated by what one finds of the treasures of the collection. There was an exhibition on ‘The Giver and the Gift’ (the gifts being books) that had on display medieval psalters and Bibles and Quorans that were written on scrolls as well as contemporary books. I was already too fatigued to be able to read every curatorial note, but I got a general gist of the show. Had I more time, I know I would have enjoyed it much more. The second exhibition, in the adjoining gallery was entitled ‘Alphabets Live”—a show on the manner in which the alphabet and their letters feature in our lives. I did not give it too much time before I left to make my way to the Ashmolean Museum. It was already 3.30 pm and I would have no more than 90 minutes there.

Visiting the Ashmolean Museum:

On an afternoon that was simply crammed with human beings, St. Giles and particularly the corner where the Ashmolean Museum shares space with the five-star Randolph Hotel, I tried to spy the location of the other webcam that streams 24/7 scenes of real-life in real time on You Tube. I believe I did see it tucked in a window on the first floor. I looked at the crowds crossing the street and decided to get away as quickly as possible. Going through the side street and gate that takes one into the Ashmolean Museum, for the first time, I found myself on the buzzing portico of the Neo-Classical building.

Once inside, I lost little time making my way to the Porcelain Rooms which I always love and where I can spend a whole day. Sadly, I was running out of time and energy and made a direct bee line for the European paintings on the second floor. Of course, I saw Paolo Uccelo’s The Hunt and Pietro di Cosimo’s The Forest Fire (both of which have individual episodes of Morse and Lewis respectively based on them) before I climbed one floor to get to the Pre-Raphaelites and Turner’s View of Oxford. This time round, my eyes were attracted to two wonderful paintings by William Bell Scott (1811-1890), an artist with whose name I am unfamiliar. He has painted two works that sit side-by-side in the Ashmolean: Keats’ Grave and Shelley’s Grave—both in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome where they died within a year of year other (1821 and 1822—my favorite poet Keats first, then his best friend Shelley). Somewhat inexplicably, the cemetery sits right by a Pyramid and both poets, lie in its shadow. They are truly evocative of the Romantic Age and the tragic lives of the poets that gave us some of our best-loved works.

By then, it was 5.00 pm and the museum staff were already bustling us out. I used the facilities in the basement for the last time and then began to think seriously of getting home. I popped into a second-hand bookstore on the way out and then into Five Guys for a coffee and their salted peanuts. Almost an hour later, I decided to see if the conductor on the Oxford Tube would permit me to board early—my ticket said 8.30, but by 6.00 pm, I’d had enough and badly needed a long sit-down. The thought of walking all the way down the High to Queen’s College was daunting until I remembered that I could board the bus at the terminus at Gloucester Green which was less that five minutes away. And that’s what I did. It gave me a chance to look at the Gloucester Green Street Market which was winding down and, in about ten minutes, I was in a coach ready to wend my exhausted way home. I discovered that there is no restriction on when one has return—any time within a three month period is fine. I loved the flexibility and off we went!

En route to London:

I seriously thought I would have a long snooze on the bus; I had a very friendly and talkative companion who happened to be a second year PhD Chemistry student at St. Edmund Hall. His name was Jasper and he told me all about his dissertation and his American girl friend who wishes to specialize in Urulogy. The miles were just eaten up by our conversation and before I knew it, he was getting off at White City heading home to his parents who live at Ealing, not too far from where I had once rented a Victorian flat! In Oxford, he was renting a flat at Norham Gardens where I had once rented a flat! We simply could not get over the coincidence!

Back Home to Battersea:

It was just past 8.15pm when we arrived at Victoria. I ate the second half of my Rarebit on Sourdough in the coach together with a helping of Tiramisu which I had bought from Sainsbury earlier in the day. This meant that I could get home, take a shower and go straight to bed as I was deeply fatigued.

The 44 bus from across the Victoria coach station was not long in coming and I jumped into it and rode the 15 minute journey to Battersea where I got off and walked quickly along Candahar Road to Sarah’s. Inside, I found her at the end of a nice dinner party with two friends, one of whom had a dog named Lola. Sarah asked if I wanted a drink, but I was only keen to get up to my room. Once inside, I sorted through my things, checked my email and whatsapp messages (as I had no connectivity all day), brushed and flossed my teeth and went straight to bed at 10.30 pm.

Until tomorrow…cheerio!

Exploring Iffley, Thrift Shopping, Lunch at Oli’s Thai and Surveying Exeter College and The Broad

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Oxford

Exploring Iffley, Thrift Shopping, Lunch at Oli’s Thai and Surveying Exeter College and The Broad

     I had the day of my life! Weather-wise, it was lousy...I might as well say that, at the outset, and it was cold. I had forgotten how dreadfully chilly the summers can be in Oxford. With only a cotton cardigan that I had carried in a very limited wardrobe, I was rather miserable. But my adventures of the day more than made up for my sartorial inadequacy.

Breakfast with Sue and Tony:

I began my day waking at 6.00 am but staying in my warm and cozy bed at Sue and Tony’s place until 7.00 am. They too had woken up early as they had a long drive to Bristol ahead of them. I joined them for breakfast—Tony’s home baked bread (toasted and delicious with his home made orange marmalade) and some decaf coffee.  While they puttered around getting ready, I dressed and was very pleased when Tony told me that they would drop me off at my first port of call as they would be picking up a rented car to go on their road trip and would swing by my destination.

Off to Iffey Village:

  My first item on the agenda was a visit to Iffley Church which I had read about in one of Bill Bryson’s books. He said that it is an incredible church and that it was set in an absolutely idyllic English village. I had decided then that on my next trip to Oxford, I would make the trek there. For Iffley lies just outside the town of Oxford and is very easily reached by local bus. This church, however, The Church of St. Mary The Virgin, is not on the main road—it is actually on the banks of the River Thames close to the Iffley Lock. Had it been a better day, I’d have gone out in search of these delights. But the rain came down in torrents and with the little umbrella I had borrowed from Roz in London as my huge umbrella has been packed away, I was not well clad at all.

     They did drop me at the gate to the church yard and were off. I had the place entirely to myself and it was with relief that I entered the church as it allowed me to stay dry for a while.

Exploring Iffley Church:

The history of Iffley Church goes back to the 12th century—this makes it older than most of the Oxford colleges and churches. Indeed, it is one of the oldest intact churches in Great Britain and its age is easily evident as soon as you enter the church yard which is dotted with moss-clad grave stones. 

You enter by the main front door that is entirely stone clad and finely carved. Indeed, this is the beauty of this church—its antiquity is evident in the stone carvings, many of which had been refurbished and cleaned up so that centuries of grime and candle soot have been cleared up completely—at least from the outside.

     Just past the stone-carved entrance is the baptismal font in black basalt that is in the baptistry. It is the spot at which all the baptisms took place that brought folks into the church—naturally, before the Reformation, it was a Catholic Church. Conversion to Anglicanism is essentially what saved these ancient churches from destruction in 1533 when Henry VIII ordered the Dissolution of the Monasteries. 

There is a leaflet at the entrance that gives adequate information about the interior decorative features of the church and using it, I was able to navigate my way through the essential ones. There are two modern stained glass windows high above and flanking the main entrance. Past the font, there are marble pillars that hold up the church’s square tower. Further up, closer to the altar, you see the narrow winding stone stairs embedded in the wall that lead to the tower. There are Irish tiles on the floor with Celtic designs and wonderful religious iconography in the rondels that decorate the stone-carved pillars. Indeed, the best part of this church are the stone carvings and they are being very well protected by contemporary fund-raising. 

     When I had finished exploring the interior of the church, I walked out again into the rain—the weather was vile. Cold and freezing, I took some pictures of the exterior and then used the phone number that Sue had given me for Royal Taxis and called for one. My next destination was the thrift shops of Cowley which Sue told me were plentiful. Hence, I called for a cab and was told to wait for ten minutes before one arrived. The trip to Iffley had been fully worth it, despite the foul weather, and I was so glad I took Bill Bryson’s advice and went. Sadly, because the weather was so lousy, I could not explore the thatched cottages and lovely picturesque lanes that make up Iffley Village that Bryson had extolled.

     My cab arrived within five minutes and I told the South Asian driver to take me to the shops at Cowley but to drive me through Magdalen Road as I wanted to see where the famous Thai Restaurant called Oli’s was located. He did as told and I got to see what a tiny little place this is. I would have a hard time walking back in the rain to get here, but there was no way around it.

Poking in the Thrift Shops:

     I found that Sue was true to her word—I found four thrift shops in a small block’s-space—except that there was some road works going on and I had to make a big detour to find the four places. Still, I was not disappointed as I found a really spectacular necklace that would make a real statement and which I was sure I would wear with great pride and pleasure. 

Off for Lunch to Oli’s Thai:

     Quite contented with the good bargains I found (in Jewelery and DVDs), I went on foot to the restaurant. The rain was really dampening my spirits but I tried hard to hold on to them and stay buoyant. When I did get to the place, after about a 15 minute walk, I discovered that although the place is booked solid for months, if one turned up about noon, there was a good chance you could find a seat at the bar. The bar tender told me that I would find a seat and I was overjoyed. In the past three consecutive years that I have been in Oxford, I have tried to get a booking here...but it had been impossible. This was a piece of good fortune and I was really chuffed.’

  So, at 12 noon, the restaurant opened and I saw how really tiny it is—there are 5 seats at the bar and about 20 seats in the rest of the place. The bar filled up in about ten minutes and I decided to have a virgin mojito. For my lunch, I chose the Thai Beef Salad (which was exquisite, if a tad too spicy for me—there was an abundance of red Thai bird chili in it) and for my entree, I had the Padang Duck—this is a duck curry that is served over steamed rice. This dish too was awesome. It is served with fine beans and it was wonderful. I really did enjoy it very much. I always order duck whenever I get a chance, as I do not get to eat it often enough. The delicate flavor of this dish was also fully satisfying and I could see why this restaurant has acquired such a sterling reputation. It really made my day, being able to eat here.

Back to Oxford on the Bus:

Luckily, when I left the restaurant, after settling the bill, I realized that it had stopped raining—such a relief. I found my way to the bus stop on the Iffley Road and took the Number X3 returning to Oxford. I paid the drive 2 pounds in cash and I found a seat on the top deck.  This allowed me to spy the Iffley Sports Ground on which Roger Bannister, a medical student at Oxford, had trained to break the four-minute mile. Indeed, Iffley has little bits and bobs of history that are truly interesting. 

Exploring Favorite Parts of Oxford On Foot:

Once the bus reached Oxford City Center, I alighted and then freewheeled my way across the city for the rest of the afternoon. First of all, I walked through the pedestrian plaza of Cornmarket and took Ship Street to get straight to Exeter College.  Since it was past 2.00 pm, I knew that the college would be open to visitors. I entered the main quad and made my way directly into the chapel where there was a student-led tour underway. The chapel is unique in terms of architectural style as it was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott on the lines of Sainte Chapelle in Paris—complete with the spindly black spire at the top. I took some pictures of some of the features of the interior—the Byzantine mosaics of the altar, the tapestry by Edward Burne-Jones featuring ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ and the organ loft with its highly decorative pipe organ.The chapel was all lit up (probably because the tour was on) which allowed me to see it in a new light, as it were.

     I left the chapel and walked to the Margery Quad where my room had been located and which has been turned into a car park (irritating!). There is also constant renovation going on in this college and the workers’ vehicles are always parked there. I left this space and entered the Junior Common Room with the aim of getting into the Fellows Garden at the back of the main quad. This garden has access to the ramparts of the college walls that overlook Radcliffe Square and offer stunning views of the beautiful buildings that surround it: the Radcliffe Camera in the center with All Souls College, Brasenose College, Exeter College, part of the Bodleian Library and the Church of St Mary The Virgin vying for attention in a spot that is the richest in Oxford. I took the requisite photos and left after enjoying the views of the Fellows Garden in its perennial splendor.  

Walking away from Exeter College, I made my way to Broad Street. It was a bit startling to see and indeed to be there in person on the street which had lived with me in my imagination for almost a year as I lived in Bombay. It was then that I had the brainwave of taking a screen shot of myself in the middle of that famous street. It took a bit of ingenuity to find out exactly how this could be accomplished and it did not help that my phone battery does not hold a charge and that I did not have very good internet connectivity.  However, long story short,I did mange to actually put myself into the shots of the Oxford webcam and was able to get some fairly good pictures. It has been a long adventure to get this far with this webcam project with which I actually became slightly obsessed.

     I then went in search of someone in the Martin School where the webcam is installed—Sally Stewart—to thank her for reinstating the camera for me based on an email request I had made to her from Bombay when it had stopped functioning! But she was in a meeting and I had no way of reaching her.

     I was really tired by this point but I managed to find the energy to enter the Oxfam shop on The Broad and from there, I got a few more really glorious necklaces for an absolute fraction of the price I would have paid in a regular shop. Plus these pieces are one of a kind as most of them are of the vintage variety. 

Taking my goodies out with me, I walked again along Cornmarket and decided to make my way home. But then en route, I realized that I was very close to the Marks and Spencer store and since Llew had asked me to buy him something and I still had to buy the cakes (Battenburg and Rich Fruit) that I usually carry home to the States with me, I did swing by there to do my shopping.

I finished shopping quickly enough and then thought I would go to the cafe upstairs for a cuppa and a sit down as I was quite hopelessly fatigued. I sat there for a long while but then decided to try to get home as quickly as I could so that I could really relax there. 

     And that was exactly what happened. I meandered my way slowly through busy George Street and past the late evening tourists either out for a night on the town or getting back to their hotels. I stopped to pick blackberries off the vines and decided to eat them with yogurt for dessert.

     Once home, I wasted no time in taking a shower and then fixing myself some dinner--leftovers of Tony’s dinner which he had insisted that I finish. There was too much left for me to eat so I had half of it and decided to have the other half tomorrow night. 

Left to my own devices, I had one portion of the leftover apricot tart for dessert with a bit of yogurt and some of the blackberries I had picked. I watched a bit of Kavanagh QC on TV and then I readied myself for sleep as I was really exhausted.

     It had been a pretty fulfilling first day at Oxford and I looked forward to the second as I fell asleep.

Until tomorrow...                       

  

A Morning at the Dentist’s and Still in Search of Deleted Files

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Bombay

A Morning at the Dentist’s and Still in Search of Deleted Files

Namaste from Bombay!

          The city is bidding winter farewell.  There is no longer the refreshing nip in the air when one awakes—a nip that guaranteed comfort for the rest of the day. Nope. It’s departing...and rapidly. Fans are now whirring away in church and I keep reminding myself that I need to shove into my bag my little sandalwood (Spanish-style) hand fan which had been my constant companion during the warm months.  For summer is well and truly on its way. They say here that Holi is the demarcating holiday that determines when the calendar has edged towards summer.  I am not looking forward to it...although with air-conditioning in my studio, I could not be more comfortable. I should try to be less of a whiner.

So, morning rituals were underway pretty quickly—I blogged, I breakfasted (on a broon with spreads when I heard the bread man’s bicycle bell)—he actually told me at the door that he rings his bell especially for my benefit!—and then I almost dressed for the gym, when I realized that I ought to give my bashed knee a break. I shall resume next week. The knee, by the way, is doing much better, thank-you. The pain is slowly receding (just as I knew it would) but the point of impact is still a bit painful.

Seeking Mental Equilibrium:

I used the time I would be at the gym to go through all my accumulated papers to see if I had the notes from all my interviews. I had—phew! I actually counted them and found them all intact. This was such a huge relief to me. Next, I collated them all into one envelope to keep them safe and also reviewed other materials that have accumulated to ensure that I am not holding on to anything unwanted—and I had not. This too was a huge relief. Staying organized is one of my biggest strengths—which is why I am still kicking myself for being so lax about not backing up my work. Anyway...that is water under the bridge now and I am learning to take it in my stride.   

After a shower, I got ready to go to Dad’s as I had a dental appointment with Dr. Sudha Shenoy and Dad wanted to accompany me to talk to the head of the dental practice, Dr Kher, about getting dental implants! Go Dad!

At the Dentist’s:

Dr. Sudha Shenoy is a darling! On going to her for my routine six-monthly check up last month, she had told me that there was nothing to clean! She did, however, do a full examination of my mouth and informed me that over-zealous brushing was causing tiny minor craters in my teeth along the gum line! So there really is such a thing as taking too much care of your teeth, People! Know this and refrain! She suggested I switch to a soft bristled brush (I use a battery-operated one) and use a lighter touch! Oh well. Meanwhile, the craters needed to be addressed.  If left them alone, they could become a trap for food particles that would lead, eventually, to cavities. So she suggested I get them filled with porcelain compound. I tried getting my regular hygienist in Connecticut, Mary, to give me her input on the matter...but Mary never did respond to me at all. So I decided that since my insurance needs me to bill them for the past year by March 31, I might as well get the matter seen to.

Hence, my visit with Sudha.  She ended up filling five teeth on one side: four at the top and one on the lower set of the right side of my mouth. I will return to her for the other side (3 in total) on Friday. Poor Dad! He sat outside for more than an hour while she worked on my teeth and probably got really fatigued and bored out there. 

When I was done—and Sudha did a splendid job—Dad and I had a meeting with Dr. Kher to discuss his potential implants. His mouth was examined and the good dentist said that after scanning his jaw to ascertain bone density, they could decide whether he would be a good candidate for the procedure.  Dad has no idea how big a deal implants are. When it was explained to him that all his top teeth would be removed—so that he would be toothless for almost three months—I honestly thought he would abandon the idea. But his chewing capacity is currently so poor that he is willing to give it a shot. Go Dad! 

When the doctor asked how old he is, He Who Seems To Be In A Hurry to get to the 90th milestone, said, “I will be starting 90 in May”. In other words, he will complete 89 in May! The doctor offered warm congratulations and after assessing the scan pronounced Dad fit to undergo the procedure. So next week, he shall have surgery, followed by three days of semi-solid diet. He will then need to wait for about three months before the actual new teeth can be inserted into his mouth. Wow! I am so impressed by my Dad’s tenacity. Did I not tell you all that he is a remarkable man who teaches me so much daily? Now I need to pray that all will go well with the surgery—next Monday—which is the main part of the procedure as it is the point at which the implants are inserted into the gums to be drilled deep down into the bone. All done with local anesthesia.  

Becoming Pro-Active About Oxford Webcam:

Back home, I attended to email (on my Ipad as my laptop is still with Himanshu). I tried to switch on the Oxford webcam and found out that, for the third day, there was no transmission from Oxford’s Martin School. The message I got on my TV when I tuned in on You Tube was, “The video has been interrupted. Streaming has stopped.” Being deprived of my happy place (at a time when I really do need to slip into one), I decided to get pro-active about it. I actually googled the Martin School and found an email address for a Media Person! So I decided to send her an email to find out what had happened to the camera and why it had stopped working. A few days ago, it was pouring quite hard in Oxford and I could see fat raindrops on the lens and condensation that created distorted images on the screen. I wondered if the camera had gone out of order with the rain. 

      Well, guess what? Within five minutes—five minutes!—I got an email response as she said she would look into the matter immediately.  And she did! Just ten minutes later, I got another email from her—transmission was  on again, she said. It was simple: the camera had been turned off (wwhhhyyy??) and was simply turned on again! So, there it was. A cloudy day in Oxford had already started to see people go about their business at almost 10.00 am. A few minutes later, the first Oxford City Sight-seeing bus veered into the frame and continued its tour down The Broad making its customary stop outside Christopher Wren’s Sheldonian Theater. Such a treat! Needless to say, I thanked the lady profusely and got a cheerful note back from her telling me to “enjoy”. Wow! I am simply amazed at the extent to which I went to get my window on Broad Street in Oxford back in my home again.  I hastily told Firdaus about it: but he was in Poona and told me he would check it out when he returned to Bombay.

I had lunch—dal, mince, spinach with corn—while watching various You Tube clips of Oxford Pubs and Tours and then sat on the phone trying to make appointments for more interviews. I contacted my friend Sam Kerawala who gave me a ton of numbers of people I now need to contact. I realize that I need to speed up my interviews as I have only about 6 weeks left before I will need to stop interviewing folks. If everyone does consent to give me interviews, I will be in good shape. Let’s hope so...

        

Back to Computer Blues:

By this time, it was 4pm and I had not yet heard back from Himanshu—so I decided to give him a call so that I could see where he stood before the evening was out. He told me that about 500 to 600 Word Documents were appearing and he asked me to come to his office to see where I stood. 

I took a bus there and ten minutes later, I was looking at my laptop. Yes, it is true that a lot of Word Documents had started to come up but all of them had been in some way connected to email associated with my NYU email account—and none of them were recovered files from my Trash! I had emailed my entire book manuscript, for instance, to an acquisitions editor—and so the entire book (all 300 pages of it came up!) This was good—but I had already found an edited version that I had sent to another publisher about a month ago. The one I had found was a more recent version —so the one that came up was redundant! No Word Documents attached to my Optonline account had come up. So, huge disappointment there, although it served to assure me that some of my lost material could be retrieved and saved. Actually, a lot of what came up were my students’ papers that had been sent to me through the ages—things I did not need. My own deleted files are still hiding in some corner of my hard drive and proving to be very difficult to access. Anyway, Himanshu told me that he had interrupted the scanning process so that I could look at the files. He also said that he will resume it in the hope that some of my deleted files will appear. Well...I can only hope! I will know by tomorrow same time where I stand with regards to my deleted files! As you can see, this drama is being stretched out...but I am now strangely calm and very fatalistic about it. Que Sera Sera...what will be, will be.

When I returned from Himanshu’s place—feeling far happier than I have been in days—I got home to a pot of hot tea and some nuts. Then, a little later, I went straight to church for the 7.45 pm Novena followed by Mass.  Dad and I walked back together—he was in a hurry to return to his cricket match—and I got home to watch another episode of The Sinner (getting really terribly sinister and scary now) and another episode of Grace and Frankie as I needed some kind of levity before going to bed with such frightful images in my mind.

I was asleep soon after.

Until tomorrow...              

Drafting Yet Another Presentation (For Cochin)

Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Bombay

Drafting Yet Another Presentation (For Cochin)

     Namaste from Bombay!
     The cool days are passing and when I have so many pressing assignments to complete, they seem to fly. The weather is still delightful with almost zero humidity. Mornings and evenings are very cool, very pleasant, with the afternoons getting a tad warmer. Everyone should be blessed enough to live in Bombay for the months of January and February--they are truly delightful.
     I awoke at 6.30 and immediately began reviewing the presentation for Nagpur that I had completed yesterday.  Looking at a paper with "overnight" eyes is always good as it helps perfect grammatical expression and lends further clarity to important points. I am quite happy now with the shape this paper has taken and I know that the Powerpoint presentation that will accompany it will make it quite engaging.
     Next: I began drafting a blog post and finished it before I got up to get some breakfast--it is going to be muesli and coffee for a few days as I am watching the weighing scale. While eating, I watched Couples Come Dine With Me (alas, I have finished Still Game and feel really sorry as I will miss those daft Scots characters with their heavy Glaswegian accents that I could barely understand but who never failed to crack me up with laughter). Then I got dressed for the gym and left my studio intending to stop off to see Russel first so that I could bandage his legs with the crepe bandages.
     I arrived at Dad's place to find that the swelling is his ankle is rather pronounced. This is concerning for us all. In fact, it had actually oozed during the night--which means that the antibiotic ointment needed to be applied with a fresh dressing. I did that and I showed Rohit how to wrap the bandages around his leg--which he did quite well.  I also resolved to let my friend Anita Chatterjee in Cleveland, Ohio, know what was going on with Russel so that she could give me the benefit of her experience and let me know if this swelling is normal as she works closely with patients rehabilitating from fractures and other orthopedic problems.
     Russel's forearm is also still aching. I applied Moov and put the heating pad on his arm and showed Rohit how to do that too. After having it on for 10 minutes, I took it out and was all set to go to the gym when Dad detained me because he needed me to take a look at some of the pots and pans in his pantry. With his regular housekeeper Satyavati leaving at the end of this month, he wants to come to grips with all household equipment and wanted me to be present while he is taking stock of it all.  Of course, this meant that I could not go to the gym as intended as it closes at 11.00 am. With that task accomplished, I left and returned home.
     At home, I showered and then sat right away with my computer as I had a second presentation to draft--this one for the South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference which will take place in Cochin Kerala, from February 25-28, 2019. As it is supposed to fit into 15 minutes and be presented before a lay audience that knows nothing about my field, I have decided to make it a very light and amusing account of some of the interesting, little-known, sad, funny and scary incidents of which my interviewees have given me details during my chats with them. I would need to draft about 10 double spaced pages. So off I went.
    I continued working until 1.30 pm when I stopped to lunch on dal, brinjal and mince with potatoes with an orange for dessert as I watched Grace and Frankie. After lunch, I got back to my presentation as I was on a roll and did not want to lose my trend of thought. I stopped at 5.30 to put the kettle on for a pot of tea with chocolate cake and one cookie as I watched House Hunters International in Hampshire, England. They were looking for homes around the area of St. Albans which I have visited and rather enjoy as it is the heart of very pretty English countryside that is only a half hour away from London--which is hard to believe.
     I then got dressed and left early for Dad's place as I needed to remove the crepe bandages and apply Moov and the heating pad to Russel's arm again. I did so while chatting with him and keeping him company. Dad also asked me to look at some kitchen supplies that he had found in the various cabinets and which he has no idea how to use. I had a cursory glance but then it was time for us to go to church and we left at 6.45pm.
     After Mass, I went off with Dad to Jay's shop to get my presentation for Nagpur photocopied and then returned to Dad's place where I applied Moov and the heating pad to Russel's arm once again, While it was on, I reviewed the bottles and cans and told Dad how to dispose of them.
     This did not take too long. Meanwhile, I wrapped Russel's leg in the crepe bandages again, removed the heating pad and left them to have their dinner.
     Back home at mine, I got my dinner organized--a cup of Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup with crackers, brinjal and mince with potatoes with a piece of guava for dessert.

Fun With the Oxford Webcam:
     I routinely have on the Oxford Broad Street webcam now in my studio as it offers me a window on the Oxford world. Today started beautifully in Oxford with the sun out--however, heavy cloud cover during the day caused many dull spells. It is very interesting to watch the behavior of people on a street--for the first time today, I saw two females actually meeting on the street outside the Weston Library and hugging each other warmly, visiting for a few minutes, then hugging each other goodbye again! It is absolute fun to watch the day unroll on 'The Broad'--the cleaning crews are out with their vehicles in the morning as they empty garbage bins and replace bin bags; some dog walkers (only a couple) walk this street (I suppose most dog-owners take their dogs for walks in Oxford's vast parks); and many groups of children are trooping in and out of the Science Museum. In fact, I am beginning to wonder if it is half-term holiday week in the UK as there are so many children about the streets. The tour buses also fill up by 11.30 am and I can see a few people on the upper deck even though it is still quite cold from what I can see of their clothing. So far, I have seen only one Oxford university person (student? don?) clad in a black gown. I suppose it is too cold still to wear only a gown. Anyway, it is a wonderful minor distraction as I work for hours on end on my laptop drafting these presentations--so I am vey grateful for this find. It has also induced me to make contact with my friend Sue in Oxford who is now emailing me again. Great fun!
     I decided to watch a movie and picked a really awful one called Are We Officially Dating? which is barely holding my interest. Some of these rom-coms are just ridiculous, I think--which is why I adore the work of Richard Curtis. Anyway, I did stay up a little longer as I finished washing up my dinner things and getting ready for bed.
     Until tomorrow...      

Drafting Another Conference Presentation (for Nagpur)

Monday, February 18, 2019
Bombay

Drafting Another Conference Presentation (for Nagpur)

     Namaste from Bombay!
     Today was one of those days that I spent chained almost exclusively to my computer---but I had to get down to business as I have two presentations to drafts in the next three days! This is something of a record for me!
     But I was awake at about 6.45 am (getting later each day--thankfully!) when I hastened to blog and download some magazines using my Flipster app on my iPad, so that I can do some reading while I am on the machines at the gym. I had my breakfast of muesli and coffee (no broons for a few days as my weighing scale is certainly showing the effect of such indulgence!). Then, I dressed for the gym and went straight to Dad's place to do the dressing of Russel's wound. I found that it is getting better with each day--so today I did not need to use the roller bandage--just the two tight crepe bandages (to bring down the swelling) which I have asked them to leave on for 8 hours--as suggested by Valerian, his physiotherapist. I did not stay long as my gym closes by 11.00 am--so off I went.
     At the gym, I now have a good collection of friends and so I no longer feel like a stranger when I enter it.  They never fail to discuss American politics with me (right now, it is Trump's declaration of emergency over the Wall issue, the accession of Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris as likely Democratic candidates, etc.) I used the machines as usual, did a bit of weight lifting through the rowing machine and sweating profusely, I made my way back home. I still feel so grateful that I found this fabulous studio that allows me to get around to all the places I frequent in less than 6 minutes on my own two feet--how completely the Lord and His Blessed Mother blessed me!
    A quick shower later, I got down to work. I continued with the drafting of my presentation for the conference on 'Race, Caste and Gender' at the University of Nagpur where I shall be flying on Thursday morning. I had already begun yesterday--so I had about 6 pages done. My presentation will deal wth 'Dilemmas of Race, Caste and Gender Among Britain's Anglo-Indians'. I continued from there and stopped only for lunch at 1.00 pm: Valerie's new meal had arrived--mince with potatoes, brinjal and dal--a good healthy simple meal that I finished off with an orange and a piece of guava.
     Back to the drawing board, I continued working steadily. I have my new TV 'balcony' on Broad Street, Oxford, which I switch on at 1.30 pm local Bombay time which is 8.00 am Oxford time. The town is just waking up to a new day and I feel as if I have transported myself to work in one of my most beloved places in the world--today it was raining when the day began and people could be spied raising umbrellas over them. It cleared up by the afternoon when folks filled the streets--so many of them are school groups trooping into the Museum of Science, clearly on field-trips. The Oxford City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off bus makes its rounds every fifteen minutes each day and stops outside the Sheldonian Theater to pick up and drop off passengers. I feel as if I am sitting in the Indian Institute Library overlooking Broad Street, Oxford, and drafting my papers. It is amazing how well we can live in our own imaginations, isn't it?
     At 4.30 pm, I tried to take my 20 minute nap, only to be awoken by Dad who told me that Russel's left hand is paining--probably a result of overdoing the exercises with the throwing of the ball that Valerian had recommended. It is possible that those were overdone--too much, too quickly. Dad told me to text Valerian to tell him not to come tomorrow as he would like to give Russel some rest. I told him that I would come before Mass and take a look at it.
     I continued working on my presentation and almost finished it. It just needs a bit of tweaking which I shall do tomorrow.  Meanwhile, I began work on the Powerpoint presentation that I shall be making at the podium to accompany my text. I am also amazed at myself: at how quickly I can throw these Powerpoint presentations together now. This too was almost finished when I found myself feeling hungry.
     I stopped for a quick cup of tea, a piece of chocolate cake (Valentine's Day gift from Llew) and a single shortbread biscuit (Walkers, with pecans and cranberries--I love them and must get some more!) and then I dressed and left for Mass. I had only ten minutes with Russel which allowed me to take a look at his arm.  As Dad and I walked to Mass, I told him that I would return to his place after Mass to put some Moov on Russel's arm and then wrap it in the electric heating pad that Dad owns and that Llew and I also use whenever we have muscle pulls, catches, etc.
     And that was exactly what I did. I also found that Russel's leg was quite swollen; so I put on the twin crepe bandages again and put the Moov on his arm with the electric pad. He found it quite soothing. I will do the same tomorrow as well.
     Next, I helped Dad set up the new potty chair that I had picked up a month or so ago from a lady who lives across Bandra Gym who had a brand-new one to give away. It was very easy indeed to set up and to adjust, height-wise, to fit Russel.  The idea is to get him to start using it now that he is mobile again and from there to graduate to the toilet once again. It is amazing how his recovery is being planned in baby steps. Hopefully, he will be back to his normal life again soon. Meanwhile, things are shaping up well with the new domestic help, Rohit--so far, so good. let us hope he will continue to do well. There is a major change of guard in the offing with regards to Dad's helpers at home--and we are both praying hard that this 'angel' will also be a boon to us as the ones in the past have been.
     I got back home to have my own dinner--a repeat of the afternoon--while I watched Couples Come Dine With Me and Grace and Frankie. Then, I was feeling very sleepy pretty early--so by 10.00 pm, I switched the light off and fell asleep feeling quite content about the amount of work I had managed to accomplish today.
     Until tomorrow...    

Special Valentine's Day Delivery Perks Up My Day!

Thursday, February 14, 2019
Bombay

Special Valentine's Day Delivery Perks Up My Day!

     Namaste from Bombay!
     In something of a record, I managed to go to the gym today--making it four days in a row. Clearly, not having interviews scheduled one after the day early in the morning is good for me. I am waking up later now--about 6.00 am and then getting down to blogging. My day seems to begin only after I have reviewed the doings of the past day. This schedule works for me. I had my breakfast of two broons with cheddar cheese and spreads with coffee--I am now alternating this breakfast with my muesli and coffee--I enjoy both immensely and really look forward to this first meal of the day which I make delicious and substantial. Then I got dressed and left for the gym making sure I had the address of Russel's physiotherapist's clinic where I was required to go to pick up crepe bandages for him.
     My gym routine went off well. I met Steven who used to live in my Dad's building (before he got married and moved out), a Master Mariner who captains ships at sea. He and I grew up together and are still friends. He gave me a ride after his gym workout and mine. I found Valerian's clinic easily, had a long chat with him, picked up the bandages and went straight home to Dad's.
     However, Valerian had suggested that a family doctor should come in to take a look at Russel's leg where the skin has begun to break and a little blood is oozing out. Valerian wanted to make sure that the doctor gives him antibiotics so that he does not develop an infection under the bandage. Hence I did not do the bandaging today but will do it tomorrow. I have a feeling that dressing will also have to be done. I did not wait long before I returned hom to get on with my day.
     Back home, I had a shower and began working on my grant application. I reviewed my essay proposal letter and looked at the cover sheet I need to fill, etc.  It was noon by then and I expected the plumbers to come and continue work on my sink. Needless to say, no one showed up and after an hour, I called my landlord to request him to follow up.  Long story short, there was a glitch which seems meaningless to me. They will return tomorrow to take care of the matter. I have told them that I will not be home tomorrow but they will obtain the key from my neighbor upstairs. I will leave my laptop and iPad with the neighbor downstairs, Salma, who told me that she will supervise the operation. I will also leave all my money with Dad this evening as I do not want to have any valuables in my house while the workers are in and out of it.
     I had lunch of meatball curry, cauliflower and dal with an orange for dessert--I had picked up oranges and apples from the fruit man downstairs earlier in the day. The long wait for them enabled me to focus on my grant application, to finalize it and to email it off. Fingers crossed! Let us hope I get it.  One never knows with so many academics always applying for so little funding. With a prayer on my lips, my application went on its way. I could not take a nap as I never knew whether the plumbers would come calling or not. Anyway...I got a great deal of work done as I waited.

St. Val Comes A-Calling:
     I stopped for a pot of tea with cake and two cheese sandwich biscuits and got back to work on my laptop again--this time I began transcribing the interview I did with Marat Bissangaliev at the NCPA. And that's when Dad called to tell me that he was worried as the Valentine's Day package that Llew had ordered for me had not yet arrived. Llew had been calling him to monitor its arrival in the hope of making it a surprise for me--it would be delivered at Dad's (as my presence at home in my studio is so erratic). Well, of course, Dad got all stressed that it had not arrived and he was calling Llew, and Llew was calling him and then Dad was calling him, and Dad was calling me...and so it went on and on...the saga of St. Valentine.
      I was not surprised that Llew had made the effort to get this package to me as he has done so every time I have lived away from home on St. Val's Day! I still have a Teddy Bear that was delivered to me in London the first time I was there, a card that I have kept also delivered to me in London the second time I was there. And this time too, there was something to be delivered--but because I was in India this time, there was no telling when it would reach.  It was almost 6.00 pm and there was no sign of my delivery.
     At 6.15, I was just leaving for Dad's when he called to tell me the package had been received! Wow! It would be there when I got to his place. The surprise never happened, of course, but at least I got my Valentine gift on the day itself! That, in itself, is a big accomplishment for an Indian delivery service!
     Ten minutes later, I was holding the dozen red roses, chuckling over the white Teddy Bear and salivating over the chocolate cake complete with red cherries decorating it. Of course, I had to leave for Mass with Dad but when I returned home, I found a vase, put the roses in water and left them at Dad's, cut the cake and took one-third of it home and left two-thirds for Dad and Russel and placed the Teddy bear and the accompanying card in my bag. Those, of course, will go home with me to Southrrot and become part of my Valentine gift collection! I was left thinking that I should be away from home on St. Val's Day more often!!!

Obsessed by the Oxford Webcam:
     One of the great parts of my day has been my pre-occupation with the terrific Broad Street Webcam in Oxford which has allowed me to see the manner in which the place changed through the entire day.  I switched it on at about 6.00 am local time when there was practically no one on the street and the lamp lights were still on. By 6.45, there was movement as a few people could be seen and a few cars began skimming through. By 7.30, it was foggy and the lovely spire of the chapel of Exeter College, that is modeled on the one at Sainte Chapelle in Paris, was shrouded in fog. Visibility got decidedly worse for the next hour but then started clearing up. More and more people filled the street by 9 am when I started to see the first Hop On Hop Off red double decker bus (upper deck empty) begin to make its way down the street. I saw it go back and forth at a steady pace of every twenty minutes throughout the day. Sunshine flooded the street by the afternoon when more and more people were up and about with clusters of people--clearly visitors--taken on walking tours. They all stop opposite the Sheldonian Theater to admire the handiwork of Sir Christopher Wren. I am also astonished at the number of people who go in and out of the Weston Library all day and how many sit on the steps at lunch time getting a bite. There are loads of cyclists, of course, peddling back and forth (this is, after all, Oxford!) and most are bundled up in winter gear--it feels so good to have beaten the winter this year in Bombay! It has been so much fun. I have been enjoying it so much! It is like have a balcony attached to my apartment--a balcony that overlooks The Broad! What could be better???
     When I got back home, I had my dinner--more meatball curry, cauliflower and dal with a slice of chocolate cake for dessert (it is, after all, St. Val's Day!) and continued watching Did You Hear About The Morgans? which is a very cute romcom starring the dishy Hugh Grant and the adorable Sarah Jessica Parker. A bit of a corny plot, it was still fun to watch on Netflix.
     My day ended watching Oxford slowly wind down as the sun set on another day and the street lamps came on.  The sun set at about 5.00 pm, twilight lasted a long while as the crowds hurried home. About two hours later, as the evening arrived and pub crawling began, I fell asleep past midnight in Bombay.
     Until tomorrow...

Russel Gets a New Physiotherapist and Discovering Broad Street Webcam in Oxford

Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Bombay

Russel Gets a New Physiotherapist and Discovering Broad Street Webcam in Oxford

     Namaste from Bombay!
     I must pat myself on the back because I have managed to get to the gym for three days in a row! This is primarily because I have no interviews scheduled these days and can spend time at home catching up with pending tasks on my laptop. So after blogging and downloading The Times, I had my breakfast of muesli and coffee and left for the gym for a good workout of an hour. I was barely home for an hour, however, during which time I showered and began drafting a new grant application, when my Dad called to tell me that Russel's new physiotherapist was expected at about 11.45 am. So off I went to meet him.

Russel's Gets a New Helper:
     The new physiotherapist is called Valerian D'Souza. He has a completely different personality from Lenita whose care Russel was under for a long while. He inspired instant confidence in us as he started off by getting Russel's history. He seemed to have assessed the situation in no time at all based on his obvious vast experience.
      First of all, he said that Russel needs a cotton box cushion with removable slip-cover and tabs for tying to his chair to raise the seat level and make sitting and standing more comfortable for him. He also told me to get four pavers from the compound outside to heighten the sofa--also to enable him to stand and sit more easily. Next, he made Russel stand and realized instantly that he needs to develop balance and stability--as the lack of those probably caused him to fall in the first place. Then he put Russel through a few basic preliminary exercises--walking sideways, walking backwards using the walker, standing on his toes and rocking, standing on his heels and rocking. He made him catch a small cushion and throw it back--to develop agility and easier movement. He told me to buy a ball that he can play with. He assessed the swelling on his legs and said that a tight crepe bandage wound around his legs for 8 hours a day will bring the swelling down in a few days. He told me to come to his clinic and pick up the bandages tomorrow morning--which I shall do. He told Russel to do a page of daily writing. I was amazed at how much he achieved in the space of an hour.
     It is clear to me that he knows what he is doing and that he is good at it. He is expensive and has an aggressive personality which is exactly what Russel needs to get him moving and to accomplish the level of mobility that will bring him independence again. Both Dad and I felt very satisfied after this single meeting with him. We continue to pray that he will use his expertise and professionalism combined with the power of prayer to bring Russel back to normal again.

Back Home for Lunch and More Work:
   Back home, I got a call from my landlord to tell me that the plumber would be with me very shortly. He arrived in five minutes, assessed the situation with my kitchen choke and brought his men to begin work on it.  They were at it for an hour and told me that they would return tomorrow at noon to continue the work. I was pleased to know that it had already begun. I have been told not to use my sink which is a matter of great inconvenience to me as my wash basin in my bathroom is so tiny that it can hardly take the place of my sink. Still, I hope that the issue will be taken care of tomorrow and I will not have to deal with this stress.
     After the plumbers left, I had my lunch: Valerie's chicken curry, lady fingers and snake gourd with a sweet lime for dessert. While eating, I watched excerpts of travel shows in Great Britain and with it, when I got to Oxford, I made a massive discovery. I found out about the existence of a live webcam on Broad Street in Oxford! This is the next best thing to actually being there in person! It offers a fantastic view (throughout the day and night) of most of the iconic buildings of this glorious university town--the Clarendon Building, The Sheldonian Theater gates with their sculpted Roman faces and the entrance to the Museum of Science. Across the road is the new Weston Library, its steps and entrance, and on the same side of the street adjoining it is the entrance to Blackwell's Book Store and the White Horse Tavern. Further down the street adjoining the Science Museum is Exeter College and the newer building (dating from the 1960s) that forms its Margary Quad, the entrance to Turl Street and then the cluster of shops that include the Oxford Tourism Office, the Oxfam charity shop and the little cafe that in the summer places its tables and chairs on the street at the spot where the actual burning of the martyrs Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley took place! I am looking at one of the most historic streets in the whole world in one of my most beloved cities! And it is all here,  right in my own living room! What a find! I am beyond excited! Tomorrow I shall switch it on from 6.00 am Local UK time and watch the entire day develop on the Broad!
     I then took a 20 minute nap and continued working on my grant application right up to 5.15 pm and was almost done when my cousin Blossom called looking for a chat. We were on the phone for a good half hour before I excused myself to have a cup of tea and two pecan and cranberry shortbread biscuits before I left for Dad's.
     I did not visit with Russel for long as I had to leave for the Novena followed by Mass after which Dad and I walked together as far as his gate and caught up on everything that had happened today.
     I then got home and put my dinner together--chicken curry, dal and more ladies fingers with the last of my pomelo and some dark chocolate for dessert. I began watching Did you Hear About the Morgans with Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker, but had to stop as Shahnaz called and we were on the phone for a very long time. I will continue watching it tomorrow.
     Until tomorrow...