Of Churches and Puddings

Back way when on Tuesday, I decided the best way to write my last tutorial paper was to go visit Blenheim Palace. So, after the Shakespeare class, my friend and I hopped on a bus out to the Palace, and that was that. You don't own me, tutorial paper! I'm an adult!

 It was absolutely beautiful. I had no regrets that Tuesday. Except for the sun; if we had gone the previous day, it was more overcast, and we would have sacrificed the sunlit beauty of the gardens for some well needed shade. Thank goodness, it hasn't gotten over 80 degrees over here, but it can still be pretty toasty in a pair of jeans and a button down (it was cool that morning, don't judge!).

 My second experience with the panorama feature of my iPhone. Turned out pretty well, in my opinion.

 The inside of the palace was fairly bland; nothing crazy going on there. Some elaborate decoration here, evidence of lavish spending there... The works. There was an exhibit on Churchill, though, and that was pretty neat.  Otherwise, it was a less grand version of Windsor Castle. Still plenty of beautiful extravagance, though. The gardens are where the beauty really shines, and when I walked through the doorway to see this, I was very much glad it was a sunny day.

 The gardens absolutely took my breath away. I didn't know what to say at first. And this is only a FRACTION of it! I documented a few things, but there were rose gardens, entire FIELDS of lush green grass, and even something called the "cascades" (three pictures down). It was stunning. My only wish is that I can come back some day in the winter, when it's snowing. Seeing these fields covered in a pure, white blanket would rock my world.

 After the Blenheim escape, I had to return to my stay at the Bodleian Hotel Library. I managed to blow my way through Sir Thomas Malory's Morte d'Arthur as well as a few secondary sources, so that went well. My topic this week was contrasting Malory's Merlin and Prose Merlin's Merlin. Prose Merlin is a prose Middle-English work, written by a host of authors. It is not contributed to one single author. The Middle-English made for a bitchin' time...

I caught this picture when I was coming down from the 2nd floor of the Radcliffe camera. I call it: Looking Into the Eye of the Camera.

There's a reason I'm an engineer and not an artist.

 Nothing much happened on Wednesday. I spent the day cooped up in my flat writing my essay. I submitted it and got it back today with comments from my tutor. I can't wait to discuss it tomorrow! I have had an absolute blast in this tutorial, and my only wish is that I could keep studying under this tutor for another few weeks. I feel like I've only barely touched on Merlin. I would also take another tutorial on Norse mythology. Oh, if only...

Today, we were out getting some lunch after Shakespeare, and we went down the main market street thing. This guy shows up every now and then. Creepy wanker.

 After lunch, we went to the local covered market, where only independent stores are allowed. I got a milkshake. A Ferrero Rocher milkshake. You know, those little chocolate covered hazelnut candies? Yeah. That was in a milkshake. U jelly? I also grabbed some Turkish delight at another stall. I saw it, and it reminded me of A. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and B. I had never tried it before, so I picked up 3 pounds worth. It's some gooooood stuff.

 At 6:15, we went to Evensong at the New College Chapel. Now, I was psyched, because I had heard great things about New College's choir. And I tell you: they were amazing. I'm including a link to a song that I recorded at Magdalen College, except this time it's sung by the New College choir:  https://soundcloud.com/heliqwopter/new-college-agnus-dei
Tonight's Evensong was also the celebration of Corpus Christi, so the congregation rose, followed the priests, and trod on the rose petals that were being distributed on the hall floor. According to the email I got earlier today about it, it's an old medieval tradition. Cool stuff.

For dinner, we went to a pub called The White Horse. I finally found my toad in the hole that my parents were telling me I should try. It was delicious. Absolutely so. The gravy was savory, the sausages succulent, the mashed taters magnificent, the produce pleasant, and the Yorkshire pudding yummy. I think I will have to go get it again. It is a huge improvement on bangers n' mash.

As for tomorrow? Well... Tomorrow, I leave for Scotland for the weekend. That should be fun.