Sunshine and ducks

[jadesfire]

More days should be like this. The sun was doing its thing, making Oxford look like every postcard you've ever seen, only better. The dreaming spires, despite most of them being half-covered in scaffolding - looked stunning, and the stone just glows in the light. We got the best views down by the river in Christchurch meadow, looking back at Christchurch and Merton colleges across the expanse of green. It's really stunning.


In other news, we watched a herd of cows run away from a small toddler, saw a truly spectacular fall from a punt into the river and fed the ducks! Tip: The best place to feed the ducks is on the bend in the river down by the botanic gardens. Bring bread, sit on the bank, and let them come to you.

We also walked through the University Parks, which I've never done properly *hangs head* They were full of people, but still beautiful - you can see the hours that must go into planting all the flower beds. We found more ducks to feed, although these ones were slightly noisier - it's mating season and they've got other things on their minds apart from food. Overhead in park: Mummy, why are those two ducks fighting? We did encounter a very friendly swan, who you could feed by hand without losing fingers. It was very gentle and rather dim - I've never seen a swan try to tie its own neck in a knot before. All in all, a lovely, lovely walk in the parks.


After discovering that his list of very random facts is much more impressive than mine, I agreed to present them for comparison:

1. He was once shushed in a library for talking to himself too loudly.

2. He has the addresses, email adresses and phone numbers for two Olympic gold medallists and one TV presenter.

3. He won a year's supply of Innocent smoothies without actually entering the competition.

4. He had a story written for him by Terry Pratchett: "And they all lived happily ever after, except for the duck."

5. His mnemonic for remembering the actinides for his Finals was: Arnold The Pink Unicorn Never Presents Angry Comments Because Creatures, Even Fully Magical, Need Love.

6. He once threw a coconut out of a first floor window.

Comments

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

*blinks* Wow. That's an impressive list. Which story was that?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

That is the story! It was at a book signing, and I think you can only fit so much onto the title page...

[bironic.livejournal.com]

*happy sigh* Sounds lovely. Sun and flowers and ducks and good company. I want to visit Oxford again now! Today all we have is rain and more rain.

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

Aha, I see! When I got my book signed, he dedicated it to my dad, and wrote, "You should have been there!" I like Terry Pratchett.

[authenticity.livejournal.com]

Impressive list!
I've always wanted to be kicked out of a library.
And you fed ducks? That's really cool. :O

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* I like that :) I keep going to write things, then realise they're straight out his books! I actually heard him speak at the Oxford Union. he arrived in his big hat and was absolutely brilliant. He even used footnotes when he was speaking!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I feel so lucky to live here - the meadow and the parks more than make up for all the concrete. Our flat looks out on the river and a nature reserve, so we have even more ducks when we get home *big smile*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* he got glared at and asked to keep it down. As I librarian, I get to kick people out on a regular basis, but we generally tolerate those who are just talking to themselves - most of us do it as well!

The ducks (and swan) in Oxford are really tame and will take the bread right out of your hand. We got through about 6 bread rolls... :)

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

He really is brilliant to listen to, isn't he? A friend of mine got tickets to one of his talks - her mum is a librarian - and it was fascinating.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

See - librarians rule :)

Ooh, and I've been meaning to say, I finally got myself onto msn messenger. [LJ username]@hotmail.co.uk Could make life easier...

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

That sounds idyllic *is jealous*. Sheffield sucks - the ducks here have asbos. And the university's on top of a massive hill (random Pratchett-related-geek-fact though - did you know that the Unseen University is based on Sheffield University? Apparently Pratchett came here for some conference type thing back in the 70s, and was struck by the madness of the campus layout, and the fact the only thing you can see for miles around of the university is the Arts Tower. He also visited our library, which has one of the craziest layouts known to humanity, and met one of our librarians, an immensely hairy and very odd fellow who largely roams around the lower levels and is the only person who can reliably find things /geek :D)

Those random facts are very impressive by the way - I especially like the mnemonic :D

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Wow - I didn't know that! Very cool. :D I shall have to come visit next time we're up that way. May, I think it'll be...

The other half's grandparents live in Sheffield - at least the countryside around it is pretty. To quote Ladies of Letters (wonderful radio comedy) "What a shame about your bay window. The best thing about your living room was being able to see out"

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

Aha! Will add you as a friend. My hotmail is actually lady_blue_star, not crystalshard, so that's who just friended you.

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, those are very cool facts about Sheffield Uni. Fun to know :)

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Heheh it's true - the best thing about Sheffield is the Peaks *rolls eyes*. And you should definitely visit next time you're up this way.

(A guy I used to work with was a Pratchett nut, and had been to several book signings and so on, and apparently at one of these shared the fact he was at Shef Uni, at which apparently Pratchett got very excited and told him all that stuff. John the librarian is still there, incidentally, and every time I see him now I just think 'ook' and start giggling. I think he thinks I'm a bit crazy.)

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

It's cool isn't it? It makes me happy when I get lost in the library, thinking this is what inspired L-space :D

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I think he thinks I'm a bit crazy
I can't think why...

incidentally, are you on msn messenger? I've just got myself sorted out - might make plotting quicker!
it's [my LJ username]@hotmail.co.uk, if you are.

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

I've added you as a contact, now I just have to remember to sign in when I'm online :D

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

The sunshine and ducks sound lovely. I visited your city once, but didn't get a chance to fully appreciate. I've avoided the random fact meme cos I really can't think of anything. Maybe I should check with Mr. Karaokegal and get a list from him.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

It's amazing how many things he could come up with!

Oxford's a great place to live - benefits of a city and a small town. There's so much green space, but all the big shops too. All good :D

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

It's official. The world is now upside down, because England is having a far warmer spring than the lower Southeastern United States. If the temperature tonight drops one more degree, we will have snow.

This is just unreal.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

oookaaay...that's weird... snow? in April? It's like summer over here, although the temperature's due to drop this week. April is traditionally rainy, but May is usually nice here. I swear it's just doing it on purpose to confuse us :)

[idontlikegravy.livejournal.com]

Hey, just added you to my contacts on MSN. I think my username on there is subcircus (I haven't signed on in a while) if you're wondering who the random person is. :)

[idontlikegravy.livejournal.com]

My personal theory about the weather is that the calendar is out of sync because leap years don't fully compensate. Over the millenia its just fallen out of step slightly.
Either that or the Day after Tomorrow is a documentary and everyone in good old Blighty is screwed.
So I say enjoy the sun while it lasts and we'll worry about the snow when it comes. :)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* I'll check next time I sign in :) I'm not online very often myself - mostly for panicked "my story isn't working!!" conversations with my betas :D

See you around!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Either that or the Day after Tomorrow is a documentary and everyone in good old Blighty is screwed.

Nothing would surprise me... *puts sunglasses on* ;)