We returned to Blenheim Palace to watch a jousting tournament which was great fun and took another opportunity to explore the stunning gardens and grounds (pics 5, 6)- this time with we "packed" a picnic lunch courtesy of M&S Food (Meaghan is really gonna miss that place when we get home).
Yet another 'bank holiday' long weekend last weekend - this time we had some stunning weather - low 20s and light until around 9:30pm - a heatwave!. It started with another black-tie banquet at Pembroke College for Mark and Jules (Meaghan had to stay home as babysitter came down with "suspected Swine flu" the day before......). We then headed into London for the day and managed to get lost in Hyde Park again (pic 7). Meaghan fullfilled a lifelong dream by visiting the disappointingly underwhelming Princess Diana memorial (pic 8). We visited the Science Museum and Natural History Museum which were both fantastic but needed a lot more time and 2 less kids to make it worthwhile. Ethan loved the hands on stuff and we couldn't get him away from the water station (pic 9).
Jules was kind enough to take us on a tour of several of the university colleges which were all incredibly impressive, most dating back centuries (pic 10). It's amazing how huge the grounds are and how pristine they are kept. Magdalen college has its own deer park! The tour was made even more "authentic" by the students walking around dressed in their "exam garb" - for guys this is a black suit, white shirt, white bow tie and academic gown with a white carnation and for the girls, a less impressive black mini skirt, white shirt and strange black tie thing around their necks - more cocktail waitress than academic heiress. Jules explained that this dress is compulsory during exams - sure is different from stained tracky dacks and t-shirts that we are used to. The academic work load is so huge that even if students found the time to work, the University forbids them to undertake any type of employment during the academic year! Here are some pics of the kids on the college lawns (pic 11) and Noah contemplating his future at Magdalen College (pic 12).
On the home/social front, Noah is counting sleeps 'til his first school excursion this week at a farm, Ethan has a beautiful French/Indian girlfriend, Namita with whom he has chaperoned visits twice a week and Meaghan and Mark are busy hosting and being hosted at dinner parties. Some recent photos of the boys (pics 13, 14).
Meanwhile we are all counting sleeps until we leave for Paris on 7 June! Au Revoir 'til then.
