Though I live in rural Oxfordshire, I rarely go into the city of Oxford these days, except for my twice-yearly haircut. But a chunk of my shrivelled old heart is forever in that city where I lived, partied, loved, worked, and studied for my first degree and doctorate. I bought my first home there too, in which I spent seven happy years living alone but socialising manically, before I met the Stoic Spouse and morphed into a Semi-Sensible Grown-Up. Ah, those were the days.
Anyway, today was Haircut Day – I hate haircuts with a passion – so I tethered the Toddler Twinnage firmly to the Stoic Spouse, gritted my merlot-stained teeth, and headed off. What has this got to do with knitting or crochet, you ask? Well it’s tenuous, but I’m getting there, OK?
Anyway, I drove into north Oxford, past my old flat, and stopped in North Parade, a little row of shops and eateries very near my old college, also the location of our nearest pub and of a reliably grumpy delicatessen who sold the most delectable bean pasties even to hardened meat-eaters like me. This is North Parade:-
It’s changed a little in recent years, and one of its latest changes is the arrival of this loveliness:-
I had a little free time before my haircut, so what do you think I did? My bank balance is clearly far too heavy, so naturally I had to lighten it in this wonderful shop. Adriafil do a delectable cashmere, don’tcha know? Pictured is the immensely helpful woman who assisted with lightening my bank balance.
Then I headed into the centre. This city affects me. Every street, every shop, every pub, throws out a memory, good or bad. I think it hit me more today because it’s October, and I first arrived here in October 1991, head full of Morse, expecting intrigue, glamour, and the odd murder or two amongst the autumn leaves and dreaming spires.
In case you’ve never been to Oxford, here are some photos.
And another one:-
And finally:-
Anyway, ’til next time. The Secret New Knitting Project is preceding apace. All will be revealed.
Rachael says
October 20, 2014 at 4:30 pmAh my head too was full of Morse, although I never made it to Oxford ……. thank God for PBS!
rosealys says
October 20, 2014 at 4:44 pmOh I do love Oxford. I went to secondary school nearby so I did most of my under-age drinking in The Turl, sitting outside while those of the group with birthdays earlier in the year got the rounds in… 🙂
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:50 pmAh yes, The Turl…….
🙂
loramack says
October 20, 2014 at 7:03 pmAfter years of my head being full of Morse and then Lewis I finally made it to Oxford just 2 years ago – a little upset to be deposited from the bus in to a street like any other in the UK but soon found some lovely little spots! Would love to go back and maybe this gorgeous looking yarn shop would seal the deal – for me, not my husband!
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:52 pmIt is a fabulous yarn shop, but it’s FAR too easy to part with vast amounts of money in there, whether you can afford it or not. (Oops.) There’s also a big new yarn shop on the Cowley Road at the opposite end of town. I can’t think of its name offhand but it’s worth a visit if you come back this way…
ipires says
October 20, 2014 at 7:13 pmLived in Oxford for five years and can say hand on heart I was truly heartbroken when I left. A truly wonderful place that never ceased to amaze and delight me.
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:52 pmGlad you loved it here. (It does seem to be quite a Marmite sort of town, if that makes sense?)
ipires says
October 23, 2014 at 5:12 pmIt does, for me its all love it 🙂
Polo says
October 20, 2014 at 7:18 pmThis post made me so happy. I lived in Oxford for three years and though I wouldn’t go back permanently, I long to visit it. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been – especially in the snow. It’s lovely. Full of magic. Unfortunately I wasn’t a knitter at the time.
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:53 pmOh yes, Oxford in the snow. Heaven. *sighs* Glad it’s got good memories for you. 🙂
sewchet says
October 20, 2014 at 7:40 pmI haven’t been to Oxford since 1987! Have been meaning to go back especially as I am also a keen Morse/Lewis (and now Hathaway) fan. Such a beautiful city:)
pippa says
October 20, 2014 at 7:48 pmMakes me homesick for York, where I spent many happy afternoons as a teenager, before I headed to London to become a nurse – oh so many years ago. The yarn shop looks lovely.
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:54 pmYes, there are so many similarities. And I’ve never met an ex-York-person who didn’t long to be back there. York is gorgeous and vibrant and beautiful.
Mind Margins/Toasty Strings/Run Nature says
October 20, 2014 at 8:49 pmThanks for taking us on your trip with you! It’s been years since I’ve been to England, and it brings back great memories.
yarnchick40 says
October 20, 2014 at 8:55 pmOxford looks very lovely…ah someday to travel again 🙂
whiteravenfire says
October 20, 2014 at 9:00 pmI’ve never been to Oxford. It looks lovely 🙂
http://guywhocrochets.wordpress.com
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:54 pmIt has most excellent yarn…….
vuchickens says
October 20, 2014 at 9:14 pmWow! Beautiful photos! I would love to see it in person someday.
mindfulmagpie says
October 21, 2014 at 1:12 amI long to visit Oxford and have Morse pull up in his Jaguar. Or is it some other car? Anyway, thanks to the new knitting store you don’t have to worry about carrying around any of that dirty old money. Because you’ve spent it all!
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:55 pmHa ha, yup, my purse was very considerably less of a strain on my arm afterwards…..
quietwoman says
October 21, 2014 at 1:25 amHow lovely Europe is! Especially England! I just love books by Jane Austin and Charlette Bronte’. I think I could live in England forever. And how lovely that little yarn nook is!
Gallivanta says
October 21, 2014 at 5:07 amAh nostalgia. My old stomping ground was around St Giles. I remember lots of pubs which are yarn shops of a slightly different kind.
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:55 pm🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
littleblackdogsa says
October 21, 2014 at 6:51 amWonderful shop, love all the pretty goodies. Oxford in autumn is so very pretty. Would love to walk the streets and stare at it all. 🙂
dotstestsite says
October 21, 2014 at 9:19 amI remember North Parade from when I stayed with you, wasn’t there a wonderful tile/ceramics shop there too? Really enjoyed reading this & great photos!
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:56 pmYes there was, but sadly it is no more. Ah well, at least we have yarn.
A Crooked Mile says
October 21, 2014 at 12:33 pmBeautiful city and highly entertaining post!
nomsmon says
October 21, 2014 at 1:21 pmI didn’t know you were from Oxford! I spent my whole childhood there and left for university far away, but I yearn for it sometimes and it’s so hard to look at pictures. Thanks for the tip (although why did they call it “yarn store”?!?!) for next time I’m home (unfortunately looks like that’ll be a while…)
KerryCan says
October 21, 2014 at 2:53 pmDamn. I want to go to university in Oxford. I wonder if it’s too late . . .
I have similar crazy-nostalgic feelings about my years in grad school–I loved my school so much and had great times there. And, yet, there’s no going back.
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:57 pmNaaah, never too late.
But at least you have fond memories of your grad school days. 🙂
narf77 says
October 21, 2014 at 6:27 pmAs a fellow Morsemaniac I completely understand why you would up sticks and move to Morseville. When we visited the U.K. back in the Christmas of 2005, we had to take a bus trip down from Liverpool to South End on Sea. A terrifying trip with a blocked up toilet that I wouldn’t want to visit on my worst enemy but part of this tortured trip was spent passing through Oxford, a most gorgeous place, and if I hadn’t been holding my nose for most of the ride, I would have taken a lot of blurry window photos that I would currently be peering at myopically and nostalgically but I didn’t. I just looked out the window, holding my nose and thinking about just how beautiful and old the U.K. really is. You live there? You lucky wench you! Glad you spent your spare change on cashmere. I hear the goat herders are in need of a new Mercedes… can’t wait to find out what you are working on furtively and behind closed doors. My favourite kind of project. The secret kind…
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 3:00 pmYikes, Liverpool to Southend by BUS?! That sounds grim. I hope you stop properly in Oxford next time, if only for yarn (and Morse).
(And I laughed embarrassingly loudly at your goat-herders-Mercedes comment! I think they saw me coming with my poor battered credit card…)
narf77 says
October 23, 2014 at 5:10 pmPoor battered credit cards when combined into a nice tasty wool swathed pile = nice big new Mercedes for goat herders (or is that wool shop owners? 😉 )
mrsmulkey says
October 21, 2014 at 8:28 pmBut where is the picture of the new hair?
The Twisted Yarn says
October 23, 2014 at 2:57 pmNo. Just no. 🙂 (Sorry.)
freelancewritingshelleylittle says
October 23, 2014 at 12:02 amLovely! The views! The yarn shoppe! Oh I do hope you enjoy 🙂 I’ll live vicariously through you !
Lisa says
October 23, 2014 at 4:04 amBeautiful town! The buildings have such character! Very inviting!! Hugz Lisa and Bear
kristenj25 says
October 29, 2014 at 9:03 pmOne day I’ll make a visit out there. It looks awesome. And I will totally hunt that yarn shop down! I am powerless against a boutique yarn shop!
The Twisted Yarn says
October 29, 2014 at 9:06 pmYou won’t regret it. 🙂 Your bank manager will, but you won’t. 🙂
caityrosey says
November 5, 2014 at 2:16 pmThat yarn shop can help me lighten my bank balance any time. What a delightful place you live in/near. I would love to visit Oxford some day. It’s on my list of travel to-dos.