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.
Ah my head too was full of Morse, although I never made it to Oxford ……. thank God for PBS!
Oh 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… 🙂
Ah yes, The Turl…….
🙂
After 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!
It 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…
Lived 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.
Glad you loved it here. (It does seem to be quite a Marmite sort of town, if that makes sense?)
It does, for me its all love it 🙂
This 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.
Oh yes, Oxford in the snow. Heaven. *sighs* Glad it’s got good memories for you. 🙂
I 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:)
Makes 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.
Yes, 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.
Thanks for taking us on your trip with you! It’s been years since I’ve been to England, and it brings back great memories.
Oxford looks very lovely…ah someday to travel again 🙂
I’ve never been to Oxford. It looks lovely 🙂
http://guywhocrochets.wordpress.com
It has most excellent yarn…….
Wow! Beautiful photos! I would love to see it in person someday.
I 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!
Ha ha, yup, my purse was very considerably less of a strain on my arm afterwards…..
How 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!
Ah nostalgia. My old stomping ground was around St Giles. I remember lots of pubs which are yarn shops of a slightly different kind.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Wonderful shop, love all the pretty goodies. Oxford in autumn is so very pretty. Would love to walk the streets and stare at it all. 🙂
I 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!
Yes there was, but sadly it is no more. Ah well, at least we have yarn.
Beautiful city and highly entertaining post!
I 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…)
Damn. 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.
Naaah, never too late.
But at least you have fond memories of your grad school days. 🙂
As 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…
Yikes, 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…)
Poor 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? 😉 )
But where is the picture of the new hair?
No. Just no. 🙂 (Sorry.)
Lovely! The views! The yarn shoppe! Oh I do hope you enjoy 🙂 I’ll live vicariously through you !
Beautiful town! The buildings have such character! Very inviting!! Hugz Lisa and Bear
One 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!
You won’t regret it. 🙂 Your bank manager will, but you won’t. 🙂
That 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.