Welcome back to the second year at Oxford. We start off by looking through three windows at Oxford: 1987, 1646, and 2021. The Senior Common Guestroom at Keble College “I want to hearken back to how I felt on the first night [of my second year at Oxford], and in order to do that I need to pull out my journal. I’ll comment on the note that I made on my first night here. On my first night, of course, I was staying in the Senior Common guestroom—which was actually part of it. One of the dons had a suite of rooms. It included his office, a room he used to use as a bedroom, a kitchen, bath, and a little foyer filled with glass bookshelves and comfortable chairs, where students could wait for him. And since he no longer slept in his set of rooms, Keble uses that as a guestroom. That’s what I had. It was very cozily set up with its own tea kettle, down comforter, a nice big desk, and it overlooked the Fellows Garden. It was quite lovely.
Wonderful atmospheres, Lynn, with a special shout out to the 17th century vandals for reminding us that undergraduate life has never been unspoiled contemplative bliss! 😂
In January 1645, Aubrey writes, "The Parliament's soldiers are destroying the ancient monuments, which they consider idolatrous." That sounds like a familiar scenario too.
These three vignettes each express a "found home" warmness that remind me of the ideal I had in mind when I went to study in Berkeley, California. My first room was in a Neo-Gothic building with leaded windows, and full oak doors with wrought iron handles. We had a lounge on the main floor with a grand piano where students gathered for casual conversation. I loved it then, but hadn't thought of it for years. Thanks for reviving this wonderful memory that is part of my own experience!
Wonderful atmospheres, Lynn, with a special shout out to the 17th century vandals for reminding us that undergraduate life has never been unspoiled contemplative bliss! 😂
In January 1645, Aubrey writes, "The Parliament's soldiers are destroying the ancient monuments, which they consider idolatrous." That sounds like a familiar scenario too.
Oh, boy. I always hate seeing Puritan-induced damage in churches....
Couldn’t be any more excited for Season Two. Welcome back!
The only reason there is a season two is because of the comment you made when I said that I might stop after the first year.
Well then I’m glad and so I’m sure are all your readers!
These three vignettes each express a "found home" warmness that remind me of the ideal I had in mind when I went to study in Berkeley, California. My first room was in a Neo-Gothic building with leaded windows, and full oak doors with wrought iron handles. We had a lounge on the main floor with a grand piano where students gathered for casual conversation. I loved it then, but hadn't thought of it for years. Thanks for reviving this wonderful memory that is part of my own experience!
There is this side to Berkeley. When I stayed in a room at the Faculty Club, it felt very much like Oxford.