The Eagle and Child

So after living in Oxford for two and a half months, we finally made it to the Eagle and Child pub...the famous pub where C.S. Lewis and Tolkien used to hang out and talk over a pint. It's a cool place...very cozy and dark inside, typical small-pub-in-england feel. That's about all I have to say about it. :)


This is what I read online about the two thinkers:

"Lewis taught as a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1925 to 1954, and then became the Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English at the University of Cambridge.

Tolkien was the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College, Oxford, from 1925 to 1945. He was then the Merton Professor of English Language and Literature at Merton College, Oxford, from 1945 until his retirement in 1959.

They met regularly on Tuesdays at the Eagle and Child pub... It's on St Giles Street, just across the street and north of St John's College."

The picture below is where we sat...looking out onto St. Giles street.

Fried Goodness...

I tried a deep fried Mars bar today for the first time...it was so stinkin' good! Seriously, it was so good, I am having one tomorrow. I may have a slightly clogged artery or two, but it was worth it.

Mmmm....sugar rushing to my head...can't think straight...must have another...

German Mulled Beer

In Edinburgh they have an amazing German market (only for about a month at Christmas time). Tom's mom and sis took us there yesterday to look at all the cool stalls, and also/especially to try the mulled beer (also known as 'winter beer'). Verdict: so delicious!! Seriously, why don't we have this tradition in Canada?? We are totally missing out. It's like a beer with spices and almost a red wine like taste to it...I can't really describe it...you'll have to try it for yourself!

I would also recommend Mulled Wine...or "Glühwein" in German, a spicy, tasty way to enjoy the holidays. It's quite common in the UK as well as Germany.

On a Train...

As I write this, I am on a train, on my way up to Edinburgh, Scotland. My first rail ride in the UK, and I must say, this is the way to travel! It may be a bit more expensive, especially if you don't book early, but it is a sweet way to travel. I am sitting on a luxurious coach, with a table, wifi, food, and a big window that looks over the countryside. Seriously, this is the way to travel.

Today the English countryside is exceptionally beautiful because it actually snowed the last few days. It makes everything look magical. I have been passing lovely small village after lovely small village, thatched roofs dusted with pure white snow...and fields of sheep, who despite the chilly air and snow covered ground, seem to be warm. They kind of make me hungry. Or want a sweater. I can't decide.

I am looking forward to Edinburgh, we are going to see Tom's family (and have a little Christmas with them) and we are also going to do some training and hangout time with the STINT team up in Edinburgh...looking forward to seeing other Canadians (not that I am complaining, I LOVE all my English mates!)

Tom just nudged me and I looked out to see an amazing town, with a beautiful church steeple and other striking architecture dusted in white. We try to be subtle as we see amazing things, but really I want to yell, "wow!" but then I would be a weird foreigner...and it would totally mess up my plan to look and act like I belong, like a Brit! (well, I guess right now, I am surrounded by UKers in general, maybe I should try out my Scottish accent). I better stop writing before I miss out on the view!