I made it!

Allrighty, my debut blog entry. Exciting, huh? OK, not really. I’m only doing this because several of you said you wanted to know what I was up to; I would also like to know what I’m up to, so maybe we can work it out together. Anyway. News.

I made it into Oxford at the misty, moisty and faintly alarming time of about 7.30am, direct from Heathrow. Ryan, the SA "Rhodie" who arrived a few days earlier, helped me carry my bags to Worcester College, which is a highly convenient 1 minute walk from the bus station. From the outside it is big and, well, grey. Past the big heavy wooden door with the little bit in it that you can open and step through, the welcome from the 'porters' was very warm; I was told I looked a complete mess and should go to bed. Sent to the 'buttery' in search of a coffee, I wandered into a quadrangle that took my breath away, and still does every time I walk through it. Attempted digital re-creation follows, not quite capturing the luminous green of that lawn at 8am:


The monks' cottages on the left date from the 15th century and are now inhabited by undergraduates. They seem to cope. The dining hall and chapel are behind the camera and open onto this quad. Not a bad little place!!

From then on, my settling-in went swimmingly - in more ways than one, actually, since the city was basically submerged for the rest of the weekend. Having spoiled me with that view, Oxford decided to teach the new Aussie a lesson; by the end of the first day I had bought an umbrella, a coffee plunger and a kettle, and I was alive.

It is now a week later, and I am more than alive, though possibly just as tired as that morning. The Oxford version of O'Week is called 'noughth week' (i.e. the one before first week) and involves wall-to-wall social events organised mostly by the college's 'MCR' (Middle Common Room, which refers both to the room where the postgrad students can hang out and to the students themselves. Ourselves. Tee-hee!). There are some great people and, well, Oxford has lots of pubs. To cut a long story short, I have had very little sleep, but have met my supervisor, who is the brand new Professor of the History of Science, comes from Italy and seems to be a real stirrer. He says outrageous things and then watches, in a way that reminds me of my brother-in-law (hi Gregor!). I think we'll get on well - I do with Gregor, after all - and the course looks to be as interesting as it will be demanding: two massive reading lists every week of this term, which for a novice historian should be quite entertaining, plus three essays and four talks. Did I mention I need to get some sleep?

Anyway - finally got a walk around the college in the sunshine later in the week, during which I swallowed my pride and went completely snap-happy. This place is amazing. It has:

a lake,


ducks (below), squirrels (data not shown),


the most scenic sportsfield this side of the Adelaide Oval,


more ducks,


and *that* quad ...


...with *those* cottages (note shingled rooves and C.S. Lewis lamps).



What's more, it has my room, which is across the road and has a fridge and a bathroom (sorry, it's the obligatory my-room-at-college shot, taken on my phone because my camera needs the camera doctor; notably less scenic, but if I'd moved the dirty dishes that would've been dishonest, wouldn't it?!) ...


... and (as of last Friday) me!.



OK, next time I promise there will be more photos with people in them. People that are not me. And are not ducks. I'm going to try and keep these things brief and not boring, so I reckon little photo essays are the go. But right now I'm going to bed - thanks for listening.
I hope you are all well!