This morning was spent getting ready to go to Oxford for four nights. We had the two smaller cases, plus our backpacks and a camera bag. The journey seemed fairly easy, catching the train to Victoria, then walking around the corner to where we caught our bus. It is called the Oxford Tube and runs every 15 minutes, with several stops in London, one or two on the journey, then several stops in Oxford. It still only takes about 1 hr and 25 minutes end to end.

On arrival we had a coffee, went to the Visitor Centre, then to the Oxford Museum, then to a cafe for a light meal. In a way we were just waiting for it to be time to go to our B&B as our host was expecting us at 6.00 p.m. But it was still interesting to look around the centre of Oxford, especially as it got to be early evening.

The bus to the B&B also runs frequently and is very busy. We were able to avoid a very full bus and catch the next one right away. It was a bit of a hike up to the B&B dragging our cases, but the walk will seem easy when we don’t have so much stuff. It’s an AirBNB, and not much privacy. We share a bathroom and toilet with our hosts and have to have any meals in our room, though breakfast things are provided. Its a small house. On the other hand, it is fairly close to the centre of town and was one of the very cheapest options. Our host was kind. The house is a bit less tidy than one would want, but I had some idea of this from reading the reviews. Basically we wanted somewhere easy to get to and not too expensive. We will see how it works out.

We have Joan to thank for telling us about the Sunday jazz sessions at The Oval. It was a typical older pub with low ceilings and modest prices. We asked to share a roast for lunch, and they gave us very generous servings, probably slightly less food than if we had paid for two meals. We were invited to sit at a table near the little stage area by one of the regulars, a nice man who has had throat cancer and cannot speak. He communicated by writing little notes. Name: Peter. His friend, who sat with us, Jim, is 95 and still gets around independently. We were reminded of the other day when we went for a walk in a park with Ken and were shown the way by a man of around 100, who was also quite independent, although he wore his gloves tied together with a long piece of string. Ken asked him why and he said that he was inclined to forget them, so this was the best option.

We are not normally that much into jazz, but the musicians were excellent and we really enjoyed listening to them. Our meal came when they were having a break, and we had finished when they started up again. They seemed to have a small, but avid fan base, some of whom stood at the bar for the whole two hours they were playing.

We have some packing up to do tonight and tomorrow for our little trip to Oxford for four nights. It takes a bit of planning to take just enough, not too much stuff. The photos were taken on my iPhone 6. No manipulation in Lightroom or Snapseed.

Last night we enjoyed an electrifying performance of Hamlet, simulcast from London. The theatre here in Croydon is a lovely traditional theatre with reasonably comfortable seats with good ‘racking’ – only a tall person can block your view. It was well attended, but there were a few spare seats so we moved down and across a bit.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet was the obvious drawcard, but it was an exceptional cast overall, bringing the characters and their motivations into a kind of ‘reality’ rarely seen in Shakespeare. The ‘good’ characters were sympathetic and even appearances of the ghost appeared a solid part of the story. The actors were in modern dress, the settings were dramatic, and music was used to good effect to set atmosphere and tone. It was very moving, although we felt elated and inspired, not sad, as most of the important characters died in the end!

The play was simulcast to other places as well. In Perth we will have to see it as an ordinary film at Luna because of the time difference – a pity. But I think it will feel as powerful. The advantage of film, of course, is that we were able to see the actors’ faces in more intimate moments.

We felt part of the true audience, and there were even little carts selling ice-cream in the auditorium at interval. This is as well as a cafe, a sweets kiosk and a long bar all down in the foyer. These Croydon folk are very well served.

We walked home feeling very happy and stimulated. We had spent the whole day at home, doing our computer stuff and reading or, in Stephen’s case, watching the BBC version of ABC iview on the 27″ iMac which is set up in the kitchen. It has an office chair and printer as well as space for us to have meals. It was enjoyable to be out in the fresh air and between 10.30 and 11.00 p.m. there were lots of people around and small supermarkets still open.

So, some photos. The heading photo is of the Croydon Street Market.

This morning we had a leisurely breakfast of boiled eggs and toast (and cereal in Stephen’s case), tea and coffee. We talked about going to visit Oxford and staying for a few nights. After checking out the YHA and college options, and finding them all full next week, we went for Airbnb, and found a room for $72.00 per night, with breakfast, with good access to the centre of the town. Our plan is to go by train to London and catch a coach to Oxford. We booked for four nights leaving Monday and returning on Friday. This is just before the term break.

Airbnb differs from normal B&B in that it can be a bit more casual and lower in cost, I think. This house has only one bathroom and toilet that we share with our hosts, hence the relatively low cost. We checked out the weather and it should be fairly dry on most days. Sunshine is a possible bonus.

We are going out this evening to Fairfield Halls to see the simulcast of ‘Hamlet’, which is still on in London. Below is a photo of the outside of Croydon Minster from yesterday.

Today has been quite cold and it almost rained in the afternoon. Stephen met up with Ken, a singing colleague from Perth, at the library, then we all met for lunch at Fairfield Halls. We went to a little concert with a piano/violin duo playing English music. It was quite good although I was a bit sleepy and the music was soothing rather than exciting.

Afterwards we took a tram to South Norwood Park. We walked across the park, saw some bird life on a small lake, and caught the tram back to East Croydon where we had hot drinks and pastries at a cafe. Ken is quite lively and entertaining and we have enough in common to find him good company. We hope that he finds us good company too.

We then retreated to our lovely warm apartment for the rest of the day. I wrote postcards to Matt and Mum and posted them on our way home.

Some photos from today:

Yesterday we did nothing but shop. We bought stamps at the post office, with assistance, using the automatic dispensing machine. I ordered a remote for my Apple TV (remembered to bring it, but not the remote). Stephen bought a desk lamp. We bought minor stuff in Boots. We recovered at a Costa, sharing a sausage toastie. Then we did the food shopping at Waittrose, which is our best option if we are doing a big shop. I checked the distance and had easily passed the 10,000 steps which is my daily goal.

Later, Stephen went to our nearby Sansburys to pick up things he needed for cooking tea.

We’ve been wondering what was happening with the heating in the apartment. It is switched on, as per instructions and photos in the house manual, but was clearly not working. We can’t find any of the little heaters that the manual mentions as being available. However, I noted a dial on the wall in the living room, and turned it up. Presto, on came the gas and big fan, and we had heating.

Of course, it quickly got to be too much, and we had to turn it down at bedtime. We turned it up again for a little while this morning, then down again when we were having breakfast.

Thank goodness we finally worked it out as it was getting quite chilly in the evenings here.

No photos from yesterday, this is from a few days ago.

I am currently reading Bill Bryson’s ‘The Road to Little Dribbling’ and finding it very useful in terms of getting ideas for places to go in England. I also like his rather rambling way of going places, doing lots of walking and having tea and cake. I can look up the places he mentions (reading on the iPad) as I go. Of course, his humour makes it all good fun. An ideal book to read at this time.