Our Trip to Oxford - June 2009

In June 2009, Julie and I took the opportunity to go the Ravi Zacharias Summer School in Oxford for 1 week. This was a course in Christian Apologetics. As we described to many of our friends, this was NOT a course in learning how to apologise for being a Christian. Rather, a course in learning how to better respond to some of the difficult questions that face Christians and non Christians alike. This was the first time in 10 years (since Jack was born) that Jules and I went away for anything longer than a weekend without the kids. We had a great time of relaxation and prayer - although the belting heat (yes I know - in England !!) and the small single beds in our room at Queens college meant that we didn't get quite as much sleep as we might have hoped.

Julie wanted me to take her punting on the "river" in Oxford. I was keen to do that, but unfortunately there was a bit of a traffic jam on the river, and I couldn't get the boat out. Oh well. She has claimed that I've never taken her punting. I think that I have - in Venice Italy, years ago. She doesn't remember - and we seem to have lost all photo evidence of that trip. But I'm convinced.

The photo below is of Julie in the Botanical Gardens in Oxford. The gardens were beautiful, but small. Not 100% sure it was worth the entry fee, but we did get a bit of a free exhibition of a theater group rehearsing for a show, and we did get to sit (unintentionally) under Tolkien's favourite tree.

The picture in the bar below is myself and a friend (Mike Small) squeezing into a bar near Queens college. Down the back street past New College (which is perhaps a little older than the New College at UNSW that I went to - given it was opened in the 1600's). Then just before the bridge of sighs (also pictured), take a right and walk through Helen's Passage (not sure how you feel about that Helen) until you get to this quaint little bar.