16 July 2015 - We found the Fine Lady upon her White Horse! - Banbury

After our two lovely days away, it was hard work starting school again! Tim and Annika and I went for a walk through the old market area and I was in my "spot the historic building" mode and found many. We also found delicious morning pastries at Marks and Spencers (a difficult choice which a mouth watering range tempting us!).

Just one of the many historical buildings...look up

 It was indeed a struggle sort of day schooling but we got through.  We also managed a skype call with one of Annika's teachers at 7 AM to catch the 9 hour time difference before the teacher went home.  As we thought, she hadn't received some of Annika's work due to poor internet connections along the way and "crashes".  We now have a new way of submitting work which is more reliable.

Market Square

Beautiful brick work

Those windows look precarious!

Great to have some signs explaining old buildings!

1570!!!

One of the shopping malls in Banbury

Little panes of pretty windows

In the early afternoon, we were required to move our car, which because of our allocated car park, blocks a garage.  We found out that the garage belongs to and is used by the owners.  It is a tricky issue as we don't want to be moving our car back and forth at their whim as we understood it was our car park.  The upside of our meeting the owner is that he'll be able to have the stove top fixed.  Currently only two hotplates work and glow red hot  whenever the stove is on with no control so it is easy to burn food and selves!!  The stove top has to be switched off at the wall.  We suppose this problem has been apparent for quite some time...mmmmm....one of the hazards of Airbnb!  The stinky washing machine is slowly improving but the "old smoke" smell, reminiscent of dodgy B and B's in the past still greets us whenever we come home after being out.  Having said that, the place looks well kept and is clean and modern to look at.

Here she is: The Fine Lady!

Fine sign about about a Fine Lady!

Cute little frog on the statue symbolising metamorphosis

 We went out for a discovery walk.  My main mission was to find the "Fine Lady upon her White Horse" of nursery rhyme fame w,hich we did.  There are so many Tudor buildings with wonky beams and I never tire of them!  We found a nice leafy park which even had an aviary with budgerigars and cockatiels and an old church: St Mary's Church of England.  It is an 18th century Georgian building built with large honey coloured stone and is an impressive height.  It is built in a square of 90 foot long sides.

Banbury Cross

Note the wonky floor levels.

Derelict : needs rescuing - what potential!!

In Banbury Park - In memory of dogs (I think!) - Stephen the Dog!

Author of  Gulliver's Travels, Jonathon Swift, (in preface of the 1726 edition of the book) said that he had taken the name of Gulliver from tombstones in the Churchyard at Banbury. Although no tombstones bearing this name have survived from that period, there are quite a few weather worn tombstones to read.  It is always interesting to walk and explore!!

Just noticed this as we walked by!

St Mary's Church - difficult to capture the immense form in a photo.

We walked back by the canal and saw a long boat in the lock.  Young and old seem to be charmed by the gentle process of moving the water levels.  There are always spectators sitting on the lock side watching and waiting. The canal is quite full with all the canal boat dwellers each evening as they come to moor in Banbury.  It seems to be the British version of grey nomads who spend their summer months chugging slowly around the inland waterways of England.

The afternoons here get a bit humid but by 7 PM or so a cool breeze blows in and cools us down to the point of needing a jacket or closing the windows.  Loving the English summer which is mostly just really pleasant "doing things" temperatures!