UK Spring Finale

My internship ended quietly and all too quickly, without much fanfare.  One last Smoky Mule at Hyde and Co.  One last picnic with new friends thanks to my flatmate.  One last Sunday service at Bristol Vineyard and as many stolen moments as possible with my friend Kate and her family.

Sunday evening I arrived in Oxford for another impromptu visit with Casey.  We took her foodie list of recommendations and set off on an unofficial beer tasting tour.  A pint at The Eagle and Child for my friend David.  A fabulous shared Sunday roast and bitter at The Jericho Tavern.  [It was so good we returned the next day for lunch]. 

A stumbled upon beer festival in a quiet pub close to our hostel.  As always, time with Casey is so easy and just...good.  Must be her Portland sensibility...

The next afternoon found me at Clapham Junction in London, meeting my nslp's [aka long term partner in crime] sister.  Originally planned as a research time with cookery schools in London for my thesis, I hadn't realized that not only was it Easter Break, but it was also just before the Royal Wedding.

So instead, I spent my evenings with Nicola's fun sister and her flatmate, and wandered through my days.  Finally made it to the infamous Churchill Arms in Notting Hill, home of my friend's favourite Thai food.  Found a salon and went blonde.  Navigated the buses rather than the Tube.  Walked all along the Embankment,

Cookery Show along the Embankment

sampled my way through Borough Market,

drank in the Tate Modern and was chatted up by a gorgeous sports medicine grad student.  Oh yeah, did I mention blondes have more fun?

My final weekend found me back in Bishopstone with my beloved Royal Oak cast of characters - and Wendy, who was completing her internship part two there.  I brandished my trusty Wusthof again to work in the pub kitchen, entertained KP Nick with my constant ducking in the tiny walk-in, had late night wine chats with Barny and Wendy, took a tractor for an Easter Egg hunt,

revisited my favourite cows (now in pasture),

and met the 1500 new piglets.

And through it all (except for in Oxford Circus in London), all I could ask myself was "Why am I leaving?"

Easter Lunch, compliments of Barny

It was only when Wendy and I turned to each other early Easter Monday on the plane that I was able to answer the question with genuine enthusiasm. 

"We're off to Krakow and the Ukraine!"