New Experiences for Passementerie

Tomorrow is going to be great fun - I'm going to Oxford for the day... to look at houses.  More on that later, but the most exciting part for me right now is that I'm going by *train*.  I adore trains, as some of you well know, but have never been on the Eurostar before, so all you worldly train-setters (as opposed to jet-setters, obviously) can look as nonchalant as you like - I'm thrilled.

Unfortunately I have to get up at an ungodly hour for this wondrous experience as I booked the 8am train only to have the estate agent move the appointment back two hours so I could have snoozed a bit longer, but an extra couple of hours wandering around Oxford can hardly be viewed as a disadvantage, can it?

I will start off by having a snoop around the two houses I'm going to see to make sure there isn't anything horrific about the streets in question (you know, Irish people and the like), then I will find somewhere nice to have lunch before taking myself and my book (Patrick O'Brien's The Far Side of the World, in case you're interested) to the Botanical Gardens until I'm due to meet the agent.  Hopefully my dear friend Laura will be free during that time too, so fingers crossed.

Finally I will make my way back to London to catch the 8pm train home and will be tucked up in my bed by midnight, one hopes.  What a long day for a Passementerie!

Today we went for a walk to the Marais in the evening sun - I had Berthillon lime sorbet, which was sublime, and then we sat by the Seine for an hour or so, pondering the tourists in the vedettes.

Image from here with thanks.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

I know Oxford pretty well - from those distant days when I lived there.
I lived at 2 Polstead Road - where TE Lawrence grew up - for a little while
also
16 Ship Street, a heavenly house in the middle of town.

[anne]

Oh how I wish you had told us earlier, I could of met you..I live 10 miles from Oxford, and even though I don;t drive, there is a bus every half hour..oh I might of met one of our French bloggers..have a very good trip, shame I am working.

[Anna]

Why are you moving from Paris? Or did I miss a post?

[Paul]

I hope you enjoyed your Eurostar experience - a quite delightful way to travel. I have to admit to a certain amount of jealousy.

My first trip through the tunnel was on Valentine's weekend nine years ago.
Later that year we took my wife's aunt to Paris for a significant birthday.
She had never been abroad before! Going out she was a bit worried about the tunnel part but coming back she was fine

We also had another trip through the tunnel by train to Germany staying over in Paris for a few days both ways.

We both enjoyed travelling by train as one is able to see more of country and in comfort.
Unfortunately I have not been since as my wife was not able to travel again.

As I have been enjoying revisiting Paris through your diary, and seeing places that we never had a chance to see, it was a shock to be reminded that your time in Paris was coming to an end - all too soon.

P.S. On our first visit we were lucky enough to find the flower market behind Notre Dame and shelter from the cold weather whilst admiring all that was on show.

[Teresa]

Marrakes, Paris ... is Oxford next? I am jealous. Just returned from a trip to Montreal and keep thinking of making an expat out of myself. Seems like it will never happen. Alas.

[le petit cabinet de curiosites]

IT IS SO COOL !
You are going to move again !
i love this picture of this parisian street , looks so quiet

[badaude]

Oxford? Paris? Patrick O'Brian? We seem to have so much in common. Look at www.badade.typepad.com and drop me a line...
xb