On Sunday, I went to church early, and then Ashley and I met up and went to take the bus to Blenheim Palace to see it all decorated for Christmas and to see the craft fair that was going on there as well. We packed a lunch, which consisted mostly of junk food, but that’s okay. I had an apple too. The craft fair was really crowded, so we just pushed our way through, and then we got to this one part where they have food samples. There was one thing that had samples of a Scottish whiskey, Cock of the North, I think it was called. It was probably a teaspoon or something in the little cup, and we decided to try it. It was so nasty. It burned going down. But it was funny. There was also a stand that had this drink called elderflower, which my mom and Sharon really enjoyed while they were here. So I told Ashley she should try some and I tried another type of drink by the same company. She liked it. It’s like a flowery sort of drink, hard to explain. But you can get it at Liquor Barn or Liquor World, Sharon found out, so if anyone wants to try it, you can buy it in the US. It’s not alcoholic, just sold with the alcohol apparently. After going through the Palace, we went down to this bridge over a lake or river or something, and then went into this field with a bunch of sheep because Ashley wanted her picture with some sheep. Then we started on our way out and rode this little train to what is supposed to be the butterfly garden, but it was apparently closed. So we went back out and the train hadn’t left yet, so we ran through the mud to get on it and were lucky we didn’t slip and fall. Then we went out to the bus stop, where we had read the times wrong, so we had to wait a long time, so we listened to Christmas music on my iPod.
When we got back, we went to Sainsbury’s because they had had a turkey on sale for half-price. We decided to be spontaneous and bought it. It’s huge, and there’s no way we’re going to eat it all. We sent out an e-mail and invited some people over for a Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, but I haven’t heard back from most of them. Ashley said if we have too much left over, we should give it to the homeless people that always stand on the streets, so we might do that. Who knows? It took both of us to carry the turkey back to Regent’s and now we have to get it to Ashley’s house because she has more dishes, so we’re going to make it there.
After my adventures with Ashley, I came back to my room and tried to read some economics, but then I ended up taking a short nap before I had to meet up with the Regent’s PPE people for the PPE curry dinner. So I went out there at 7:45. There are three PPE girls, one in each year. The third-year girl couldn’t come because she had an engagement party she had to go to, but Ula was planning on going. Then she wasn’t there at the meeting place so I went up to her room to check on her and she said she couldn’t come. I found out later she has a sinus infection. So it was me and six guys. We went to this good Indian place, but I had no idea what to order, so Mike, a third-year who sat next to me (also one of the guys who coached us on Saturday) gave me some suggestions, so I pretty much got the same meal he did. It was really good. And I ate almost all of it. There was a Sunday special where you get a bunch of stuff for 10 pounds, and then I had to buy my water and it wasn’t adding up right, so I just gave 5 more pounds. So I spent 15 pounds, which is like $30, which is so much money. I need to stop thinking of things in dollars, but it’s hard. But it was a fun meal. I still don’t feel like I fit in with the second-year guys. I can have good conversations with both the third-year guys and with the first-year guy, but my year, I still sort of feel like an outcast, which wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but we’re supposed to help each other when exams come around, trading essays and such, so we’ll see. I guess it’s only been one term. They just don’t really seem open to letting another person into their little group. So then I came back to college and tried to read some more and then fell asleep.
