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We were expecting to spend the afternoon in London today, before meeting a friend arriving into London City, but apparently the west of Germany got snow today, so she’s still in Frankfurt (we think) and we’re still in Oxford.
Okay, I’ll be honest here: I’ve written before about embracing my jetlag when it helps me get up earlier (upon returning to the U.S.). Much less admirable is the schedule I’m currently working with, which sometimes involves sleeping until lunch time. By the time I’ve showered, dressed, had tea, and made something to eat, it’s even later.
This might not be so bad if it were still summertime, but because it’s January, it means that I’m only up and around for about four hours before it starts getting dark again. At this rate, by the time I go back to the U.S., I’ll be bringing a nice case of rickets with me.
So, not long after I sat down to work, the sky started turning orangey-pink, and I quickly abandoned my computer and headed off in search of a better view of the sunset. I ended up in South Park, with a great view of the sun setting over the city–and a snow shower, to boot. My favorite photograph, though, was one I took before I even got to the park:
(I’ll admit, though, that I’ve been a little more liberal with Photoshop on this one than normal). I’ve also set up a photoset for 2009 Daily Photos on Flickr; I still haven’t decided if I’ll keep posting with the photos here.
Tomorrow I’m spending six hours on a bus, which will deposit me unceremoniously in the bus station in Middlesbrough roughly three hours after it gets dark. Assuming I make it out of there alive, I’ll be spending the week with family — and will be back to Oxford (and regular posting access) at the weekend.
I made a lot of New Year’s Resolutions, but they were more “ideas” than “resolutions,” anyway, so I’m going to rule it entirely acceptable that I didn’t exactly start them with the New Year. One resolution was to take (and post) pictures every day; this plan was thwarted by the fact that England gets dark excessively early this time of year, and the fact that I left my memory card in the camera I haven’t been carrying. So it turns out this is more of a “January 3rd Goal” than a “New Year’s Resolution.”
Another resolution idea is exactly the opposite sort of thing people normally come up with around New Year’s, which is, again, why it’s not a resolution. Instead, it’s a vague and probably wholly inadvisable idea to continue my tour of Oxford’s (historic) pubs, aided by some nifty playing cards and an online guide. This idea crystallized when we stopped into the Angel & Greyhound on New Year’s Day for a quick pint of Winter Warmer, and so last night we braved the cold night and dashed up the road to The Half Moon for a few pints of Greene King’s seasonal Rocking Rudolph, along with a packet of crisps and some thoroughly enjoyable people-watching and running-into-acquaintances. I also took the opportunity to finally get started on my daily photography idea as well. Multi-tasking!
(You can see the whole, albeit small, set on Flickr)
Happy New Year from Reverberated.com, which will be returning to near-daily posting for 2009.
