While spending the summer in London, we took several trips just outside the city to enjoy the many attractions in the country. We learned that while we love everything big cities have to offer, we really love the feel of country life. This is going to be a bit of a long post, as I am going to cover all of our day and weekend trips to Oxford, Essex County, including Castle Headingham and Thaxted, Bath and Winchester. I apologize for the gap in my posting, but I have been a bit distracted readjusting to life in America and finding a new job. I start my new job in a neonatal ICU (NICU) on Monday and very much look forward to learning something new. I also plan to continue making photography a larger part of my life. I have a family portrait session booked for Friday and a few more, plus a wedding in the near future.

Anyway, I’ll start with Oxford. My cousin Jessica and her husband Harry came out to stay with us in London. It was their first time in Europe and we loved showing them around the city, but they also wanted to get a taste of the country. While Evan was at work, the three of us took a day trip to Oxford. It is an old college town with beautiful architecture, lovely gardens, fancy courtyards and punting.

After walking through the city, we spent some time in the beautiful gardens. All three of us have some interest in gardening, so it was a good way to spend the afternoon.

Next I suggested that we go Punting. A punt is a boat designed for shallow water. One person stands at the back of the boat and steers it using a long stick. Harry was our driver and he did a very good job. Jessica and I relaxed and fed Cheetos to the ducks. We were a little concerned at one point that we would go into the River Thames, but we found our way back.

We came across a nice family navigating the small rivers with us and I shot a few photos of them. I caught a few good candid shots and when I ran into them on the train home, I gave them my business card and told them I would be happy to send them photos. A few months later, I got an email from them and sent them the photos. I am so happy I was able to share the photos with them. I love capturing life’s moments, but it is all the sweeter when I can share them with the people who will really appreciate them. Thank you Franco and family for allowing me to post these photos and share them with you. Cheers!

It was a wonderful day trip. I recommend Oxford to anyone spending time in the UK.

We went to Essex County, about an hour outside London, a couple times. It is a place that is made fun of by some British people in the same was New Jersey is here, but like New Jersey, it is a beautiful place. It is quite a large area, filled with rolling green hills and really old villages with cobblestone streets and thatched rooftops.

We first went to visit some family friends with Evan’s parents. We ate at a wonderful gastropub owned by Jamie Oliver’s parents and then relaxed at their country home. We simply fell in love with the area.

We went back to the area a couple weeks later for a weekend. This time we stayed one night with my third cousin, Regina, and her partner, Stuart. We had met them in Ireland and they invited us out for a visit. They live in Castle Headingham. It is lovely quaint village with a few old houses, a restaurant and a pub–pretty much all you need in life.

This is a typical thatched rooftop.

We went inside an old church. There was a beautiful display of all the buildings in the village stitched onto a tapestry.

Stuart collects cars and took turns driving Evan and I in his TVR sports car. We went 100-110 MPH on country roads.

Although there was a wedding at the castle and we were only able to sneak a peak at the outside, we enjoyed walking on country roads, picking apples, strolling through fields with sheep and relaxing at their home with some Pimms cups. The sheep thought they could hide from us behind the tree. They are not the smartest animals.

In the afternoon, they took us to Finchingfield on the way to our friend’s family farm. We enjoyed some beer and watched the scene unfold. It is a popular spot for British tourists.

We were there during a harvest, so we passed several tractors on our journey. Our friends Heather and Michael spend many weekends at Michael’s dad’s wheat farm in Thaxted. They were nice enough to have us out for a lovely weekend of relaxing, cooking and spending time with the family dog.

They showed us around the town, which featured cobblestone streets, a beautiful old church and a windmill.

That night we enjoyed a tasty meal of cheese, bread and wine and then had a lazy Sunday morning in the rain.

Evan and I took the dog for a walk in the afternoon when the rain let up and I took some corny shots with my beer glass- wheat and hops.

We did a traditional Sunday roast that afternoon. Heather and Michael cooked us a wonderful meal using the unique old stove in the farm house. It is always on to help heat the house, making cooking a baking a whole new game.

We absolutely loved the farm and all the hospitality. Thank you so much for having us!

Switching gears from Essex, in the beginning of our trip we went to Bath for a day with Smiz. It was not, honestly, one of our favorite day trips. This was in part due to the trains shutting down for a few hours, making our journey crowded and long. Once we did reach Bath, it was a beautiful city and touring the Roman baths was very interesting.

The Romans used to etch wishes onto these and throw them into the baths.

Hot air ran underneath the bath floors, and they were elevated on these to keep the floor from getting too hot.

A group of school children dressed the part.

In the end, it was a nice day, complete with a beautiful train ride back into the city. One of my favorite things is to ride on trains and take photos out the window. I have a whole series of these from various trips which I will post once I finish my project and put the series together.

Finally, toward the end of our stay, I took a day trip to Winchester to visit my third cousin, Matt, and have him cut my hair. He is a hair stylist and since I needed my hair cut, I figured I would use the excuse to get out to see him and tour Winchester. He did a fantastic job- I still love my haircut.

While Matt was working, I toured Winchester Cathedral. It was beautiful and massive.

This is the house where Jane Austen spent her last days.

We had dinner at a pub, where I enjoyed a delicious scotch egg.

I saw a little bit of home when I came across a magnolia tree.

Then we walked through a park and along a river where we saw the oldest preserved part of the Roman wall in Winchester.

We ended the evening in a quirky pub. There were more stuffed animals, including things like giraffes and monkeys, then I have ever seen in one place. It was quite disturbing, but very unique. Matt says it is a cozy spot in the winter with the fire lit. I wish we could do that more in New Orleans.

Thanks to everyone who showed us around the country and small villages surrounding London. We truly enjoyed all of the experiences.