Last times in Oxford

Dear readers,

First, hope you're all ok and that next year, you will go wherever you want to go!
Then, I apologize for not having written sooner but as you may already know, this past few weeks were quite busy and I had (and still) quite a lot in my mind. Plus, the inspiration wasn't really there and I wouldn' t write something to write something...that wouldn't be fair...anyway..here I am, now! (smile) :)

So, so...would you ask me? That's a good question! (smile) :)

Last exams, last essay gave back...last days at the college...last times in Oxford, a beautiful human size city, even if you do the tour quickly, it has its charm! (smile)! :) and quite a lot of "last" something...before as you know, the departure from my dearest country: France!
Last walk around Oxford, last cup of tea, last everything in a way before going back.
So many souvenirs and some good experiences to have the chance to come to Oxford. I wouldn't have believe it in the first place, I did so many good things and I would remember it during a long time and hopefully forever, maybe...:)
Last everything again and in a way, I'm glad to go home but will be also a bit nostalgic...:
Like for example going to Starbuck coffee, or Caffé Nero, or Prêt à Manger, ordering some coffee (Cappucino, Mocha, Hot chocolate: cream on the top?, stay here or take away?

Or buying some dvd at HMV (Fnac equivalent but a bit cheaper sometimes and lot of good occasions), or buying some books at Waterstones, feeling this atmosphere, smell the odor of the books...being in this ambiance..I just love it! with a lot of offers: 3 for 2, or save £3, 4 or 5! or Half price offers...:) which give you envy to buy them! ;)
Or again , going to WH Smith for buying some furnitures we need (envelopes, books, pens, pencils, pochette plastique...)
Or going to the cinema and take a ticket for any perfomance, standard or premier?, front or back?, student?....:)
Or just walking around Oxford, enter in a Oxfam shop and making a little B.A to help them in their quest...and see a smile by doing it!
And also wandering around thinking about something or watching discretly other people around you, trying to understand what they or guess what language they are talking, where they could come from...etc...
Or going to do some shoppings for food in Sainsbury's or Tesco...and always going out of it, with a lot of bags than you have planned! :) mostly because of the nice offers: 2 for £2.50 or Buy one get one free...(smile) :)
Or just look at the window's shops full of clothes with a lot of colors that you could believe (almost) that you're at looking at a painting! (rire)...:) !
Or just to enjoy the simple details of life around you...the famous: "sorry for the wait" when you're queuing a the till, or "can I help?", or "How are you today?"...it a bit silly but always nice to hear.. when you do some shopping...:) and it has enligthened your day as silly as it sounds! :) (smile discreet)!
Or drinking at home a cup of tea,( when I don't forget it lol) accompagny by a good book in english (yes, still!) in which you can't stop reading...! and sometimes accompagny by some music!

And of course meeting my colloc' with whom I shared a lot this year and it's was really nice to meet her. She brought me a lot and I learn a lot with her compagny...:) I could have the opportunity to (re)discover some new things...!:)
Or talking with my dearest colloc' too, about everything and anything at the time...laughing, remembering some souvenirs or imagine how things could be, talking about our teatchers, about essays, how was our day or about films or books we are reading or read already, sending ourselves some texts or writing little notes (I'll miss that ;) ) with the famous "Hi dear" or "My dear"!So, if I haven't say it already, just, thank you dear! :) ;)

Also, with my "famous"expressions: "c'est bon le thé", "c'est bon...", or other things that I was often repeating! Fortunately for her,I reassure you, , she is still alive and survived during all those months (november to June/July) we lived together and now as she going back to France for summer and her studies, and as I'll go to France as well for summer and after going back here , in England, in September (finger-crossed), I'll certainly miss her but hopefully we'll find one day , the time to see each other again! I'm looking foward to our new adventures, either if she comes around and visits me in England, where I'll be or either if we'll see each other in France! :)
And before forgetting, I really like meeting my coloc' and I had the oppourtunity to meet some really nice people in the ISP programm who I'll miss too, people who seems to care about you, who wants to know you better and you know they are good people and would like to stay in touch and maybe see other as well later, one day for a different occasion. :) (smile discreet!)

So many souvenirs encrés in my head and I had some good times in Oxford this year and I couldn't imagine going there and do all the things I did if someone would have told me...

I'm going to leave you know as I have things to do (like my suitcases!) but I'll be back! I don't know when but I'll try during the summer to post a little note or otherwise to tell you where I'm going next year! :)
Take care, and see you soon I hope for a new article! ;) Lots of love to all of you and have a good summer holiday!:) xxx

Tous&Rien

Dear readers,

Just a little note, the "to-do list" begins to reduce itself with a bit patience and time...and I'm glad!
But some stressed is still here between IELTS and to have Merit in Literature...and my head is very active with all that! :)

And again, the impatience...the impatience to be in France, to see my family, to see my friends...just to be there with them...and to think of nothing else! ;)
My patience, I feel it, begins to decrease and the time...pass slowly...! But we are never happy, as it seems.
Sometimes, when the time is flying away when we don't really want and when we want it to fly away...it doesn't...illlogic? Maybe...:)

And well, the weather? I won't annoy you with that, always changing, rain which make us believe we are in autumn not in summer and sometimes, fortunately, sun! :) Sun qui caresse notre visage et réchauffe nos coeurs, nous rassurant and make us believe that the summer isn't so far...:)

See you soon, I hope, for a new episode hopefully to tell you that this time, my "to do list" will be finished and that I will begin to do my luggages! :) (J-15)!!
Take care, xxx

Universities

Dear readers,

I let you, lately, with my last adventures in Yorkshire&Scotland, I hope you liked it! :)

Just a little note today. As you may know for next year, I applied in University here, in England. Three offers were made to me and in the end I kept only two. Winchester University and Chichester University. There are both in the South of England.

The first one, has asked me to pass the course and to pass the IELTS 6.0 (it's like the TOEFL). So, I decided that it would be my insurance choice. Second choice, if you prefer. And I will pass the IELTS exam the 26th of June just before my last exams!

The second one has asked me to pass the course as well and yet to have in Literature: merit! It would be my firm choice, my first choice. Not too difficult but I'm a bit worried. Sally, my tutor and literature teatcher as well, talked to me and say that my work as really improved and I'm glad to hear which comfirm that my efforts and my colloc's help as well as Sally's have paid with patience & time. But it's not the thing that concerned me. I'm glad that again my work has improved but...I still need to be able to do something else which is a criteria to have Merit in Literature. I'm coming to it, don't worry. :)
So, I have to be able to make in my essays some paragraphs, which mean if I understood well, regroup my idea more clearly...is it comprehensible?
And as she gave me back one of the 3 assignments I did a few month ago, she advised me to look at it again, and change a few things in it...
Yes, but will I be able to? Will I have merit? Will I success with the IELTS ? So many questions....! Mm...

I will try to do it but I have also some essays in C&S, European Studies, and one last in Literature! And I'm a bit worried, there only less than 3 weeks to go now before my last exams and before going back to France, home! for the summer...!
And yet, so many things to do, fortunately not impossible to do! ;)
Well, let's see if I can do everything in time ! :)
I will let you know what happened next..! Finger-crossed! ;) :)
In waiting, take care and good luck! xxx
See you soon for a note! ;) :)
Un peu de douceur avec une chanson que j'aime bien: Natasha St Pier, "Je n'ai que mon âme", Enjoy! :) ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d38A8pXpDo

Yorkshire&Scotland - Part 2

Dear readers,

I let you when we were in Haworth, Yorshire...I found you now in Glasgow, Scotland after a few hours train! :)
So, Glasgow!? Where to begin? ;)
First, we arrived and went to the Youth Hostel where we had reserved for 3 nigths! Quoique un peu "rustique", cela fit l'affaire!
Next day, we discovered the city..not really what I was expected, I was surprised! It's a version of San Fransisco, version Scotland! With big avenues a n'en plus finir, big buildings, some in construction, some quite new, some old...and less green, but still!
A few pictures might give you an idea: enjoy! ;) :)


The Mitchell Library & in the street of Glasgow


We went to visit the Glasgow Cathedral, quite old outside, but beautiful inside! :)
After, we went to a museum: The People's Palace and Winter Garden museum and a after a coffee-break, we discovered a museum full of the story of Glasgow, mostly during the war!Quite interesting! :)
Then we went to another museum: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. But before, stop for lucn in a nice scottish pub with some nice traditional scottish music, transporting us...:)
Back to the museum! The Kelvingrove is a nice museum full , this time, of different art: Italian, Dutch and French (paintings mostly) and many others things representing the art&culture in Glasgow, its history...:)
Stop, to relax and enjoy the sun (yes!) in the park, near. Great and just...well...nice! (rire) just what we needed! :)
Next and last day before going back to Oxford: A guide tour organized. Our guide was named Charlie, was nice and had a lot of story and anecdotes to tell us, even if we didn't understand everything! (lol) .
Highlands and Loch tour with some break to take pictures or lunch or to buy some souvenirs! :)
More precisely, a little aperçu of what we did this day, which was again under the sun! :)
We begin by going to the Loch Lomond National Park, in Crianlarich; then after a coffee fo waking-us up direction Rannoch Manor, Glencoe.
Then: Highlands: Fort William, Ben Nevis. We stop there for lunch and buy some souvenirs.
After that, direction Dromnadrochit, for visiting the famous Loch Ness! We even take a cruise on it and could much admire the view and some other monument as the Urquhart Castle (beautiful!)
Sorry, we didn't see Nessie! (rire), maybe she was hidding (rire)*** !!!
We continue to hit the road towards Inverness and last stop in Perthshire, for an early dinner(17h30!) before going to Glasgow, after a great day and my head already full of souvenirs as well! :)
A few pictures again from this tour: enjoy again! :)

Loch Lomond & Highlands: what do you think? :) Beautiful, isn't it? :)
Jut before, I forget, pictures of the Loch Ness and....:)


Loch Ness, Nessie in pink *smile , and of course Urquhart Castle! :)

Next day, back to Oxford by bus! It was long but fortunately, some break were planned! And we could admire much better the scenery! :)
The end of my adventure with my fidèle colloc'! I had a really great time! :) And will keep this memory! ;)
Hope yoy will enjoy reading this 2 articles and that will make you dream as well! :) ;)
Back to school , a bit tired but only 3 weeks to go (crazy isn't it?) before going to France for the summer!
Oh, I miss the bread, the cheese, the meat...and everything (so good!) Patience....! :) *smile*
En attendant, good luck for everything and see you soon for another note! ;)
Take care, xxx

Yorkshire&Scotland- Part 1

Haworth, UK
Dear readers,

How are in this new month? Ah y est! June...crazy isn't it? :)

Me revoilà revenue avec ma fidèle colloc', d'une petite semaine de vacances bien méritées! Nous en avions besoin, après ces semaines de cours, de recharger les batteries. :)

Well, what did we do? What would you say, we did? No...no bronzage in the sun, nor laziness on the beach...! (rire), that we would have been good but no...that wasn't the case! *smile*
So? Have you guessed? ;)

The answer is...(I mean, it's a bit stupid...now that I realize it, sorry^^) we went in the North of England! Quite a long way but it was worth(?) it..seriously!***
We went, more precisely, in the Yorkshire, in the moors (landes), in the village of Haworth! You don't know? let me refresh your memory *smile*
This little village, lost in the middle of nowhere, is well-known and famous for Brontë's sisters! They have written most of their novel as you may know, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (or Shirley, Villette...), Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Anne Brontë has also written The Tenant of Wildell Fall and others! I just read and see two versions of Jane Eyre, and two of Wuthering Heights, but it really worth reading them according to my roomate! :) So, n'avez plus qu'a!:)
Anyway, we arrived there in a charming village, with character and passion...with mountains and nature all around, just beautiful and breathtaking view! You just have to see it! So...:) I can't find a word...
We made a reservation in a sweet and typical inn called the "Old Silent Inn"! English jusqu'au bout des ongles, cosy and warm...lost outside the city centre, you can just hear the noise of the bird, the wind...so nice!
Then, after we let our luggages, we went to the city centre and visit of course the Brontë Parsonage Museum dedicate as you can guess to the Brontë's. It's actually the house they lived in. Cela retrace leur vie, leur quotidien, leurs oeuvres...que vous pouvez au fur et à mesure de la visite suivre et vous imaginez quel était leur vie au 19e siècle. It was nice, but for me as I discover, I can see my rommate's eyes all bright and open, qui pétillent de bonheur et un sourire apparaître...:)
En effet, Jane Eyre , Wuthering Heights et tant d'autres ont bercé son enfance! ;)
Puis, petit tour au musée et après quelques achats raisonnables (cartes postales...), nous découvrons la Church, qui se trouve à côté, where the Brontë family have a vault. :)
Et une marche dans Haworth, essayant de s'imaginer les 3 soeurs, aller et venir dans le village. Nous avons par la même occasion, mangé une "curd tart", spécialité du coin, très bon! ;)
Puis retour à l'hôtel, pour se détendre et se reposer avant de dîner à la inn au coin du feu et dans une ambiance chaleureuse.
Le lendemain, après une nuit plus au moins répatrice, ma colloc' et moi, partons pour une marche dans les moors. Nous nous rendons, appareil photo en main, dans un endroit nommé Top Withins, connu pour avoir inspiré Emily Brontë pour son roman Wuthering Heigths! :) Tout aussi magnifique et breathtaking, plongé au milieu de ces famous moors et sa brume donnant, avec la pluie (!) un aspect sauvage, passionné et gloomy à la fois. Vous avez encore du mal à réaliser que vous êtes là...un peu comme dans un rêve ou presque! :) L'appareil photo à bien fonctionné! ;)
Puis, nous redescendons et passons devant les famous Brontë's falls, connu pour son pont, près d'où Charlotte Brontë had her favourite spot and liked to sit. :) ;)
Dernier tour dans Haworth et arrêt dans un charmant café called Emma's café ou nous mangerons des Scones (Hum...Miam!) accompagné d'un thé bien chaud pour se réchauffer et se remettre de nos émotions! :)
Marche jusqu'a la Inn afin de reprendre nos valises et direction Keighley afin de prendre le train pour...Glasgow! Scotland nous voilà! :) Après une petite heure d'attente et de patience accompagné d'un bon livre, le train arrive! Changement à Lancaster, et comme celui-ci avait un peu de retard, cela nous a permis de prendre quelque chose de chaud!
Finalement, nous voilà arrivé à Glasgow deux heures plus tard, plutôt surprise par la ville!
Mais suite dans un prochain billet ou cela risque faire long...:) Je vous laisse découvrir et imaginer par vous-même ce que cela pouvait être! ;) :)
Passez une bonne soirée et à trés vite, avec mes aventures in Scotland et photos à l'appui afin de vous faire encore plus rêver! :)
Take care! xxx