Dinner with the Provost

You can buy postcards everywhere in Oxford, and let me tell you it is absolutely heaving with postcard buying tourists right now. Some of the postcards have a really wonderful view of the City of Dreaming Spires taken from South Park - I know, quite ironic really. Today was another glorious English summer day, and after Colin had taught his classes in the morning we walked over to South Park to see if we could find where the picture postcard view was taken from.

Here it is. It was so quiet and peaceful, with local Oxfordians lying under the shade of the trees, walking their dogs and generally going about their business. Not a group of foreign students in sight. It's been a good few years since I sat in the long grass with a member of the opposite sex, but it's still as much fun when you're an old fart as it was back then.

Then, dinner with the Provost in his lodgings. Champagne in the garden before dinner...

Menu:

Grilled Swordfish with Chilli and Herb Marinade

Lugana Superiore 2006

Magret of Duck with Olives and Orange

Parisienne Potatoes

Baby Summer Vegetables

Gigondas 2005

Summer Pudding Terrine

with Creme Fraiche

Coteaux de la Loire 2005

Coffee and Petit Fours

Did I mention that I will have to go on a diet when I get back to Atlanta next week?

It was, of course, lovely. The Provost and his wife are delightful. And there's a Jacob van Ruisdale hanging over the fireplace in the sitting room. Grain Field at the Edge of a Forest.