Roosting in Oxford

I am back home bone-tired after a jolly weekend in Oxford for Miss LJ's last month of freedom. The weekend began with the mystery of the exact location for festivities being prolonged for as long as possible with the help of a Napolean Dynamite eye mask.

The hens assembled by 10am for a bit of pampering at a local spa, followed by lunch (with a cheeky first glass of fizz), then checked-in at the luxurious Apartments in Oxford. A bit of glamming up, dressing Miss LJ in some red accessories and a few pomegranate bellinis heralded the start of Painting the Town Red.

Undeterred by the bad weather (taxi shoes dictated the need for transport - a bargain £4 cab ride) we travelled to the first stop, the Duke of Cambridge for cocktails. Taking advantage of happy hour (5-7pm 7 days a week) we sampled many... After Eight, Lemonflower Collins, Passionapple, Elderflower Fizz, Ginger Tom, Aphrodisia, Spice Island to name a few, plus a Tiki House served in this crazy glass!


Despite having the reputation of a lightweight, Miss LJ kept pace well. We then decamped to Browns for dinner, but not before Miss LJ demanded we all drink her favourite cocktail: Pina Colada. So 7 were duly ordered. And 7 were duly sipped. But only 2 were completely finished!

Dinner, a quiz, then a late bar and then back to the apartment to unwind and then sleep.

Sunday involved a croissant, fruit and bacon sandwich feast to combat any hint of a hangover. Then a few of the hens headed over to Blenheim Palace for the Living Crafts for Christmas show. It turned out to be the ideal place to pick up some Christmas pressies. One of the gems of the show was the Food Hall, where we discovered
Lime Tree Pantry pies. On the strength of a taster of their Chicken, Ham and Leek pie, Miss LJ and I bought 3 pies.

Mr D approved of the pies. We ate the Beef & Guiness Pie for dinner this evening, when I got back. It is the best pie I have eaten. Chunks of succulent steak and pastry so short it crumbled in the mouth. Unfortunately it also crumbled when I tried to lift the first slice and it ended up looking a bit of a wreck on Mr D's plate.











But the second slice held its shape.


The pie was amazing. Nothing more to be said!