The Broad Face pub

We finally ate dinner at the pub we've been looking at across the street from our flat.  The food and atmosphere were excellent!  A ordered a "toad in the hole" for dinner; he knew exactly what that meant - sausages cooked in Yorkshire pudding!  Good lad.  I think he learned it from Roald Dahl...  Then we strolled in the Abbey Meadows park.

Looking at our flat from the pub

The Toad in the Hole

Walk in the park

World Cup, England vs. Belgium

Thursday night - We got in the patriotic spirit and went to watch football at the Kings Head and Bell pub.  The game was a snoozer, and England lost, but we enjoyed the ritual!  There were Belgium fans in the pub as well.  One was a fellow scientist at Culham Science Center!  His son is in the photo with the kids.

Decorated windows

Flag flying in the courtyard

Cruise on the River Thames

We booked a river cruise today, which left from the bridge just near our flat in Abingdon and cruised north to Folly Bridge in Oxford.  It took about two hours, and we went through three locks.  The kids loved the locks!  Then we took the bus back home.

Dinner tonight was at Nag's Island pub, a favourite from last year.

Abingdon, Day 2

The kids and I were pretty exhausted this morning... still some lingering jet lag, and I think we might have a cold!  But we kept busy - went to the library, splash pad, Waitrose, Fatface.  Cooked dinner at the flat, then went out for ice cream and a stroll about Abingdon.  Our continued beautiful weather affords some glorious evening photography!

Milkshake in the Marketplace

At the corner of E and W St. Helen Streets

The Thames

East St. Helen Street

St. Helen's Church, built in the 12th century.

The spire was added in the 15th century.

Abingdon, Day 1

D went to work this morning, and the kids and I were on our own!  On the agenda:  go for a swim in the community pool and go shopping in town.  We were all tired by the end of the afternoon, but we managed to find energy to walk across the street to the Crown & Thistle for some dinner :)

At the pool - fun way to spend the morning

Afternoon coffee break

First pints of our trip!

C found a friend at the bar

Partaking in the paper straw movement

Evening walk on the Thames

I think Abingdon is a hidden gem!

Arrived in the U.K.

We made it!  Our flight was fine, with no delays or cancellations.  A good improvement from last year.  We had an interesting approach into Heathrow, with great views of both Oxford and London.  We picked up our new Peugeot and drove to Abingdon, where we'll spend our first week.  We had lunch at Waitrose and picked up some groceries.  It felt fabulous to be back at Waitrose!

Then we checked into our Airbnb, a flat on the third level of a building in central Abingdon.  We look out over a great pub and the River Thames.

We arrived in good weather!  We spent the afternoon and evening outside, trying to stay awake.  Cooked a quick dinner.  Now the kids are asleep at 8:30, and D is going across the street to the pub... to pick up some celebratory dessert, although he might alternatively get caught up in revelry from England's victory in today's World Cup game :)

Waiting at our gate

Oxfordshire

Oxford!

Flight map during approach (including one hold pattern)

Fun 270 degree aerial tour of London

Our flat is the entire top floor

People watching

Out for a stroll

By the old city wall

Cooking dinner

Another evening stroll

Hit the playground to revisit some fave structures!