A retreat day and other travels

On Sunday I was invited to lunch by a couple from church.  They live in Wheatley.  After lunch, we went for a walk around the village.  One of the major points of interest is the one-man lock up.  This was used in the 17th century for those convicted of drunk and disorderly conduct. The unique building is located on the edge of a playground, an incentive to get the kids to behave.

The local post office won a prize as one of the best post offices in Britain a few years ago.

Tuesday morning I left home early, took the bus to the center of Oxford and transfered to another for a trip to Stanton St John to spend a day on retreat.  The bus ride was an experience in itself.  The driver knew all the regulars.  At one point we waited for nearly five minutes at a stop.  After a while, I saw an elderly woman slowly making her way down the street.  The driver knew the woman was making her way to the bus and was waiting for her.

The trip only took thirty minutes. I got off the bus and entered a small village in the English countryside.

I walked through the village and down the road tree-lined road to Stanton House. (My room is actually the one shown in the publicity photo.)  

I came around a bend in the driveway and saw the house.

I was shown to my room, named as you can see.  Just down the hall I had use of a well-appointed kitchenette with coffee, tea and snacks available. Each person was given a tray enabling them to make their own breakfast and take it to their room

After I had settled in, I took advantage of a walk around the property.

I went past a couple of horses in front of the house. When I went by the fence, they came over for the carrot I did not have.

On the side of the pasture, water flowed from the rocks

The floor of the forest held other treasures, like these toadstools.

The artesian well water is directed through a series of ponds. Sitting under the willow trees, I relaxed to the sounds of running water, cackling ducks and squawking geese.

Returning to the house, I shared a very good dinner in the company of the other guests.  After dinner three of us spent some time discussing contemporary Christianity in Britain.  Interesting.

Early the next morning I left the grounds and walked past the Honeysuckle Cottage, a quaint abode with window boxes and thatched roof, and made my way to the bus stop and a trip back to Oxford in time for another day of work.