New year, new jobs, new adventures

January has been a month of much needed R & R from our busy December and the fact that we both had to return to work just after new years-yes that's right, much to his disappointment the days of Julian's role as a house husband are over.

 We did a weekend trip to Oxford which was just lovely.  So lovely in fact that we went back again for a day trip to further explore and visit sites we were unable to get to the first time round.

The Bodlein Library-scenes of Harry Potter filmed here for all you fans

We did the usual tourist things, visiting the Oxford Castle, a couple of colleges, the Sheldonian Theatre as well as the Bodlein Library & Radcliffe Camera.

The famed inspiration for the dining hall in Harry Potter is the top left building at Christ Church college

The two most notable things about Oxford, other than the beautiful, old, historic buildings in lovely surroundings, would have to have been the obvious rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge and the Harry Potter claim to fame.  Locals and tour guides were quick to poke fun at Cambridge and equally as quick to point out Oxford's role in the Harry Potter films.

Main quadrangle at Christ Church college

For more Oxford pics check out the photo links page.

Being the first Australia Day we've ever had to work, the 26th was a subdued but still celebrated event considering the large expat community in London.  We attended a combined birthday/Australia Day soiree and partook in the usual celebrations of listening to Triple J and having a few drinks (even if we were listening to the graveyard shift and in an Irish pub to boot!)

Aside from the Oxford adventures, we continued our never-ending search for good English pubs and good English pubs serving good English roasts, meeting up with friends and family along the way.