The Bird and the O' Baby!

I am currently leading a tour in the UK and we are on our second day. The first found us in Beaconsfield worshiping at GK Chesterton's church, his grave, and top meadow. Then we were on to explore the wilderness that is the back yard of the Kilns and then the house, which led us all the way to C. S. Lewis's attic where we found a copy of Boxen (his childhood fantasy).  

Today we journeyed through Oxford. We did a walking tour de force and went to the top of St. Mary the Virgin where our breath was stolen by the view of the gothic city! We also stood in martyr's corner where Thomas Cranmer was condemned to the stake by Mary Tudor. Later, I saw the spot of his burning. Sobering.

Then it was on to the Eagle and Child Pub (aka the Bird and the Baby by Lewis and the Inklings), where we raised a bitter to the Inklings and our headmaster Chris Baker, who so wanted to be there. 

Later we visited Merton and Magdalen Colleges where Tolkein and Lewis taught, respectively. After punting the Cherwell (and Evan Johnson and I did the punting ourselves!) we attended Evensong services at the gorgeous Magdalen chapel, where the boys choir filled the angelic architecture with their voices. Then Addison's walk where I thought I overheard Tolkein explaining to Lewis how Christ was the myth made fact.

Then dinner and the long walk home and a glass of red wine before retiring which I'm about to do right .......