Spring is sprung

Such a lovely sunny day the other day, got in the car and drove out to the Cotswolds. Ended up in a Cotswold village that begged me to wander round and enjoy the snowdrops. So I did. These seem to be huddling under a tree reminiscent of J.K. Rowling's tree.

Unable, however, to get away from Pride and Prejudice and a Certain Actor who came out of a lake, I was amused by the sign to the little walk that I chose! The sun took the chill out of the air and there was a definite hint of spring. At last.

I see that flying ducks on the wall (or in this case, roof) appear to be back in fashion down here.

Went home via the nostalgic sweetie shop in Burford.

Running rings round the Ashmolean

9th March. Great trip to the Ashmolean with some of my 'silver' (as in metal, not hair) group to be given a talk, in particular on the collection of rings (some 800 were given by C. D. E. Fortnum in 1897) and some posy rings from Dame Joan Evans. I hasten to add not all were on display! We also discussed a Malcolm Appleby bowl, which had been engraved with swan heads and necks, and a Michael Lloyd oak and apple vase in embossed and chased silver. The ring display was amazing, and we were taken into an 'inner sanctum' to put on rubber gloves - not for washing up, but so that we could handle some of the priceless rings - and were told about how the design of rings evolved over the centuries. It was so interesting I recommend a visit online to the Ashmolean site if you are unable to visit the museum in person.