Another Morris filled day

Once again Helen brings us delights and surprises and this is for you Alison...the sweetie tin!....

Now sadly this tin also has cough lollies and cough medicine....out of 25 on tour there are only three who haven't succumbed! Larry has managed to stay well but the rest of us are feeling under the weather and coughing incessantly! But despite that we soldier on and many are even knitting while we travel.......

Our day began with a journey to Red House at Bexleyheath. This was built in less than a year for Morris and his new wife Jane Burden in 1860, but they only lived there for 5 years.  Unfortunately our visit coincided with Open House London where many historic homes are open to the public for free.......so the queues were long but our time in the house and the garden was still perfect......

 Red House sell wombats in recognition of Rossetti's pet wombat Tops, so Helen just had to get one for her new grand-daughter much to the delight (or horror!), of the Australians!.....

 Even Vicki sat beside the famous Red House well and on a window-sill above........

Next was our journey to Oxford with first call at St Michael's where Morris married Janey in 1859......

 and then Exeter College where he studied.......

 We had an informative 2 hour walk around Oxford and visited Keble College and a hot air balloon just happened to pass by right on cue.......

Keber College houses the famous Holman Hunt Light of the World painting ............

 A little more of Oxford........

 Holywell music room where Morris held meetings for the Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings.......

 Our final destination was the incredible Oxford Union to view the murals and ceiling painted by Morris and his colleagues...............

 And then an amazing privilege.......dinner in a grand hall.......

 Vicki joined us once again...........

 We were then treated to seeing the current debating hall............

 So we left the Oxford Union behind with great memories and a very full tummy.....

 where our faithful bus driver was waiting to take us home to our beds. More adventures tomorrow.....