< At the end of February 2011, we went to a Catenian weekend being held in Oxford. We called on Pam on the way (Agnes took some of her home-made soup) and we had lunch and a chat there. We arrived at the Barcelo Hotel in the early afternoon, and after booking in and taking our stuff to the room we decided to pay a quick first visit to the city. The hotel was on the northern outskirts of the city but there was a very convenient bus stop nearby so we were able to use our bus passes to get a free ride to the city centre. We decided to get on one of the city tour buses - the type you can get on and off anywhere on route. There was a very good commentary and we just toured the central area and then got off. We had a coffee and cake in a very nice cafe before catching a bus back to the hotel. On the Friday evening there was a reception, where we got to meet the other Catenians and friends on the weekend (many of whowm we knew) before going into the restaurent for an excellent buffet supper (both hot and cold). On Saturday morning we took a leisurely breakfast before catching the bus to the city centre. We decided to start by exploring the Ashmolean museum. I must say I was pleasently surprised by the range of items they had there. We looked around two floors and decided that if we were going to see anything else in Oxford we should move on. Initially we went across the road to the Randolph Hotel for a cup of coffee and to rest our legs. It is a very posh and expensive hotel but it was just what we needed at the time. Next we thought we would walk to the castle, which we knew nothing about. However, when we got there we noticed that there was very little of the original and it was quite expensive to go on the "Castle Experience" so we decided to give it a miss. We walked through the shopping area and got ourselves slightly lost but ended up near the Radcliffe Camera. We carried on and had a look at Trinity College - we could only go in the chapel and dining room but the grounds were quite extensive. When we left there we went into Balliol college. After that, we had had enough and so repaired to the cafe and had coffee and cake again! Then back on the bus to our hotel. We slept for most of the afternoon and then got ready for a reception in the evening (DJ's). We were going to Mass at a nearby church first and had been told that it started at 6.30pm. Luckily we set off in plenty of time as it actually started at 6pm! - we only missed the start, the priest was on the homily. The reception was excellent, with sparkling wine and lots of chat. This was followed by a very nice private dinner. Unfortunately for my brain there were a series of written quizzes afterwards!! Anyway, it was all good fun. On Sunday morning after breakfast we packed up and loaded the car. We looked in Hudsons but there didn't seem to be anywhere we could visit before Easter that we hadn't already been too. We meandered our way back and decided to call on Joyce Wise in Woodley. However, she wasn't in when we got there (we have since learned that she was on a Catenian weekend in Bournemouth!) so we carried on home. It really was a lovely weekend. The hotel was comfortable and the staff very pleasant. The weather was a bit showery but it didn't really matter. A view of the entrance to Balliol Chapel passage. One of the stained-glass windows in Balliol Chapel. A beautifully decorated gate near the Radcliffe Camera. A view inside Trinity College Chapel. The main entrance of the Ashmolean Museum A Decorative Bridge. A view of the Trinity Dining Room. Tony in a College garden.