Short Update posted on September 27, 2005 by David Joyal

Not as much to report so far this week as we are actually settling in a bit. Holly has found the theology department and immediately proceeded to check out a number of books. I remain in awe that anyone would enthusiastically rip through Early Christian Thought and the Classical Tradition in less than two days, but she has done just that and has now moved on to other similar themed books.

Meanwhile, I have finally gotten the job hunt going in earnest and sent out a number of applications late Sunday night. I was beginning to get a little depressed the next day when I had not gotten any response when suddenly at 4:30 my cell phone rang for the first time. It turned out to be someone calling to arrange an interview about two of the more interesting positions I applied for. Even better, the meeting is to be at a local hotel's restaurant that is not only one of the nicest in Oxford but also happens to be less than 50 yards from where the bus will drop me off. I am taking it as a positive sign and hoping for the best. We will be meeting at 11:00 a.m. this friday, or 3:00 in the morning pacific time for those interested in such detail.

So in preparation I took my suit to the dry cleaners today and got another shock. That being a charge of nearly $40 to clean a suit and two dress shirts! I sure hope that any job requiring me to wear such things will also pay well. I finished up the outing by purchasing a nice mattress "topper", a linen basket and a dish drainer. All are a big help in the new place.

Tonight we took a nice walk out behind our place. It is amazing how rural and beautiful it is while also being so close to the city. The walk ended with us being locked into the park, shortly after the gates close at 7:00. We waited at the gate with half-a-dozen other people for around 10 minutes until a security guy came and let us out.

After the walk Holly made a fantastic spaghetti dinner finishing up with some of the best ice cream either of us has ever eaten. This particular stuff is called "frozen clotted cream," a name I doubt American retailers would be brave enough to use.