my bags are packed, but i'm not ready to go

This past week has been an absolute blur. Monday concluded our exams, and Tuesday marked our last day to wander through Oxford (doing the last minute touristy stuff like eating at the Eagle and Child and going to one more service at Christ Church).

We were introduced to Wednesday with extensive drama practice from about 9.30 in the morning to roughly 10.00 at night (with long breaks in between, don't worry). Thursday was a repeat. Friday showed us that we can actually put on a performance with amateurs and limited practice time. Looking back, it was a lot of fun and we did end up enjoying ourselves, the mistakes and the bloopers and the small things going on behind the scenes definitely made the evening memorable.

the cast plus Glena, our director

from left to right:

Wickham, Miss Bingley (also Lady Catherine),

Lydia, Mrs Bennet, Mr Bennet,

Elizabeth, Mary (also Charlotte),

Jane, Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley (also Mr Collins)

The goodbyes started on Saturday; we cleaned the church, dissembled the room which had been our little home at the Baptist Church, and then lay about soaking up the sunshine for the rest of the afternoon (yes, some of us actually have tans. Take that, Canada. It's 20 degrees here, and it's only April), wandering about the town and fawning over the lambs frolicking in the fields - although I still haven't seen one prancing about.

Marion and Andrew opened up their home to us again for the "last hurrah" - a traditional meal of fish and chips.

And now it's Sunday. We've said farewell to the Baptist congregation, our flights and hostels are booked for Scotland for the next week, I, at least, have my bags packed and weighed (and am still under the limit, which means I could have bought those books at Blackwell's), and all that is left is to put the finishing touches on my essay which is to be resubmitted. And tomorrow we leave. They say time flies when you're having fun and it really has. I can't believe that three months have slipped away so suddenly.

Our bus leaves at 7.30 tomorrow morning to London.

Until I arrive in Halifax, cheerio!