A Trip to Blenheim Palace

Just outside Oxford lies Blenheim Palace - or better known as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, born here in 1874. We luckily chose the one sunny day on my last trip to take a visit to this beautiful palace. The gardens are perfect for an idle stroll, spotting man made waterfalls and wandering around the edge of the lake. Arriving by bus we experienced the walk up to the sprawling palace and gardens, once you see the glint of the gold detailed gates your breath is taken away. 

The Palace has some unusual details such as the six eyes on the ceiling of the entrance!

There was an exhibition on Winston Churchill himself at the beginning, featuring numerous letters, photographs and memorabilia, my favourite being the letter below from Harrow detailing a fall from a tricycle. 

 The bed were Churchill was born!

 That little flag on the mantlepiece is a sign that the owners have paid their 'rent' to the Queen!

 Blenheim is a must visit, combining beautiful gardens, architecture, history, art and fun. Men played cricket on the lawn, there was an organ recital, we got to see coronation gowns and there was an especially interesting exhibition on the Great House at War which featured interesting details on the role of women during the war. Blenheim's long and illustrious history is covered in numerous exhibitions throughout the Palace and stables. The beautiful portraits and photographs of times gone by show how decadent and beautiful the lives of the inhabitants were. 

We spent the whole day at the palace, and still didn't manage to see everything. We were extra lucky to receive an annual pass for the same price as a single visit, which means that I will definitely be returning for a sojourn during the summer! The bus to Woodstock (the S3) stops right outside the Ashmolean and only takes about twenty minutes to get to Blenheim, with the driver announcing the stop! 

Little Life Update

It seems like the months are crashing in! It is June already and the year has seemed to pass me by without realising it! This blog hasn't been as active as I would have hoped, but living in the real world - having a job and spending half my time between Wicklow and Oxford has been time consuming! 

At the beginning of each month I write a list (I write lists about lists, that's the type of person I am!). I put down everything I want to achieve in that month and pray I achieve at least some of the goals! I find that writing out clearly what needs to be done is a much easier way to get my life in order! Some months have been extra busy with goals, others filled with simple tasks such as cleaning an area of my room! Another reason I am writing monthly goal lists is because it makes my savings goals much easier to visualise! For the past few years I have been saving to do an MA, this year my saving has become a little more intense as the MA is approaching this September! I set myself a savings target for each month, which really motivates me to save my money instead of spending it on useless and unnecessary purchases! I thought I would share June's Goal List with you:

• 1. Clean my room fully
• 2. Sort out my wardrobes and sell all the clothes I never wear
• 3. Start walking/exercising
• 4. Save €700
• 5. Visit 4 Oxford Colleges
• 6. Finally decide which Master's I am going to take
• 7. Meditate at least once a week

If you decide to make monthly lists, make them realistic! I always include a travel/adventuring goal on every list, because this encourages me to go see the world and do what I love! I have been accepted to another MA which has thrown me off a little! I was 100% positive I was going to King's but then Leiden contacted me and let me know I have been accepted into the Europaeum programme. I am not extremely confused which MA to choose as both are amazing! The Europaeum MA would see me spending a semester at Leiden, the second semester at The Sorbonne in Paris and the final at Oxford University. Sounds amazing, right? So I have a big decision to make asap!

My other goals are simple, from ticking off more Oxford College visits to taking time away from the Internet and social media to meditate and focus on what is important!

Listening to:

1. The whole soundtrack to 'Reign' especially Charlie Boy by The Lumineers

2. Fancy - Iggy Azalea

3. Riptide - Vance Joy (Song of the year!)

4. Team - Lorde

5. Rise like a Phoenix - Conchita Wurst

6. Stay with Me - Sam Smith

7. The Gardener - The Tallest Man on Earth

-----Also listening to YouTube videos of Alan Watts on repeat! This amazing philosopher reaches into your soul! 

Reading:

- Finished Chocolat by Joanne Harris, which was one of the best novels I have read in ages!

- Just started Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 

Watching: 

- I watched the whole series of Reign, thanks to the introduction from Danielle! I don't know how I will wait until the next series!

- I also finished The Good Wife and cannot wait to see what Series 6 has in store for us!

- Glee! I have gone back to my old flame Glee and am watching religiously at the moment!

Doing: 

- I visited Oxford for May Day (post coming soon!), and also visited again  last week which involved a trip to lovely Blenheim Palace, Exeter College, Worcester College , St Johns College and a seminar at All Souls College! 

- Spending time with family!

- Taking part in #100happydays - I am loving this! Feel like I am appreciating life a little more!