Feb 16, 2023
Birthday surprise
I ask Rando for a birthday surprise, and I get a pretty good one. 😄
The anomaly is by the Thames, just past the Folly Bridge. I find a gate, and since it's wide open and there are no signs saying anything about it being a private area, I walk through. I follow a path and find a little clearing with a statue of Mary (?) stepping on a snake. There are snowdrops everywhere (one of my favourite flowers), and a family of Canada geese is honking loudly in the river (thank you for the serenade). I also find a curious round stone slab split into quarters in front of an old gnarly tree.
At this point, a man dressed in a priest's attire approaches me and says """"Do I know you?"""". I figure it's his way to politely tell me I'm not supposed to be there and to get out, so I apologise and say that I'll leave right away. He tells me it's a private garden, but he's smiling too, and asks me if I know where I am. He then tells me that a hatter once lived in the building next to us and the garden we're standing in inspired The Mad Hatter's Tea Party in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland! He also asks me where I'm from, and then surprises me by speaking Finnish. Apparently he has a very good Finnish (Catholic priest) friend he lived with for two years.
How about that! Thank you Rando for this perfectly random adventure in Oxford! 🎩
Comments
4 totalNomadbitmad @bussing_shaker
Out of all of the possible outcomes to getting caught trespassing, that's got to be one of the best ones
Feb 17, 2023
emilyelle @linguistic_coder
this is amazing
Feb 18, 2023
Button n Mo @precious_pelt
WOW! That is super cool 😎!! Hope you had a wonderful birthday 🎂!!
Feb 21, 2023
Owlene @annusual_gardener
Thank you! It was the best birthday. 😊
Feb 21, 2023