Not really a journey

Saturday, 20 December 2008 16:54

As this is our Journey Blog I suppose that I can blog about journeys other than canal ones!

However, is a bus ride a journey to be blogged about? Well, as it is one of the two journeys we have made in the last two days and the Editor's decision is final, here goes!

There is a bus from Cropredy into Banbury three times each day: Monday to Saturday. It is a yellow single decker run by Geoff Amos! The bus stop is opposite the Brazenose Arms. The route is circular so from Cropredy it goes up the hill to Great Bourton and then on to Banbury. The return journey from Banbury is via the scenic route. The bus takes you to Mollington, Farnborough and Claydon (of Claydon locks fame!) and eventually you arrive back at the bus stop opposite the Brazenose Arms!

All these villages are very picturesque and give you a good idea of rural living in Oxfordshire!

Mollington Church is being "graced" by John's presence as Celebrant for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Me? I shall be snugly tucked up in bed awaiting Father Christmas!

Anyway back to our journey into Banbury! We went in to do some shopping as we enjoy the shops in Banbury. It is a mix of high street chains and small, local shops. The chains dominate the modern Mall - Castle Quay. However moving into the High Street, Market Square and the roads surrounding the modern development  can give a flavour of the "Old Banbury".

We paid a fleeting visit to the canal as the bus station is by Banbury lock. We were seduced (?!) into Woollies as they were brashly advertising their closing down sale. So sad, as my childhood buying habits were formed in the Woollies of the time: old wooden counters, just out of reach; goodies, clothes, underwear, sweets, stockings and then my first pair of tights were all my discriminating buys from Woollies on Westwood Hill. I can see it now!

But they changed like most things eventually do and yesterday nothing attracted our attention. It was just a cut through into the Mall! We were making for the Cornish pasty shop for our lunch. Nostalgia again!

So to cut my ramblings we "bought out the town" - not(!) - but then spent far too much in Morrisons! It was a good job that our friends were picking us up, as we would have struggled to get it all on the bus, let alone down the towpath to home!

Today we went in again, courtesy of a lift, to visit the Market. There is a good market in Banbury on Thursday and Saturdays! Writing that reminds I have a crumble to make for tomorrow's pud. I will relieve you of your boredom if you haven't left me already and go and do it!

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