Bartimaeus

I wanted to get some shopping and find a post office so had good reason to go back into Banbury town centre. We had a pleasant walk through Spiceball Park and along the modern canal development area to the shopping centre, where I picked up a couple of oddments to add to the parcel; some birthday cake candles and chocolate. In the centre of town there are a few historical buildings retained. What is not so well retained these days is a post office. Shane’s phone was telling him a couple of post office locations in the town centre, but we could not find either of them. There should have been one near the town hall but I could only see a post box.

We carried on up towards the statue of the rhyme that made Banbury famous. Still no post office but I did see a post man and approached him to ask if he knew the whereabout of the post office. He gave very clear directions and we headed straight back to the shopping centre we had been in first of all.

We found our way to the post office where I had the novel experience of using a self service machine which weighed the parcel and printed off the stamp for me. All worked very smoothly. With that mission accomplished we went in search of lunch. As often happens Shane was hungry but indecisive (and he says I am the indecisive one) but we found an interesting looking cafe and I was despatched to make choices. The Greek lady enthused about her authentic bakery products and explained all the fillings for me. We shared delicious savouries and sweets and she was so keen to serve us well and check we liked the food. Shane prefers nuts to be savoury, not sweet, so the standard baklava, are not his favourite but the orange cake and the custard with filo and cinnamon went down well. Check out the Koukou Vagia (it means owl) in Broad Street!

On the way back to the boat, the sun came out and I managed to get some of the ironwork on Butcher’s Row, which also has a pub called The Banbury Cross in it. A decorative turnip is a novelty, apart from neepie lanterns, and we aren’t in October yet, though some Halloween items are creeping in the shops already I noticed today.

On the way back to the boat in the modern area, I took a tumble as we turned a corner. It was one of these spaces with graduating steps and the pathway Shane was on was smooth but I had a slight step on my side and didn’t see it. No abrasions and Shane helped me up. I am fine but annoyed at how easily these things can happen and felt a bit stiff or sore for a while after. Glad I wasn’t carrying any heavy shopping at the time. The girls learning to skateboard in the park’s ramped areas were obviously less afraid of tumbling.

With the sun out we set off. Shane fancied operating the lift bridge, so I took over driving. Having dropped him off, I was lining up at the bridge when he ran back: it needed a windlass. I had more difficulty than I should have reversing back towards the bank to hand it over to him. The lock was just after anyway and he needed the windlass for that too. All went smoothly and we carried on through Banbury, noting other possible moorings in the way as we will be back and may leave the boat here next time we are in Edinburgh. We passed this boat that looked like a motorbike had taken a tumble today too.

We are now in a pretty rural part just outside Banbury. Shane had suggested he might make the tea, then was uninspired so I did it…gets me off dishes duty though! Shane admired the sunset while I cooked tea.