Oasis Trip to Christchurch

The last Thursday in every month (except August) is the day that Oasis normally meet in Windsor Hall, but in July it was their day out - a coach trip to Christchurch. A great day was enjoyed by all, and even the weather was kind to us.

To see a short slideshow click >>HERE<<. I'm sorry there are not more pictures, but I hope it gives a flavour of our day.  

Thirtyone of us left Windsor Hall at 9:30 in a beautiful coach for a spin down the M3 towards the coast. After a short stop for coffee we continued down the M27 finally heading off for a wonderful drive down some pretty narrow roads through the New Forest. The forest looked beautiful with the heather already starting to bloom purple and the ponies grazing in the sunshine.

We stopped for a three course lunch at the Lord Bute Hotel and Restaurant in Highcliffe, which was absolutely exquisite. Thanks to Florence's wonderful organisation dinner was served with a minimum of waiting and what a feast it proved. Beautifully presented food, well served, hot and plentiful. This was not your run of the mill pub lunch, but a culinary experience in its own right. I had a rich Terrine, followed by poached Salmon, and a dessert of Creme Brulee. The lamb shank appeared to be a popular choice for mains, but I don't think I could have walked out after eating that although it has to be said that we didn't leave anyone behind when we left.

The skies opened whilst we were eating, but the sun was shining again by the time we reboarded our coach for the short drive to Christchurch. I'm not sure how the coach driver negotiated the narrow streets to drop us off adjacent to the harbour and Priory Church, but I was pleased I didn't have to walk too far. If I could have found a hammock slung beside the waterside I would have been asleep very quickly.

It rained again briefly while I was in the Christchurch Mill, but it had stopped when I walked across to the beautiful and ancient Priory Church. Building began on this church in 1094 and apparently had some angelic intervention in it's siting and then in the miraculous lengthening and placement of an enormous beam which can be seen high up in an archway on the south side of the Lady Chapel. As a result of this the name of the town changed from Twynham to Christchurch.

I wish I could say that the attarctions of the town outweighed the allure of the shops, but I was outnumbered and so we visited a few shops before stopping for a cup of tea and then boarding the coach at 5pm for our return to Windsor.

It was a shame that a couple of folk couldn't make it on the day, especially Elizabeth who had helped Florence in selecting the destination and restaurant but who had an accident two days before and needed an operation on her broken finger on the day of writing this report. Get well soon Elizabeth. Also Kerry who woke that day with a migraine. It would have been good to have had you both along.

It was wonderful day which everyone enjoyed and sincere thanks go to Florence Peters who did an amazing job of planning the evnt and making all the arrangements. What a star she is, as anyone that attends Oasis will know.