Faringdon and Lechlade (Plus Some Very Exciting News!)

Earlier this week, we had a day out visiting two small towns in the south of England: Faringdon and Lechlade.

Firstly, we went to Faringdon in Oxfordshire in South East England, not far from the Uffington White Horse. The main reason we went there was because my parents wanted to see if it would be a good place to move to in the future, but I think they've pretty much ruled it out now.

Faringdon is not exactly a well-known tourist destination. However, there is an interesting folly on the outskirts of the town. We saw it from a distance, but we didn't have the time or the right shoes to walk to it! So we might go back again in the future to see it closer up. Here's a photo for reference:

I quite enjoyed seeing the town centre, especially the Roman-style Town Hall.

The town has several churches, including the All Saints' Anglican church, which has a particularly short tower, as it was damaged during the English Civil War.

In Faringdon, they have a strange custom of dyeing pigeons different colours, which was started by the eccentric Lord Berners, who lived at Faringdon House. Throughout the town, you can find several sculptures of colourful pigeons.

After looking around the town centre, we headed to Lechlade in Gloucestershire in South West England, which we'd previously explored back in June.

We had lunch at the Trout Inn, taking advantage of the Eat Out to Help Out government scheme, which allows you to get fifty percent off your meal from Monday to Wednesday throughout August. It was really nice to sit outside next to the river and enjoy the summer weather and the picturesque views. I especially liked seeing the huge willow tree on the other side of the river, as willows have always been my favourite kind of tree. I think it has something to do with my love for the film Pocahontas, which features a talking weeping willow!

I enjoyed the day out, but I have to admit that I've been feeling less enthusiastic about my local travels recently. This has mostly been because this coronavirus situation is just so relentless, and I've been gradually coming to the realisation that I'm going to be stuck here a long time before I'll be able to return to Chile and start my job there. I feel very powerless in regards to being able to change the circumstances of my life as they are now.

At times it seems like life has almost returned to normal for many people in this country; some are going on holiday, travelling abroad, seeing partners again, moving house, starting new jobs, etc. I don't want to complain, because lots of people are in far worse situations than I am in, but it does feel like the pandemic has stopped me from moving on with my life in a way that it hasn't done for others. I'm still living in my parents' house at nearly 25 years old and over a year after my graduation, which is certainly not what I envisaged.

But luckily, this week there has been a very very positive change in my life. My boyfriend has just booked tickets to travel from Chile to England to visit me very soon! It will be his first trip outside of South America, and I'm so excited to show him different places around the UK, and possibly other European countries if it's safe to visit them. This is just the best news I've had in ages, and I can't wait to see him again! 💕

Now I'm feeling much more enthusiastic about life in general, and I'm looking forward to my next outing with my parents later this week. We'll be going to a big town, practically a city really, which will be quite exciting after months in the countryside!