Last Party at Yarnton Manor

Wednesday 25 June

Today we participated in all the varied activities of Oxford's Encaenia, from the presentation of honorary degrees at the Sheldonian, to a last lunch at Brasenose, and finally the Encaenia garden party at St. Catherine's - not the most prepossessing of the colleges, but a pleasant enough setting for Pimm's cup and strawberries with our friends.
In the evening, we went to the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies' final party at Yarnton Manor, as they're moving into Oxford for next year.  It was bittersweet to wander the magnificent gardens, soon to become the property of some kleptokrat, but just plain sweet to dine with Priscilla, Fergus, Susanna, and so many of the other friends we made while we were here.

  

Food at the OCHJS is usually eccentric, as it has to cater to kashrut as well as other food preferences.  On the buffet was "moussaka" (really tomatoey gloop topped with cheese) made of Quorn (™; according to the website, "Quorn’s main ingredient is Mycoprotein, a nutritious member of the fungi family that is grown by fermentation similar to the process used in the production of bread, yoghurt and beer," and also contains eggwhite and milk); falafel (also from a mix); regular and red pepper hummus (packaged); dolmades (ditto); Greek mushroom and various leaf salads, etc.

There was also an assortment of delicious cakes made with fresh strawberries and cream; so some things were not from a mix or a package.

And Priscilla tells us that there was wild dancing and fun after we old folks took our leave; which is just as it should be.