Rowing in Oxford

Rowing teams on the River Isis at Oxford, England poise in preparation for a Saturday afternoon race.

They're off! Teams start out swiftly, racing to the finish - despite intermittent rain showers.

Another Oxford competition featured teen rowers. We came across the rowing competition while walking along the river near Christchurch Meadows.

My husband and I spent time in Oxford this month, visiting his lovely daughter Marie-Claire, who works for an international organisation. As always, it was wonderful seeing her and hearing about her exciting life in Oxford. One of the nice dinners we shared with Marie-Claire and the charming young man she's dating was at a tapas restaurant, where the owners and waiters were actually Spanish.

When I told the waiter - who was speaking Spanish at every opportunity - that I was going to Seville to study Spanish, he talked enthusiastically about cities he had visited in Andalucia, including Cordoba and Granada. Then he asked how long I'd be in Seville. When I replied, "Five weeks," he looked at me pityingly, no doubt thinking there's no way I'll learn Spanish in five weeks. So I quickly said, "It's just the first class. Obviously, I'll have to take many more." He smiled and nodded, relieved I wasn't delusional enough to think Spanish could be learned so easily.

In Oxford we stayed at a historic building which has been refurbished into a charming hotel. Unfortunately the light on our balcony constantly flashed off and on our first night, meaning I got very little sleep. The next morning we reported the problem to the concierge, who assured us he'd sort it. Late that night when we returned from dinner, the light was still flashing like a wayward disco strobe. This infuriated me, because the concierge had said he would fix it. So I went downstairs and got the night manager. He came upstairs, went out on the balcony and agreed that the light was "very annoying." "But unfortunately, there's nothing we can do," he added.

At this point, I remembered just how pricey this hotel was, so I responded, "Well you have to do something. This is unacceptable. I'm not spending another night with that light flashing." I meant that he should move us to another room - even though it would have been a hassle to repack everything - or remove the bulb from the flashing light. Apparently he never considered the first option; instead he stood on a balcony chair and started fiddling with the light. He then went downstairs and returned with a screwdriver. I told him he shouldn't use a screwdriver, as he might get shocked. But he ignored me and continued trying to disconnect the light - which was set on a building timer.

One of his colleagues arrived to help. Luckily he was standing behind the manager when he succeeded in shattering the thick bulb casing. The manager shouted and fell backwards, having received a nasty electrical shock. Of course we were very concerned: my husband offered him water and I asked him to sit down. But white-faced and speechless, clearly stunned, he immediately left the room. His colleague apologised profusely that the problem had not been corrected when first reported. He told us not to worry; he would look after his colleague. The balcony light was out, but I woke up several times during the night worrying aout the manager's health.

The next morning when checking out, the reception manager asked if everything was okay. David and I looked at each other and said, "Well, except for the accident..." and we told her the story. She was remarkably unsympathetic to her colleague's plight, correcting us when we referred to the colleague who'd been shocked as the night manager. "He's the night porter," she said dismissively - as though to make herself seem more important. "When I came to work, he told me he'd been shocked."

I thought she didn't realise the significance of what had happened, so I said her colleague could have been seriously injured - or worse. She replied, "It was a problem for the building maintenance and he shouldn't have done anything, but he was trying to help you." This annoyed me, as she seemed to be blaming us for the incident. So I reminded her we'd informed the concierge the previous morning and he'd agreed to take care of the problem, but nothing had been done. After that, she didn't have much to say, busying herself with papers. Next time, we'll stay at The Randolph!

Comments

[Scott]

...at any point, prior to risking life and limb or to go through the dreaded late night move, was there consideration of shutting the drapes and putting an extra bed spread over the drapes....just to get through the night?

Well, if I find myself in Oxford, I guess it's the Randolph for me....or a Motel 6 would be good too. I don't think they have blinking lights!

[Linda]

We have some security lights that are activated by motion. If I forget to close the shutter, the light comes on at least once a night and wakes me up. I'm sure it is the darn cat from up above us. Anyway, I know how annoying a light at night can be.

[bella]

That is horrible. Neglect, stupidity, and ignorance.
Yes, stay at a new hotel next visit.

[Rosa]

PS You should write a letter to someone. I know you're good at that, you write so eloquently (I can't even spell it!).

[Rosa]

Geesh. Not too swift. You say you were in England and sure it wasn't France??? hehe. Sorry, smack!

[kristen]

Good Lord! Poor shocked man and shame on the woman who wasn't sympathetic. Bad karma you know?
BTW, in my next life I'm SO going to be on a rowing team. I missed my sport.

[Tammy]

I love how those boats glide, it's beautiful to see them in person. The Randolf is a better option than returning there...geesh!

[claude]

Hello Tara! how much post do you wrote to day? Three, isn't it so hard for you? I like your post on "rowing in Oxford" I can imagine how it was an adventure to sleep in this hotel.
Lot of kisses

[diana]

oooh love the new banner.... and LOVE the
rowing pictures... ahhhhhhhh... the hotel story
is just a character study isnt it ??? arent people
funny sometimes ??? :)

[Annieelf]

I don't know what it is about rowing pictures, but everytime I see one I end up feeling so relaxed and hear music.

Can't believe that clerk, nor the concierge. My first thought was to remove the lightbulb. Clearly that was not as easy as it seemed. Glad the night porter, and the only hotel employee worth anything in this scenario, is alright.

[Laura]

Just unbelievable, the attitude of that hotel receptionist! Not to mention the shoddy customer service the whole time you were there. I'm sorry that happened to you---and to the poor night porter. I hope next visit will be more pleasant.

[Di]

It sounds a little like Fawlty Towers ...

It was odd to read of Oxford and Christchurch as back home in New Zealand we have a region called Canterbury where the city is Christchurch, there's a river Avon and my Aunt lives in a small town not too far away called Oxford.

Ahhh those colonialists ... they might have moved round the world but they attempted to take what they knew with them.

[Colette]

The one sentence that makes me see red is: There's nothing we can do.
Of course there is. There's always something they can do.

I like your new look!

xox

[Sophie]

My dad used to go punting when he
was at Oxford.
I love these pix!

[rel]

Tara,
I would've loved to see the rowing. A kayaker myself, I'm fasinated watching skilled athletes perform.

Aside from your sleep deprevation, those gliches in our travels make for great story telling.
And you are a master at telling the tale ;-)

Fortunately tragedy was averted.. snotty desk clerks can make a person want to scream in exasperation.

Love the pics, thanks for sharing.
rel

[miss*R]

oh - and I am loving your little bits of England !

[miss*R]

I love watching rowing, they are all so co-ordinated. No way I could do that - I don't have the co-ordination gene.
I get really annoyed with hotels who charge the earth and you don't get the service you expect.

[ally bean]

fiat lux-- not! what a story. i'd avoid that hotel in the future no matter how interesting it is to stay there.