Reading: Oktobefest 2012

 

I am not a big beer drinker although it seems that everyone around me is.  :-P  In the UK, pubs aka beer gardens are everywhere.  Everyone seem to have their favourite pubs.  I think it's their way of catching up with friends during their busy week.  I haven't gotten the idea fully yet but I think I'm getting there.  :-)

I don't know if you know this but I get bored very quickly.  I am unemployed still(eBaying doesn't count as proper work in my opinion) and my husband has found a way of entertaining me.  He usually take me on long drives, dinner with his family and the occasional parties but will go into details when I get around to blogging about it.  I've been quite lazy lately.  

It was my first "almost" Oktoberfest festival.  Almost as it is not in Germany but the details are there.  Beers were served by wench(please google, I wasn't even sure if I use the word in the right sentence), people are wearing costumes, the drinks are served by the litre, they had a band that forces you to drink quickly and dancing drank people.  It was a lot of fun but not so much if you are not hammered.  I suggest drinking to your limit.  Hehehe.  I loved the experience.  Hopefully, Luke and I can travel to Germany in the future for the authentic experience.  We still have 2 years before we start our family.

What to expect:

Lots of drinking, dancing and merriment.

What to wear:

In the Oktoberfest Reading, they had a mud dance floor.  So I suggest wearing comfortable clothes if you are not gonna dress up.

Tickets:

Booking in advance is a must.

TIP:

Bring loads of cash as all transactions are cash only.

Windsor: More than just the Castle

 The Crooked House.

 This is so cool.  I have been to Windsor several times before but this is the first time that I noticed this. 

 The Great Park.

 Only the red post box marked with ER is working.  The GR is from the George V reign.  ER is Elizabeth Regina as in Elizabeth Reigns.  Husband pointed that out yesterday. He is so cool. 

  

 The Last Supper. 

As a joke, I told my husband to take me on a weekly date.  I don't know if he took me seriously as dating when you live together is more than cooking meals for each other and watching DVDs.

Luke drove to Windsor yesterday but I didn't say anything.  I love Windsor but it is where his late father used to live.  True enough, before we reach the town centre, he told me that he was sad.  His dad's old office is next to the shops.

Windsor is very interesting.  They have THE Windsor Castle for one, a ferris wheel or big wheel as some British people call it,  a high street that reminds you of Covent Garden in London, a massive park and they have The Last Supper painting from the 1600's.  The area in my opinion is full of character and more posh than Reading where we live.  :)

In Windsor, don't forget to:

1.  Go inside the Windsor Castle if you like to take a peek at the life of royalties.  I did went once in 2008 and I was only disappointed on the restricted areas.  The tour of the castle will probably take 2 hours.

2.  Canoe and Kayak.  This is only applicable if few members if not all can kayak or canoe.  Otherwise, take the boat trip.  My friends and I canoe through the canal and there were only 2 people maneuvering the canoe.

3.  Take the wheel if you wanna see the surrounding areas.  When I went in 2008, it was very green.  

4.  Visit the CROOKED HOUSE IN WINDSOR.  No purchase necessary.  :)

5.  Visit the painting of The Last Supper at The Parish Church of St. John The Baptist.

Free Entrance.  Donation optional.

6.  Look for the ancient well which is beside the blue and red post boxes.

7.  Go for a walk in the Windsor Great Park.

Free Entrance.

Summer Screens: a movie date at the park

 

I am a very cheesy person.  When I was single, I made a list of "creative" dates that I should go to.  Luckily, I met my match with my husband who is willing to do anything to make me happy(read: to keep my mouth shut and stop me from pouting).  :-P  One of the creative dates include outdoor cinema.  I know, it maybe nothing new to where you are from but from my side of the world(I used to live in the Philippines), it was something that we don't do often.  

Cinema Paradiso is one of the best films in my opinion.  Although I have it on DVD, I asked my husband to take me as he hasn't seen it yet.  I don't wanna go through the details of the film but I will say this, I cried from the moment his mum called that someone has died until the end.  I remember the lady beside me sobbing at the same moment that I was crying and also I remember my husband glancing my way whilst I was having difficulty catching my breath in between sobs.  You should choose wisely when going to an outdoor cinema.  Hehehe!

This year, the Summer Screens 2012 was held at Caversham Court Gardens.  It was a wonderful area at the side of the River Thames.  I never knew that garden actually existed although we used to pass by that road on our way to Oxford.  This is why we should always pay attention people.  :-)  

Tickets:  Seats are limited so I suggest booking in advance.  The seats weren't numbered too. So arrive early so you can choose your seat.

Food and Drinks:  On site drinks available and people are encouraged not to bring their own food.

Toilet:  I only saw one male and one female toilet

TIP:

Don't forget to bring blanket.  We forgot to bring ours and I swear, I felt like my hands are gonna fall off!!   

Interested to go?  Please click on the link.