Wednesday, March 15, 2006

I don't think we do decisions here...

This time last year, I shared my distress that DarlingDaughter had no university offers that seemed right for her. Now she has the opposite, but equally perplexing problem of trying to choose between two equally wonderful options. It’s agony!
So today we set off for Cardiff…Nearer to home, and by the sea,- but would the English department prove as exciting as Leeds?
In the event, the trip there was a great deal too exciting, as it involved an overboiling radiator and a longish wait for the heroic RAC (who did a splendid job of both problem solving and Kathryn soothing when they did arrive). But we were stranded beside a lovely wooded bank, and to my delight primroses were out in force, so spring really must be about to happen….

We arrived too late for all the official tours, but the head of the School of English gave us coffee and chocolate biscuits (the swine…I can resist anything except temptation) and answered all our questions, as opposed to those which it might have been assumed we would be asking. He could not have been kinder or more persuasive. The course looks wonderful…and those lecturers we met are obviously hugely enthused by their subject. Campus good. Cardiff itself a joy.
Poor L. It really is an embarrassment of riches. She longs to have her cake and eat it…While Cardiff appeals to her creative romantic side (it even offers a module on Medieval Arthurian poetry, for heaven’s sake! And one on children’s literature!), Leeds would fire-up the party girl who really thrives on lots of indie music and enjoys the buzz of the city. And they are both huge and important parts of her being,- and both need feeding…
When we left the uni, we pottered happily around the city centre…fell in love all over again with the castle…spent far too much in “Shared Earth” – a lovely Fair Trade shop that made me long for summer and Greenbelt all over again. We ate Divine Orange chocolate, and before winding our way happily home up the Wye valley and through the Forest of Dean. It’s a journey I could imagine becoming very fond of, if I had the opportunity.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just to confuse you still further, the train journey to Cardiff is LOVELY too, so you don't even have to boil your radiator to get there.

Rainbow dreams said...

I am sure she will come to a decision that is right for her - and will be wonderful in it's own way - prayers too,
how exciting!!
Katie
x

Anonymous said...

I remember it well - two years running! From this great distance I can say that it has worked out well at Durham - and so it would have done if he'd gone to York, KCL or Edinburgh..... but that wasn't how I felt at the time! Glad you had such a good day in the end.

Unknown said...

Cheers for the wealth of riches, and prayers for the right decision.

see-through faith said...

hard choices. but the one she does choose will be the right one for her. never fear.

Anonymous said...

Praying that she will make the right decision, that all her neeeds wil be met...such a big step. My daughter graduates from Canterbury Christchurch this year and I still remember the exploration trip and the wander around the Cathrdral, the choice between Canterbury and Manchester...yet God provided the answer in an unusual way through a techers connections...praying for both of you as you go forward for the next step

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful and rich time of life! for you both. I echo that the decision she makes will be the right one, but I pray that the right choice will be easily and definitely apparent. Blessings!