War Memorial St Giles Sunny Day

Spring in Oxford, just look at the sky in this photo taken a hour ago! The reason for taking this photo was the blossom tree on the right, it is just amazing. The war memorial is at the end of St Giles and was unveiled in 1921 on land that was owned by St Johns College.

St Clements Anglican Church Oxford

Just off the Marston Road is the lovely Anglican church of St Clements, with its Church grave yard running along the side of the road. The original St Clements was located at The Plain just over Magdalen Bridge, the area that is now the roundabout was the Church Gave Yard, which was moved to this site in 1828.

Spring in University Parks

What a lovely afternoon in University Parks, lots of activity in the Park sport wise, people playing Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Lawn Tennis and Frisbee. And also lots of people just relaxing in the sun having lunch and watching the punters on the River Cherwell.

Join Amnesty

This is a bit of Graffiti under the Donnington Bridge which is promoting Amnesty, it has been there a while and makes goo use of the space that would other wise be just brick work.

Mobile Repairs

Spotted these two very happy mobile repair guys in the back of a van in Oxford, generator going and the machines running. They had travelled down from Coventry to fix a few items in Oxford and then travel back, they looked like they were enjoying themselves, it must be all the good weather we have been having in Oxford.

Exams

This time of year sees a lot of University students starting to take their final exams, which they have to get all dressed up in the academic gear to attend, complete with carnation. If you are in Oxford from now until the end of May look out for them heading towards the examination hall in the High Street. This photo was taken as the students are leaving from the back end of the hall, when it is all over and the celebrations begin.

Time for a Drink

Great day for a ride along the River, and just before The Trout in Wytham we come across a few cows also enjoying the River, well everyone can enjpy the nice weather on a Sunday.

Happy Birthday Ma'am

On days of importance to Christ Church College in Oxford you will see the college flag flying from one corner of the college on St Adates, however on the birthday of senior members of the Royal Family you will see the college's Royal Standard flying. Today is the Queens 81st Birthday so the College Royal Standard is flying proudly. Happy Birthday Ma’am.

Band of Gold

Following on from yesterdays photo, today I was on the out skirts of Oxford and everywhere you turned you could see the Yellow crop from the rape seed growing all around Oxford.

Blossoms everywhere

Every Street, every park, everywhere in Oxford at the moment are these lovely blossom trees, and with the great weather we are having why wouldn't they be out enjoying it like everyone else.

Park and Ride Strike

Oxford has a limited number of inner city car parking spots, whoever the council has these very good Park and Ride car parks around the edge of the city to allow you to park and catch a bus into the centre. Unfortunately these need patrolling by security staff who do a great job in keeping an eye on the paying public cars, the Oxford City Council is planning to restructure the way the staff work, which has resulted in a strike, with no buses going into the car parks between 7 and 8.30am. See the BBC report.

Collingwood Road Headington

This photo was taken for a friend of my Grandmothers who once lived in this street many years ago, from what I understand about 50 years ago or more, so long ago he can not remember the number of the house. It is a nice street with mainly semi detached houses in it, a typical English Street I would say. It is one of the first streets to come to when heading into Oxford from London.

Odyssey By The Oxford Canal

After great weather on the weekend, Monday arrives and it is just a good. Holiday maker on the Narrow Boat Odyssey relaxing with the morning paper watches a few cyclist enjoying the good weather. This morning Odyssey will start to head up into the upper parts of the Thames River. How relaxing is this?

Britannia's link with the Church

The Britannia in Headington, which has just had a refit to bring the interior up to date. However on the outside of this pub you can still see the street sign directing you to the Methodist Church just down the road, along with the Sunday Roast advertising sign. Wonder who gets the most visitors on Sundays, the Church or the Pub?

Continuing on from the Numberplate post, today I saw 218D517 in central Oxford, which is a Diplomatic car from the New Zealand High Commission.

When your our and about

It is funny what you see when you are out and about like I am, today while in the small village of Wytham I come across this old Citroen car up a country lane. It had a note on the window to say that it had broken down and the owner was arranging for it to be collected. With all the old cottages in the village and this vintage car down the lane, it looked like I had gone back in time.

Exactly 5km North of Carfax

To see exactly how far North my blog will allow me to go I decided to ride 5km north along the Oxford Canal today, which according to the GPS is at this spot, which is just a little short of Dukes Luke, which you can see pictured here. Nice day, and it would be great to be out on the canal on a day like this.

Empty High Street

This morning the High Street in Oxford was empty, not very often you see the High Street empty, however as today is a public holiday in the UK, not alot of people are up and aboutearly in the morning. This photo is looking up the High Street towards Carfax, with Queens College on the right and University College on the left, with the tower of University Church in the centre where yesterdays photo was taken.

St Mary the Virgin - University Church

Inside Oxford University's Church, St Mary the Virgin on the High Street on Easter Sunday. In the centre of the church there is a wooden crucifix. If you visit Oxford you can get a nice view of the city from the tower of the church, which also has a tea room facing Radcliffe Square,

Just Walking Past Today

The light was right as I walked pasted Gibbs Radcliffe Camera today, and I know that I have many photos of this central Oxford building however if it looks right I will always take another, you can never have enough good shots. Going to be another very nice day in Oxford today, continuing our fine weather for the Easter weekend.

The Sun is Out in Oxford

Good Friday in Oxford and it is very sunny, which is great for everyone enjoying the Bank Holiday. It also means that Oxford is full of tourists enjoying the sights of the city, like this Indian Busker in Bonn Square, who was attracting a very large crowd.

End of the Tax Year

Last chance to up your ISA for the year, as a new Tax Year starts tomorrow in the UK. This was the message shown in the window of an Oxford Bank. Use your £7000 tax free limit before it disappears at midnight tonight.......

Road Block

You never know what the day is going to throw up at you, like this road block today in Middle Way, North Oxford. What is tomorrow going to bring you???

First Lambs

Not sure how old these little guys are, but while out in Lower Wolvercote this morning I saw my first lamb for 2007. You really know that Spring is here when you start to see lambs in the fields, a joy to see.

French Market in Broad Street

About twice a year for the last couple of years, Broad Street has been taken over by a French Market selling yummy French Food, it normally stays in place for about three days and is very popular with everyone. I popped down and got myself a nice portion of Double Sheep's Milk Mountain Cheese, mmmmmmmm and a few olives. Nice day.

Morris Dancing In Oxford

A morris dance is a form of English folk dance. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, tobacco pipes, and handkerchiefs may also be wielded by the dancers. There are English records mentioning the morris dance dating back to 1448. Today was the last day of the Oxford Folk Festival and the streets of Oxford were full of Morris Dancers, these guys above performing in the grounds of the Oxford Castle performed an Oxfordshire Dance which traditionally involes handkerchiefs.