Garden Sculputers Peacocks

Was out and about today in North Oxford and came across this Peacock sculptured out of a hedge.  It looked very nice and I am sure it takes a little work on the owner part to get and keep this trimmed as apart of a living hedge.

Broad Street Closed For The French Market

Yes Broad Street in Oxford is closed for the French, Not a visit from President Sarkozy who was in the UK this week, but the friendly French Market.  Every three or for months we have this lovely travelling French Market visit Oxford, the guys are from Normandy and bring all there French Produce with them, always looks very popular.

Another Westgate Shopping Centre Store Closing

Spotted this today "Every Thing Must Go" on the walls of Sports World in the Westgate Shopping Centre.  I have seen this before with this store for it to only open up a again few days later selling the same items under a different name.  Saying that most of the stuff in the store was heavily discounted, so if you are after any sporting apparel maybe your time to get a bargain.

B4031 Oxford

Ooop's I posted this to the wrong blog site and it was not until a friend said photo yesterday that I realised that I made a mistake...

Anyway, Outside the main entrance to County Hall in New Road Oxford you will see this old metal directional sign from the B4031 from the North of the County.  You can see that Banbury was 6 1/2 miles from where this sign was taken.  I think I will have another look at this and find out more about this sign and how it come to be out the front of County Hall.

More Plates in Town today, this time it was the Americans, have a look.

Rain and Hail Today

After what started out to be a nice day ended with rain and hail.  You can not see it that well in this photo taken in New Inn Hall looking past St Peter's College but it is actually hailing.  Good job these shoppers had an umbrella with them cause you never know when the weather will turn in Oxford.

Signs Of North Parade Avenue Oxford

What's down North Parade Avenue, well just have a look at the sign on Banbury Road.  Apart from the Post Office which closed about 18 months ago this sign is correct, interesting to see a To Let Sign on the street, advertising a News House for rent at £1500 per month which is good for this area I would think. Couple a Diplomatic Plates in Town today have a look.

Brasenose Lane Bike Rack FULL

Bikes are everywhere in Oxford which is good for the traffic, however then you get into town you can struggle to get a spot for your bike in one of the racks. As you can see in this photo of the Bike Racks in Brasenose Lane these Rack are always full. Handy spot for the colleges in Turl Street and also close to the Covered Market just across the road.

Oxford Closed For Easter

If you are visiting Oxford today you will find alot of the retail outlets closed for Easter, which is a good thing, it allows people to get together and enjoy the day.  There are also lots of other things to do in Oxford apart from Shopping, and I am sure all the Churches in Oxford will be open today.  Hope you have a Happy Easter. Photo is of a notice in the GAP Store in Cornmarket.

Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College

A very famous Oxford building Radcliffe Camera built between 1737 and 1749 with All Souls College behind, I have been told the correct name for All Souls College is The College of All Souls of the Faithful Departed, which is a little long.  The college dates back to 1436.  It was snowing this morning in Oxford however when I took this photo in the afternoon it had cleared a little but was still chilly.

The Golden Cross Has Gone Pink

The Golden Cross is now a small shopping arcade of Cornmarket leading to Oxfords Covered Market, originally is was a coaching house where in 1735 the English poet Alexander Pope stayed.  As you can see from this photo there is major work going on at the moment requiring a lot of scaffolding they have covered pink foam. If you are in the area and need a bite to eat the Pizza Express is recommended, upstairs you can see the original timber work from the 1500's, say hello to the Manager Carlo for me.

Moving Drums

If you are a student from New College and need to get a set of brass drums from the Oxford University's Music Facility back to New College, how would you do it?  On a little hand drawn cart of cause.  I am sure the drums are not that old??

Old Court House Floyds Row

Royal Coat Of Arms on the Old Court House in Floyds Row, just behind the Central Police Station in Oxford. There is nothing with this detail on the current court house which is a shame. 

Old VW In St Giles SAM13A

Saw this Great looking VW camper van today in the centre of Oxford, it had been so well looked after it looked new.  You know my interest in number plates, it was the number plate that caught my eye first, it was not English, and it car had no registration so I am not sure where it was from.  It was attracting alot of interest as it just sat in the car park, I would love to have a classic car that is in a good nic and this is.  Have a look at the side photo here.

Not Another Starbucks In Oxford

Well it was only a matter of time before Summertown got a Starbucks!  For great Coffee and better surroundings I would walk right past this store, like the guy in this photo, and head down South Parade to the Summertown Wine Cafe, which apart from having great wine and nibbles, also has great Coffee, check them out...

The Standard English Multi Storey Shopping Centre Car Park

Every English Town has one.  A urine smelling, vomit stained, airless, graffiti and tag ridden multi storey shopping centre car park, and Oxford is not letting the country down with it's own Westgate Shopping Centre car park.  After parking your car on the top floor of the car park and heading to the stair well of the car park this is the site you will see.  You then have to decided, should I just walk down the stairs through the smell and mess admiring all the tags on the walls, reading the names off all the local poofs, or call the lift and be trapped in what could be worse??  I think most people take the stairs, imaging being stuck in the lift!!

Cobbled Street Leading To Christ Church

I do like the little side roads and back streets in the city centre that are still cobbled like this one which in this photo which is leading you right to Christ Church College.  Might go back on a sunny day and take this photo again, as with no leaves on the tree you can get a nice shot of the Tom Tower, don't you think.  Click on the photo and you can see the Porter standing at the entrance to the College.

Vines and Doors

In a couple of weeks these vines will be full of leaves and you would not be able to see the old wooden doors of the University.  I might revisit when the vines are in full of leaves in the summer.  The vines look great in the grey winter over all the old college buildings and church, but they are about to all get leaves as we move in to Spring/Summer.

Windy Windy Windy Storms in Oxford

Not sure if it was the wind or if this tree has died, either way it is leaveless, I am not sure if that is a word.  If it did have a few leaves before the storms that we have been having they would have been blown away by now for sure, it has been very windy for the last three days, but the sun has been out every now and then.

Little Clarendon Street

Not too many night shots on the blog, I am not that good with night photography and I am also not out that late.  Tonight I was out at a meeting and returning I decided to try and get a nice shot, and I was in Little Clarendon Street and decided that I would take a few to see what I could get. This car looks like he is speeding down this small one way street but he was not going that fast.  This is a great little street, well worth a look, and an Ice Cream if you are in the area.

YD08 XRZ My First Still 08 Plate

As you all know I love number plates, this is the third new 08 plate that I have seen, the other two were on Saturday and were on moving cars so I was unable to get a photo of them.  I was in a car park today at a Box Store on the Botley Road and saw this Mini with one of the new 08 plates on it.  I also saw a diplomatic plate about 5 minutes before so it was a good plate day today, have a look here for the diplomatic plate, and here for photo's of my other number plates in Oxford. It was the 13th of March last year when I saw my first 07 plate, and funny it was also on a Mini!!

Carfax, That's What It Is?

All the photo's in the Blog are within 5kms of Carfax, however looking at all the photo's that I have published I cannot see a photo of Carfax, so 15 months on since I started this Blog, we finally see Carfax Tower. Carfax is at the cross road of Queen, Cornmarket, High Street, and St Aldate's, which is considered the centre of Oxford.

The Carfax Tower which is at this junction is all that remains from the St Martin's Church which still on the site from the early 1300's.  In the tower is a clock which has Quarter Boys, who ring in each quarter hour.  The tower is also open to the public during the summer and from the top you can get a good view of the City of Oxford.

Lads Out For A Good Saturday Night

Like a lot of younger people in Oxford who are looking for a place to relax after a long week at work or study the city centre has many bars and clubs to keep them entertained. Fortunately not all of them are like Bar Med. pictured here, which closed due to the parent company going bankrupt a number of years ago. These Lads look like they are going to enjoy the night, lets hope they don't wake up with a headache in the morning!

Cleaning The Windows on the Clarendon Building

This is not your ordinary window cleaning job, for cleaning the Clarendon Building windows you need additional equipment.  Not sure how often the windows get cleaned however when they do it is not a quick five minute job.  The Clarendon Building was built between 1711-1713 to house the printing press for Oxford University Press.  

Trouble Uploading

I am having trouble uploading photo's to the website this evening, I will keep trying but I am not sure what is going on at the moment. Sorry, please come back soon.

St John's College

The detail of the stone work over one of the entrances to St John College, not exactly sure why or who this is, but this will give me a little homework over the next week or so. 

Christ Church Tom Quad

It has been a while since I posted a photo of one of Oxford more famous Colleges, Christ Church College.  Today I was visiting the college, just as the sun was going down and managed to take this quick photo looking across the Tom Quad with the fountain on the centre, always worth a visit if you are in Oxford. Remember that Evening Song is always open to members of the public.

Traditional Oxford

This is the time of the year when those who have completed there studies return to Oxford to receive there certificates, degrees etc.  However I like this photo as the recipient is not only dress in his academic regalia, but he is also pushing a bike, which is another strong symbol of Oxford life.

Girls Parking

I was out in Oxford today waiting to get another shot for today, which I did not get but that is another storey.  While waiting for this photo I spotted these two girls trying to park, well it went on for about 15 minutes but in the end they got there. It must have been the spot they where after cause if I was having that much trouble I would have tried to find another space. I think I might get a but I flack for posting this, but hay, it was what what happening in front of me.