Oxfam 60 Years in Broad Street

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the opening of the very first Oxfam Shop in Broad Street Oxford, the international humanitarian charity had a fashion parade and street party in front of first store.  The organisation now has over 700 shops staffed by 20000 volunteers, to help raise funds to fight poverty and injustice, donate here.

Sorry, Could Not Get To The Dalai Lama Protest

Sorry guy's I could not get to the Dalai Lama visit to Oxford and the protest this morning, work was too busy.  I am not sure if these guys in Queen Street could see him but they are looking at something, I think it may be the clock at Carfax??  Always a popular tourist sight on the hour.

Jamies Italian Opening In Oxford

Was lucky enough to visit the new Jamie Oliver restaurant that will open next week in George Street tonight as a part of the warm up before the general public are let in.  The restaurant is called 'Jamies Italian' and it was very nice, the staff where all a little nervous but as the night went all started to enjoy themselves.  The meal that I had was great, pasta and I am sure that this place is going to be popular as the word spreads around town.  

Umbrella's In George Street

When is that bus going to show up!  As you can see we are having a lot of rain in Oxford at the moment.  This photo taken in George Street this afternoon shows a long line of people waiting for the bus to arrive in the rain, lucky most had an umbrella!

Smallest Narrow Boat

Was up on the Oxford Canal this afternoon and saw what would have to be the smallest Narrow Boat on the Oxford Canal, just have a look at it, NB HEBE.  I am not sure exactly what you would do on this little thing, it must just be used for day trips, well looked after what ever it is for.

Rainy Bank Holiday Monday In Oxford

Well it is a Bank Holiday Monday in the UK this weekend, so as you would expect the weather is not that good.  As you can see most people will today spend it trying to keep out of the rain like this guy running for shelter in Queen Street.

Waiting For the Train

A couple all dressed up waiting for the train to London, looks like they are going away for a nice holiday, he with his walking cane and she has her summer hat on.  I was a little disappointed with a diesel train arrived I was hoping for a steam train!  

Make Your Own Ramp

Council will not provide you with a place to show off your skills, no problem for Oxford kids, they will make there own out of what ever is around, good on them!

Street Art? Who is Ben Dawson?

I am not sure if this is part of Oxford Art Weeks which are on at the moment, but I have seen six of these little name plates around the city so far this week.  You may have able to just see it at the bottom of this photo.

They all say the same thing and that is The Moment A Thought Explains Itself 2008 Ben Dawson. Click here to see close up of name plate.

They are all on walls, this one was down a side street just out of city centre.  I am not sure what it is all about, I am hoping a reader will post a comment.

St Edward's Lodge

The Lodge at the Private School in North Oxford, St Edwards.  It looked very Oxford in the early morning sun this morning with the lawn freshly mowed and flag flying at full mast. Not sure what happens in here I think it is part of the Administration of the School.

Green College Radcliffe Observatory

This photo taken in the grounds of Green College. which will soon be merged with Templeton College, to and will be known as Green Templeton College, with the 200 year old Radcliffe Observatory in the back ground. Love those hanging purple flowers that are all around Oxford at the moment.

Summertown Festival in South Parade

Not the best day weather wise for the Summertown Festival, which is normally held along the Banbury Road however this year the organisers have closed off South Parade to hold the festival cause of all the construction in front of the shops on the Banbury Road.  I think it is better on the closed South Parade, more room to move about all the activities, and the kids and draw on the Road like this girl in front of the Band..

Wet Iris

The weather has started to turn on us in Oxford after a week of very nice weather.  The fine days that we have been having was great for all the flowers around the city, with all the rain we have had over the last day and the cooler weather may keep our flowers out for longer.  Like the rain drops on this Iris close up.

Michael Bhatia

From time to time you often seen the standards of the various colleges flying at half mast, mostly in honour of former high profile students or professors, this was not the case for St Anthony's seen here.  The college flag is being flown at half mast for a young doctoral candidate, Michael Bhatia who was killed in Afghanistan while travelling with US military along with two US soldiers.  St Anthony's will be holding a celebration of Michael's life on Friday evening.

Window Cleaning Oxford Style

These guys spotted today cleaning the windows of the Oxford Law Department's St Cross Buildings in the Parks.  It has been great weather in Oxford for any outdoor activity including hanging from the side of buildings while cleaning the windows.

Army Helicopter XX378

This Westland SA-341B Gazelle was on the playing fields of St Edward's School this morning, not sure why it was at the School?  The Gazelle is one of the fastest helicopters ever built with a top speed of 310km per hour, it has been used by all of the three branches of the British Armed Forces, first seeing combat action in the Falkland Islands conflict. 

Reflections of the tower at the Oxford Castle.  This is the tower that Matilda the daughter of Henry I, escaped capture in  winter of 1142 by wearing a white cape in the ice and snow covered Oxford.  I don't take many night shots, I am not that good at night photography, hope you can see the reflection of the Tower in the Stream.

EAT Opens in Queen Street Oxford

Just a follow up post really, since January I have been following what used to be the Thomas Cook store on Queen Street.  After as few months EAT posted a display saying that they would open a store on January, see this post. Today when I walked past I noticed that the store was open, must have opened this week, I like seeing all the stores on the commercial streets trading, well done EAT, I will have to pop in for a lunch soon.

Looking Down St Giles To The City

Again another well known area of Oxford, St Giles.  This photo was taken from the War Memorial looking towards Cornmarket.  This area has been very popular the last few days with all the good weather we have been having, plenty of people out at lunch time enjoying the sun resting in the area.

New Poster on the South Parade Billboard

400 Ton Crane in Walton Well Street

Boy, this one was a biggy.  It took up the whole street and I am not sure when it was going to be moved, but from the looks of things it was going to stay in the street for awhile.  It was working around the new development on the old Lucy's site, I have taken a photo from the canal side of this before.  It sure had the neighbour's out looking at this huge machine.

Genuine Free Range Eggs

This was on a box in an organic store in Oxford, was going to ask if they had any other kind of Free Range Eggs but was not sure what answer I was going to get.

St Thomas the Matyr's Church

This Church in Osney dating back to 1100's is close to the train station which allows you to use the church yard as a short cut if coming from the city centre.  Have not been down this way for awhile and on the way to the train station day noticed that the grave yard looks like it is well over grown at the moment.  The Church is St Thomas the Matyr's link in to read more about it.

Having a Rest in the Shade

Warm day today, while in St Ebbes Street today I tried to get a photo of this family resting under a blossom tree as the windy blew off all the white petals of the flowers creating what looked like snow falling.  Guess it was a little harder to get these falling petals in the photo while in the air, you can see them on the road.

iFest 2008

Did not know anything about iFest 2008 which was being held in Broad Street until I walked into it today. It was being put on by the Oxford Israeli Cultural Society and they are trying to let people know that there is more than just war in Israel.  Hoping that festivals like this one can build understanding and maybe one day peace.  They had lots of stalls and lots of homous and pita bread which was great.

Punting On A Bank Holiday

Punting is one of the "MUST" do activities for visitors to the city, if you have time and the weather is right, which it was this morning.  On a sunny bank holiday weekend punting is going to be very popular on the River, take your time, relax and enjoy a PIMMS on the River, Very Oxford!  Lets hope that the rest of the Bank Holiday Weekend in Oxford stays warm and clear.

Oxford Central Conservative Club

Just off the main shopping street in Oxford is the Oxford Central Conservative Club, and with the Conservatives winning a majority of the seats in the local elections nationally this club may become a little more popular.  The main sign over the entry is looking a little 'weathered' at the moment, however they have started to put out a newer cheese board advertising the clubs specials.  Unfortunately this is a 'Members Only' club, which means that the prices over the bar should be better than the main High Street pubs.

Oxford City Council Elections

Not a lot of activity at this Polling Station in North Oxford this morning, but it was early hours of the election.  Local elections are being held today all across the city with 101 candidates standing for 24 seats in the City Council. Results can been seen here.