Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Anyone Up Early This Morning To See The Sunrise

What a great colour the sky was this morning as the light started to filter onto the clouds. With the days getting shorter you don't have to be up that early now to see a great sunrise, this photo was taken around 7am this morning, it was just a blaze of colour in the sky, if you were in bed, I hope this photo makes up for not seeing it in person.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Autumn Has Arrived In Canterbury Road

I am not sure which season I like most, Summer must be my favourite but Autumn's colours and light are so inspirational. Walking around Oxford with all the leaves and lowering sun in the sky are very enjoyable. Love the leaves on Canterbury Road this afternoon. Long shadows?

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Red Sky And Lights On Cowley Road

The Sunset in Oxford this evening matching all the Red tail lights of the traffic at a standstill on Cowley Road. What's wrong the with Buses, why is everyone in cars?

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Radcliffe Camera From Exeter College

Great day in Oxford weather wise again, managed to get this nice shot of the Radcliffe camera from the Masters Garden in Exeter College, which is a bit different as you can get alot of greenery in the shot with the camera behind,

Friday, September 25, 2009

More Work In Summertown

There is always road and pavement work going on in Oxford. I was thinking that we had seen the last of the works in Summertown early Summer, but no, this afternoon I noticed out the front of Savills Estate Agent they are at it again. Not sure what is happening now, but it looks like alot of digging is going on.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Graduating Students

There are still Graduation ceremony's taking place in Oxford this late in the year. I noticed these students in there academic gowns in Broad Street the other day, not as many as at the start of summer, I am not sure if these guys missed the early ones or if they are doing a slightly different degree that finishes later.
I have been away for a couple of days to the Lake District, sorry about no updates for a few days, back refreshed now.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Lonely Bike In Stairwell

A bike chained up in the stairwell of WestWay House in Botley. Funny place to have a bike locked up, in the stairwell of this office block, but then again it was out of the weather ready for the cycle home.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Cupcake - National Cupcake Week

This is one of my favourite weeks of the year, National Cupcake Week, and today I did my bit and picked up a very nice cupcake from my local bakery, which also is supporting National Cupcake Week, by having a couple of extra flavours on sale. I can tell you that this Lemon Cupcake was very nice indeed. You don't have to be in Oxford to support Cupcake Week, go out and get a couple of cake today from your local cake shop.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Oxford's New Aldi Store

This new Aldi store on the Botley Road is about three weeks old now, but today was the first time that I have been down to see it, and I am not sure what all the fuse was about, you see there was concern that the store would bring disruption to the area with all the extra traffic, but I was surprised how empty the store was on my visit.

Monday, September 14, 2009

A Green Narrow Boat "Annie"

Narrow Boat "Annie" resting on the Oxford Canal being painted by local artist. Annie and her owner Stuart are very Eco friendly and I was lucky to be given a tour of her by Stuart who pointed out all her Green features, including a composting toilet, solar power generator, wood fired heating and an engine that runs on used vegetable oil. If you are on the Oxford Canal you will know instantly if you see Annie as this Narrow Boat even as an allotment on the roof of the boat growing every vegetable that's in season.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Oxford Open Doors Weekend

This weekend over 125 buildings that are not normally open to the public are opening their doors so that you can have a look in, the event is called Oxford Open Doors. It is an annual event that is coordinated by the Oxford Preservation Trust and is getting bigger and more popular every year.
This photo is of the Divinity School which once was where examinations took place at the University of Oxford, it was built between 1427-1483 it is the oldest surviving purpose build building at the University.
There is a great 360 interactive photo of Divinity School here.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Oxford's Newest Gargoyles - Thomas Bodley

This is the finish gargoyle of Sir Thomas Bodley on the Bodleian Library which he re-founded in 1598. This is one of the new gargoyles which were unveiled this morning in Oxford following a competition for school children, Thomas Bodley was the entry of 14 year old Alfie Turner. How cool is that, having a gargoyle designed by yourself up on the Library for all to see for years to come!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Early Morning Mist

Just on the outskirts of Oxford this morning on my way to Wallingford, the sun was just popping up over the hills giving the sky a slight orange tint, and there was a bit of low level mist around the lower area's. Sounding like a weather reporter. I had to pull over and get a photo, I am hoping it will be like this over the weekend and I might get up early to get a few more shots in a different location.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Red Telephone Booth Missing Door

These old traditional Red Telephone Booths weigh a ton, and I am sure the doors are very weighty so I am not sure were this one in Queen Street has gone, but I would guess not too far. I think these phone booths are listed buildings, so the Oxford Preservation Society would not be happy if this missing door resulted in a new BT booth being installed.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

St Giles Fair 2009 Giant Wheel

Every year St Giles fair has new attraction, normally this ride is faster and scarier than last years "Must" ride and has been designed to petrify you, but this year was a little different. This year we got the Giant Wheel. Which was not faster or hoping to make you sick unless you are afraid of heights, as this was have to be the highest temporary ride that I have ever seen at a fair. The weather has been great over the last two days and I would have to say that this combination of great weather and good rides has made this years fair one of the best, for me anyway. Hope you all had fun at the fair.

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Bell Ringing At St Matthew's Oxford

Today was the 275th Anniversary of The Oxford Society of Change Ringers, and to celebrate this milestone in the society there was 15 minutes of bell ringing from up to 80 churches around Oxfordshire, including St Matthew's on Marlborough Road starting at 1700hrs. So if you were wondering around Oxford this afternoon and heard alot of church bells ringing this was the reason.

Friday, September 04, 2009

Lindisfarne On The Thames

Just cruising. Spotted this pleasure craft making an early start up the River Thames with the morning sun against her stern. Lindisfarne is a tidal island of the coast of Northumberland, which I have been to while returning from Scotland a couple of years ago. Not sure if this boat is from all the way up there, would be one hell of a trip if it was. Anyway I hope the rest of the trip goes well for Lindisfarne.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

J.R.R. Tolkien Grave In Wolvercote

I have never been that interested in JRR Tolkien, however I know that a lot of people visit Oxford from around the world to see the places were Tolkien worked, studied, drank and was laid to rest. I had been showing a friend Anya around Oxford, one of the places she asked to visit was the cemetery in Wolvercote to visit Tolkien's grave. I have never been to the site of his grave before, so it was a first for both of us. The cemetery is just on the outskirts of North Oxford with Tolkien grave clearly sign posted from the main entrance. By coincidence today is the 36th anniversary of his death in 1973.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

OU59 YLS

If you have been following my Daily Photo's you will know that I have an interest in number plates and when I see the first new number plates of the registration series I try to get a photo. The 1st of September sees the start of the new "59" period, and I did not think I would see a new plate on the first day, this photo was taken at about 11am today, and looked like it had been parked in the street for all to see.