Sunday's Quiz

For some reason I wasn't in the mood to go outside today. It was one of those Sundays you love to be inside, have some fun with friends, listen to good music, enjoy a drink (or more) and play a game. I didn't want to publish an old photo so I had to think of something for today's post. I have to say that I was in a "creative" mood and I have no idea whether you like this or not but I decided to play a game with everybody who's following this blog. I took four photos inside my apartment and they all represent an Oxford pub or bar. Can you guess which four pubs or bars in Oxford are represented by these photos? Put your thoughts in the comments and I will reveal the correct answers tomorrow.

Borders, a month after closing down

Percy published a picture from Borders in the beginning of December. It was closed just before Christmas and all that is left now are some empty shelves. I live very close to this (former) shop and what I find extremely weird is that the lights are on 24/7 and that the alarm is ringing continously since at least last Monday. Apparently no one is able to stop it or perhaps no one cares. I guess that's what happens when a chain store gets into trouble. We benefited from the closing down sale, we bought our books with huge discounts there and now we don't care about the place anymore....

Longing for snow...

Today I got a phone call from a friend of mine who lives in my "home country", The Netherlands. He was just telling me that they were expecting some snow tonight in the town where he lives. That made me think of the first time it started to snow in the city centre in Oxford since I have lived here. I took a picture from the Red Lion when it was covered in snow. Today I took the same picture, without snow. I have to say that I do miss it a bit, Oxford covered in snow. There was something special about it, don't know what but it just was.

Covered Market

Sometimes you wish a photo could be a little bit more than just a photo. With today's photo I wish you could smell what I was smelling, taste what I was tasting and feel what I was feeling. I've made a compilation from a couple of photo's I took today at the Covered Market in the city centre. Entering the market via High Street I was smelling freshly baked cookies, coffee beans and herbs. A little bit further I saw beautifully decorated cakes. You can actually see how they are made by the ladies in this shop. The Covered Market is offering lots of different kinds of vegetables, cheeses, meats, plants, etc. Even if you don't need anything it's nice to take a look and just enjoy the atmosphere.

Cappuccino at Cowley Road

When I moved to Oxford last year I didn't bring lots of things with me. I thought it would be best to buy some kitchen stuff and other things at some of the local shops we have in Oxford. One day I went to Cowley Road, which is full of these little shops with lots of different things like plastic containers, pots and pans and basically everything else you need in the kitchen. I went there with a friend who came to visit me and he enjoyed a nice cappuccino in one of the bars in that neighbourhood.

Remarkable street name

The first time I saw this street sign I couldn't resist to smile a little bit. What a great way to say that it's a cul-de-sac! Once I got home I googled the street's name and found out that before 1972 the street was called Charles Street. You can find some old gabled stone houses (17th and 18th century) in this street, which is pretty remarkable since the area is dominated by the Westgate Shopping Centre. Thanks to the Oxford Preservation Trust, these houses were saved in the seventies. Turn again lane used to be the original name but at some moment in time, I couldn't find when, the street wasn't a cul-de-sac anymore so they had to change the name to Charles Street. When the Oxford Preservation Trust bought the old gabled stone houses, the street became a cul-de-sac again and it reverted to its original name.

Non smoking policy

This picture was taken near one of the University buildings at South Parks Road. I'm not a smoker myself and I have to say that I like the non-smoking policy in the University buildings. I guess it must have been tough weeks for smokers, trying to enjoy your sigarette outside during "the big freeze" period we have had in the last few weeks. I wonder how they feel when they have finished there sigaretttes and place the butt ends in a bin like this?

Funny gargoyle

Good evening everybody. My name is Tim and I live in Oxford since October last year. Let me start by saying thank you to Percy for giving me the opportunity to post some of my favourite pictures of Oxford on his blog while he is away.

My first picture shows a so-called gargoyle. This particular one can be found at Balliol College, but you can see them on many other historic buildings across the city. Gargoyles are carved stone grotesques and they were originally built to carry off water from the gutters of buildings. Some were carved by stonemasons who didn’t want them to be waterspouts but to have an ornamental or artistic function. What I like most of them is the fact that you often see something funny from yourself or someone else in them. This one, for example, is writing while sticking out his tongue. I happen to do the same thing when I’m trying to concentrate and Pete Sampras, former Wimbledon champion, did the same thing during his tennis matches. I wonder what you recognize in some of Oxford's gargoyles?

Oxford Airline Bus Service To The Airports

Taken this morning while waiting for the early morning bus to Heathrow, I am off to Toronto for two weeks. We have a great service from Oxford to Gatwick and Heathrow, with buses leaving up to every 20mins during the day. A great service for everyone in Oxford or those visiting Oxford.

I was worried what to do with the Oxford Daily Photo while I was away, and then a couple of days ago I had an email from Tim, who is a new Oxford resident who offered to post for me while I am away, so for the next 10 days we will have a different view of Oxford, I am looking forward to seeing the photo's while I am away. Thanks Tim.

Oxford City And County Bowls Club

Members Only, at the Oxford City and county bowls club, I am sure that is not the case and visitors would be welcome, that have large all weather greens. If I had time I think I would enjoy a regular game of bowls.

The Friendly Parking Inspector

We have a lot of parking restrictions in Oxford, I don't really agree with all of them, but hay who am I. To go with the parking restrictions we also have Parking Inspectors, not everyones best friend I am sure, but they can be handy to get directions off if you are new to the city, like this guy was this morning in the High Street.

When The Snow Melts It Becomes A Lake

All the snow now gone in Oxford and melted into lakes, took this photo at the Oatlands Road Reserve this afternoon which is more like a Lake Oatlands. While the snow was getting in everyones way last week, this week it has turned into alot of water that is lying in Oxford's flood plain, lets hope we don't get rain soon.

New Bank In Town Santander

Last week the bank on the corner of St Aldate and Queen Street was Abbey, this afternoon when I walked past it had changed it name to Santander? Part of a rebranding exercise to bring all the different brands of the Spanish parent Banco Santander under the same roof . Banco Santander is the largest bank in the Euro area, lets hope that the customers of Abbey are happy with the new bank. Notice that the building that the branch is in, is still called Abbey House, maybe it is harder to change the name of a building than it is a bank?

That's the town hall in the back ground, and I think I have said this before but I will ask it again, as Oxford is a City, why do we have a Town Hall and not a City Hall?

Horses In The Snow On Port Meadow

The snow in Oxford has all gone, so this will be my last snowy themed photo for awhile. Taken a couple of days ago in Lower Wolvercote of a couple of horses looking for food with all the snow on the ground. I am not sure how these horses graze when there is snow on the ground, I would think that feed has to be provided by the owners. They looked nice against all the snow on the Meadow, with a Oxford in the distance.

Have had a request from Tim for my email address.

Oxford Is Down There In The Snow

This is the view from Wytham Woods looking down over Oxford University's Field Farm in Wytham. Snow all over the fields it looks wonderful, and with all the snow melting now it will not be long before this quickly disappears.

Don't forget if you want to have a better look at the photo, just click it for a larger version.

Massive Snowball Fight At Summerfields School

Schools back after the Christmas break and all the Snow Days, and I can not think of a better way to start the return to School than a massive Snowball Fight with all your school mates who you have not seen for a couple of weeks. Looks like it was great fun, wish I was out there having a go myself.

Beer Delivery's Arrive At The Drew Drop Inn

The driver who dropped this off to The Drew Drop Inn on the Banbury Road said that it was about two tonnes of beer. The snowy conditions made the delivery a little slower as the truck could not get as close as it normally would to the cellar. It is great to know that with all this snow in Oxfordshire the pubs are still getting restocked.

Still Slippery Out On Walton Street

I think things are getting back to normal in and around Oxford, although traffic around Oxford was still having a hard time this morning according to the reports on the BBC, with the school runs starting for the first time since Christmas.

Walton Street's footpaths were still a little icy and slippery when I was down here this morning, so like this guy, you needed take your time and go slowly when on foot in Oxford, there is still snow about, but lets hope it is all gone by Tuesday.

Snowy Walk In Christ Church Meadows

Still plenty of snow around in Oxford, and what a nice day it was for a walk around some of Oxford most famous tourist attractions. I love walking around Oxford most days, but seeing it with all this snow around makes it more special. This photo was taken in the grounds of Christ Church College on the path leading from the River Thames to the College buildings. Plenty of people around enjoying the snowy views of Oxford.

Royal Mail Still Out Delivering In Lonsdale Road

No snow over night in Oxford however there was still alot of snow around as the temperature over night was below zero, so the snow we have had has not gone. However all this bad weather has not stopped Royal Mail delivering in Lonsdale Road North Oxford, the bright orange high visibility jacket looks great against all the white snow.

Clean Oxford Snow And The Observatory

Walking up the Woodstock Road this afternoon past the old Radcliffe Infirmary site there was virgin snow across the whole site to Walton Street at the back and Green College/Observatory on the right. With most of the snow around town all disturbed, this fenced off snow looked great for todays photo, just wish the sun had been a little higher.

Snowman Catching A Bus In Summertown Oxford

There are great Snowmen around Oxford at the moment with all this snow from last night. I spotted this Snowman trying to wave down a bus at the bus stop in Summertown. He looks great, he also has a friend sitting on the bench waiting with him. Great Snowman, it is great Snowman making weather, in Oxford with about 30cm of snow falling over night.

Let It Snow In Oxford

It has been snowing in Oxford since about 6pm this evening, and from all reports will continue throughout the night. The Met Office is predicting that 30cm of snow will fall tonight in Oxford, which will be a great sight in the morning if it stays around. I have been out this evening trying to get a nice night shot of the snow, this was Park End Street at about 10pm this evening, completely covered in snow. People are out enjoying the snow tonight, plenty of snowball fights infront of The Dukes Cut in Park End Street.

Frosty White Oxford

Oxford was covered in a lovely white frost this morning, and most of the day to be honest. Unfortunately I could not get out and about to get a nice photo, would have loved to have gone to University Parks to see what that looked like. You can see the white frost on the tree here, with the long morning shadows, I think this morning for the coldest Oxford has had in awhile.

I Don't Care About Climate Change

Not sure why or how this Range Rover become covered in white paint, do you think it was a protest from climate change groups? Maybe it was from a passerby who did not like the arrogance of the driver who just parked on double yellows? Anyone else care to have a stab at how or why this paint ended up on this new 4x4?

Happy New Year To Everyone

What a lovely clear day to start the New Year, and to also take your horse out for a nice ride, the temperature was very low all day, around zero all day, but it was so clear and sunny that when you got out into the sun it felt very warm.

Hope everyone had a nice New Year's eve and that you did not wake up with to much of a head ache! Let's hope I can get a few good shots of Oxford this year.