Jamming At The Half Moon

I have not been to the Half Moon in St Clements for about 4 years, but last night I was in the area and dropped in on my way home. The Half Moon is a real traditional Irish pub close to the city centre that has always been associated with the folk music scene in Oxford. Last night when I was having a pint there was a few harpists in the corner jamming. It was strange, cause another customer of the pub started talking to the group, and ended up bringing her harp in later and they all just started playing. I decided that this photo needed the sounds of the bar to give you more of the atmosphere of this pub, never put sound to a photo before, but this one needs it I think.

I will not leave it so long before I am back in the Half Moon, great little pub with great bar staff, well worth a visit if you are in the area. This photo is not the best, because I did not have my camera with me and just used my trust iPhone.

The Oval - Rose Hill

Not often up this way, so today decided to take a walk and see what was going on up this way, and buy redevelopment after redevelopment. Right behind me from where I took this photo is a large redevelopment of council housing, that looks close to complete with housing for key workers, affordable rent and shared ownership, looks like they have done a good job it as well. Plenty of buses at the back of the shot ready to start the run back into the city centre.

Debenham's George Street Oxford

Looks like there is a sale on at Debenham's at the moment. That is not why I have posted this photo, I had a request from one of the viewers of ODP, who was a resident in Oxford a few years back, but is now back in Russia. It is amazing who is looking at this blog, hope this brings back memories of your time in Oxford, Алексей and thanks for the request.

England 1 - 4 Germany - World Cup

Most of the bars and pubs in Oxford had the world cup showing this afternoon, but I think the pubs with large outdoor area's where the best place to watch the world cup game England v Germany with people enjoying the great weather we have been having in Oxford this weekend. I was at The Black Horse in St Clements, and it was great to see a few very Happy German supporters in the crowd, the pub was very busy as they had a good BBQ on, it was a great afternoon. Bad luck England, England just did not turn up this afternoon with the German's winning 4-1 easily, I think Germany will win this World Cup?

Big Bang Oxford

I have only been to this restaurant once, but I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to eat a great locally produced meal at a reasonable price. It is a small funky place on Walton Street, Jericho specialising in uniquely flavoured sausages. I am not sure who the diner in the street is, but I would love to visit one morning for breakfast, they also have Jazz evenings one night a week, which is popular I have been told.

Tesco Is Grabbing Corners All Corners Of Oxford

Been awhile since I was down at Elms Parade in Botley, so much so that I noticed this new Tesco Express in the shopping centre down there. I have posted a couple of photo's of the Tesco that we are getting in the city centre and there are roamers of a second on the Abingdon Road, so Tesco are moving in on Oxford. I like the way the guy in this photo is standing, looks like he is in awe and wonder of the new store!

Victor Street - Jericho

Quiet back street in Jericho, Victor Street. This is a typical row of English terrace houses highlighted by the sun and blue summer sky. It is not normal to not have lots of cars parked either side of the street, I think that is what caught my eye when taking this photo and also the lack of people in the street.

Beware Of Banbury Road Works

The road works have moved from the Woodstock Road to Banbury Road, I am not sure how long it took to get the gas pipes down the Woodstock Road, but it was long time. This afternoon while trying to get to Summertown I was caught in the chaos near Parks Road, I would try and avoid this area for awhile if you can, I even think the buses are using Woodstock Road it is that bad at the moment.

The Old Next To The New

Queen Street this evening was not sure what I was going to use as my photo when I spotted these two rubbish bins next to each other. It's like British buses, when you want one they never come and can wait forever, and when they do arrive these is normally two. Maybe the newer stainless steal one can not cope with the amount of rubbish over the Summer so the council has put the old ones out, not sure.

Start Of The Oxford Canal

What a nice part of the city to relax and have a break. The Oxford Canal starts just of Hythe Bridge Street in the city centre, and as soon as you start walking along it the busy noise of the city fades away quickly and soon you think you are in the country. The Oxford Canal will take you all the way to Coventry if you kept walking or even better had a narrow boat.

Day Moon

Not the best photo of the Moon, but I was hoping to get a bigger photo of the Moon during the day against the Engineering Department building on Parks Road. I think that they have a telescope on the roof of this department, which would have been nice to see the Moon through today as it is so clear. How often can the Moon be seen during the day?

Port Meadow Looking Towards Oxford

I am never sure what to call this parcel of land, one end it is referred to as Port Meadow but at the Wolvercote end it is always called Wolvercote Common, mmm? I think I need a bit of local knowledge on this one. Anyway today this meadow was just beautiful in the sun light all covered in little yellow flowers, the photo is not that great, as I was hoping to get the yellow effect of the meadow. Still a bit of water about, but a great day for walking out and about.

Reflecting On Broad Street

Pedal power reflecting on Broad Street this afternoon, not sure what the yellow jersey was won or just part of this fellows cycling outfit. Nice day for a ride.

World Cup Fever Hits Oxford Shops

The World Cup has hit Oxford with lots of people proudly displaying and flying the flag of St George on everything that they can hung it on. There are also very imaginative store windows in the High Street, like this one in a florist with the logo of the South Africa 2010 made in flowers along with the red and white England flag. England play the USA tonight, so there will be along of red and white about today in Oxford I am sure.

View From Malmaison

Was in this great redevelopment from Prison to 5✭ hotel today for a meeting when I spotted this brightly coloured taxi out the front, just liked the dark interior against the bright colours of the taxi. If you have not seen the Malmaison hotel which is right in the centre of town it is worth a look to see what they have done with the former HM Prison, you can walk around the complex and see how they now have the old cells as luxury accommodation.

Tesco New Store Coming Soon

Late last year I took a photo of this store in Magdelan Street, it was then a Borders and it had all the signage about it closing down and the sale starting, see here. A month later Tim too a few more as seen here of all the mess that had been left. Walking past this week I had a quick look in and noticed work being carried out and this sign stating that Tesco was coming soon. This will be the first Tesco in the city centre and it is only a couple of doors up from Sainsbury's, which is going to be good for competition and customer service.

Prince Charles is in Oxford this afternoon, unfortunately I am out of town this afternoon and can not get any photo's of him, if you managed to get one, email me and I will pop it up for the readers for tomorrow, thanks Percy.

Neil Finn Talking To Fan's Outside New Theatre

One of the many things I like about Oxford as a city is the number of people who pass through it, it is only a matter of time before someone who you want to see comes to Oxford, like Neil Finn and Crowded House on Sunday night. I know this photo was not taken today, but very close to it, at about 2345hrs at the back of the New Theatre in George Street after the Crowded House gig. Neil , pictured here talking to fans, along with Nick Seymour, Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod chatted, sign autographs and posed for photographs for every fan before getting on the tour bus, which was very nice.

Oxford Modern Art Yard Café

There is always something new happening or opening in Oxford, today I was walking around the city centre and noticed that Modern Art Oxford had extended their gallery to include a new café which opens onto St Ebbes Street, they have called it Yard Café. I like the space that they have used, the lights and light are interesting, along with the off street location I think this will be a good addition to Oxford Modern Art.

Summer Sports Lawn Bowls

Summer is not all about cricket and tennis, Lawn Bowls is also very popular in most Commonwealth country's and while I was out walking today I noticed a lesson taking place on this empty green. I really like Lawn Bowls, and would love to have a game this Summer, it is very relaxing on a nice warm evening having a beer while playing a couple of ends. I am going to do this, this Summer.

Rocky Horror Picture Show Dress Up In Oxford

First of all I must say thanks to Tim for posting great shots of Oxford while I was out of town, and he may not have know it but the photo from Saturday with the colourful rowers was the 1000th photo posted on Oxford Daily Photo, and I love that shot.

This week at the New Theatre in George Street they have a week long run of The Rocky Horror Show, and if you are in the area just before the show starts you will see alot of the show goers all dressed up. You can occasionally see people in George Street dressed unconventionally but to see 100's dressed up as transvestites had me stumped until I saw them all going to the Theatre. The show has had very good reviews in the local press, contact the box office if you are wanting to see the show, if you get dressed up email me a photo.

How to park a bike in the city centre?

The city centre of Oxford isn't exactly heaven on earth for car drivers. With the roadworks near Highstreet, loads of one-way streets and the pedestrians zones near Cornmarket it takes ages to travel by car in downtown Oxford. The City Council encourages citizens and tourists not to travel by car and I do think that's a good thing. It suits an old city full of history like Oxford not to have too much car traffic in the town centre. A lot of residents, especially students and people who work at the University, use their bikes which leads to another problem; where do you park your bike? Last week I saw this bike near the Radcliffe Camera, attached in a rather unusual way, I would say.

Christ Church meadow

I took this photo a couple of days ago at one of my favourite spots in Oxford, the Christ Church meadow. It's an ideal place for a picnic, a nice walk, to read a book at the riverside or just enjoy some time when the sun is shining. If you're lucky and keep your eyes open, you might spot a roe deer or some squirrels, like I did. This little fellow was enjoying a nut before climbing back into a tree, probably because I scared him with my camera. I'm quite sure he wasn't aware of the fact that he's eating his nuts at the place where in 1784 James Sadler was the first Englishman to make a balloon ascent in England. Did you?