Osney Lock And Mill

The mill next to Osney Lock which has been abandon for many years now, is starting to have a little redevelopment happening. I understand that it is going to be redeveloped in to luxury apartments. The lock is looking good since its refit, not been down this way for a long time, must get down this way more often.

Out Of The Blue At The New Theatre

Oxford's own male cappella Out Of The Blue, made up of students from Oxford University played a one off sold out show at the New Theatre tonight. The crowds after the show filled George Street for about 20min's as members of the group sold a limited Live CD, which I think sold out... They announced that they will be appearing on Britain's Got Talent this week so keep and eye out on that. Well worth the ticket price if they are touring near you.

Michele's Crêperie Sign

One of the most searched for item on the Oxford Daily photo is Michele's Crêperie, and I am not sure why? Anyway at the start of the year, the crêperie on Queen Street changed it name from Michele's to Breton, see here. Well today while near the Covered Markets I spotted this sign, with Michele's Crêperie on it, confusingly the arrow was pointing toward Breton's Crêperie. I think there is a name game going on here, must get to the bottom of this.

Wet Start To The Bank Holiday Weekend

It must be a bank holiday weekend, cause there is rain across the UK, and everyone has got there umbrella's out. However it could just be that it's the start of the summer cricket, England are playing Sir Lanka this weekend, if it stops raining that is.

Photo is of tourist gathering at Carfax make sure you bring an umbrella with you this weekend if you are visiting Oxford.

Di Xiao Plays Holywell Music Room

I was hoping to meet and photograph Di Xiao this afternoon, as she was playing in Oxford's Holywell Music Room which is a 255 year old music hall belonging to the University, how ever things did not marry up and we missed our connection. Di Xiao is a Classical Pianist of the highest standard from her website she has performed at all the best concert hall around the world, so it was great that she was able to add our Holywell Music Room to that impressive list. Hope your visit to Oxford went well, I know that getting into Oxford can be harder than getting into Oxford University if the traffic is against you.

Wolvercote Tank Spotted In Botley

Remember the photos about the Wolvercote Tank in February? If not click here I was in Botley this afternoon and I spotted what looks like the same tank down behind the old MFI store, not exactly sure what it is doing down there, but I bet the residents on St Peter's Avenue are glad it has been moved. Hoping that the owner has decided to park it down here instead of in the residential area.

Windy Mega Sale

Why has it been so windy in Oxford over the last few days? It is the ash cloud, I don't know? What I do know that everywhere I went today things were blowing around, including this mannequin in Cornmarket, which looked a little funny when you quickly glanced around. Hope it was OK and managed to get back up.

Prime Minister Of Qatar Visits Oxford

I think a few of you know that I have a small fascination with car numberplates. Well this afternoon I was walking around a very windy Oxford when I spotted this BMW in college land, it was a Diplomatic Car belonging to the Embassy of Qatar, 236D gave that away. I snapped this photo and then looked around, cause you normally see a couple more, and in Broad Street there was about 12 cars from mostly Middle Eastern diplomatic missions. They where all in Oxford, as the Prime Minister of Qatar, and member of the Qatari Royal Family Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Muhammad Al Thani was giving a lecture at the Sheldonian Theatre, unfortunately I could not stay to get a photo of him in Oxford. But I did manage to get a few of the other Diplomatic Cars in Broad Street, click here.

They Are Calling It The Spanish Revolution 2011

The people of Spain are hoping that today will bring a change of government thinking with the local and regional elections taking place. In Oxford this morning there was a small and enthusiastic group of Spanish citizens calling for a change at Carfax. They want change and see the current wave of people power in other states as a sign of hope that this will also be repeated peacefully in Spain. Very nice bunch of expat's campaigning in Oxford, have a look at their manifesto here.

St Anne's College Rowathon

Students from St Anne's College were out in Bonn Square today raising money for charity. The students looked like they were having fun, in the 24 hour Rowathon event. I am not sure if they rowed all night, I should have asked. One of the ways to collect money was to buy a scoop of Ice Cream from Oxford own G&D Ice Creamery. Pictured here rowing along side a student is the G&D mascot having a row and helping out. Not sure if this character has a name, maybe someone can help me out with this?

Woa Rhino At Oxford Castle

I was a little confused when I was in the Oxford Castle this afternoon. In the square there was this large Green Rhino, and I was not sure why it was there? I did not see any others, and it looked a little out of place, but when I got home I looked on the internet and found out a little more about why there Rhinos are in the Castle, have a look here. It is all part of Oxford Arts Week and local artist Sue Cook has painted these Rhino's along with school children, and yes there are more of them, so I will have to go back and get a few more photo's.

Gamelan Music At St Anne's College

This evening in the grands of St Anne's College there was a free performance for an hour by the Oxford Gamelan Society. Having been to Bail a number of times, I was interested in popping along and listen to the Oxford Gamelan Society play, as soon as I saw the members sitting on the lawn I was transported back to Bali. I was surprised by the make up of the society, members, I was expecting to see more expat Indonesian's in the group. Had a very enjoyable hour in the sun on the lawn, Pete Smith who was running the show, told us about each piece before it was played which was interesting. Additional Photo's here.

Evening Photo Of Turl Street Oxford

Out for a pint at the bar at the back of The Mitre, which is called The Turl, a nice bar close to everything in the city centre that is normally not that busy. This would be a tourist tip acually, wanting a nice place to relax in the centre of Oxford, the Turl Bar at the back of the Mitre is your spot.

New River Island Store Opening In Oxford

Remember back in March I posted about a general store that was forever closing down, click here to see photo. Well for the last couple of weeks there has been a little bit of activity around the old store, but I could not find out what was going on. Well today I noticed a nice yellow hoarding with a big sign staying that a new River Island store will be opening soon. Now we have to ask, what is going to happen to the old River Island store?

Getting All Arty At The Castle

It is Art's Week around Oxford, and while working about the Oxford Castle this afternoon I noticed a bit of additional street art about the place. This tall skinny figure caught my eye as being a little unique. Arts week moves from area to area, and I think the Oxford City Centre week starts next week, so I am sure I will post a couple more for this event.

Start Of Working Day

Sorry about no photo yesterday I could not get the blogspot to work when I was about to upload. Todays photo was taken at the Oxford Station, which I have taken before but not of the arrival forecourt where all the taxis and buses arrive to collect and drop of passengers. A train had just arrived making the station very busy with everyone making there way to work. There are always plenty of taxis waiting at the station, did you know that Oxford City Council limit the number of taxis that can wait at the station? You need a special station licence to pick up from the station.

More Wellington Boots

I know that yesterdays photo had a Wellington Boot theme. I am seeing them all over Oxford at the moment, mainly being worn I must say by women, like these bright yellow ones that I spotted on the High Street this afternoon. Were do you get bright yellow welly's from? And why are you wearing them on the High Street in Oxford?

Nice Place For A Girly Chat

It's not exactly Starbucks, but not all Oxford trend setters are city dwellers, these girls are dressed for the conditions with nice Welly's. I was out on Port Meadows and spotted these couple girls having a long chat in the field with all these cattle around them. After a little while they were joined by a couple more for a good old chin wag.

Warm Evening With Half Price Tapas

WOW what a great way to spend an afternoon/evening, with it staying light till about 9pm now in Oxford you can enjoy one of the many offers from the great restaurants/bars in Oxford. Like this one on the Cowley Road, if you arrive early you can enjoy half price tapas everyday of the week, at the Moroccan themed Kazbar. The other sign on the window this evening was an advertisement for cocktail bar staff, so if you are looking for that line of work, your skills are needed on the Cowley Road. It is it going to be bright, and you are sitting in the window you might need your sunglasses.

Happy Birthday Coca Cola

This weekend Coca Cola celebrated it's 125th birthday, and I wanted to get a nice photo to celebrate this milestone. I normally don't go and to get a photo, they normally come to me when I am walking around Oxford, so when I was out this weekend I was looking for a great Coke shot but could not find one. The only photo that I managed to get was this one taken in a skip with a couple of discarded and fading Coke cans. Not the most interesting photo, sorry.

Delays Expected Hayford Hill

This is not what you want to see when you are sitting in your car stuck in traffic on the Ring Road. The sign reads that for the next 26 weeks the roundabout at Hayford Hill is going to be undergoing major redevelopment and you should expect long delays during busy rush hours in this area. Like I have said before, if you are in the road repair business in Oxford you will never be out of work. Expect Six months of delays in this area, I bet Sainsbury's are not too happy about this right on there door step. Have you been effected by this road works?

Everybody To The Polling Station

Not very often you get to vote in a referendum, I think this is just my second time, so I was a little surprised when I arrived this afternoon at about 6pm from work to find the place all but empty. Why is it in the United Kingdom that voting in any election has a low percentage of the population turning up? Perhaps we should have compulsorily voting?

AV Referendum Tomorrow

As we are having a national referendum tomorrow on which voting system we should use in the future, I had expected to see a lot more campaigning on the streets of Oxford. This has not been the case, the only campaigning I have seen was for the "YES" to alternative voting in Bonn Square. Traditionally referendums are not very successful in most country's so with the lack of interest in this referendum I am not sure what the result will be or how high the turn out will be.

Twelve Ducklings On The Thames

Was out on my mates canal boat on the weekend and just as we where about to leave the bank, this hen with a dozen very young chicks started to swim past the boat. From the size of them I was told that this may have been there first time out on the busy water, but rest assured Mum was keeping a close eye on them as we moved away from the bank. Lovely to see the new life in Spring and I hope that they all make it to adulthood.

Thanks Petrea for the correction, this post was originally called Eleven Ducklings On The Thames, but I can count twelve as well now that you pointed it out.

Lunch At The Living Room

What a nice place to have lunch on a sunny bank holiday, the covered outdoor area of The Living Room/Prezzo within the Oxford Castle complex. Again the Wisteria proves to be a great Summer shade provider. The Oxford Castle has plenty of activities planned for the Summer which I am hoping to take part in, in particular the outdoor cinema should be fun.

May Day Breakfast At The Bear Oxford

Unfortunately I did not manage to get up early enough to get to the Traditional May Day service at Magdalen Bridge, reports from the Oxford Mail this morning say that over 18000 people attended. It was about 6.30 when I managed to get into the centre of Oxford with most of the pubs in town already in the full swing of cooking Breakfasts for all those revellors returning from Magdalen Bridge. At Oxford's oldest pub, The Bear which is always open early for May Day customers where enjoying a liquid breakfasts from 6am. John Otway launched his new book this morning at the pub, which I am sure help pull a few more punters in to the celebrations.