New Radcliffe House Nearly Open

Not quite open yet, but not far from it by the looks of things, this building, New Radcliffe House will be opening soon.  It is the first building to be established on the site of the old hospital site in the centre of Oxford that is going to be known as the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter.   This building is also going to be home to The Jericho Health Centre and Oxford University Press according the sign out the front.

World Pride @ Marxism 2012 Daru

Fly Posting I think they call it, where you illegally past a poster on the side of anything that is large enough for your poster.  As soon as one poster is removed, a new one is put up in it’s place, like you can see here.   This must be more than a full time job for the council.

Oxford's H&M Store Delayed

Oxford’s Clarendon Shopping Centre is having a little refurbishment around the Shoe Lane entrance at the moment, this is to accommodate a new tenant to replace the electrical store Curry’s/Dixon’s who moved out last month.  The new store which is going to need a larger store is the Swedish fashion store H&M, however the works on the expanded store have been put on hold, as when digging up the foundations there has been a discovery of the remains of the old Shoe Lane, which may or may not have same archaeological interested, so work has stopped while an investigation and recording is taking place.

St Cross College

Not on of the larger colleges, St Cross College is a graduate college and has one of the best locations situated in St Giles.  On my first visit to the college property I was surprised with the buildings and grounds, so close to the city centre. The chapel is very ornate and is worth a look if you are able to visit the college.

Listed Building Removed Brick By Brick

I am not sure how true this is, I am going to post it any as it appeared that it could be right.  In Osney Lane just behind the Royal Mail office there is a vacant plot of land that has had a lot of activity recently, mainly removing rubbish and vegetation, looked like the owners where getting it ready to either develop or sell. Anyway everything was taken away apart from this little hut right at the entrance to the property.
This little hut I have been told was a listed building, and it was once a weighing station when the area was used as a cattle market, this again I am not sure.  Anyway the building has now been very carefully dismantled and packed up, and I was told is going to be rebuilt exactly as it was on a new site within the county, currently the scales are still on site, but I am assuming that they will also be moved to a new location.

The Eagle And Child

This would be on most visitors to Oxford list, well I think it would be.  The Eagle and Child is a very short walk from the city centre on St Giles, and is on the tourist route for sure, particularly if you are visiting Oxford for the literary connections.  This is the pub where the Inklings met including JRR Tolkin and CS Lewis, it is also a place where you can get a nice real ale, but it is very busy most days particularly in Summer.

My Favourite Street In Oxford

This would have to be my favourite street in Oxford, not because it has a pub on it, but that makes it just that little more appealing. I like it because it is so close to the centre of the city however around this part of the street you could be in a village.  Anyone else appreciate this street? Nice houses in this street as well. I am not going to tell you where it is!

The Victoria Jericho

Very popular pub in Jericho, The Victoria at the corner of Walton Street and St.Bernard's Road.  In this photo the front of the pub looks like it has had a little face lift. There is a nice beer garden out the back of the pub, which is very popular during the summer, oh when are we going to have some of that summer weather?

Double click on the photo, and I think you will get a larger photo.

Coffee Republic Becomes Java And Co

I am not sure how long ago this change happened, but a couple of weeks ago I remember this business/coffee cafe was called Coffee Republic.  Today when I walked past it was called Java and Co, I looked them up online and this store is the second store to open, the only other store is in Maidenhead. I do like it when an independent store open up in Oxford, it helps make Oxford that little different.  The later opening hours of this store is sure going to be popular with Oxford, as all the large chain stores close at 6pm, however Java and Co is going to close at 8 during the week.

National Westminster Bank Open Late Tonight

There was a major computer problem within the Natwest Bank system today across the whole of the country.  This system error has meant that Natwest customer are experiencing delays in accessing certain information about there accounts.  As a result of this computer malfunction selected branches of the bank are staying open longer in Oxford the main branch on Cornmarket was staying open till 7pm to assist effected customers.  If they are not open, maybe you can ring the door bell?

Broad Street Early In The Morning

Taken before 6am this morning, this photo is looking up towards the Sheldonian Theatre were Aung San Suu Kyi would be visiting later on this morning to receive her Honorary Degree from the University of Oxford. Would have loved to have been around when this ceremony took place but I was working out of town this afternoon, so this early morning photo will have to do.

Faiths Walking Together

Tonight while in St Giles I come across a very large group of people walking behind a banner that read, "Faiths Walking Together".  I had never read or heard about this group before, and I was given a leaflet by one of the balloon holding walkers.  This is the 8th time this event has happened in Oxford, and it is a walk for anyone of any religious faith, from the synagogue in Richmond Street, up to the Church on St Giles, which is where the group had just left as I took this photo.  From here they walked to Radcliffe Square to hear Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh prayers, before heading to the Central Mosque on the Cowley Road.   

Wahoo, Keep Off The Grass?

One of Oxford's main sports bar, Wahoo on Hythe Bridge Street, has done a strange thing I think.  Perhaps to promote the European Football Cup they have laid synthetic grass out the front of the bar, which is also the entrance, then put up these signs saying "Keep Off The Grass"?  How are you suppose to get into the bar, if there are signs saying Keep Off? Strange marketing in my opinion

Fire Engine At St John's College

Anyone have an idea why there was so many fire engines and an ambulance outside St John's College early this morning.  I was driving into the city centre just before 7am this morning and noticed a lot of emergency vehicles, blue lights flashing around St John's college.

Grass Is Greener On The Other Side

Even sheep think the grass is greener on the other side.  This sheep had a nice little stone walled paddock to keep it's self fed, but no it is up on two legs trying to eat what is on the other side of the fence.  Why are we not happy with what we have and always want what other have, even sheep?

Flood

There was only a few minutes today that it was raining, this morning the rain was particularly heavy, and with all this rain the drains and roads become very full.  Here on the Woodstock Road the council had to put out signs warning motorist of flooding on the roads.  Traffic was very slow this morning with the heavy rainfall disrupting a lot of the buses and trains in the city.

The End In Walton Street

Taken this afternoon at the front of the Phoenix Picture House in Walton Street. Walton Street has been having a little road works between Oxford University Press and this cinema, so I guess this sign was left over from that project. They are screening Moonrise Kingdom at the moment, the poster is on the left of the photo above the bike, anyone seen it?

Union Flag Umbrella's At Republic

Yes it is still raining in Oxford, which is not that good for the tourist trade, this should be the start of our busy tourist season, however I am not sure the weather is helping.  I did find this photo a little funny, with these visiting French students out the front of the clothing store Republic all with their Union Flag umbrella's. Ah, the Republic v's the Monarchy.

The Jubilee Weekend Was Great

Everyone across the country really showed there colours this Jubilee Weekend, and despite the weather not being the greatest for this time of year, most celebrated in style.  Just look at this little Jack Russell going for a walk wearing his Union Flag, oh and those wellingtons look fab as well.  Happy Jubilee Everyone, it was fantastic.

Jericho's Jubilee Street Party

What a great street party this afternoon in Jericho, we had Beer, Bands, and a bit of blue sky for the Jubilee Street Party in Jericho today.  Always lots of fun the Jericho Street Party, and this year the Book Binders had re opened, so the main focal point for the bands was the stage which was back in the usual location in front of this great pub.  Plenty of food and drink, I had a couple of nice crepe's from the Book Binders Stall, and tried a couple of the other food stalls, the food stalls are always popular.

Country Has Gone Into Jubilee Mode

Everywhere you look this weekend you will see loads of Union Flags and Red, White and Blue on houses, businesses and cars.  Some people have gone to a lot of trouble with their Royal decorations, like this house, who has made a nice Crown and ER for the gate out the front of their house.

The Hassan's Kebab Van

Oxford is famous for the number of Kebab Van's that come into the City centre after dark.  These van's provide quick cheap meals for those coming home late after a night out on the town.  Hannan's Kebab Van on Broad Street is very popular with students from the three college's on Turl Street as well as the two on Broad Street, a prime location in Oxford I would suggest.

Union Flags Out For Diamond Jubilee

The Diamond Jubilee weekend has started. Oxford is ready for the celebration that has been 60 years in the making, with the Union Flag everywhere around Oxford, on houses, businesses, bikes, and in the street like here in St Ebbes.  I think the newspaper seller has dressed this area of Oxford up beautifully with hundreds of little Union Flags.  Well done, I am hoping to get to London for the Office Jubilee celebrations but we will have to wait and see.