Headington Shop Early In The Morning

Taken this morning before this intersection becomes very congested.  The sun was just popping up and hitting this row of shops on the London Road in Headington, the light looked very clear with the road just a little wet and not a sound, like this time of the morning.

Paul Kelly Plays Jericho Tavern Oxford

One of Australia's greatest singer song writers was in Oxford this evening playing at the Jericho Tavern, Paul Kelly.  Paul played the set accompanied by his nephew Dan Kelly, to the very lucky 200 fans, largely Australian who joined in with great enthusiasm to Paul's more popular tunes.  Must of the set was made up of Paul's well know and popular songs, however he also showcased a few of his newer tracks that will be on his latest album. A big name in the music industry like Paul playing in a small venue like the Jericho Tavern was great for fans, and I think the room had a capacity of 200.  Great night, anyone else have any good photo's of Paul Kelly's gig in Oxford?

Lost Items In The Street

I often wonder about things you see on the footpaths around Oxford, well I am sure it is not just Oxford.  If you are up and about early like me you can see all sorts of things on the street, like this morning while in Summertown, this makeup brush was just lying on the path, how did it get here? There must be a story behind this I am sure.

What's Happened To Our Crepe Kiosk?

I wonder what has happened to our lovely crepe kiosk out the front of the Westgate Shopping Centre?  It has been closed all week, I know that the young guy who worked the crepe kiosk recently left, and since then it has been a little hit or miss with the staff and crepe's.  Let's hope that it is back up and operating soon, I like those crepe's. I see from the company's website that they also operate out of Brookes University.

Nick Cave Lawless

As a fan of Nick Cave I have been waiting for this movie to come out for about 6 months now, he has done the sound track to Lawless.  While out walking around Summertown this morning I noticed that the advertising on the bus stop had the poster saying coming September 7th, the funny thing is Bower and Bailey are local solicitors in Oxford.  Know what will be doing on the weekend after the 7th.

Starbuck Oxford Closed

Not often you see the largest coffee shop in Oxford closed and scaffolding all over the main entry, but this afternoon as I walk past Starbucks Coffee in Cornmarket I noticed it was closed.  This I am sure is not a good sign for all those to enjoy a coffee from Starbucks, as the only other Starbucks is a small one on the High Street just around the corner, which can be very busy under normal conditions. I am not sure how long this main store is going to be out of action for but I would think that it would be back in operations for the Bank Holiday weekend, but this is a guess.

This Way For A Great Milkshake

Sometimes the best places in Oxford are a little hard to find, and although most of us local's know where these stores or places are, visitors to Oxford might miss them, so you need a pointer to help you out.  Shakespeare's in Oxford is one of those places that you might miss if you are staying on the well trodden path of Cornmarket, they make the best milkshakes, and they are a local business.

Why Shakespeare's, well the store is located in an area called the Golden Cross, and it has been rumoured that William used to say in the Coaching Inn that was originally in this area on his way from Stratford to London.

Nice Boat To Have On The Thames

I would love to have a year on the River however I feel that the traditional narrow boat maybe just a little too small for me.  I larger boat like this might be more my style, I know that you can not take these guys on the canal systems that we have in the UK, so you have to stay on the Rivers, but I think this would be OK.  You never know I might get on one of these guys one day..

Mc Donalds Customer Car Park Camera's

Went to McDonald's on the Botley Road this afternoon, not normally a McDonald's person myself but just felt like a milkshake.  Could not help but notice the very high tech system that they have to records the cards coming and going from the time limited car park.  No parking wardens needed here, the camera's record you number plate details on the way in and then on the way out, and the computer works out how long you have been parked for.  Any longer than 90mins and you will have a fine sent to you at home, not sure how much the fine would be but I am sure it is not going to be cheap.

Longer Shadows Now

Looks like a nice evening to be at The Victoria on Walton Street enjoying a nice ale or beer but as can see from the long shadows, this alfresco drinking in the evenings is coming to an end.  I have started to see more and more leaves on the roads around Oxford which is tell me that Autumn is on it's way, and we will soon all be inside next to the fire.

Grand Masters World Hockey Cup

If you need more international sport while you are waiting for the Para Olympics to start and are in Oxford, head down to the Oxford Hawks Hockey Club grounds where the Grand Masters World Hockey Cup is taking place. The events are free to watch, and you will see a number of country's playing against each other, fixtures here.  They also have a nice looking bar and meal area set up which I was told are available to visitors watching the games.

How Do That Repair River Banks?

Have you ever wondered how that repair the banks of the rivers, or the walls along the river?  If you have take a wonder along the Castle Mill Stream in Oxford behind Tidmarsh Lane and have a look at the work that is taking place at the moment.  These guys have been working in this area for about three weeks now, and they have a section of the stream drained so they can work in the area.  Very interesting to watch, but then again I can sit and watch other work for hours!

Sun Set Over High Street

An evening bike ride around Oxford this evening brings me to the High Street just as the sun was setting.  The light was amazing in the High Street, and it was a little tricky to take this photo with my little camera, but I managed to get this shot.

Plain Leather Oxford Closed

Seeing a store like this really upsets me, a very unique Oxford business closed and the store sitting empty with the mail building up.  The sign over the store states Plain Leather Ltd Oxford Leathersmiths Since 1972.  Feel that the Oxford City Council who own the Covered Market maybe to blame as I was reading in the Oxford Times a few weeks ago that the council would be reviewing the amount of rent that the stall holders pay.  I love Oxford's independent stores, it makes the city unique, please don't loose this.

Busy Oxford High Street

There is always traffic and people on the High Street in Oxford, just look at this snap that I took today. We have pedestrians, cars which are banned from the High Street during the day, one of them looks to be a new driver, the Oxford Tube and a couple of delivery vans unloading all in this short stretch. I can also see a bicycle, which you have to use if you want to get around Oxford and avoid all those traffic jams.

Punting On The River Cherwell

Nice evening to be punting on the River Cherwell, which joins the River Thames at the boat sheds of the University College's about a mile down stream from here this photo was taken.  Watched these girls doing there best at punting on the River, I am not sure how long it would have taken them to get the punt back to the hire company, but I am guessing that they may have been the last punt back today.

Misty Sun Rise

Love this time of day especially on a nice clear day like this morning.  The fields around Oxford looked fantastic with a little mist, must have looked great from up on Boar's Hill looking back over Oxford City.  This photo was taken while I was on my way to Water Eaton, on the Northern edge of Oxford. I am not sure about the power lines, I know we need them however I don't want to see them.

Bubbles For £3

Not sure if every town centre have these travelling sale stands that have to keep moving by law apparently, so they are on wheels.  I think this is one of those stage English law's that had some relevance when enacted but now seems a little out of place. Anyway, there is one stand in Cornmarket at the moment selling a bubble making/blowing machine for £3 which is very popular.

Still Raining In Oxford

I really do feel for the visitors who only have one day to visit Oxford when it is raining, as Oxford is so beautiful in the Summer.  Just hope that this group of students meeting up in Bonn Square are staying for a few days and the weather improves so they can see what Oxford is like when the Sun is shining.

Andy Murray Now Supported

It was only a couple of weeks ago at Wimbledon that Andy Murray was Scottish, and a lot of people in the South did not support him as he was entering the Wimbledon finals.  A couple of weeks later and he is playing for Team GB in the Olympic's and everyone is behind him as he wins another medal for Team GB.  I find it strange! Were they happy that in Scotland that he was singing God Save The Queen I wonder?

Colourful LUSH

If the colour doesn't draw you in to this store on Cornmarket Street, then the smell will, it smells so lovely in LUSH with all there hand made soaps and bath products.  I am not sure low long LUSH have been in Cornmarket Street, I think I can remember another store being in this location but I am not exactly sure. The store is very inviting and the store staff are all very enthusiastic, friendly and very passionate about the products, they appear to be enjoying working at the store.

Old Ryman's Site On High Street

There is a lot of work going on at the site of the old Staples site, just next to Lloyds TSB on the High Street in Oxford.  Any idea's what could be opening in there soon?  I think the gym from up stairs has also gone, so the site is a reasonably large. Again all that scaffolding around the building, there must be a lot of money in this work, everywhere you look in Oxford it is everywhere.

Bike Will Be Removed

Oxford is very bike and cycle friendly up to a point and that is if you park your bike in the wrong place or against certain places.  These type of signs can be seen all over the place in Oxford, strangely mainly around the University buildings.

Great Weather For Slugs

The slugs of Oxford and England for that matter have had one of the best Summers on record.  With all this rain, and longer days the grass and plants of Oxford have been growing very well, and this has meant that the slugs and snail have also had a great time.  When out walking about after a little rain you can see slugs and snails everywhere.  They are looking very full as well, not sure how long a slug lives?