Jerico Store

Around Oxford in most area's we have these small stores selling Newspapers, Cigarettes and Milk etc, I think they are great for the local area and feel they full a very inportant role in the local community. I am hoping that in the future these corner stores will play a greater role in our local community. See theOxford Mail Headline for today nect to the door? Council Tax Up £55 next year!!!!

The Isis

Not a lot I can say about this apart from that I love walking and visiting the River Thames. I could also say that in Oxford the River Thames is called the Isis, why I am not sure, as it is only the small part of the river that passes Oxford is referred to as The Isis, apparently this name comes from the Egyptian goddess Isis.

New Within The Old

Taken in Cornmarket Street, which you could say is the main shopping street in Oxford, it is pedestrianised. You can see this lovely old building that looks like it is going to fall over, and in it you have a Nokia Mobile Phone shop. Strange to look at in away really?

Oxford's New Ice Rink

This is one of Oxfords newest attractions. Located within the new Oxford Castle redevelopment Oxford has an outdoor Ice Rink for the first time, and when I visited it over the weekend it was very popular with both the young and the old. I must admit it was a little smaller than I was hoping, but all the same it is a great addition to this wonderful area of the old prison site.

Next

Christmas Shopping in Oxford, and the name of this store just sums up the service that you get while shopping at this time of the year. No attention from the staff in these shops, just ‘NEXT’. I feel for the staff of these stores at this time of the year, they are under so much stress from the management to get everything done etc.

Cycle Tree

Winter is great, I love it really. I like seeing places that you can not see in the summer because of all the green foliage. I was out for a cycle during the week, just doing a small round trip out on to the by pass and back into town, when I saw this tree with a bike rim in it. Can you see it, down on the bottom right, it was not until I got home that I realised that the rusting rim was not that clear.

Traffic in North Oxford..

It is always the same in Oxford every evening, the traffic is so bad. It appears that everyone is always wanting to get out or in at the same time. To make it worst today it was starting to get windy and rainy, so it was even slower.

Hinksey Lakes

About 2kms South of Carfax is the area of Hinksey, and this photo shows birds on Hinksey Lakes taken this morning. Like the blues of the water and sky, have not played around with this photo, which I think I should learn how to do. Over the tops of the trees you can see a few of the tops of the colleges in Oxford.

Can you tell it's winter?

Like this area of Oxford, in front of Christ Church College, you are so close to the main High Street of Oxford but could be in the country really. Love visiting this area, it is a must for everyone. Where have all the leaves gone?

Everyone Gets a Bike in Oxford

As you can see from this photo even the Pigons have a bike in Oxford! This that bag on the bike seat protecting it from the weather or bird s*&t?

Lower Wolvercote Toll Bridge

This is a bridge that cross once or twice a week, today I stopped on the way back to the office as the water was higher than normal, and decided to atke a photo of it. When I got home i googled the Bridge at Lower Wolvercote, and found the following, which I think is interesting.

Toll Bridge, immediately west of Lower Wolvercote, was so called in the earlier 16th century, presumably from tolls collected there for Godstow's fair. About 1540 it was called Stone Bridge. The bridge was rebuilt in the 16th or 17th century, of five arches, a large one in the middle and two smaller ones at either end; the work may have been carried out soon after the Dissolution, for Anthony Wood remembered a song about the breaking of Godstow bridge and cross beginning 'Godstow bridge is broken down'; the cross stood at Toll Bridge. The central arch of Toll Bridge was rebuilt in 1796 at the duke of Marlborough's expense; in 1876 the whole bridge was demolished and rebuilt by the county council, an attempt to force the University, as owners of Wolvercote mill, to carry out repairs having failed.

Wolvercote was the scene of an early flying accident in 1912 when two officers of the Royal Flying Corps were killed near Toll Bridge. They are commemorated by a large marble plaque at the north-east end of the bridge. An airfield was built on the north end of Port Meadow during the First World War, and the site was used for a short time in the Second World War as a military camp.

From: 'Wolvercote: Introduction', A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 12: Wootton Hundred (South) including Woodstock (1990), pp. 304-11. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=5908. Date accessed: 20 November 2006.

And I thought it was just a bridge! It is a Bridge with History!

Big Bubbles in Cornmarket Street

Any day of the week Cornmarket Street is busy with shoppers and normally two or three buskers, which I always enjoy. Today being Sunday midway into November it was very busy in Cornmarket, and the buskers and street entertainers were out in force, one that I had never seen before was this guy. He was making very large bubbles, and the kids in the street were enjoying them as they floated into the air. A few hours later on the way back he was still in the same spot entertaining the passers by.

Pickles

This is not a great shot, it was taken today out the side of the car as I was going around a round about. For all those in the USA, in the UK we have lots of round abouts in the UK. I think this is a very strange sign, unfortunately we did not go down the road that had the layby and the person selling the pickles as I would have stopped and had a good look and taken a few additional shots. Pickles and Chutneys are starting to make a big come backing the UK and the home made one are very popular. mmmm

Bagley Woods

This shot was taken in Bagley Woods, just South of Oxford behind Kennington. It is a very good place for a walk. There is a Saw Mill in the woods which the University runs, so as you can see the University are all over Oxford. The A34 runs through the middleof the woods, but you can use an over pass to get over this very major road.

Queens College

This photo was taken in the High Street in Oxford of the main entry to Queens College. I took a few of these but particularly like this one with the back of the Oxford Tube in it. The Oxford Tube is the London to Oxford coach service, any easy option if you are in London and wishing to visit Oxford for a day..

Winter Orange

Winter Colours are just great at the moment in Oxford, and I am really enjoying them when I am out and about. This photo was taken just as it is in a newer area of Oxford Close to the canal, this one tree full of colour against all the grey of winter. This tree is just so bright against the reast.

Dumped TV

As I don’t have a TV and have not had one for over five years now I am very encouraged by seeing this dumped TV near the Banbury Road today. I have a feeling that this TV may have been dumped for a newer model, as a nation the UK love there TV’s, Why? What’s on them apart from adverts and B list celebrities in the jungle?

Turl Bar Oxford

Tucked in behind the Mitre off the High Street, is Turl Bar. I have found this bar to be very casual and a nice place to pop into during the week when other bars are alittle busy. Nice pool table and it is in a very old building. You can also get to it from Turl Street of course!!

Remembrance Sunday 2006

Remembrance Sunday Service in Oxford was held at the War Memorial in St Giles in the centre of the City. Today was a very good warmish clear morning and there was a strong gathering in St Giles for the 10.45am service. From the programme the service was conducted by The Reverend Hugh Lee, City Rector. This photo was taken just after the service as members of the forces were marching down towards Cornmarket where the Sault was being taken. Lest We Forget.

Rose and Crown North Parade

Was in the area, which I feel is worth a visit if you are in Oxford visiting, go for a walk up to North Parade, it is like a village High Street in the middle of Oxford. In this small one way street there are two very nice pubs, The Gardeners Arms and the Rose and Crown, the photo is of the Rose and Crown, the first pub on the right as you enter from Banbury Road. Very good friendly pub, not too busy and you can always get a good pint. Have a look at the pubs website.

Oxford Town Crier

Standing on the corner of Carfax and High Street this afternoon was Oxfords very own Town Crier, and he was in full swing letting everyone know about activities that were happening on the Town Hall opposite. I only managed to get a quick snap of him, so the photo is not that great, sorry. Anyone else have a Town Crier in there city/town?

Three Firemen Looking

Been away for a few days, down South sorry… Anyway while I was walking to pick up my hire car I came across an accident. Not exactly sure what happened, it looked like the delivery truck ran into the skip and could not get off it. The fire and police called, the fire station is about 200m away so no long distance there, the road closed and after about 20 minutes the trick was free.

Worcester College Oxford

As promised another of Oxford Colleges, Worcester College, which is close to the main Bus Station in Oxford. This photo shows the main entrance to the college. Worcester College is not close the most of the other colleges, and I was told once that it had a nickname of Tasmania, as it was so far away from the other colleges, I am not sure how true that is?

Rowers On The River

Love these days, when the air in nice to crisp and the sky is blue. Have been having nice colder days the last few being around 4 or 5 degrees Celsius. This photo was taken this morning while out on a walk by the River Thames. Had a few Rowers out from the University, and if you look closely you can see the dome of the Radcliff Camera and the spire of University Church of St Mary the Virgin which is in the High Street.

What's in a name?

Changing the name of your business, I am not sure how that effects trade, my guess is that unless you change the offer, as well as the name, is that it will not make a big difference. Anyway noticed this sign writer at work on a North Oxford Hair Salon, any guess what the new name will be? I will have to go back and see the finished product one day?

Twp Balloons and Port Meadow

The last few days in Oxford have been crisp clean and clear, and while walking on Part Meadow I saw two Hot Air Balloons, which looked so peaceful floating together. Port Meadow is a great place to visit to get away from the busyness of the city. Walked across it from Jericho and then down along the Thames back to Botley

No Parking, We Are Filming Today

I am sure you have all seen movies or TV series that have been filmed in or around Oxford, Inspector Morse, parts of Harry Potter etc. Well This week in North Oxford down off the main road I noticed this Warning. It was put up because there was filming taking place in South Parade of the continuation of the Morse Series, Lewis. Have seen lots of pointers for the crews around Oxford, but today found this notice about parking.

It's happening already!

Not sure if this is happening in your part of the world, but it has started in Oxford. This photo was taken in the Clarendon Centre in Oxford this afternoon. Yes I know you can see it as well, the Christmas Decorations are up already, help me!!