That's one way of decorating...

I saw this building at Cowley Road and I think that we have to thank the 2001 Cowley Road Carnival for its decoration. I'm not sure about this, so correct me if I'm wrong. I quite like it to be honest. In a way you can compare it with yesterday's stained glass, since it's very colourful too. It brightens up your day a bit if you pass by, I think. On the other hand, I have to admit that I saw it on a very cloudy and rainy day so it stood out easily compared to some of the buildings on Cowley Road.

Stained glass window by John Piper

In the Magdalen College Chapel you can find another "hidden gem". It's a stained glass window by John Piper entitled 'Nativity'. I tried to find some more information about this window on the Internet and I found out that you can find a copy of this window in the parish church at Iffley. At this page you can find some information explaining what this window represents. I prefer to place a link instead of just copying what they have written about it. I've made a compilation showing some details of the window because I think that just a photograph of the whole window doesn't show how beautiful the colours and the details are.

Another "hidden gem"

I've written posts before about "hidden gems" in Oxford's city centre and today I've got another for you: the cloisters at New College. Maybe I don't give them enough credit by calling them "hidden" but I hadn't been there before and I was quite surprised with what I saw. I didn't expect them to be so peaceful and mystical. While I was walking there, more and more questions about this place crossed my mind. The statues without any description at all, the smell, the huge tree the branches of which cover half of the courtyard, the wooden roof structure, and so on. Did this post make you curious? Then I suggest you go and see for yourself.

Another new shop at Friars Entry

On the 18th of August Percy wrote a post about a new business starting up at New Road. He was glad that it wasn't another "coffee or baguette place" because Oxford already has loads of these businesses. When I went to get some grocery at the new Tesco's today, I saw another new business starting at Friars Entry in the city centre. And guess what, Percy? If I'm not mistaken, it's going to be another coffee or baguette place! Interesting to see what they are going to serve us to distinguish themself from the others.

Last sunny Saturday of summer?

Compared to the last couple of days we've had some pretty good weather yesterday and today. With a bank holiday on Monday everyone is enjoying a long weekend, which might be one of the last periods with nice summer weather since autumn is slowly getting closer to us. I saw this man with probably his daughter on Gloucester Green, feeding the pigeons - which is officially not allowed according to some prohibitory signs in one of the corners of the square. But they where laughing and really enjoying some time together in the sun and the pigeons didn't seem to mind. So who cares......

How do you define history?

A little while ago I saw this boat at the Oxford Canal near the train station. It wasn't the first time I had noticed it but I saw it again a couple of days ago. Each time I see her, she's one step closer towards a complete collapse. I wonder what kind of history this boat has. Where has she been? How many storms did she had to face? Who were her passengers? What did she do to deserve this ending? It's not that I really care about this boat - neither does someone else, I guess - but she reminded me of a quote from a movie I once saw, History Boys. One of the characters is asked how he would define history. His answer? It's just one fucking thing after another......

Wesley Memorial Church

Taken this evening on my iPhone whilst coming home from an evening meeting, Wesley Memorial Church on New Inn Hall, all lit up. This is a Methodist Church associated

with John Wesley who along with this brother founded the Methodist movement.

First Green Hybrid Buses In Oxford

I have been meaning to get a nice photo of the first Hybrid Buses in the UK, which are running around the street of Oxford for a few weeks now, but I have not been in the right place at the right time, so thanks Oxon for this photo.

Stagecoach have invested £7.5million in the fleet of 26 hi-tech buses which are now operating in the Oxford network, the company say that the buses will help make Oxford greener buy reducing carbon emissions by 30%, which is great for the city. Not sure which other city's will be getting them, I have seen a few Hybrid taxis in other places, but not buses well done Stagecoach Oxford for bring these buses to our city.

Oxford Draw Against Wycombe

As you can see from the photo, Oxford United are playing away today against Wycombe. There was no score in this game this afternoon with the end result Oxford 0 - 0 Wycombe. I will get to a home game soon with the hope of getting a nice action shot for Oxford Daily Photo of Oxford United in action.

Sketching By Weir

With all the lovely buildings around Oxford I am surprised that I don't see more artists of every description taking advantage of Oxford. I had not really thought about it before until I saw this guy sitting next to the Oxford Castle with his paper and pencil sketching away near the weir. Without trying to snoop over his shoulder to have a good look, what I saw was very good, you maybe able to see if you click the photo to enlarge it. Where are all the Oxford artists?

Sign Of A New Business Starting Up

There's always someone with there hands in there trousers telling a labourer what to do, look at this photo taken this afternoon in New Road. Four people telling, pointing, watching one guy up a ladder doing all the work. Sound like your office?

Not exactly sure what this place is going to be, but it looks like a beauty treatment business is just about to open in the old Tiger Lilly store next to Que Pasa on New Road. Wish them good luck, and I am sure glad that it was not another coffee, baguette place we have enough of them in Oxford at the moment.

End Of The Day At The Cowmead Allotments

A couple heading home from there allotment at Cowmead while another holder cycles past towards his. I think the allotment system for growing your own fruit and vegetables in an urban environment is becoming more and more popular. If I had the time, I think I would enjoy potting about on an allotment. I think I will look into this when I am start to get to retirement age. I missed the open day at the allotments over the weekend, so decided to get a shot today of the area, hope you enjoy.

I'm Not A Sodding Tourist

Spotted this in the window of a card store in Oxford, it just appealed to my feelings of the day. With all the tourist in town at the moment over taking every area in Oxford, I am sure many locals feel like this at least once in awhile. The population in Oxford is very seasonal, cause just as all the Summer tourist leave, we will have all the students back for the new year, and the cycle begins again.

Sunday Night Drinks

With so many pubs in Oxford it is often hard to leave after the football on the weekend. Well when I finished this 1664 I decided that with work in the morning I had better just call it a day, hope you all had a nice weekend.

Tesco Magdalen Street Now Open

I was going down to get a photo of the new Tesco store that opened Monday on Magdalen Street, not sure how I was going to capture the shot, when I spotted a couple of bikes in St Michael Street advertising the opening of the Tesco Store. While chatting to Alex, one of the riders of these bikes, he told me that they are for exclusive use for customers of the new store, to take them to or from the store in an environmentally friendly way. There is no charge for this service, but you have to be quick, they are only in town for two weeks, just let the Tesco Staff know that you want to be taken home by bike, what a great idea.

Virgin Hot Air Balloon G-VBFN

I have been working out of Oxford for a few weeks, and today was late getting back onto Oxford without a photo for the blog, when I saw this hot air balloon taking off on Oxpens Road. There is something so gentle about a hot air balloon as a mode of transport, I think it is the movement along with the silence of them just quietly floating along. About three years ago I took a flight on this very same Hot Air Balloon, see here.

Empty High Street Oxford

You have to get up early to see the High Street in Oxford this empty, I could only spot one other person on the street early this morning, in just a couple of hours, this street is going to be full of people and traffic. I bet the street just loves this time of day when it can breath and think, without all the noise and traffic. It looked very clean as well this morning.

The Ultimate Picture Palace

You know I have not been to the Ultimate Picture Palace for years, and I do enjoy going to the movies, so this summer I think I am going to make a trip to this cinema. Just reading the reviews about the place on google from customers who have left comments makes you want to go down there and catch a film, I might even get a photo of the ODP from the inside. Anyone else been recently? The Girl On The Train that is showing at the moment looks interesting.

Rowing Training

I was out and about this evening along the River Thames and spotted this group of new rowers getting instructions on a very important Oxford past time if you are linked to a college, rowing. As all the Oxford students are away for the Summer holidays I am only assume that these guys are in Oxford as part of a study programme and while in Oxford are testing the waters of this college past time. Nice evening to be out, I am hoping to improve my fitness with a little jogging and cycling, we will see how I get on at the end of the month.

Blandford Avenue Bike Route

I have been seeing a few new cycle signs around Oxford lately, like this one showing the way to Wolvercote on the Blandford Avenue street sign. I think it is good that the Oxford Councils are providing more navigational signage for cyclists of Oxford.

On The Oxford Canal

What a way to spend a Sunday, relaxing on a nice Canal Boat navigating the locks along the Oxford Canal. This is Canal Boat season at the moment with loads of boats going up and down both the canal and the river, and Oxford makes a great couple of day exploring if you are new to this part of the world, which is why it is often hard to get a mooring around Oxford.