Oxford Daily Photos - Church of St Clements

St Clements Church is my neighbourhood church.  It isn't very old - it was built in 1828, after the old church of St Clements was demolished and replaced by The Plains (see earlier blog post).  It is Church of England, and I occasionally go there, but usually I stick to the college chapels and university church, so I am rarely inside.

However, I am quite often outside, frolicking in the cemetery and generally enjoying myself.  I have always been fond of cemeteries, and as it is close by it is a good place for a quick wander around.

It was very cold outside, so I only walked for around five miles before retreating to the warmth of the hearth.  What with all those Spring flowers you would think it would get a little warmer soon!

Lots of mistletoe growing around here.  Reminds me of a certain French chateau I once visited - it was equally freezing!

Oxford Daily Photos - Carfax Tower

 Carfax Tower is considered to be the centre of Oxford.  It is about 15 minutes walk from my house, and I go there frequently, especially since Paul's Bakery opened opposite!  Today I met my friend Anne there.  We had planned to go for a walk in Christ Church Meadow which is further down the road, but it was so overcast and gloomy we feared rain might surprise us in the meadow, where there is little cover, so we meandered around town for a while instead.  I think this is quite a nice part of Oxford, and there were fewer tourists than usual on a Saturday morning, so I snapped these photos.

Walking towards Carfax from the outskirts of town - in the distance is the tower of the university church

Opposite the tower, closer by

Next to the tower - there used to be a shop selling homemade soaps and lotion, now  sadly defunct

Opposite the tower under an arch.  When my Dad taught me photography he impressed upon me to try to frame a picture, so I still do it whenever I can.

The tower

Opposite the tower - a Pret a Manger and a bank

 

The tower has little people who strike the hour!

On the way home I noticed two gardening remarkables!

This is a big buddlea growing through and under a garden wall

The other side of the wall - can't see the buddlea, gone underground

This is an ivy hedge.  As far as investigation showed there was no other plant, just the ivy, on all sides.  Ivy is too floppy to grow like that.  I suspect there is some kind of other hedge underneath, now strangled to death by the ivy, that provides the structure.  I spent ten minutes discussing this with a tramp and his dog before finally going home, reluctantly leaving this riddle unsolved.

The hedge from one side

Oxford Daily Photos - Cakes in Cowley

Today's lunch time walk was a bit disappointing.  At the bottom of St Clements was a major accident, with ambulances and police people and blood spilled on the road.  Also it was seriously cold.  So I just had a quick wander around Cowley Road, where I noticed a very nice display of cakes.

Enjoy!

 

Oxford Daily Photos - Christmas Decos still up!

Today I went for a long walk in the various Oxford shopping areas, and noticed how many shops still had their Christmas decorations up.  Not very inviting - at least they could make their windows look nice and inviting, so that window shoppers feel motivated to drop by when the shops open again!

 

Oxford Daily Photos - Christ Church Meadow

Overcast coolish day, but I ventures out with my step-counter.  Did 4 miles over lunch break!

Glad I got out, it is raining now.  I thought this was supposed to be Spring?