Oxford Trip Day 1- Ashmolean Museum, Christ Church Meadows & River Cherwell

A Birthday weekend in Oxford and much to look forward to. We are staying just outside the City in Headington, a shortish walk or Bus Ride in. As It's a lovely day we decide to walk after dropping the car off at the Guest House. It's a pleasant enough walk as we pass Brookes University Campus, and then Headington Hill Park. As we get closer to the centre there is a noticeable change in the architecture as we approach Magdalen Bridge spanning the River Cherwell. The first known reference to a bridge goes back to 1004. A very busy tourist area that leads to the High Street. The picture on the left shows a Bus coming away from the City. In the background with the 15th Century Magdalen Tower in the background.   It is a bell Tower that forms part of Magdalen College. One of the oldest parts of the College. The Tower is famed for the May 1st celebrations where Choristers sing very early morning hymns. To the left of the Bridge are the Botanical Gardens which we hope to visit at some stage.

University Church of St Mary the Virgin

We continue up the High Street passing the Church picture above. Dated back to the 13th Century it was the original meeting place for University Administrators. 'The Martyr's Memorial (left) is 19th Century Victorian Gothic commemorating the 16th Century Protestant Oxford Martyrs. It is located at the junction of St Giles, Magdalen and Beaumont Street. It is the latter that we need as we head for the Ashmolean Museum. 

After a brief refreshment stop at 'The Four Candles' we arrive at the impressive neo-classical entrance. The Ashmolean is the first University Museum and Britain's first public museum. Incredibly entrance to the museum is free! Of course, a donation is always welcomed. Founded in 1683 the collections include, Ancient Greek marbles, Egyptian Mummies, Contemporary and Modern Art  and countless other interesting artefacts. There are always Exhibitions on display , although there is usually a cost to visit these. Some of my highlights of many are pictured below.  

Hunt in the Forest - Paolo Uccello

The Forest Fire - Piero Di Cosimo

'Sleeping Eros' is part of  the 'Arundel Marbles' collection. They were a private collection donated by Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel in the early seventeenth century. The winged God Eros is depicted leaning with hiss torch facing downwards n a classical symbol representing sleep or the passage into death. 'The Forest Fire' is an oil-on-panel painting   dating to 1505. It shows a landscape in panic as a blazing fire drives the animals and humans together. It is very relevant to the fires we are currently experiencing due to the heatwaves in the UK. The work depicts the human relationship with nature. A mixture of fantasy creatures and realistic ones is quite dramatic. The other painting 'Hunt in the Forest' (1470) is of the renaissance period. A brilliant example of the 'vanishing point' or linear perspective. The painting was featured in an episode of the TV series 'Lewis'. I could spend all day here, but time to move on towards the river. Walking down St Aldates we pass the striking Christ Church College.Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII.A constituent College,  a joint foundation of the university and the cathedral of the Oxford diocese,

Christ Church Meadows

We follow the crowds into Christ Church Meadows, owned by Christ Church. The Great Tower of Merton College Chapel looms large over the walled garden. Completed in 1450 as part of the massive College Chapel. The meadow is a triangular shape, to one side is the River Thames, although in this part it is known as the Isis. The Meadow building at Christ Church is very popular with visitors and is the paying entrance to Christ Church. We walk to the boundary with the Botanical Gardens, stopping for a picnic. Various water craft are making there way along the Cherwell. Punts , Pedalos and Rowing Boats can all be hired from the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse. Some having more success than others.There is however a chauffeured punting service. available! The cost for a chauffeured punt ride is £50 per 30 mins.   

We take the path to the right which will eventually loop back towards the city. There is a smashing view to  our right though. A view of the Oxford skyline, the Meadow building seen from Christ Church Meadow. The path takes us back via The Isis where bigger craft are on the water. A few party boats and one with a Jazz Band playing 'When the Saints go Marching in' of course.We bump into a couple of friends of hours who literally live just around the corner from us in Moulton. We arrive back at the 'Head of The River' public house by Folly Bridge. The bridge apparently stands at the site of the ford over which oxen could be driven across the Isis.

 

Leaving the river behind our last port of call for today at least will be Oxford Castle and Prison.It's a case of a quick view as getting towards closing time. It's a partially ruined 11th century Norman castle. It actually operated as a prison until 1996. It was originally built in 1071 for William the Conqueror. The rectangular structure at the back in the photo is the St George's  Tower. The structure is the Debtor's Tower. It has been quite a day! High time for another Birthday celebratory Beer I think!

 

Gary Numan - Northampton Roadmender (Night 2)

Tour Bus parked up

Popped into town at lunchtime and called past the Roadmender just to see who was about. Two people (Ellie and Graham) were already in the queue at 1 O'clock! They may well have been there earlier? Veterans of many a Gary Numan concert, determined to get a got pitch centre stage. They had travelled up from London and seemed more than happy in the sunshine. Told them that I would be back later, but not before 6pm as the doors not scheduled to open until 7:30 pm. I had a little wander around the back of the venue. The tour bus and container wagon were parked up at the side. One or two people getting on and off, no sign of Mr Numan though.

Divine Shade

This will be my first time seeing Gary Numan.At the start of my teenage years along with the likes of Blondie, The Police and the The Boomtown Rats, he was a firm favourite of mine. He has played the Roadmender before, back in  2019. Four years ago he also played The Derngate in Northampton. So no stranger to the county. This being the second of two nights he is playing at the Roadmender.Arriving around 6:15 it was good to see that the queue was minimal. I managed to get on the barrier stage right once the doors opened an hour or so later. A good thing too as my recent knee operation was a major concern. First up though we have the French band 'Divine Shade'. Described as 'Industrial Rock' with a combination of styles and influences. The set went quickly, always a good sign. The three piece band were impressive and made a good sound.

The stage undergoes something of a metamorphosis into a futuristic setting with the aid of LED and RGB rope lights.  The crowd has swelled to capacity expectations are high  as we await the arrival of something very special. I have to admit to being very unfamiliar with much of what will be played tonight. I have dipped in and out you might say over the forty or so years. First song of the night is 'Halo' from the 2006 'Jagged' album. We then drop back to the classic, and possibly best known album 'The Pleasure Principle' from 1979 with 'Metal'.  Quite an opening! 

Tim Slade (Bass)

The sound quality is a bit mixed at times but does settle down. I don't think the mix for 'Divine Shade' was ideal. Book-ending each side of the stage are the imposing figures of the band guitarists. Decked in flowing black robes and painted faces they give off a Gothic Ghoulish vibe. They provide the perfect foil for Mr Numan as he does his own thing, disappearing to the back at times to play his synth. Steve Harris (Lead Guitar) has been in the band for around 30 years. Pouting, gesturing and engaging with the crowd. You can't take your eyes off him. Equally striking and only slightly less scary is Tim Slade on Bass. Another long term band member. With all that is going on it can't fail to be a dramatic and highly charged evening. The 'Numanoids'(fans of Gary Numan) are loving every minute, but don't expect any verbal interaction. Tonight , as with all of the tour I imagine, it is just about the music. It is relentless too, pulsating , never letting up!

Steve Harris

He may be quiet, but he is certainly animated putting heart and soul into the emotions of the songs. By his own admission he is not a natural dancer, in the early days he didn't actually move very much at all. There is an energy about the performance, he looks fit and healthy, not bad at all for a 68 year old. Definitely a man who has fine-tuned his talent over the years, knowing exactly what his audience wants. The voice sounds great too, just like Gary Numan as he did all those years ago. I'm looking forward to the big hits of course. Before all that though there is the dystopian 'Down in the Park'. A song that was very much the theme around 1979 post Punk era. The song is definitely a 'live' favourite. I understand that the set list does vary from venue to venue. There are some changes from last night at the Roadmender too. No gig would be complete without 'Cars', or indeed 'Are Friends Electric' though. The latter originally with 'Tubeway Army'. A fantastic night it has been, everyone going home with a smile on their face, including Mr Numan.   

Setlist

Oxford Canal Walk - Fenny Compton

 Fenny Compton Wharf  is a major waterways place on the Oxford Canal (southern section, main-line). We are 8 miles north of Banbury and 7 miles south of Southam.Only about a third (at the most)  of the walk today will be on the canal. A fairly shortish walk of about 7.5 miles which will be in a clockwise direction and take us down to Farnborough. Then back to Fenny Compton and back up to the Wharf. 

Fenny Compton Marina

Fenny Marina has been a treasured boating haven since the 1970s.The village hall gas gained fame from being where the Post Office scandal battle began. It is here where between 30 and 40 ex sub-postmasters and mistresses met for the first time one Sunday in 2009 - a gathering that led to the creation of the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance (JFSA) campaign group.  

Wormleighton Reservoir

It is another very hot day. I'm struggling to remember when we last saw any rain. We pass 'Wormleighton Reservoir' which does look very tempting for a cool off. A canal reservoir, dating from the Imperial period, and used to maintain the water level of the Oxford Canal. It was marked on the Ordnance Survey map of 1886, and is located 2km south of Wormleighton. Farnborough is a small but very pretty village on the edge of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is right on the border of Warwickshire. It has it's own village hall too of course. As well as a few interesting signs and landmarks. 

 

Bridge 135

Owl carving in Farnborough

We have also picked up the D'Arcy Dalton Way.named after the late Col. W. P. D'Arcy Dalton who worked for over half a century to preserve rights of way in Oxfordshire.It links four major paths that cross Oxfordshire: Oxford Canal Walk, Oxfordshire Way, Thames Path and Ridgeway, following roughly the western boundary of Oxfordshire in unspoilt countryside. 

Looking back towards Farnborough

So much for Englands green and pleasant land. It is a parched landscape we see before us. The warming planet (global warming) is a real problem and not something that can be readily solved. Things are only going to get worse unfortunately. A little oasis under an Oak tree does provide some relief for the local sheep population. Amazingly much of the wheat has already been harvested and it is only mid July. I can't imagine the yield will be great though? We do come across one poor Sheep struggling against the fence in the heat. Breathing very heavy and clearly in discomfort.

St Peter & St Clare Church Fenny Compton

As we head cross country back to Fenny Compton we pass the local Church. Built in the 13th century and is Grade II listed. There is a lovely surrounding Butterfly meadow which is very active.  

Ducklings

A couple of photos from the canal path to finish off. Walking on the canal is always interesting, always something to see. Plenty of wildlife, just like the Mother Duck protecting her large brood of Ducklings. Canal folk and communities seem to have life sorted at their pacen and seem pretty chilled out. 

A very enjoyable walk despite the heat. I t a Beer stop will be required on the journey home!.