walk with a difference, arresting, work of art or...?

A sunlit walk along the Oxford canal this morning. Though with a difference just to the south of Wolvercote.

Arresting, certainly.

Work of art? Or act of arboreal vandalism?

cross-country, clanfield tavern, marston's el dorado, late afternoon sun

Walked cross-country to Clanfield this afternoon.

Had a delicious pint of Marston's El Dorado single hop craft beer at the Clanfield Tavern. The El Dorado hop comes from the US and gives the beer an apricoty flavour. Reminded me of a beer I had in San Franciso once. The beer is one of a number of Marston's Single Hop cask ales.

When we walked to Clanfield the weather was dull and wintry but on the way back the late afternoon sun lit up the landscape with sharpness and vibrancy.

oxford, mud-free, swan, haldane lecture and guest dinner

Working in Oxford today.

The light but relentless wind that has been blowing for the last week has dried out the canal towpath, so I joined it at Wolvercote and had a chilly but enjoyable - mud-free - walk.

Came across the swan just north of where the old Lucy ironworks used to stand.

Loved the Haldane Lecture on Thursday evening and the fantastic guest dinner afterwards. Thanks so much T and R, H and J.

frosty fields, larks, haldane lecture

Went for a cheering walk across the frosty fields before work this morning.

I also recorded the larks signing in the background when I took this photo - available on SoundCloud.

Very much looking forward to this evening's Haldane Lecture at Wolfson.

welsh borders wedding, st mary's whitewell, iscoyd park, beloved family and friends, cholmondeley arms

Travelled to the Welsh borders near Whitchurch at the weekend for a family wedding.

What a wonderful occasion it was! Amazing service at St Mary's, Whitewell, and a fantastic reception at Iscoyd Park.

The dancing was especially fun!

It was lovely to see the bride and groom so happy and to be with beloved family and friends.

Stayed at the estimable Cholmondeley Arms, where we used to break our journey years ago when coming back from Scotland. Now under different management, it was still recognisably the place we once knew but in a fresh and vibrant new guise.

canal, crumbs, frost, smoke

Usually at this time of year I can't walk into town along the canal towpath because it gets too muddy and I end up leaving trails of earthy crumbs throughout the library.

The first time this happened, I wondered who was making such a mess everywhere, until I realised it was me.

But on frosty days the mud freezes and I can cut down to the canal from the top of the Woodstock Road and take a crunchy walk and see what's been happening while I've been away.

This morning the ground was hard, although even at 8.30 am little patches were thawing where the sun fell in open spaces.

I always like passing the narrowboats near Elizabeth Jennings Way when the fires are lit and the smoke hangs in the air amongst the sunbeams.

mosses, cherwell boathouse, david bowie, better camera, e j moeran

A dark Valentine's eve. The brightest things were the mosses. Loved the patterns the twigs and bleached grass stalks made.

Off to Oxford on the bus earlier for a wonderful meal at the Cherwell Boathouse.

Have been listening to The Man Who Sold the World (J's choice) and Hunky Dory (my choice).

Upgraded my phone last week - better camera.

Have downloaded E J Moeran's Symphony in G minor, which I used to have on CD and now can't find (in a box somewhere, no doubt - but where?). A brilliant piece of music that I wanted to have close by again. Excellent version can be listened to here: http://www.moeran.net/Audio/Symphony.html.

curious, hawthorn in leaf - in january, tree down, daffodils up, great brook, chill wind, it's all happening

What a curious winter.

At the end of January, we saw a hawthorn in leaf near Weald - fresh, slightly waxy-looking leaves.

At Black Bourton the recent gales brought down a tree on the wilder side of the village green. Yet the daffodils growing on its roots soon righted themselves.

Heavy rains overnight on Saturday left the Great Brook, half-way between Cote and Chimney, full and brown.

Today there is a chill wind, which slips easily through the curtains and darts around the house, mocking the central heating and the log fire. A day that leaves you feeling tired and sickening for something, though I'm determined not to succumb.

In so many ways, it's all happening in 2016!