Round&About’s Top 10 Market Walks: 07. Oxford Christmas Market
November may be firework month, but once the last firework has landed we know we are also getting closer to Christmas. Whilst many of us don’t want to think about getting started on the all important shopping, well it must be done. Therefore, this month, Christopher Fisher puts Oxford on the market rundown as the relaxing walk will guarantee a kick-start to your festive shopping! Don’t forget we are now living on winter time, so make sure you get finished before dusk hits! The market will be held between 26th November and 12th December and the opening hours are Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. 8 p.m. and Sunday through to Wednesday from 10a.m. to 6p.m.
- Park your car in the Gloucester Green car park on Beaumont Street. (Parking starts at £2.30 for up to one hour.)
- Once on Beaumont Street, walk to the end of the street and turn left onto St Giles’ Street.
- Walk along the road until you reach a fork; take the right fork onto Banbury Road, the A4165.
- Take the first road on the right, Keble Road.
- Follow the road to its end and turn left onto an un-named road. Turn left onto it but take the first footpath off to your right.
- Walk straight ahead until you reach a fork. Take the right fork; the track will pass by The Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum and Sir William Dunn School of Pathology on your right.
Read more of this walk online at http://www.roundandabout.co.uk/
Second Nature
With National Tree Week taking place between 27th November and 5th December, Christopher Fisher pays close attention to the trees which represent more than a tree; they have roots stemming from the past.
The first National Tree week was planted in the public diary in 1975 and is run by the Tree Council; since then, as the annual final leaves of autumn drop and the winter winds blow the brown leaves away, the week-long celebration of the tree begins. The prominent event marks the beginning of the winter tree-planting season and also aims to bring communities together to get involved in all projects tree-like.
Every year, the Tree Council member organisations such as voluntary bodies and local authorities, up to 200 schools and community groups, 8,000 Tree Council Wardens support the initiative by setting up fun events, inspiring upward of a quarter of a million people to get their hands dirty and together plant around a million trees.
As new trees are planted, so must historical trees be remembered...
Read more of this feature in the November issue of Hertfordshire Countryside
Roaming Rome
I have been really busy, so sorry for not blogging lately. Last week I was in Rome and had a great time. The weather was more or less sunny (one day of rain.) and I saw nearly everything. I say nearly, as I wanted to visit The Forum but there was a strike on so couldn't do. I did visit Florence instead which was just stunning.
The Crowne Plaza was nice; I couldn't really criticise the room in any way as it was lovely. I love Italy so much, the Italians just resonate a laid-back attitude which makes a holiday even more relaxing. Actually, on my wish list of things to do in 2011 is to learn Italian, although I have been told it is hard to do. Any way, back to my trip to Italy...
It goes without saying that beer and roman ruins just don't go together! I popped into a bar near the Coloseum and ordered a large beer. Okay, there is large and LARGE! It was very refreshing, particularly in the warm weather, but it was not very practical when you are going to wander around the Coloseum afterwards! Worse still, I was lured into a guided tour of the Coloseum and Roman Forum together and after queueing to get in, I really was more interested in finding a toilet. I eventually had to leave the tour and seek out a toilet-missing The Forum too! Oh well...
The Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps were beautiful. My favourite place was sadly only found a couple of days before going home, but I know I will be coming back, so hopefully next time I can enjoy more time in Piazza Navona. It really is the nicest place to have a beer, do some people watching and chill.
My real highlight was watching a truly beautiful religious ceremony take place in St Peter's Square. So many people were in the square and it was just magnificent.
My favourite places:
The Colosseum: http://www.the-colosseum.net/idx-en.htm
Through The Garden Gate
You might enjoy time in your own garden this August, but what about enjoying the delights of some others too? Christopher Fisher tours some of Hertfordshire’s finest.
Hertfordshire has plenty of public parks and gardens which are perfect to explore during those long sultry and sunny days. One which is perfect to quench your thirst is Cedars Park, Theobalds Lane, Waltham Cross, as there is a perfect cafe to park yourself in and watch the world slowly move around you. There is history here too, as you will find the remains of Theobalds Palace here. In fact, the site was the location for two houses: one built with a moat, whilst the second was the home of Lord Burghley. Inspiration from the lavish palace’s garden originated from a chateau near Paris. Today, the park is full of delights: give yourself time to have a wander taking in ornamental gardens, woodland areas, a heritage trail, pets' corner, landscaped water gardens, a rose walk and an arboretum.
To read more, make sure you purchase the August issue of Hertfordshire Countryside, out now!
Round&About Top 10 Market Walks. Walk 10: Bicester Farmers’ Market
Markets are hubs of community spirit; with this in mind, Christopher Fisher launches a brand-new series counting down the area’s top markets and incorporates fantastic walks across the local area. So get your calendar and boots at the ready! The countdown begins with a visit to Bicester Farmers’ Market, which is taking place on Thursday August 12th 2010. Set out early, as the market is open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m and the route is at least two hours.
- The walk starts at The Trigger Pond pub in Bucknell. You can leave the car in the car park locked up safely, as this is a circular walk. It’s a medium-length walk, and with August hopefully full of glorious sunshine, layers are not required, but with our ever-changeable British weather, don’t forget the umbrella! Exit the car park and turn right onto Bicester Road. Follow the road until you meet a crossroads with a Post Office situated on its corner.
To read more about this walk, visit http://www.roundandabout.co.uk
Last Night of the Proms at Audley End
It's that time of the year again! Where is the summer going? In fact, where is the British summer!? I wanted a nice summer evening, full of sunny spells, for Audley End's big finale, but all we got was high cloud and drizzle. That's not entirely fair, as Lesley Garrett was superb and Wynne Evans outstanding and The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra wonderful. Nattering over a glass of bubbly and watching day turn to night in the grounds of the beautuful manor house was great. I do love this evening, as it sums up real Britishness; with the Union Jack flying and everyone singing Jerusalem you get a wonderful feeling of connectedness. The fireworks were a great way of ending a superb night. Only, next year, please can we have sunshine!
LINKS
Audley End House: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/audley-end-house-and-gardens/
Lesley Garrett: http://www.lesleygarrett.co.uk/
Wynne Evans: http://www.wynneevans.co.uk/
The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra: http://www.rpo.co.uk/
Hertfordshire By Numbers
Christopher Fisher shows how numbers are important to Hertfordshire in the May issue of Hertfordshire Countryside
Christopher Fisher investigates why numbers are so important to Herfordshire.
01: HOW ONE MILL LED THE WAY IN HERTFORD
Hertford entrepreneur John Tate launched the country’s first paper mill in 1494. Sele Mill became a prototype for many others developed across the UK and was located on North Road, opposite the hospital. The business was so successful that King Henry VII visited. The original mill sadly burned down, but it was eventually re-built. More recently the mill has been converted into private accommodation.
To read more of this feature, check out the May issue of Hertfordshire Countryside, out now!
..let the dust cloud bring problems…
As if hearing that a close family relative had died miles away from home was not enough, I awoke on my final morning to a friend's text asking if I was able to return home that day. Confused, I replied with 'what do you mean?' All he replied was 'turn the television on.' I did and learned that the UK airspace had come to a standstill because of the ashcloud which had emerged from the Icelandic volcano. Realising there was no way I could return by air, I frantically searched for availiable seats on trains and after a while managed to get a journey booked to take me, if not very slowly, home later that day. It seems I was lucky as there were not many seats left. So, even though it took me six hours to return home, eventually I did get there. And I got some surprises en-route. The train travelled over The Tay Bridge, giving me superb views of the surrounding countryside. On the approach to Edinburgh I got to see a stunning Firth of Forth. So...it was not all bad!
Assignment Scotland: Dundee
Circling over Dundee with the sun setting, I was just able to make over the cluster of buildings far below which made up Dundee city centre. Within moments we had touched down on the tarmac and seconds later (quite literally) I was waiting for my baggage in the baggage reclaim area. The whole flight was run superbly by CityJet and Dundee's Airport was tiny, cute and well-run. It was great to know within minutes of landing I would be sitting at a table in my hotel enjoying a late dinner.
I was staying at the Apex City Quay & Spa because I was impressed with the Apex hotel in Edinburgh I stayed at recently. The room was lovely, wooden floors, a relaxing spa-style shower and had two windows looking it on the quayside. This also ensured the room was full of natural light, which was superb. Oh, and not forgetting the lovely food on offer in the restaurant.
I was really interested in Dundee; it had some great tourist attractions that are not publicised enough, such as The McManus Art Gallery and Museum and RRS Discovery. It was nice to stroll through the quaint city squares, wander along the cobbled streets and take in the University of Dundee. More importantly, I got some great images for my 1950s item-those you can't see (for now!), but you can enjoy some general snaps of the city.
Birds-eye view of London
I flew recently with CityJet from London City to Dundee, in order for me to continue my 1950s resesarch. I must say I was really impressed with London City Airport, it's so dinkie! The runway is so hidden from view; when I was on the Docklands Light Railway on the airport approach I was trying to work out where it was. But, then you see planes take off and it baffles you even more!
The airport was superb, although I do think £20 for 2 glasses of wine was dear. (Okay, I do sound like my nan, don't I?) And what about CityJet? What a lovely airline! Complimentary drinks and sandwiches. Comfortable seats. Great stuff!
Anyway, I managed to bag a window seat and managed to get some great photographs of London...take 
a look!