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Light in the Evening
In Oxford, we have enjoyed a day blushing with the promise of spring. I hope that not too many plants are fooled into budding as I expect there will be some more cold spells to come but, nonetheless, it was an enjoyable change after a rather damp, chilly week.
What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to cycle home in the light. Partly that was down to having had a couple of slightly later nights this week and then an early meeting to start the morning. However, that just meant that I was early enough not to have to stick my lights on and there was still ample light when I arrived home. Roll on spring!
Snow on Snow
I enjoyed a excellent conference in London yesterday about the UK PubMed Central service (an information tool around academic bioscience publications). Not only was it packed with material that is very relevant to my job but it was also a pleasure to walk on pavements that were clear of snow and slush.
Therefore I was disappointed this morning to look out of the window this morning and see the paths we had cleared in the garden and the signs of a thaw were covered with more snow and more snow was drifting down in tiny flecks. Ah, the bleak midwinter!
Walk or Cycle?
I'm trying to weigh up whether to walk or cycle into work today. I cycled on Friday, which was okay, but I did come off the bike once. I hurt my left hand a bit, which has all cleared up now but I'm not sure I want to risk it again. There is a fresh covering of fairly slushy snow outside at the moment and the possibility of more to come so it might be safer to walk.
Probably not enough to justify staying at home and building snowmen though!
Snow Report
Most of the snow that fell around Oxford a couple of days ago has now disappeared; it was a fairly paltry covering to begin with. I cannot say that I am bitterly disappointed. It was pleasant to see but I have a couple of long journeys to make over the next fortnight and I would rather see pictures of snow than experience it first hand.
We will have to see what comes though - it still feels icy outside, even in the middle of the day.
Vigilant
Tonight Jane and I are planning to spend some time at the candlelit vigil being held outside St Michael in the Northgate in Oxford, which is part of the World Wants a Real Deal day of global action (details on Avaaz). We didn't get down to London for last week's Wave event but this will be our contribution to say that we want Gordon Brown and his colleagues to take us on a path that is significantly more environmentally conscious.
If the weather is not too wet, I might even take my camera and get a few pictures.
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Advent Carols
Jane and I enjoyed a wonderful Advent carol service this evening in the Queen's College chapel. It was a beautiful service in a beautiful setting. Having been doing a fair amount of choral singing myself recently, I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to listen to the college choir during the carols they performed for us (as well as joining in on the ones we sang together). The sound of blended voices in that high vaulted building was transcendent.
Despite having been in Oxford for a year that was actually the first time I had ventured into one of the colleges; I can't think of a better way to have crossed that barrier.
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Shiver!
Today sees the coldest morning so far this winter in Oxford. Technically, if you count winter as just December to February, that is not particularly difficult but, if you were sat here trying to type with hands defrosting from being out feeding the chickens and emptying the kitchen compost buckets, you would probably be inclined to agree. Shiver!
