Wulf's Web-Den

Thanks to the level of detail on OpenStreetMap, down to the level of footpaths round Oxford, I was able to find a new route to work this morning, cutting across part of the Lye Valley Nature Reserve. Not only will this save me a couple of minutes on the journey but it also means I spend less time exposed to traffic and manage to keep a little bit of countryside in my daily commute.

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I have watched a couple of episodes of Lewis this week from ITV's online player. Benefiting from very high production values, these programmes equal and exceed the Morse series which preceeded them. As with Morse, one of the main stars of most episodes is the Oxford setting; as I watch them, there is often a low key commentary running in my mind along the lines of "Broad Street... now on the High, opposite Queen's.... ah, I wonder where that is?".

I wonder if, in ten or fifteen years time, I will be enjoying a grandchild series called Hathaway?

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I'm off to South Park for my church gathering this morning — St Clement's is joining with many other churches from around Oxford for Love Oxford, a huge celebration in the open air. Last year I helped with stewarding but this year I have decided to just attend without the day-glo yellow jersey and soak up the atmosphere.

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christian

I have had a busy couple of days, delivering two talks at work. The first was at the university computer services department (OUCS) on the subject of building clever things (like picture galleries and videos) into to websites quickly and effectively by using online tools provided by the likes of Flickr and YouTube. The second was a rehash of a presentation I gave to our MSc in Rheumatology students earlier this year on using the EndNote reference manager software.

Both seemed to go pretty well, although next week will be a return to carving away at the pixel-face instead of putting pretty pictures up on big screens and trying to find useful things to say.

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If I were a football fan I may have felt conflicted on Sunday as Oxford United faced York City at Wembley. Should I support the city I am living in or the one where I spent my undergraduate years?

To be honest, not really a dilemma for me (although congratulations to Oxford on their win — I have the impression this was a big-deal win for them).

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You can tell I have had a busy day — I have only just got round to switching on my computer! Jane and I have been helping with the final setting up and then stewarding for the Artweeks event at St Clement's.

That picture shows the church as we began setting up last Sunday afternoon and it looks very different now. If you are in the area, you will find us as 171 in the guide and can visit us some time (times in the guide).

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Today sees a General Election in the UK as well as many local elections across the country. By tomorrow we should know who will be leading us during the next four or five years. Gordon Brown with a mandate of his own? David Cameron trying to persuade us that we've made a good choice and not started on a reenactment of the Thatcher years? Perhaps even Nick Clegg, since this election has been more of a three-horse race than many.

Whether the result is a clear victory for one party or the widely-expected hung parliament, I hope that the figures show a surge in voter interest. Perhaps it should be mandatory for British citizens and subjects (although you would then need a "none of the above" option)?

This evening I will go and cast my vote and tomorrow we will see the results.

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