The rink in Oxpens Road (the building that I only know as the “ship”, thanks to those 30 metre masts) is celebrating its 25^th anniversary on the weekend of 5^th December.

Home to a number of clubs and organisations (including the OXIST Ice Skating Club, Oxford Stars Ice Hockey team and a Junior Figure Skating Club to name the ones I know), it also offers lessons in figure skating and ice dance.

I went absolutely ages ago and remember being rubbish but enjoyed watching everyone else whizz round.

So anyway, it’s hosting a gala weekend to celebrate the anniversary, where you can watch World Professional Champions do their own twisting and twirling. More info can be found here

Anyway, I accept the irony that I am writing about it in early November but is it just me, or is the Christmas lights switch on happening earlier and earlier these days too? To be fair, anything that lights up these horrible dark nights is better than nothing?

So, here is the inevitable post publicising the different events. Click here to find your nearest Christmas light switch on in Oxford and surrounding areas.

I know that it will continue to excite children for years to come so who am I to start complaining? ‘Christmas in Oxford’ on Friday 27^th November may even be one that I attend – lets hope the Christmas jingles haven’t got the better of me by then!

I also like the October / November events calendar – Halloween is round the corner so don’t forget to check out the fancy dress shops in Oxford or you could always try one of Oxford’s ghost tours to really get those goose bumps going.

And then of course there’s always Bonfire Night. As always, South Parks (Headington) hosts the annual Round Table charity fireworks display, which this year takes place on Saturday 7^th November.

Not only raises money for charity but entertains over 15,000 spectators every year with one of the largest bonfires in Oxfordshire. Gates open from 5pm, with food stalls and a funfair to experience before over £11,000 worth of fireworks are set off for you to “ooh” and “ahh” over – enjoy!

Wishing you luck for the start of term!

A big wheel, in Oxford??! I know that tourism drives the local economy and that it’s proved a success in some places, but I really am not a huge fan of this idea.

We have a fantastic city, inspirational spires and beautiful architecture. I just think a big wheel cheapens it all, no matter what anyone says about the “wonderful views” there will be. I can just about cope with St Giles Fair but at least that’s only for a couple of days, whereas these big wheel plans are for November – January.

It will also be interesting to see what impact it has on the current tourist attractions in Oxford. The top five activities at the moment stand at:

• Castle Unlocked
• Carfax Tower
• Walking tours
• Open top bus tours
• Christ Church

Can anyone ever see the big wheel topping these charts??

In fact, according to our latest figures, searches for cricket sports equipment and sportswear in Oxford, along with local cricket clubs, have surged dramatically since the start of the Ashes. I wonder if any budding young cricket players in this area will end up helping lift that little urn at some point in the future?

That could all change, apparently. Oxford Airport has recently been flying people to Jersey, and now we may soon be able to fly not only to UK cities but also to destinations like Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels and Geneva.

It’s been reported in the Oxford Mail;

“Bosses at the Kidlington-based airport have been in discussion with several operators about starting daily business flights to European capitals, as well as offering further weekly charter flights for tourists”

That means, in the time it normally takes to drive to Luton, park, check in, shuffle through security, you could be sitting with your feet up in some European city. And the whole dilemma about whether you may get snarled up in the M25 traffic would be a distant memory.

Excellent idea I say. Fingers crossed all the ideas take off… ha ha

No, suspected not. It’s reasonably useful for finding out what is rattling the cages of the Council at the moment though… and the current hot topic is the battle about improvements to Junction 9 of the M40.

Basically, motorists have been complaining about the traffic jams at the junction for years, but now it emerges that any further improvements depend on an eco-town being given the green light (excuse the pun)

Our esteemed leader, Cllr Keith Mitchell, gets quite irate at this point:

“Perhaps those at Whitehall who have taken this decision would like to travel on this section of the M40 on any day of the week and see what it is like now – without a single brick of the proposed eco-town ever having been laid. While they are at it they could travel down the two-lane A34, rush hour would be a good time.”

At least he promises that “Oxfordshire County Council will not give up on this” and hopefully, in the future, we may actually be able to sail up and down the M40 as we please.

It’s definitely worth checking your pocket to see if you find that coin that’s the equivalent of the ‘golden ticket’.

It seems a local lad has picked up one of the few 20 pence pieces that are suddenly fetching in hundreds of pounds.

The Royal Mint mix up has seen a batch of twenty pence coins produced without a date. A new design last year saw the date move to the “heads” side of the coin, but some coins were produced with the newly designed back and the old front – in other words, two sides with no date.

What should you do if you find one?

Most seem to have found their way onto ebay, but they are now considered a collectors’ item so who knows if they will increase in value in years to come?

If you just want to cash in now however, you can just register your details with The London Mint Office before sending in the coin and claiming your reward.

Check out their website for more details: www.undated20p.com