Saturday 24th November 2012 12.00pm

We’ve had a lot of rain in the south of England these last few days, so when I went for a drive to one of my stomping grounds in north Oxford, I decided to bring by camera for the ride.

I didn’t actually reach my destination, but sometimes the journey is more interesting isn’t it? The area around the River Cherwell is notorious for flooding, it’s why during normal weather its something of a green oasis just off the centre of the city. But when there’s significant rain, well the whole look of the place changes….

The Victoria Arms sits in the middle of it all, on top of a peninsula jutting out from Old Marston. That settlement has a split personality, the old village retaining the “Olde Worlde” feel in contrast to suburban New Marston. The pub describes itself as “The Pub by the river,” but today is was more like “The Pub by the lake.” Normally you can punt from the city to here, but not today!

The pub holds a few memories, my mate Dave used to be chef here, and I took Peter and Mao from Osaka here when they visited last February. It really is a lovely quiet spot, and a darned good pub. Yes, it is still open and the road down to it from Old Marston is on high ground!