How to tell your boss how you really feel!?

After many years of resisting temptation, Joanna, OISE Oxford's anti-technology veteran, has finally caved and bought herself a smart phone. Many times she would argue, "why would I need to check the weather?" or "I don't want to be able to check my emails on the go!". Not any more - the Gmail application is well and truly downloaded, along with Whatsapp and a few other beauties. Before long these apps will be in fierce competition for a place on screen numero uno.

I, on the other hand, think smart phones are amazing. Apart from the obvious advantages of being able to connect to the internet, some of the applications are just brilliant. My favourites have to be Ebay and the Royal Cars app. The latter, an app created by an Oxford based taxi company which you can use to order taxis that pick you up from either a pre installed 'favourite address' or they locate you using the phone's GPS signal. Of course, you could just call them, but if you're in a noisy place or just plain lazy then then the app is great. Oh, and the BBC News app definitely deserves a mention, too.

For the managers and company owners out there (or at least for the ones that are concerned about the happiness of their colleagues/employees), why not have a look at Tinypulse. Tinypulse sends out a survey every week to the company employees allowing them to express how happy they are, anonymously of course. 'It allows bosses to gather weekly surveys from their workers, and provides a channel through which workers can raise issues and communicate with their bosses. Employers can tailor the surveys, and can also give positive feedback straight to workers.' Click on the image below to read more:

 

Is lab-grown meat the future?

OISE Oxford's in-house meat eater is not fussy when it comes to food, and claims to absolutely love meat, especially steak. "Personally, while the idea of lab-grown meat sounds a little strange, I would definitely give it a try. It will only improve with time," he says. On the other side of the dinner table is OISE Oxford's in-house vegetarian. When asked her opinion of lab-grown meat, she claims "it all seems a bit too odd for me, and I'm not sure that I would trust it. I'm sure there must be an ethical argument there, too."

How is it made?

'It starts with stem cells extracted from cow muscle tissue. In the laboratory, these are cultured with nutrients and growth-promoting chemicals to help them develop and multiply. Three weeks later, there are more than a million stem cells, which are put into smaller dishes where they coalesce into small strips of muscle about a centimetre long and a few millimetres thick. These strips are collected into small pellets, which are frozen.

When there are enough, they are defrosted and compacted into a patty just before being cooked.' According to researchers, ' the technology could be a sustainable way of meeting what they say is a growing demand for meat.'

What about the taste? Can they actually reproduce the texture and flavour of meat?

Well, according to one food critic, Josh Schonwald, "The mouthfeel is like meat. I miss the fat, there's a leanness to it, but the general bite feels like a hamburger."

Will this be the answer for all vegetarians that choose not to eat meat as they feel bad for indirectly killing animals?

While many vegetarian's will probably have mixed views, the meat grown this way must seem more appealing. Leader of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Ingrid Newkirk, claims that while she herself is repulsed by the idea of eating any flesh food, at least this way people will get meat from a more humane source.

What are the reader's views on this topic? Would they try a juicy lab-burger/hot dog/lamb chop?

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23576143

Takashi, OISE Oxford's Tennis Supremo!

The word around the OISE Oxford block was that we had a pro tennis player in town. His name: Takashi Kawamura. Takashi first started playing at high school, following a 5 year bout of severe illness. He was introduced to the game by his mother and brother, both of which were and continue to be keen players.

After playing for his high school, he then entered St. Pauls University, Tokyo, where he was made 1st team captain. While in those days baseball was the most popular sport (closely followed by football), St Paul's prided itself on the tennis team, which started over 95 years ago. We thought it would be interesting to ask Takashi a little more about his tennis career:

Q. When did you start playing professionally?
A. I started playing professionally when I left university. I started working for a big IT company, and was soon asked to play for the company tennis team. In Japan, some employees are hired only to play for the company team. The company pay you a basic salary, and then on top of that they give you money for playing, travelling, event registration, coaching etc. Of course, at the tournaments, the company's name and logo are sprawled across your shirt. Many of the players stay with a company for two years and then move on. Fortunately I was hired for my academic achievements, and so the tennis was just an added bonus for them.

Q. What are you best at? Serving, forehand, backhand?
A. You would be surprised. Of course the very best players have everything, but the main thing at all levels, I would say, is to be fit, mentally and physically. For the two years that I played for my company I was extremely fit. It took a lot out of me. Training during the weekends and then games and tourments during the week, as well as work!

Q. Who is the best player you have ever played against?
A. It has to be Mitsuru Takada, at the time one of Japan's top 10 players. Yes, he was very good, an ATP player.

Q. What was the score?
A. 0-6, 1-6, he laughs.

Q. How do you see the future of Japanese tennis?
A. Well, I think tennis is certainly becoming more popular. This is partly thanks to Kei Nishikori,
Japan's current number one and #11 in the world seedings. He is doing very well at getting the youth of our country engaged in the sport. I think Japanese tennis has a bright future. Who knows, it may overtake baseball soon!

*Note: OISE Oxford's Academic Assistant, Karol Bucky, and fellow student Mikhail thought they would challenge Takashi and another student to a doubles match at the grass courts in North Oxford. It was clear that Takashi was of a different calibre. "He was strong and played very elegantly," said Karol.

Big Black Cat Alert

Snakes, piranhas, deadly spiders, crocodiles and killer bees are all animals that you would not find in the UK. In fact, there aren't really any wild animals that we need to worry about. Instead our green pastures are filled with sheep, cows and horses. Or are they?

 

In Somerset, a county west of England, there have been 'a “substantial” number of reported sightings of big cats in the past year,' thought to be either lynx or pumas. Sir Benjamin, a man living in the area, owns a large estate where these big cats have been roaming around. Allegedly they have also left the remains of chickens and foxes scattered over his lawn.

He said: “They don’t exactly stand still and pose, which is the problem. It’s got a long tail and seemed to be quite big.

“Apparently these things will do 30 to 40 miles in a night. We are next to the Somerset Levels, which are 250 miles of fields and bogs where nobody lives.

“There is a possibility that this thing is bigger than a puma – it is probably quite frightening.

“We have put signs up telling people to keep their dogs in the car because there is a big cat about.

“We need this thing out of the way before it eats somebody. I’ve got a wedding business here and we are very worried about our guests – they might wander off-piste and get gobbled up.”

 

So, next time you decide to do some hiking through the Somerset Levels at night, don't say we didn't warn you!

 

 

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10202296/Aristocrat-warns-visitors-after-big-cat-photographed-on-his-estate.html

Student Spotlight with Luis 'El Torero' Oloriz

At OISE Oxford we are fortunate enough to meet students from all around the world, many of them with very interesting stories to tell. The Student Spotlight sessions that we post on this blog allow us to share these stories with you. So far we have had a Florist from Italy and a famous actor.

Today's Student Spotlight session was with 37 year old Luis Oloriz, a bullfighter from Ondarreta, a small Spanish pueblo near San Sebastian. At first sight you wouldn't think that Luis was a bullfighter. He has a slight build, soft calm voice, and not a hint of bravado about him. His bullfighting name was, rather appropriately, 'The Slim One from Ondarreta  (El Finito de Ondarreta . It's hard to imagine him in the ring with a 300-400kg charging bull. So here is the interview:

Q: When did you start getting into bullfighting?
A: I started about 10 years ago, just as a hobby. A local farmer friend of the family had a field and some bulls and said I could give it a go, and so I thought why not try it. It was soon apparent that I was actually quite good and I was encouraged to partake in a proper bullfighting event.

I should add that in Spain there are two types of professional bullfighters, a Torero and a Matador. Toreros fight more on a local level with slightly smaller bulls and the Matadors are, if you like, the equivalent of the football Premier League footballers, with only 12 Matadors in the whole of Spain.

Q: Do you still fight?

A: No, I gave up about a year ago. But I miss it and would like to start again. At my level, it's not really a profession that provides enough income to live from. Most Toreros, right down to the younger age groups will study and/or train at the same time, as well as having a day job.

Training takes a lot of dedication. It is great for teaching the young ones to stay focussed. To improve, not only do they have to keep fit, but they also have to read up on the sport and remain committed. All of these are useful qualities for later on in life. Furthermore, bullfighters usually come from the small rural villages where there's not much to do, so it's fantastic to keep them active.

Q: What's the scariest moment?
A: I would say right at the start. In any given day there will usually be around 5-6 fights, and only just before the start of the match do they tell you which bull you will be fighting. Obviously they vary, weight, size of horns, aggression etc. Once you've agreed to partake in the event, no matter how big and ugly that bull is, there's no turning back, otherwise no one will involve you in the next one.

If the bull charges through the red cape without stopping, you're OK. If it hesitates before, that's when you've got a problem, as he might turn his horns towards you. You have to keep the cape moving while keeping your body still.




Q: It must be quite a feeling to know that everyone is cheering you on?
A: Well, to be honest I am not really concentrating on the crowd, but the big bull in front of me. I do enjoy the adrenalin, though, and I particularly enjoy the personal challenge. While you are part of a team, out there in the ring you are alone, just you and the bull.



Q: How many spectators will attend a bullfight?
A: Well around 10,000 spectators come to watch the Matadors, and 3,000 to watch the Toledos.


Q: So people must recognise you in the street?
A: Yes, of course. While the Toreros may have a smaller number of spectators, people come from all across Spain to watch us in the ring.



Q: Bullfighting is quite a controversial topic in Spain. What are you views?
A:Well, in Spain I think it's less to do with animal cruelty and more to do with political reasons. Many see bullfighting as being a typically Spanish tradition, and they do not think of themselves as Spanish, rather Catalan, Basque, Galician etc.





 

What to eat when it's hot hot hot..?

When the weather is hot, there are certain recipes that just won't do. For starters, you can forget (hot) soups, stews and Sunday roasts. What you want is some jamon serrano over cold honeydew melon, or chorizo with bread and freshly whizzed gazpacho. And of course BBQs, lots of BBQs!

While the English aren't famed for their culinary abilities, we do still have a few tasty numbers up our sleeves. Here are a few summer recipes that some of Britain's top chefs have created:

1 - Lemon and herb marinated salmon skewers:

This marinated salmon recipe is a fantastic way to barbecue salmon in the summer. Salmon is a wonderful lighter alternative to the usual meats that grace a barbecue grill, and Marcello Tully's recipe really makes the salmon shine.

2 - Mackerel, tomato and samphire salad

This elegant mackerel salad recipe is a perfect dish to serve up as a light main or starter in the summer months. The fish in this salad is paired with tomato and samphire, with a warm mayonnaise which uses reserved tomato stock. Nathan Outlaw is known for his wonderful fish and seafood dishes and this mackerel recipe is another example.

3 - Asparagus and chervil quiche

It is a magnificent spring starter for when asparagus is in season and the inclusion of Parma ham is a classic combination. This asparagus quiche recipe would work well in a summer picnic or with a seasonal summer salad.

If you like the sound of these dishes and fancy giving them a go at home, click on the image below for their full ingredients and guidance on how to make them!

How much do you know about Britain?

The Guardian newspaper have very kindly created a quiz to see how much the British people know about Britain consisting of questions regarding various social issues.

Embarrassingly, two of the OISE Oxford members of staff, both British, managed only to get an average of 5/10. Agreed, the questions are a little random, but still, one would expect slightly higher scores from native Britons.

How well do you think you know Britain? Why don't you give this quiz a go by clicking on the picture below.

 

The Legend that is Andy Murray

Today in the news there was one name that just kept popping up and that was Britain's newest hero, Andy Murray. It was 77 years since a British man won the prestigious Wimbledon tennis tournament, and on Sunday, our hero put an the end of this grueling wait. 

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, was so overjoyed with Murray's success that he has even suggested knighthood. A bit over the top, perhaps, but his victory certainly lifted the spirits of the British public, including those of the staff here at OISE Oxford.

Today Mr Cameron and other politicians put their political differences aside as they chatted to Murray in the No 10 garden. 'Mr Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Scottish National Party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson listened intently to Murray, who just 24 hours earlier had claimed a historic victory.'1

Britain's Latest Reality TV Craze

The first series of Big Brother marked the start of Britain's reality TV boom. The series soon spread to other countries and became a global sensation with hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in every day. 

It is hard to say why it became so popular, and after the second series it began to get, well,  a little boring. 28 series later, their fanbase has, rather understandably, ebbed away, with a few die hard followers still clinging on. Other popular reality TV shows include The Apprentice, Britain's Got Talent, and The X-Factor.

More recently a new kind of television has spawned, known as the structured reality TV show. These type of shows aim to give the public a glimpse of what life is like when living, and being part of a society in a specific area of Britain. So far three of these kind of series have been screened: The Only Way is Essex, Made in Chelsea and Geordie Shores. 

A few members of OISE Oxford's staff admit a guilty pleasure in watching Made in Chelsea (AKA MIC). It follows the lives of a group of extremely wealthy twenty-something year olds living the high life in one of central London's most affluent areas. It is undeniably cringeworthy and a lot of the scenarios are quite obviously set up. However, it is worth mentioning that a few of the actors are local Oxford folks, which, as you can imagine, makes it all the more entertaining. Or is that just a bad excuse?

Click on the image below to read more about the latest gossip from MIC

Eights Week, Battle of the Oxford Colleges

Another of Oxford's great summer traditions is just round the corner.  For almost 200 years the fifth week of Oxford University's summer term is Eights Week, or the annual battle among the colleges to be 'Head of the River'.

 

An eight is an 8 oared racing boat and every college has at least 2 men's and 2 women's boats. With 38 colleges competing it's a very big regatta, and it goes on every afternoon from Wednesday to Saturday with races every 30 minutes from Iffley Lock to Folly Bridge. This year it starts on Wednesday 22 May and the last race is around 6pm on Saturday 25 May when the first crew to reach Folly Bridge will be crowned head, and then get thrown into the river.

 

As the Thames is narrow it's impossible to race side by side, so a system of literally 'bumping' the crew in front has developed; the rules are a bit complex and most spectators don't understand them, but are there just to enjoy the party. Especially on the Saturday thousands head for Christ Church Meadow where they crowd the various college boathouses which line the bank just where the river Cherwell meets the Thames. There is music and many colleges offer drinks and BBQs to entertain students and townies alike.

 

Usually OISE Oxford organises a walk down to the river for the students to see the fun and soak up the atmosphere.

 

And who is going to win? Well, Oriel College (where the Queen had lunch recently and which happened to be the last college to admit women) are the current champions and thus have the advantage of starting first, are in with a good chance. They have some students who rowed in this year's boat race so I am tipping them to win again as they have so often in the last 25 years - they are the Manchester United of student rowing.

 

 

Bumping Race at Oxford, John Thomas, 1822

Flora Day - The Best Day of the Year...Probably

May 8th, is a great day in Helston, perhaps the greatest day of the year. It is Flora Day!!! This day is seen by many Helstonians as a much improved version of Christmas. It is perhaps more readily and excitingly anticipated by this Cornish market town than Christmas Day. It is a time when the whole town (apart from my parents, who are not see keen on the crowds) line the streets to take part in one in what is thought to be one of the country's oldest traditions. 

It is an ancient festival, which celebrates the arrival of spring and the end of winter. Its origins are believed to be connected with pagan rites of fertility. The town looks glorious on this special day. It is decorated with greenery, bluebells and bright yellow gorse to express the spirit of renewal.

Celebrations start just after dawn, when the big bass drum strikes to commence the first dance at 7am. Some eighty couples dance through the streets, entering selected houses and shops to drive out the darkness of winter and bring in the light of spring.

The main dance, at midday, sees men in morning dress and top hats and women in rather spectacular dresses (not always in the right way), hats and gloves leave the Guildhall and dance around the town.

The event, which attracts large crowds every year, is usually held on 8 May, unless that day is a Sunday or Monday.

I would encourage everyone to experience this great Cornish festival. If you are in Cornwall today, there is still chance to catch rather merry and slightly weary dancers weave and sway through the streets in the last dance at 5pm. 

Next year the festival will be taking place on Thursday 8th May 2014. Get it in the diary!  I would recommend the purchasing the the Official Guide so you can truly be in the know and experience the festival like a local.

For those who can not attend this year, I would console yourselves by listening to Terry Wogan's version of the Furry Dance, the tune of Flora Day.  I have been playing this on repeat all day.

Happy Flora Day everyone!

 

Punting Season is Back!

Fact: Punting is one of the most enjoyable past times known to man. For those of you that don't know what it is, think Venetian gondola, but instead of a curled oar you control the speed and direction of the boat with a long (approx. 4-5 metre) pole.

In Oxford people mainly punt on the River Cherwell, which flows from the north of Oxford, through the University Parks, joining the River Thames next to Queen's College Recreation Ground in Southeast Oxford.

Mastering the art of punting takes a while, but with a little patience, most people get the hang of it fairly quickly. For those of you that are yet to experience their first attempt at punting, think direction not speed.

Here at OISE Oxford, punting is an essential part of our cultural leisure programme, and we are thoroughly looking forward to this year's punting antics! To see some of the photos from last summer's OISE Oxford punting sessions, click on the photo below.

Packing for the hols

Continuing on the theme of the summer holiday, today's blog post is focussing on OISE Oxford's recommendations for holiday packing.

I find packing a most distressing experience.  I like to spend days before the big pack thinking about what to pack, though rarely making any effort to put anything in a bag (which would be helpful).  I also like to spend the days before purchasing new items for the holiday - it is just far easier to buy new than to wash existing clothes.  However, I have found that financially this can somewhat limit the actual holiday experience by not having the available funds to explore quite as much when in the holiday destination.  Then the actual day of packing usually starts at the very last minute, typically at nightfall and in a cold panic.  Urgh.

Things not to forget on holiday:

• Passport (essential for the foreign get-away)
• Sun cream (typically not used on the first day, then regretted)
• Allergy tablets (for that dusty hotel room or pollen filled sunny country)
• Anti-bacterial hand gel (essential for public transport)
• Plug adapter (to charge up the essential mobile phone etc)
• Rescue Remedy (because it is calming and reassuring, and tastes nice)

For the fashionistas, Lauren Laverne provides some fashion tips in The Observer for the holiday goer.  I will attempt to adhere to the following recommendations when I next pack in the hope to reduce some packing panic.

1 To pack and dress easily, limit yourself to three (complementary) shades. Then everything goes together without being too matchy.

2 Holiday Clothes are performing a function, don't feel obliged to maintain your usual look. Simplify, and don't pack anything you can't wear three times or three ways.

3 Layers. If you are holidaying in the UK keep them light but numerous, and you should be climate-proof and able to close your suitcase. Dresses you can wear with leggings, a rainproof poncho to go over a light jacket, a big multifunctional scarf...

4 Shoes. Even if you're going for a month, you only need three pairs: flipflops, ballet pumps and a pair you can walk all day in. Wear the latter during travel.

5 Crease-free fabrics. Jersey, Lycra and a couple of light wool bits are your best bets. 

'Massive' cliff fall near Durdle Door

The UK is an island nation.  It has a coastline which measures about 12,429 km.  

The South West Coast Path is a favourite among coastline enthusiasts.  However, sadly for these enthusiasts recent figures released have revealed that there have been 10 times more landslips than normal over this winter with a substantial landslip taking place over night in Dorset.

The South West Coast Path Association report that 30 slips and cliff falls have been recorded since November.  Whilst between 2007 and 2012 there were only 11 major cliff falls that resulted in a diversion of the coast path.

The South West Coast Path, which is 630 miles long (1,014km), starts at Minehead in Somerset and follows the entire South West peninsula covering Devon and Cornwall's north and south coasts all the way to Poole Harbour in Dorset.

The association, which supports and promotes the path, said prolonged rainfall has made the cliffs along it far more unstable than normal.  Many sections of the path have had to be diverted as a result of the falls, with many warning signs erected to walkers to take extra care.  

The particularly substantial landslip, which took place last night happened at St Oswald's Bay, east of Durdle Door (Dorset).

A coastguard spokesman said: "It is huge - a massive fall has taken out part of the cliff. It is rather extraordinary."

A spokesman for the Lulworth Estate which owns the land report that he cliffs along the Dorset coast are in a "fragile" state due to wet weather over the past 12 months, followed by recent dry conditions.

"Visitors should exercise awareness of their surroundings and pay attention to warning signs when walking near the cliffs," he added.

Take care coastpath enthusiasts over the approaching Bank Holiday weekend!

Above: The cliff fall happened overnight at St Oswald's Bay

The Exquisite Blenheim Palace

As the sun begins to make a more regular appearance, attractions of Oxford and the surrounding areas become considerably more appealing. This is certainly true of the exquisite Blenheim Palace, an early 18th century stately home situated 8 miles north of Oxford in a little village called Woodstock.

Blenheim Palace was a gift from Queen Anne and a grateful nation to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough following his famous victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. It is surrounded by over 2,000 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscaped parkland, the great lake, and beautiful formal gardens.

This year Blenheim Palace will of course be on OISE Oxford's cultural leisure programme. Click on the image below to see some student photos from the cultural leisure programme of summer 2012.

The London Marathon 2013!

This Sunday the 5th largest marathon in the world will be taking place on the streets of London. 37,000 runners will be taking part in the 26.2 mile race (42km), and there will be no shortage of hustle and bustle!

The London Marathon was founded in 1981 by former Olympian Chris Brasher and Welsh athlete John Disley. The event's competitors participate for a number of reasons, the main one being to raise money for charity. It provides the public the opportunity to dig deep and donate what they can to the friends, family and colleagues taking part. Quite often one of the conditions of sponsorship is that the runner must dress up in an amusing costume.

Among the runners will be British long distance runner, Mo Farah, tipped to win this year's event, following his magnificent performance in the Olympic games last summer. 

Here at OISE Oxford, we wish all of Sunday's runners the very best of luck!

Photography

It has been discovered that many of OISE's students are not only talented linguists, but have an excellent eye for photography.

We have received the following superb photographs from students in the past.  If you have a photograph of Oxford or of your time at OISE Oxford please share them with us we would be delighted to see them.  Our contact e-mail address is: oxford@oise.com

The view from Carfax Tower (Artem)

The view across Christ Church Meadow (Vladislav)

Loch Ness Monster II

To follow on from our post back in October "The Loch Ness monster, Britain's greatest monstrous mystery!" we have another Loch Ness related blog post and update on this fascinating mystery.  

This weekend to mark the monster's first sighting 80 years ago a weekend symposium took place at Edinburgh science fesitval.   "We are here today to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first modern sighting." Gordon Rutter, biology teacher and one of the organisers

At the celebration 20 signalled their belief in the existence of the Loch Ness monster and 15 declared their disbelief. The rest sat did not cast their vote.

"I believe in a large, unidentified creature in the loch, possibly amphibious – that is, a fish that goes on land," said Roland Watson, author of Waterhorses of Loch Ness, who blogs as "Glasgow Boy".

"I think otters are responsible for some of the sightings, with their tails above the surface," countered Adrian Shine, naturalist on the Loch Ness Project. Having explored the depths in his tiny submarine, he could confidently run through a list of creatures who weren't the monster. 

It was on 14 April 1933 that a local couple caught a glimpse of, well, whatever 'she' is. The first use of the words "Loch Ness monster" in a newspaper was on 2 May.

Rutter showed the first photograph, taken on 12 November. "The most common theory is that it looks like a dog which has just picked up a stick."

"The plural of anecdotes is not data," said Charles Paxton, the other organiser and a research fellow at the St Andrew's school of mathematics and statistics. The phenomenon he studies is the fact that a sighting has been reported, not its accuracy. Using an algorithm to handle 1,132 reports, he analysed how sightings fell into different types.

Perhaps unhelpfully, the largest cluster was made up of reports with negligible details. More positive findings came from his graph incorporating the curve of the discovery of new animals against time. "New freshwater animals are still being discovered," he said.

This was apparently the third symposium devoted entirely to Nessie, and it will not be the last. The beast from the depths has enthralled people since 565AD when St Columba cried out the name of the Lord to save a swimmer about to be devoured by the Loch Ness monster. 

Well, I suggest at the earliest opportunity heading up to Scotland and checking out Loch Ness.  Don't forget your camera and an open mind!

Source: The Guardian

Good work Oxford crew!

Following Friday's post 'Go Oxford' our treasured tutor and rowing expert, Kit Villiers, gives his Boat Race review:

"As usual on Boat Race Day I was glued to the TV screen. They've got so many cameras on the crews and around the Thames these days that the gladiatorial nature of this, one of the  last truly amateur sporting contests, really comes to life. I thought Dan Topolski's commmentary was very fair: despite his very Oxford background he kept telling us how Cambridge were fighting back, and that the battle was never won until the final exhausting stroke, even though I don't personally believe Oxford were much threatened - especially after Barnes Bridge.

Talking of stroke, I'm sure a lot of the credit for Oxford's win must go to the stroke, the enormous Canadian Olympian Michael Howard. He didn't get much of a mention, but as the largest member of Oxford's crew he seemed to be bodily hauling them along. He looked really exhausted at the finish. He stroked the boat from bowside. The commentators pointed out the unusual nature of Cambridge's rig, with 4 and 5 on the same side for greater balance, but hardly mentioned this fact - i.e. that Oxford's rig was also unorthodox.

If you are wondering what I'm talking about, join us in Christ Church Meadow during Eights' Week at the end of May when the battle is between the Oxford colleges and not the two ancient universities. You'll get a full explanation then. Will the Oxford Blues turn out in May for their colleges? Some will think they've already taken too much time off their studies (training for the Boat Race is pretty full time), but I'm sure others will appear. I recall only a few years ago when Christ Church went Head of the River, they had at least 3 blues and 2 Olympic medallists on board; the medallists were those twins from Harvard who claimed to have helped start Facebook.

It might be worth mentioning in case you are wondering about the quality of the boat race crew, Oxford, in two of their warm up races held the British national eight and narrowly defeated the current Olympic champions. 

Anyway well done to Oxford. But they're behind in the series, and we need a few more wins to catch up."

Oxford win, Sunday 31 March 2013

Fancy a cuppa?

On average in the UK, we drink three mugs a day of this glorious drink.  As with everything we consume there are various reports highlighting the good and the bad.  For tea we have the following:

The Bad:

• A case reported recently in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) of  a 47 year old woman who developed brittle bones and lost all of her teeth after drinking too much tea.  (Defo bad.  However other studies show that you generally you need to drink a gallon a day for three decades to develop a reduction in bone quality.  Far too much tea for a day!)
• Research from the University of Glasgow found that men who drank more than seven or more cups of tea a day had a 50% higher risk of prostate cancer.  (However, the Glasgow study wasn't designed to show that drinking tea actually caused prostate cancer.  All it showed was an association). 
• Further bad, in 2009 a paper in the British Medical Journal showed that drinking very hot tea (70C or more) increased the likelihood of oesophageal cancer. (The National Cancer Institute in the US concludes that the evidence "isn't good enough to say tea either harms or helps our health'. However it might be best to wait for your tea to cool down for a few minutes).

The Good:

• Black tea may have healthy properties from its plant chemicals called polyphenols, which are antioxidants. If you are keen on antioxidants go for Green tea as it contains more polyphenols.
• A review of the evidence by the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found the research showed more than three cups of black tea a day reduced heart disease. It found no evidence of harm "in amounts typically consumed".

So, have a cuppa, but just try and avoid drinking more than a gallon a day.  Should be fairly manageable...

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/01/is-drinking-tea-bad-for-you