Co-op Building - March Progress

Nearly four Stories High

from aisles to sky.

Bridge Street Preparations

Preparations for the move of the AbITs gateway lights from the other side of the bridge to opposite Lewis Baker have begun. Yellow positioning marks are already painted...

and services are being laid under the road.

There will be the loss of four parking spaces, but perhaps more crucially for some of the Bridge Street businesses will be the increased restriction on parking and loading. Two of the shops don't have rear access and so have no alternative. I expect the takeaway restaurants depend for some custom on people nipping out of cars to collect.

Another complication for these businesses is the fencing off of the Old Gaol as archaelogical diggings, and surveys proceed. This means more loss of space in the Old Gaol courtyard which did get used by some neighbours.

Inbetween Cargo and Londis

Cargo closed a couple of weeks ago. The next day, or so it seemed, workmen appeared tiling the floor. They worked quickly and the shop has already been fitted with upright display coolers.

Londis will be the new name over the door. Very soon late night shopping could become a possibility in town. There is a late night service hatch, and a 24 hour alcohol licence has been applied for - pending consultation.

Electricity Sub-Station in South Abingdon

This electricity sub-station near Maberley Close has some inscriptions I have been trying to decipher...

'Longfellow Drive Tee Francis Little Drive '

'Caldecott Farm Tee Drayton Road Tee Blacknall Road'

'Tesco Teed Tesco Refrigeration'

Museum Exhibition - Part 2

Abingdon Museum has two exhibitions currently. The first has already been described, and the second is Betty Blandino's hand built pots.

They range from this unglazed rather pregnant looking pot...

to this smooth bird-like pot. Betty Blandino lives and works in Oxford. She wrote a book called: 'Coiled Pottery: traditional and contemporary ways.'

Rowing Club Expansion

The Abingdon Rowing Club are expanding their boat storage facilities. Work is underway. This blog has already reported on how the Kingfisher Canoe Club had to move their hut to make way. This section of the river bank is beginning to look crowded.

Ladygrove Play Area - Before

This play area was given a mention at last weeks Annual Town Meeting. It will be the next one to get new equipment. It has been underwater twice in the last year: in July 2007, and January 2008.

Our children always called this the Tesco park, because it is on route to Tesco. Back fifteen years ago that clothes hanger climbing frame was already looking old. I suspect, like the swings nearby, it is among the oldest pieces of play equipment in Abingdon.

Easter Shop Displays

Patiserie Pascal, East St Helen Street

Masons, Bath Street

The Abingdon Flower Shop, Bath Street.

Mostly Books, Stert Street

The Book Store, Bury Street Precinct.

There were others...

Easter Day

Here is St Michael and All Angels' Church, Park Road, Abingdon, on a cold start to Easter Day.

Things did brighten up later.

The banner says 'Christ is Risen!'

How Bad will the Crisis Get?

Just an update on the Abingdon Herald Story 'Beauty Spot is Now Tip.'

The homeless man in question has been delivered a letter, and some rubbish bags, from the Vale of the White Horse District Council, giving him a few days to clear up the site before they come and do it for him. But today's weather, with flurries of snow, has not helped.

He has been living there, and at other outdoor sites for over a year, and hopes for a long dry summer this year (after last years floods).

He had read the front page Herald article about himself and thought it was 'tongue in cheek'.

Full Moon

March 21st is always the Spring Equinox, but this year it was also Good Friday and Full Moon (as seen against St Helen's Church).

Big Hope for Abingdon

There was a Good Friday Service on the Market Place at 11 am today.

Good Friday ends with Jesus being taken away and dieing a criminal's death on a cross.

Today was the start of Spring, and there was a full moon tonight - the reason Easter is so early this year, because Easter Day follows the first full moon on or after the first of Spring.

This Church in Abingdon banner near St Helen Church declares 'Easter... the big Hope for Abingdon!'

Abingdon Town Meeting

This annual meeting, chaired by the Mayor, gives the people of Abingdon the chance to come and listen to what the town council is doing, and ask questions. People can also make any points they want about the town of Abingdon. The big issue in 2008 is concern about the town centre.

High Water - Low Sun

Not as high as January but fairly high water.

The sun is burning up as it goes down at the end of the day.

Calligraphy at Abingdon Museum

Two new exhibitions at Abingdon Museum.

One of them shows the Calligraphy of the Oxford Scribes - including work by Pat Russell of Abingdon.

On Saturday there was a work shop of lettering art.

The other exhibition... to be continued...

Donkey leads Palm Sunday parade

A donkey led

the Palm Sunday parade

through the streets of South Abingdon.

Roger McGough at the Amey Theatre

I borrowed this picture of Mark (Mostly Books) with Roger McGough (Liverpool Poet) from the Mostly Books report of the main event.

In one poem Roger described Didcot power station as 'A Cloud Factory.'

Julie Felix at the Unicorn

Julie Felix played at the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon two years ago.

She was back again this evening, on the last night of the Abingdon Arts Festival, for what was a brilliant concert. She sang some great songs including Masters of War, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands and Hallelujah.

She ended her third encore by asking Pam, the louder than life compere of music at the unicorn, to join her on the Scottish Ballad: Wild Mountain Thyme.

French Market

There has been a French Market yesterday and today. (The yellow sign behind advertises the British Master Motorcross which has been buzzing all day).

There was also more of a buzz about Abingdon town centre this morning.

Abingdon Air and Country Show were advertising their upcoming show on 4th May.

Abingdon Operatic Society were promoting The Wizard of Oz from 31st March - 5th April.

And Specsavers had a Kids go Free promotion

Strattons AKA 'Stickies'

The DJ

the bar

the sign

and the Dancing.

If you are young and come from Abingdon its a good night out. If you old or come from anywhere else you may not think so.

Marrakech Exhibition

Students from Abingdon and Witney College (on the Foundation Art Course) recently went on an art trip to Marrakech.

They sent postcards back to the college every day, and at the exhibition was a wall of postcards - made from litter and cast-offs found in Marrakech -

and that was the beginning of the exhibition...

Unmanned

The orange circle on the white square is a new symbol, and indicates that a Lock is currently unmanned.

Unmanned locks, like this one at Abingdon. will become a more frequent phenomena during the off season, as the Environment Agency (EA) concentrates its manpower on the main boating season in an effort to save costs.

Early Morning River View

A lone fisherman seated at the river edge of the Margaret Brown Garden in South Abingdon. Downstream is Didcot Power Station.

First new shop of Spring

After so many shop closures this year it will be good to see something new open up.

This isn't exactly a new shop, but Property Weekly have set up shop in West St Helens Street. Thats one less empty shopfront.

And Spring is stirring beneath the Thai Orchid... in what was Eben Lark... and beneath the Waterline.

So what will be the first new shop of spring?

Graffiti and Gershwin

Ock Street Baptist Church is colourful enough as it is. They have to paint the classical facade like that because its a Listed building.

But now they have gone to excess, and added paintings from a graffiti workshop. It reads: 'LIV ING LIfE

to THE FULL.

Last night they had a Gerschwin Jazz / Gospel concert.

I hear it was a brilliant concert and I missed it.


Only 5 days to go until Roger McGough, and Julie Felix, and Swingtime, and Postcards to France are on at the Abingdon Arts Festival. We have bought tickets for one of these next Saturday. It was a difficult choice, and by so doing I'm going to miss another three good events.

Homage to the 'Homage to the Square'

My wife tells me that Joseph Albers is a well know artist in certain circles. Some silk screen prints of his are showing at John Mason School currently - during the Abingdon Arts Festival.

The first piece is called 'Repitition against Blue' and the second 'Homage to the Square.'

The reflections on the photo was too distracting and so I have tried to recreate the 'Homage to the Square' using Microsoft Paint. I'm calling this work "Homage to the 'Homage to the Square' "

Market Place - Fairtrade and RBL

The Abingdon Fairtrade Group were giving out free cake to the people of Abingdon - an Old Abingdon tradition this.

It was a chocolate and toffee cake made by the chef at the Broadface and contained Fairtrade and local ingredients.

Also at the Market Place were the Royal British Legion. Their social centre in Spring Road has been refurbished. They'll have an open weekend over Easter. But, and this suprised me, you don't have to be an ex-service person to join. You can just go along, see if you like it, and then become a member.

There were gusts of wind, and threats of rain. But it held off.

Carpark Sign Makeover

This is what the sign looked like a couple of weeks ago. Lettraset updates show the recent level changes. A huge Warning at the bottom.

Time for a makeover. Add a few colours.

Get the Warning in proportion. Its looking more children friendly now.

The Wish Tree

The Yoko Ono wish tree has been outside the library for a few days now (since the start of the Abingdon Arts Festival) and the wishes are tangled in the wind.

Nearby the crossing at the top of Bath Street has been changed from a Toucan to a Pelican crossing. That means that the stop time for traffic is no longer quite so fixed or long. That should help a bit with the hold ups on Stratton Way. One can only wish.

Abingdon Fairtrade Town

Its Fairtrade Fortnight at least up until the weekend. Food to drink to taste at Frugal Food.

Cafe Gias support Fairtrade too.

At Trinity there was a huddle round the Fairtrade stall after church.

There were Fairtrade wines and chocolate to try in Waitrose last weekend, and Fairtrade goods on offer. (By the way at the Abingdon wine circle where they tried various Fairtrad wines, Los Robles - the nearest bottle in the picture was a clear favourite.)

And this coming Saturday there will be a number of stalls at St Nic's church for the Fairtrade Big Brew, and a stall on the Market Place with a big Fairtrade Cake.

Abingdon is a Fairtrade Town.

A square in Prague

Pictures from the Abingdon Arts Festival Photography Competition are on display on the High Street for the next two weeks.

The pictures are a welcome relief from an empty shop window.

The winning entry is quite stunning. Its of a square in Prague.

We visited Praque when Czechoslovakia existed as a communist country - in 1973. At the border control they found some books in our luggage they didn't like. The border police interrogated my dad about the books for some hours. Then they let us in, having stapled a note about the books on our visa to ensure we brought them out again.

The main square in Prague had flags and posters celebrating the day the Russian Tanks had arrived five years before to freeze out the Prague Spring. Life went on. A painter painted.

The busy flower week is over

Its been a busy week leading up to Mothers Day. Fabulous Flowers opened their first shop in Abingdon in 2004.

They now also have an Oxford shop - near to Gees Restaurant on the Banbury Road. A picture very like this can be seen on their website.

Fabulous Flowers have also set up an Online Shop - so I suppose that is three shops in all, but with only two rents. In retail parlance that is three for two.

Bigging Up Holbein

Throughout the day a collection of Abingdon Artists have been working away in the Guildhall, each painting one square from Holbein's picture 'The Ambassadors'

Jennifer Gerrard, who did much of the organisation, chose 'The Ambassadors' picture - at least partly - because every square had enough detail to make it interesting to paint.

From 4 PM, the bigger picture was assembled.

This is the children's version.

And this is the adult's version with the collection of artists beneath.

Both pictures can be seen over the next two weeks, for the duration of the Abingdon Arts Festival, in the Guildhall.

The strong winds didn't wake me

Last night must have been windy but I didn't hear anything. So when I went for a walk down near Abingdon Lock it was a suprise to see a tree down.

It had smashed the end of the handrail of the bridge, and knocked over a litter bin, and bent a direction post. If it had fallen directly on the bridge it could have caused a lot more damage.